Лигейя

           Sheswallowedthewineunhesitatingly,andIforboretospeaktoherofacircumstancewhichmust,afterall,Iconsidered,havebeenbutthesuggestionofavividimagination,renderedmorbidlyactivebytheterrorofthelady,bytheopium,andbythehour. 

           YetIcannotconcealitfrommyownperceptionthat,immediatelysubsequenttothefalloftheruby-drops,arapidchangefortheworsetookplaceinthedisorderofmywife; sothat,onthethirdsubsequentnight,thehandsofhermenialspreparedherforthetomb,andonthefourth,Isatalone,withhershroudedbody,inthatfantasticchamberwhichhadreceivedherasmybride. —Wildvisions,opium-engendered,flitted,shadow-like,beforeme. Igazedwithunquieteyeuponthesarcophagiintheanglesoftheroom,uponthevaryingfiguresofthedrapery,anduponthewrithingoftheparti-coloredfiresinthecenseroverhead. Myeyesthenfell,asIcalledtomindthecircumstancesofaformernight,tothespotbeneaththeglareofthecenserwhereIhadseenthefainttracesoftheshadow. Itwasthere,however,nolonger;andbreathingwithgreaterfreedom,Iturnedmyglancestothepallidandrigidfigureuponthebed. ThenrusheduponmeathousandmemoriesofLigeia—andthencamebackuponmyheart,withtheturbulentviolenceofaflood,thewholeofthatunutterablewowithwhichIhadregardedherthusenshrouded. Thenightwaned;andstill,withabosomfullofbitterthoughtsoftheoneonlyandsupremelybeloved,IremainedgazinguponthebodyofRowena. 

           Itmighthavebeenmidnight,orperhapsearlier,orlater,forIhadtakennonoteoftime,whenasob,low,gentle,butverydistinct,startledmefrommyrevery. —Ifeltthatitcamefromthebedofebony—thebedofdeath.