Чорний кіт

           Thereaderwillrememberthatthismark,althoughlarge,hadbeenoriginallyveryindefinite; but,byslowdegrees—degreesnearlyimperceptible,andwhichforalongtimemyReasonstruggledtorejectasfanciful —ithad,atlength,assumedarigorousdistinctnessofoutline. ItwasnowtherepresentationofanobjectthatIshuddertoname—andforthis,aboveall,Iloathed,anddreaded, andwouldhaveridmyselfofthemonsterhadIdared —itwasnow,Isay,theimageofahideous—ofaghastlything—oftheGALLOWS! —oh,mournfulandterribleengineofHorrorandofCrime—ofAgonyandofDeath! 

           AndnowwasIindeedwretchedbeyondthewretchednessofmereHumanity. Andabrutebeast—whosefellowIhadcontemptuouslydestroyed—abrutebeasttoworkoutforme —formeaman,fashionedintheimageoftheHighGod—somuchofinsufferablewo!Alas! neitherbydaynorbynightknewItheblessingofRestanymore! Duringtheformerthecreatureleftmenomomentalone; and,inthelatter,Istarted,hourly,fromdreamsofunutterablefear,tofindthehotbreathofthethinguponmyface,anditsvastweight —anincarnateNight-MarethatIhadnopowertoshakeoff—incumbenteternallyuponmyheart! 

           Beneaththepressureoftormentssuchasthese,thefeebleremnantofthegoodwithinmesuccumbed. Evilthoughtsbecamemysoleintimates—thedarkestandmostevilofthoughts.