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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.
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