Колодець і маятник

           Itpassedinmanyconvolutionsaboutmylimbsandbody,leavingatlibertyonlymyhead,andmyleftarmtosuchextentthatIcould,bydintofmuchexertion,supplymyselfwithfoodfromanearthendishwhichlaybymysideonthefloor. Isaw,tomyhorror,thatthepitcherhadbeenremoved. Isaytomyhorror;forIwasconsumedwithintolerablethirst. Thisthirstitappearedtobethedesignofmypersecutorstostimulate: forthefoodinthedishwasmeatpungentlyseasoned. 

           Lookingupward,Isurveyedtheceilingofmyprison. Itwassomethirtyorfortyfeetoverhead,andconstructedmuchasthesidewalls. Inoneofitspanelsaverysingularfigurerivetedmywholeattention. ItwasthepaintedfigureofTimeasheiscommonlyrepresented,savethat,inlieuofascythe,heheldwhat,atacasualglance,Isupposedtobethepicturedimageofahugependulumsuchasweseeonantiqueclocks. Therewassomething,however,intheappearanceofthismachinewhichcausedmetoregarditmoreattentively. WhileIgazeddirectlyupwardatit(foritspositionwasimmediatelyovermyown)IfanciedthatIsawitinmotion. Inaninstantafterwardthefancywasconfirmed. Itssweepwasbrief,andofcourseslow. Iwatcheditforsomeminutes,somewhatinfear,butmoreinwonder. Weariedatlengthwithobservingitsdullmovement,Iturnedmyeyesupontheotherobjectsinthecell. 

           Aslightnoiseattractedmynotice,and,lookingtothefloor,Isawseveralenormousratstraversingit.