Колодець і маятник

           Isaw,too,forafewmomentsofdelirioushorror,thesoftandnearlyimperceptiblewavingofthesabledraperieswhichenwrappedthewallsoftheapartment. Andthenmyvisionfellupontheseventallcandlesuponthetable. Atfirsttheyworetheaspectofcharity,andseemedwhiteandslenderangelswhowouldsaveme;butthen,allatonce,therecameamostdeadlynauseaovermyspirit,andIfelteveryfibreinmyframethrillasifIhadtouchedthewireofagalvanicbattery,whiletheangelformsbecamemeaninglessspectres,withheadsofflame,andIsawthatfromthemtherewouldbenohelp. Andthentherestoleintomyfancy,likearichmusicalnote,thethoughtofwhatsweetresttheremustbeinthegrave. Thethoughtcamegentlyandstealthily,anditseemedlongbeforeitattainedfullappreciation;butjustasmyspiritcameatlengthproperlytofeelandentertainit,thefiguresofthejudgesvanished,asifmagically,frombeforeme; thetallcandlessankintonothingness;theirflameswentoututterly;theblacknessofdarknesssupervened;allsensationsappearedswallowedupinamadrushingdescentasofthesoulintoHades. Thensilence,andstillness,nightweretheuniverse. 

           Ihadswooned;butstillwillnotsaythatallofconsciousnesswaslost. WhatofitthereremainedIwillnotattempttodefine,oreventodescribe;yetallwasnotlost. Inthedeepestslumber—no! Indelirium—no! Inaswoon—no! Indeath—no! eveninthegraveallisnotlost. Elsethereisnoimmortalityforman.