Колодець і маятник

           Then,verysuddenly,thought,andshudderingterror,andearnestendeavortocomprehendmytruestate. Thenastrongdesiretolapseintoinsensibility. Thenarushingrevivalofsoulandasuccessfulefforttomove. Andnowafullmemoryofthetrial,ofthejudges,ofthesabledraperies,ofthesentence,ofthesickness,oftheswoon. Thenentireforgetfulnessofallthatfollowed;ofallthatalaterdayandmuchearnestnessofendeavorhaveenabledmevaguelytorecall. 

           Sofar,Ihadnotopenedmyeyes. IfeltthatIlayuponmyback,unbound. Ireachedoutmyhand,anditfellheavilyuponsomethingdampandhard. ThereIsufferedittoremainformanyminutes,whileIstrovetoimaginewhereandwhatIcouldbe. Ilonged,yetdarednottoemploymyvision. Idreadedthefirstglanceatobjectsaroundme. ItwasnotthatIfearedtolookuponthingshorrible,butthatIgrewaghastlestthereshouldbenothingtosee. Atlength,withawilddesperationatheart,Iquicklyunclosedmyeyes. Myworstthoughts,then,wereconfirmed. Theblacknessofeternalnightencompassedme. Istruggledforbreath. Theintensityofthedarknessseemedtooppressandstifleme. Theatmospherewasintolerablyclose. Istilllayquietly,andmadeefforttoexercisemyreason. Ibroughttomindtheinquisitorialproceedings,andattemptedfromthatpointtodeducemyrealcondition. Thesentencehadpassed;anditappearedtomethataverylongintervaloftimehadsinceelapsed. YetnotforamomentdidIsupposemyselfactuallydead.