Падіння будинку Ашерів

           Hisvoicevariedrapidlyfromatremulousindecision(whentheanimalspiritsseemedutterlyinabeyance)tothatspeciesofenergeticconcision—thatabrupt,weighty,unhurried,andhollow-soundingenunciation—thatleaden,self-balancedandperfectlymodulatedgutturalutterance,whichmaybeobservedinthelostdrunkard,ortheirreclaimableeaterofopium,duringtheperiodsofhismostintenseexcitement. 

           Itwasthusthathespokeoftheobjectofmyvisit,ofhisearnestdesiretoseeme,andofthesolaceheexpectedmetoaffordhim. Heentered,atsomelength,intowhatheconceivedtobethenatureofhismalady. Itwas,hesaid,aconstitutionalandafamilyevil,andoneforwhichhedespairedtofindaremedy—amerenervousaffection,heimmediatelyadded,whichwouldundoubtedlysoonpassoff. Itdisplayeditselfinahostofunnaturalsensations. Someofthese,ashedetailedthem,interestedandbewilderedme;although,perhaps,thetermsandthegeneralmannerofthenarrationhadtheirweight. Hesufferedmuchfromamorbidacutenessofthesenses;themostinsipidfoodwasaloneendurable;hecouldwearonlygarmentsofcertaintexture;theodorsofallflowerswereoppressive;hiseyesweretorturedbyevenafaintlight;andtherewerebutpeculiarsounds,andthesefromstringedinstruments,whichdidnotinspirehimwithhorror. 

           ToananomalousspeciesofterrorIfoundhimaboundenslave. “Ishallperish,”saidhe,“Imustperishinthisdeplorablefolly. Thus,thus,andnototherwise,shallIbelost. Idreadtheeventsofthefuture,notinthemselves,butintheirresults.