Лігейя

           Yetalthoughtheexternalabbey,withitsverdantdecayhangingaboutit,sufferedbutlittlealteration,Igaveway,withachild-likeperversity,andperchancewithafainthopeofalleviatingmysorrows,toadisplayofmorethanregalmagnificencewithin. —Forsuchfollies,eveninchildhood,Ihadimbibedatasteandnowtheycamebacktomeasifinthedotageofgrief. Alas,Ifeelhowmuchevenofincipientmadnessmighthavebeendiscoveredinthegorgeousandfantasticdraperies,inthesolemncarvingsofEgypt,inthewildcornicesandfurniture,intheBedlampatternsofthecarpetsoftuftedgold! Ihadbecomeaboundenslaveinthetrammelsofopium,andmylaborsandmyordershadtakenacoloringfrommydreams. Buttheseabsurditiesmustnotpausetodetail. Letmespeakonlyofthatonechamber,everaccursed,whitherinamomentofmentalalienation,Iledfromthealtarasmybride—asthesuccessoroftheunforgottenLigeia—thefair-hairedandblue-eyedLadyRowenaTrevanion,ofTremaine. 

           Thereisnoindividualportionofthearchitectureanddecorationofthatbridalchamberwhichisnotnowvisiblybeforeme. Wherewerethesoulsofthehaughtyfamilyofthebride,when,throughthirstofgold,theypermittedtopassthethresholdofanapartmentsobedecked,amaidenandadaughtersobeloved? IhavesaidthatIminutelyrememberthedetailsofthechamber—yetIamsadlyforgetfulontopicsofdeepmoment —andheretherewasnosystem,nokeeping,inthefantasticdisplay,totakeholduponthememory. Theroomlayinahighturretofthecastellatedabbey,waspentagonalinshape,andofcapacioussize. Occupyingthewholesouthernfaceofthepentagonwasthesolewindow—animmensesheetofunbrokenglassfromVenice—asinglepane,andtintedofaleadenhue,sothattheraysofeitherthesunormoon,passingthroughit,fellwithaghastlylustreontheobjectswithin.