Лігейя

           IhavespokenofthelearningofLigeia:itwasimmense—suchasIhaveneverknowninwoman. Intheclassicaltongueswasshedeeplyproficient,andasfarasmyownacquaintanceextendedinregardtothemoderndialectsofEurope,Ihaveneverknownheratfault. Indeeduponanythemeofthemostadmired,becausesimplythemostabstruseoftheboastederuditionoftheacademy,haveIeverfoundLigeiaatfault? Howsingularly—howthrillingly,thisonepointinthenatureofmywifehasforceditself,atthislateperiodonly,uponmyattention! IsaidherknowledgewassuchasIhaveneverknowninwoman—butwherebreathesthemanwhohastraversed,andsuccessfully,allthewideareasofmoral,physical,andmathematicalscience? IsawnotthenwhatInowclearlyperceive,thattheacquisitionsofLigeiaweregigantic,wereastounding; yetIwassufficientlyawareofherinfinitesupremacytoresignmyself,withachild-likeconfidence,toherguidancethroughthechaoticworldofmetaphysicalinvestigationatwhichIwasmostbusilyoccupiedduringtheearlieryearsofourmarriage. Withhowvastatriumph—withhowvividadelight—withhowmuchofallthatisetherealinhope—didIfeel,asshebentovermeinstudiesbutlittlesought—butlessknown —thatdeliciousvistabyslowdegreesexpandingbeforeme,downwhoselong,gorgeous,andalluntroddenpath,Imightatlengthpassonwardtothegoalofawisdomtoodivinelypreciousnottobeforbidden! 

           Howpoignant,then,musthavebeenthegriefwithwhich,aftersomeyears,Ibeheldmywell-groundedexpectationstakewingstothemselvesandflyaway! WithoutLigeiaIwasbutasachildgropingbenighted. Herpresence,herreadingsalone,renderedvividlyluminousthemanymysteriesofthetranscendentalisminwhichwewereimmersed.