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without having noticed my presence； disappeared。 I regarded her with an
utter astonishment not unmingled with dreadand yet I found it
impossible to account for such feelings。 A sensation of stupor oppressed
me； as my eyes followed her retreating steps。 When a door； at length；
closed upon her； my glance sought instinctively and eagerly the
countenance of the brotherbut he had buried his face in his hands； and I
could only perceive that a far more than ordinary wanness had overspread
the emaciated fingers through which trickled many passionate tears。
The disease of the lady Madeline had long baffled the skill of her
physicians。 A settled apathy； a gradual wasting away of the person； and
frequent although transient affections of a partially cataleptical character；
were the unusual diagnosis。 Hitherto she had steadily borne up against the
pressure of her malady； and had not betaken herself finally to bed； but； on
the closing in of the evening of my arrival at the house； she succumbed （as
her brother told me at night with inexpressible agitation） to the prostrating
power of the destroyer； and I learned that the glimpse I had obtained of her
person would thus probably be the last I should obtainthat the lady； at
least while living； would be seen by me no more。
For several days ensuing； her name was unmentioned by either Usher
or myself： and during this period I was busied in earnest endeavours to
alleviate the melancholy of my friend。 We painted and read together； or I
listened； as if in a dream； to the wild improvisations of his speaking guitar。
And thus； as a closer and still closer intimacy admitted me more
unreservedly into the recesses of his spirit； the more bitterly did I perceive
the futility of all attempt at cheering a mind from which darkness； as if an
inherent positive quality； poured forth upon all objects of the moral and
physical universe； in one unceasing radiation of gloom。
I shall ever bear about me a memory of the many solemn hours I thus
spent alone with the master of the House of Usher。 Yet I should fail in any
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attempt to convey an idea of the exact character of the studies； or of the
occupations； in which he involved me； or led me the way。 An excited and
highly distempered ideality threw a sulphureous lustre over all。 His long
improvised dirges will ring for ever in my ears。 Among other things； I hold
painfully in mind a certain singular perversion and amplification of the
wild air of the last waltz of Von Weber。 From the paintings over which his
elaborate fancy brooded； and which grew； touch by touch； into vagueness
at which I shuddered the more thrillingly； because I shuddered knowing
not why；from these paintings （vivid as their images now are before me） I
would in vain endeavour to educe more than a small portion which should
lie within the compass of merely written words。 By the utter simplicity； by
the nakedness of his designs； he arrested and overawed attention。 If ever
mortal painted an idea； that mortal was Roderick Usher。 For me at leastin
the circumstances then surrounding methere arose out of the pure
abstractions which the hypochondriac contrived to throw upon his canvas；
an intensity of intolerable awe； no shadow of which felt I ever yet in the
contemplation of the certainly glowing yet too concrete reveries of Fuseli。
One of the phantasmagoric conceptions of my friend； partaking not so
rigidly of the spirit of abstraction； may be shadowed forth； although feebly；
in words。 A small picture presented the interior of an immensely long and
rectangular vault or tunnel； with low walls； smooth； white； and without
interruption or device。 Certain accessory points of the design served well
to convey the idea that this excavation lay at an exceeding depth below the
surface of the earth。 No outlet was observed in any portion of its vast
extent； and no torch； or other artificial source of light was discernible； yet
a flood of intense rays rolled throughout； and bathed the whole in a ghastly
and inappropriate splendour。
I have just spoken of that morbid condition of the auditory nerve
which rendered all music intolerable to the sufferer； with the exception of
certain effects of stringed instruments。 It was； perhaps； the narrow limits to
which he thus confined himself upon the guitar； which gave birth； in great
measure； to the fantastic character of the performances。 But the fervid
facility of his impromptus could not be so accounted for。 They must have
been； and were； in the notes； as well as in the words of his wild fantasias
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The Fall of the House of Usher
（for he not unfrequently accompanied himself with rhymed verbal
improvisations）； the result of that intense mental collectedness and
concentration to which I have previously alluded as observable only in
particular moments of the highest artificial excitement。 The words of one
of these rhapsodies I have easily remembered。 I was； perhaps； the more
forcibly impressed with it； as he gave it； because； in the under or mystic
current of its meaning； I fancied that I perceived； and for the first time； a
full consciousness on the part of Usher； of the tottering of his lofty reason
upon her throne。 The verses； which were entitled 〃The Haunted Palace；〃
ran very nearly； if not accurately； thus：
I。
In the greenest of our valleys；
By good angels tenanted；
Once a fair and stately palace
Radiant palacereared its head。
In the monarch Thought's dominion
It stood there！
Never seraph spread a pinion
Over fabric half so fair。
II。
Banners yellow； glorious； golden；
On its roof did float and flow；
（Thisall thiswas in the olden
Time long ago）
And every gentle air that dallied；
In that sweet day；
Along the ramparts plumed and pallid；
A winged odour went away。
III。
Wanderers in that happy valley
Through two luminous windows saw
Spirits moving musically
To a lute's well tuned law；
Round about a throne； where sitting
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The Fall of the House of Usher
（Porphyrogene！）
In state his glory well befitting；
The ruler of the realm was seen。
IV。
And all with pearl and ruby glowing
Was the fair palace door；
Through which came flowing； flowing； flowing
And sparkling evermore；
A troop of Echoes whose sweet duty
Was but to sing；
In voices of surpassing beauty；
The wit and wisdom of their king。
V。
But evil things； in robes of sorrow；
Assailed the monarch's high estate；
（Ah； let us mourn； for never morrow
Shall dawn upon him； desolate！）
And； round about his home； the glory
That blushed and bloomed
Is but a dim…remembered story；
Of the old time entombed。
VI。