Wehaveataskbeforeuswhichmustbespeedilyperformed。Weknowthatitwillberuinoustomakedelay。Themostimportantcrisisofourlifecalls，trumpet-tongued，forimmediateenergyandaction。Weglow，weareconsumedwitheagernesstocommencethework，withtheanticipationofwhosegloriousresultourwholesoulsareonfire。Itmust，itshallbeundertakento-day，andyetweputitoffuntilto-morrow，andwhy？Thereisnoanswer，exceptthatwefeelperverse，usingthewordwithnocomprehensionoftheprinciple。To-morrowarrives，andwithitamoreimpatientanxietytodoourduty，butwiththisveryincreaseofanxietyarrives，also，anameless，apositivelyfearful，becauseunfathomable，cravingfordelay。Thiscravinggathersstrengthasthemomentsfly。Thelasthourforactionisathand。Wetremblewiththeviolenceoftheconflictwithinus，ofthedefinitewiththeindefiniteofthesubstancewiththeshadow。But，ifthecontesthaveproceededthusfar，itistheshadowwhichprevails，westruggleinvain。Theclockstrikes，andistheknellofourwelfare。Atthesametime，itisthechanticleernotetotheghostthathassolongoverawedus。Itfliesitdisappearswearefree。Theoldenergyreturns。Wewilllabornow。Alas，itistoolate！
Westanduponthebrinkofaprecipice。Wepeerintotheabysswegrowsickanddizzy。Ourfirstimpulseistoshrinkfromthedanger。
Unaccountablyweremain。Byslowdegreesoursicknessanddizzinessandhorrorbecomemergedinacloudofunnamablefeeling。Bygradations，stillmoreimperceptible，thiscloudassumesshape，asdidthevaporfromthebottleoutofwhicharosethegeniusintheArabianNights。Butoutofthisourcloudupontheprecipice’sedge，theregrowsintopalpability，ashape，farmoreterriblethananygeniusoranydemonofatale，andyetitisbutathought，althoughafearfulone，andonewhichchillstheverymarrowofourboneswiththefiercenessofthedelightofitshorror。Itismerelytheideaofwhatwouldbeoursensationsduringthesweepingprecipitancyofafallfromsuchaheight。Andthisfallthisrushingannihilationfortheveryreasonthatitinvolvesthatonemostghastlyandloathsomeofallthemostghastlyandloathsomeimagesofdeathandsufferingwhichhaveeverpresentedthemselvestoourimagination
forthisverycausedowenowthemostvividlydesireit。Andbecauseourreasonviolentlydetersusfromthebrink，thereforedowethemostimpetuouslyapproachit。Thereisnopassioninnaturesodemoniacallyimpatient，asthatofhimwho，shudderingupontheedgeofaprecipice，thusmeditatesaPlunge。Toindulge，foramoment，inanyattemptatthought，istobeinevitablylost；forreflectionbuturgesustoforbear，andthereforeitis，Isay，thatwecannot。Iftherebenofriendlyarmtocheckus，orifwefailinasuddenefforttoprostrateourselvesbackwardfromtheabyss，weplunge，andaredestroyed。
Examinethesesimilaractionsaswewill，weshallfindthemresultingsolelyfromthespiritofthePerverse。Weperpetratethembecausewefeelthatweshouldnot。Beyondorbehindthisthereisnointelligibleprinciple；andwemight，indeed，deemthisperversenessadirectinstigationoftheArch-Fiend，wereitnotoccasionallyknowntooperateinfurtheranceofgood。