ALCMAN。Themountainpinnaclesslumber；valleys，cragsandcavesaresilent。
“LISTENtome。”saidtheDemonasheplacedhishanduponmyhead。
“TheregionofwhichIspeakisadrearyregioninLibya，bythebordersoftheriverZaire。Andthereisnoquietthere，norsilence。
“Thewatersoftheriverhaveasaffronandsicklyhue；andtheyflownotonwardstothesea，butpalpitateforeverandforeverbeneaththeredeyeofthesunwithatumultuousandconvulsivemotion。Formanymilesoneithersideoftheriver’soozybedisapaledesertofgiganticwater-lilies。Theysighoneuntotheotherinthatsolitude，andstretchtowardstheheaventheirlongandghastlynecks，andnodtoandfrotheireverlastingheads。Andthereisanindistinctmurmurwhichcomethoutfromamongthemliketherushingofsubterrenewater。Andtheysighoneuntotheother。
“Butthereisaboundarytotheirrealmtheboundaryofthedark，horrible，loftyforest。There，likethewavesabouttheHebrides，thelowunderwoodisagitatedcontinually。Butthereisnowindthroughouttheheaven。Andthetallprimevaltreesrocketernallyhitherandthitherwithacrashingandmightysound。Andfromtheirhighsummits，onebyone，dropeverlastingdews。Andattherootsstrangepoisonousflowersliewrithinginperturbedslumber。Andoverhead，witharustlingandloudnoise，thegraycloudsrushwestwardlyforever，untiltheyroll，acataract，overthefierywallofthehorizon。Butthereisnowindthroughouttheheaven。AndbytheshoresoftheriverZairethereisneitherquietnorsilence。
“Itwasnight，andtherainfell；andfalling，itwasrain，but，havingfallen，itwasblood。AndIstoodinthemorassamongthetallandtherainfelluponmyheadandtheliliessighedoneuntotheotherinthesolemnityoftheirdesolation。
“And，allatonce，themoonarosethroughthethinghastlymist，andwascrimsonincolor。Andmineeyesfelluponahugegrayrockwhichstoodbytheshoreoftheriver，andwaslightedbythelightofthemoon。Andtherockwasgray，andghastly，andtall，andtherockwasgray。Uponitsfrontwerecharactersengraveninthestone；andI
walkedthroughthemorassofwater-lilies，untilIcamecloseuntotheshore，thatImightreadthecharactersuponthestone。ButI
couldnotdecypherthem。AndIwasgoingbackintothemorass，whenthemoonshonewithafullerred，andIturnedandlookedagainupontherock，anduponthecharacters；andthecharacterswereDESOLATION。
“AndIlookedupwards，andtherestoodamanuponthesummitoftherock；andIhidmyselfamongthewater-liliesthatImightdiscovertheactionsoftheman。Andthemanwastallandstatelyinform，andwaswrappedupfromhisshoulderstohisfeetinthetogaofoldRome。Andtheoutlinesofhisfigurewereindistinctbuthisfeatureswerethefeaturesofadeity；forthemantleofthenight，andofthemist，andofthemoon，andofthedew，hadleftuncoveredthefeaturesofhisface。Andhisbrowwasloftywiththought，andhiseyewildwithcare；and，inthefewfurrowsuponhischeekIreadthefablesofsorrow，andweariness，anddisgustwithmankind，andalongingaftersolitude。
“Andthemansatupontherock，andleanedhisheaduponhishand，andlookedoutuponthedesolation。Helookeddownintothelowunquietshrubbery，andupintothetallprimevaltrees，anduphigherattherustlingheaven，andintothecrimsonmoon。AndIlayclosewithinshelterofthelilies，andobservedtheactionsoftheman。
Andthemantrembledinthesolitude；butthenightwaned，andhesatupontherock。
“Andthemanturnedhisattentionfromtheheaven，andlookedoutuponthedrearyriverZaire，andupontheyellowghastlywaters，anduponthepalelegionsofthewater-lilies。Andthemanlistenedtothesighsofthewater-lilies，andtothemurmurthatcameupfromamongthem。AndIlayclosewithinmycovertandobservedtheactionsoftheman。Andthemantrembledinthesolitude；butthenightwanedandhesatupontherock。
“ThenIwentdownintotherecessesofthemorass，andwadedafarinamongthewildernessofthelilies，andcalleduntothehippopotamiwhichdweltamongthefensintherecessesofthemorass。Andthehippopotamiheardmycall，andcame，withthebehemoth，untothefootoftherock，androaredloudlyandfearfullybeneaththemoon。AndI
layclosewithinmycovertandobservedtheactionsoftheman。Andthemantrembledinthesolitude；butthenightwanedandhesatupontherock。
“ThenIcursedtheelementswiththecurseoftumult；andafrightfultempestgatheredintheheavenwhere，before，therehadbeennowind。
Andtheheavenbecamelividwiththeviolenceofthetempestandtherainbeatupontheheadofthemanandthefloodsoftherivercamedownandtheriverwastormentedintofoamandthewater-liliesshriekedwithintheirbedsandtheforestcrumbledbeforethewindandthethunderrolledandthelightningfellandtherockrockedtoitsfoundation。AndIlayclosewithinmycovertandobservedtheactionsoftheman。Andthemantrembledinthesolitude；butthenightwanedandhesatupontherock。
“ThenIgrewangryandcursed，withthecurseofsilence，theriver，andthelilies，andthewind，andtheforest，andtheheaven，andthethunder，andthesighsofthewater-lilies。Andtheybecameaccursed，andwerestill。Andthemoonceasedtototterupitspathwaytoheavenandthethunderdiedawayandthelightningdidnotflashandthecloudshungmotionlessandthewaterssunktotheirlevelandremainedandthetreesceasedtorockandthewater-liliessighednomoreandthemurmurwasheardnolongerfromamongthem，noranyshadowofsoundthroughoutthevastillimitabledesert。AndIlookeduponthecharactersoftherock，andtheywerechanged；andthecharacterswereSILENCE。
“Andmineeyesfelluponthecountenanceoftheman，andhiscountenancewaswanwithterror。And，hurriedly，heraisedhisheadfromhishand，andstoodforthupontherockandlistened。Buttherewasnovoicethroughoutthevastillimitabledesert，andthecharactersupontherockwereSILENCE。Andthemanshuddered，andturnedhisfaceaway，andfledafaroff，inhaste，sothatIbeheldhimnomore。”
NowtherearefinetalesinthevolumesoftheMagiintheiron-bound，melancholyvolumesoftheMagi。Therein，Isay，areglorioushistoriesoftheHeaven，andoftheEarth，andofthemightyseaandoftheGeniithatover-ruledthesea，andtheearth，andtheloftyheaven。TherewasmuchloretoointhesayingswhichweresaidbytheSybils；andholy，holythingswereheardofoldbythedimleavesthattrembledaroundDodonabut，asAllahliveth，thatfablewhichtheDemontoldmeashesatbymysideintheshadowofthetomb，Iholdtobethemostwonderfulofall！AndastheDemonmadeanendofhisstory，hefellbackwithinthecavityofthetombandlaughed。AndIcouldnotlaughwiththeDemon，andhecursedmebecauseIcouldnotlaugh。Andthelynxwhichdwellethforeverinthetomb，cameouttherefrom，andlaydown
THE“RedDeath“hadlongdevastatedthecountry。Nopestilencehadeverbeensofatal，orsohideous。BloodwasitsAvataranditssealtherednessandthehorrorofblood。Thereweresharppains，andsuddendizziness，andthenprofusebleedingatthepores，withdissolution。Thescarletstainsuponthebodyandespeciallyuponthefaceofthevictim，werethepestbanwhichshuthimoutfromtheaidandfromthesympathyofhisfellow-men。Andthewholeseizure，progressandterminationofthedisease，weretheincidentsofhalfanhour。
ButthePrinceProsperowashappyanddauntlessandsagacious。Whenhisdominionswerehalfdepopulated，hesummonedtohispresenceathousandhaleandlight-heartedfriendsfromamongtheknightsanddamesofhiscourt，andwiththeseretiredtothedeepseclusionofoneofhiscastellatedabbeys。Thiswasanextensiveandmagnificentstructure，thecreationoftheprince’sowneccentricyetaugusttaste。Astrongandloftywallgirdleditin。Thiswallhadgatesofiron。Thecourtiers，havingentered，broughtfurnacesandmassyhammersandweldedthebolts。Theyresolvedtoleavemeansneitherofingressoregresstothesuddenimpulsesofdespairoroffrenzyfromwithin。Theabbeywasamplyprovisioned。Withsuchprecautionsthecourtiersmightbiddefiancetocontagion。Theexternalworldcouldtakecareofitself。Inthemeantimeitwasfollytogrieve，ortothink。Theprincehadprovidedalltheappliancesofpleasure。Therewerebuffoons，therewereimprovisatori，therewereballet-dancers，thereweremusicians，therewasBeauty，therewaswine。Alltheseandsecuritywerewithin。Withoutwasthe“RedDeath。”
Itwastowardthecloseofthefifthorsixthmonthofhisseclusion，andwhilethepestilenceragedmostfuriouslyabroad，thatthePrinceProsperoentertainedhisthousandfriendsatamaskedballofthemostunusualmagnificence。
Itwasavoluptuousscene，thatmasquerade。Butfirstletmetelloftheroomsinwhichitwasheld。Thereweresevenanimperialsuite。Inmanypalaces，however，suchsuitesformalongandstraightvista，whilethefoldingdoorsslidebacknearlytothewallsoneitherhand，sothattheviewofthewholeextentisscarcelyimpeded。Herethecasewasverydifferent；asmighthavebeenexpectedfromtheduke’sloveofthebizarre。Theapartmentsweresoirregularlydisposedthatthevisionembracedbutlittlemorethanoneatatime。Therewasasharpturnateverytwentyorthirtyyards，andateachturnanoveleffect。Totherightandleft，inthemiddleofeachwall，atallandnarrowGothicwindowlookedoutuponaclosedcorridorwhichpursuedthewindingsofthesuite。Thesewindowswereofstainedglasswhosecolorvariedinaccordancewiththeprevailinghueofthedecorationsofthechamberintowhichitopened。Thatattheeasternextremitywashung，forexample，inblueandvividlybluewereitswindows。Thesecondchamberwaspurpleinitsornamentsandtapestries，andherethepaneswerepurple。Thethirdwasgreenthroughout，andsowerethecasements。Thefourthwasfurnishedandlightedwithorangethefifthwithwhitethesixthwithviolet。Theseventhapartmentwascloselyshroudedinblackvelvettapestriesthathungallovertheceilinganddownthewalls，fallinginheavyfoldsuponacarpetofthesamematerialandhue。Butinthischamberonly，thecolorofthewindowsfailedtocorrespondwiththedecorations。Thepanesherewerescarletadeepbloodcolor。Nowinnooneofthesevenapartmentswasthereanylamporcandelabrum，amidtheprofusionofgoldenornamentsthatlayscatteredtoandfroordependedfromtheroof。Therewasnolightofanykindemanatingfromlamporcandlewithinthesuiteofchambers。
Butinthecorridorsthatfollowedthesuite，therestood，oppositetoeachwindow，aheavytripod，bearingabrazieroffirethatprotecteditsraysthroughthetintedglassandsoglaringlyilluminedtheroom。Andthuswereproducedamultitudeofgaudyandfantasticappearances。Butinthewesternorblackchambertheeffectofthefire-lightthatstreameduponthedarkhangingsthroughtheblood-tintedpanes，wasghastlyintheextreme，andproducedsowildalookuponthecountenancesofthosewhoentered，thattherewerefewofthecompanyboldenoughtosetfootwithinitsprecinctsatall。
Itwasinthisapartment，also，thattherestoodagainstthewesternwall，agiganticclockofebony。Itspendulumswungtoandfrowithadull，heavy，monotonousclang；andwhentheminute-handmadethecircuitoftheface，andthehourwastobestricken，therecamefromthebrazenlungsoftheclockasoundwhichwasclearandloudanddeepandexceedinglymusical，butofsopeculiaranoteandemphasisthat，ateachlapseofanhour，themusiciansoftheorchestrawereconstrainedtopause，momentarily，intheirperformance，tohearkentothesound；andthusthewaltzersperforceceasedtheirevolutions；
andtherewasabriefdisconcertofthewholegaycompany；and，whilethechimesoftheclockyetrang，itwasobservedthatthegiddiestgrewpale，andthemoreagedandsedatepassedtheirhandsovertheirbrowsasifinconfusedreverieormeditation。Butwhentheechoeshadfullyceased，alightlaughteratoncepervadedtheassembly；themusicianslookedateachotherandsmiledasifattheirownnervousnessandfolly，andmadewhisperingvows，eachtotheother，thatthenextchimingoftheclockshouldproduceinthemnosimilaremotion；andthen，afterthelapseofsixtyminutes，whichembracethreethousandandsixhundredsecondsoftheTimethatflies，therecameyetanotherchimingoftheclock，andthenwerethesamedisconcertandtremulousnessandmeditationasbefore。
But，inspiteofthesethings，itwasagayandmagnificentrevel。
Thetastesofthedukewerepeculiar。Hehadafineeyeforcolorsandeffects。Hedisregardedthedecoraofmerefashion。Hisplanswereboldandfiery，andhisconceptionsglowedwithbarbariclustre。
Therearesomewhowouldhavethoughthimmad。Hisfollowersfeltthathewasnot。Itwasnecessarytohearandseeandtouchhimtobesurethathewasnot。
Hehaddirected，ingreatpart，themoveableembellishmentsofthesevenchambers，uponoccasionofthisgreatfete；anditwashisownguidingtastewhichhadgivencharactertothemasqueraders。Besuretheyweregrotesque。Thereweremuchglareandglitterandpiquancyandphantasmmuchofwhathasbeensinceseenin“Hernani。”Therewerearabesquefigureswithunsuitedlimbsandappointments。Thereweredeliriousfanciessuchasthemadmanfashions。Therewasmuchofthebeautiful，muchofthewanton，muchofthebizarre，somethingoftheterrible，andnotalittleofthatwhichmighthaveexciteddisgust。Toandfrointhesevenchamberstherestalked，infact，amultitudeofdreams。Andthesethedreamswrithedinandabout，takinghuefromtherooms，andcausingthewildmusicoftheorchestratoseemastheechooftheirsteps。And，anon，therestrikestheebonyclockwhichstandsinthehallofthevelvet。Andthen，foramoment，allisstill，andallissilentsavethevoiceoftheclock。Thedreamsarestiff-frozenastheystand。Buttheechoesofthechimedieawaytheyhaveenduredbutaninstantandalight，half-subduedlaughterfloatsafterthemastheydepart。Andnowagainthemusicswells，andthedreamslive，andwrithetoandfromoremerrilythanever，takinghuefromthemany-tintedwindowsthroughwhichstreamtheraysfromthetripods。Buttothechamberwhichliesmostwestwardlyoftheseven，therearenownoneofthemaskerswhoventure；forthenightiswaningaway；andthereflowsaruddierlightthroughtheblood-coloredpanes；andtheblacknessofthesabledraperyappals；andtohimwhosefootfallsuponthesablecarpet，therecomesfromthenearclockofebonyamuffledpealmoresolemnlyemphaticthananywhichreachestheirearswhoindulgeinthemoreremotegaietiesoftheotherapartments。