TheTell-TaleHeart。
TRUE！-nervous-very，verydreadfullynervousIhadbeenandam；butwhywillyousaythatIammad？Thediseasehadsharpenedmysenses-notdestroyed-notdulledthem。Aboveallwasthesenseofhearingacute。Iheardallthingsintheheavenandintheearth。I
heardmanythingsinhell。How，then，amImad？Hearken！andobservehowhealthily-howcalmlyIcantellyouthewholestory。
Itisimpossibletosayhowfirsttheideaenteredmybrain；butonceconceived，ithauntedmedayandnight。Objecttherewasnone。
Passiontherewasnone。Ilovedtheoldman。Hehadneverwrongedme。
Hehadnevergivenmeinsult。ForhisgoldIhadnodesire。Ithinkitwashiseye！yes，itwasthis！Hehadtheeyeofavulture-apaleblueeye，withafilmoverit。Wheneveritfelluponme，mybloodrancold；andsobydegrees-verygradually-Imadeupmymindtotakethelifeoftheoldman，andthusridmyselfoftheeyeforever。
Nowthisisthepoint。Youfancymemad。Madmenknownothing。Butyoushouldhaveseenme。YoushouldhaveseenhowwiselyIproceeded-
withwhatcaution-withwhatforesight-withwhatdissimulationI
wenttowork！IwasneverkindertotheoldmanthanduringthewholeweekbeforeIkilledhim。Andeverynight，aboutmidnight，Iturnedthelatchofhisdoorandopenedit-ohsogently！Andthen，whenI
hadmadeanopeningsufficientformyhead，Iputinadarklantern，allclosed，closed，thatnolightshoneout，andthenIthrustinmyhead。Oh，youwouldhavelaughedtoseehowcunninglyIthrustitin！
Imoveditslowly-very，veryslowly，sothatImightnotdisturbtheoldman’ssleep。IttookmeanhourtoplacemywholeheadwithintheopeningsofarthatIcouldseehimashelayuponhisbed。Ha！
wouldamadmanhavebeensowiseasthis，Andthen，whenmyheadwaswellintheroom，Iundidthelanterncautiously-oh，socautiously-
cautiouslyforthehingescreaked-Iundiditjustsomuchthatasinglethinrayfelluponthevultureeye。AndthisIdidforsevenlongnights-everynightjustatmidnight-butIfoundtheeyealwaysclosed；andsoitwasimpossibletodothework；foritwasnottheoldmanwhovexedme，buthisEvilEye。Andeverymorning，whenthedaybroke，Iwentboldlyintothechamber，andspokecourageouslytohim，callinghimbynameinaheartytone，andinquiringhowhehaspassedthenight。Soyouseehewouldhavebeenaveryprofoundoldman，indeed，tosuspectthateverynight，justattwelve，Ilookedinuponhimwhileheslept。
UpontheeighthnightIwasmorethanusuallycautiousinopeningthedoor。Awatch’sminutehandmovesmorequicklythandidmine。NeverbeforethatnighthadIfelttheextentofmyownpowers-ofmysagacity。Icouldscarcelycontainmyfeelingsoftriumph。TothinkthatthereIwas，openingthedoor，littlebylittle，andhenoteventodreamofmysecretdeedsorthoughts。Ifairlychuckledattheidea；andperhapsheheardme；forhemovedonthebedsuddenly，asifstartled。NowyoumaythinkthatIdrewback-butno。Hisroomwasasblackaspitchwiththethickdarkness，fortheshutterswereclosefastened，throughfearofrobbers，andsoIknewthathecouldnotseetheopeningofthedoor，andIkeptpushingitonsteadily，steadily。
Ihadmyheadin，andwasabouttoopenthelantern，whenmythumbslippeduponthetinfastening，andtheoldmansprangupinbed，cryingout-“Who’sthere？”
Ikeptquitestillandsaidnothing。ForawholehourIdidnotmoveamuscle，andinthemeantimeIdidnothearhimliedown。Hewasstillsittingupinthebedlistening；-justasIhavedone，nightafternight，hearkeningtothedeathwatchesinthewall。
PresentlyIheardaslightgroan，andIknewitwasthegroanofmortalterror。Itwasnotagroanofpainorofgrief-oh，no！-itwasthelowstifledsoundthatarisesfromthebottomofthesoulwhenoverchargedwithawe。Iknewthesoundwell。Manyanight，justatmidnight，whenalltheworldslept，ithaswelledupfrommyownbosom，deepening，withitsdreadfulecho，theterrorsthatdistractedme。IsayIknewitwell。Iknewwhattheoldmanfelt，andpitiedhim，althoughIchuckledatheart。Iknewthathehadbeenlyingawakeeversincethefirstslightnoise，whenhehadturnedinthebed。Hisfearshadbeeneversincegrowinguponhim。Hehadbeentryingtofancythemcauseless，butcouldnot。Hehadbeensayingtohimself-“Itisnothingbutthewindinthechimney-itisonlyamousecrossingthefloor。”or“Itismerelyacricketwhichhasmadeasinglechirp。”Yes，hehadbeentryingtocomforthimselfwiththesesuppositions：buthehadfoundallinvain。Allinvain；
becauseDeath，inapproachinghimhadstalkedwithhisblackshadowbeforehim，andenvelopedthevictim。Anditwasthemournfulinfluenceoftheunperceivedshadowthatcausedhimtofeel-
althoughheneithersawnorheard-tofeelthepresenceofmyheadwithintheroom。
WhenIhadwaitedalongtime，verypatiently，withouthearinghimliedown，Iresolvedtoopenalittle-avery，verylittlecreviceinthelantern。SoIopenedit-youcannotimaginehowstealthily，stealthily-until，atlengthasimpledimray，likethethreadofthespider，shotfromoutthecreviceandfellfulluponthevultureeye。
Itwasopen-wide，wideopen-andIgrewfuriousasIgazeduponit。Isawitwithperfectdistinctness-alladullblue，withahideousveiloveritthatchilledtheverymarrowinmybones；butI
couldseenothingelseoftheoldman’sfaceorperson：forIhaddirectedtherayasifbyinstinct，preciselyuponthedamnedspot。
AndhaveInottoldyouthatwhatyoumistakeformadnessisbutover-acutenessofthesense？-now，Isay，therecametomyearsalow，dull，quicksound，suchasawatchmakeswhenenvelopedincotton。Iknewthatsoundwell，too。Itwasthebeatingoftheoldman’sheart。Itincreasedmyfury，asthebeatingofadrumstimulatesthesoldierintocourage。
ButevenyetIrefrainedandkeptstill。Iscarcelybreathed。Iheldthelanternmotionless。ItriedhowsteadilyIcouldmaintaintherayupontheeve。Meantimethehellishtattoooftheheartincreased。Itgrewquickerandquicker，andlouderandloudereveryinstant。Theoldman’sterrormusthavebeenextreme！Itgrewlouder，Isay，loudereverymoment！-doyoumarkmewellIhavetoldyouthatIamnervous：soIam。Andnowatthedeadhourofthenight，amidthedreadfulsilenceofthatoldhouse，sostrangeanoiseasthisexcitedmetouncontrollableterror。Yet，forsomeminuteslongerI
refrainedandstoodstill。Butthebeatinggrewlouder，louder！I
thoughttheheartmustburst。Andnowanewanxietyseizedme-thesoundwouldbeheardbyaneighbour！Theoldman’shourhadcome！
Withaloudyell，Ithrewopenthelanternandleapedintotheroom。
Heshriekedonce-onceonly。InaninstantIdraggedhimtothefloor，andpulledtheheavybedoverhim。Ithensmiledgaily，tofindthedeedsofardone。But，formanyminutes，theheartbeatonwithamuffledsound。This，however，didnotvexme；itwouldnotbeheardthroughthewall。Atlengthitceased。Theoldmanwasdead。I
removedthebedandexaminedthecorpse。Yes，hewasstone，stonedead。Iplacedmyhandupontheheartandheldittheremanyminutes。
Therewasnopulsation。Hewasstonedead。Hisevewouldtroublemenomore。
Ifstillyouthinkmemad，youwillthinksonolongerwhenI
describethewiseprecautionsItookfortheconcealmentofthebody。
Thenightwaned，andIworkedhastily，butinsilence。FirstofallI
dismemberedthecorpse。Icutofftheheadandthearmsandthelegs。
Ithentookupthreeplanksfromtheflooringofthechamber，anddepositedallbetweenthescantlings。Ithenreplacedtheboardssocleverly，socunningly，thatnohumaneye-notevenhis-couldhavedetectedanythingwrong。Therewasnothingtowashout-nostainofanykind-noblood-spotwhatever。Ihadbeentoowaryforthat。A
tubhadcaughtall-ha！ha！
WhenIhadmadeanendoftheselabors，itwasfouro’clock-stilldarkasmidnight。Asthebellsoundedthehour，therecameaknockingatthestreetdoor。Iwentdowntoopenitwithalightheart，-forwhathadInowtofear？Thereenteredthreemen，whointroducedthemselves，withperfectsuavity，asofficersofthepolice。Ashriekhadbeenheardbyaneighbourduringthenight；suspicionoffoulplayhadbeenaroused；informationhadbeenlodgedatthepoliceoffice，andtheytheofficershadbeendeputedtosearchthepremises。
Ismiled，-forwhathadItofear？Ibadethegentlemenwelcome。Theshriek，Isaid，wasmyowninadream。Theoldman，Imentioned，wasabsentinthecountry。Itookmyvisitorsalloverthehouse。Ibadethemsearch-searchwell。Iledthem，atlength，tohischamber。I
showedthemhistreasures，secure，undisturbed。Intheenthusiasmofmyconfidence，Ibroughtchairsintotheroom，anddesiredthemheretorestfromtheirfatigues，whileImyself，inthewildaudacityofmyperfecttriumph，placedmyownseatupontheveryspotbeneathwhichreposedthecorpseofthevictim。
Theofficersweresatisfied。Mymannerhadconvincedthem。Iwassingularlyatease。Theysat，andwhileIansweredcheerily，theychattedoffamiliarthings。But，erelong，Ifeltmyselfgettingpaleandwishedthemgone。Myheadached，andIfanciedaringinginmyears：butstilltheysatandstillchatted。Theringingbecamemoredistinct：-Itcontinuedandbecamemoredistinct：Italkedmorefreelytogetridofthefeeling：butitcontinuedandgaineddefiniteness-until，atlength，Ifoundthatthenoisewasnotwithinmyears。
NodoubtInowgrew_very_pale；-butItalkedmorefluently，andwithaheightenedvoice。Yetthesoundincreased-andwhatcouldI
do？Itwasalow，dull，quicksound-muchsuchasoundasawatchmakeswhenenvelopedincotton。Igaspedforbreath-andyettheofficershearditnot。Italkedmorequickly-morevehemently；butthenoisesteadilyincreased。Iaroseandarguedabouttrifles，inahighkeyandwithviolentgesticulations；butthenoisesteadilyincreased。Whywouldtheynotbegone？Ipacedthefloortoandfrowithheavystrides，asifexcitedtofurybytheobservationsofthemen-butthenoisesteadilyincreased。OhGod！whatcouldIdo？I
foamed-Iraved-Iswore！IswungthechairuponwhichIhadbeensitting，andgrateditupontheboards，butthenoisearoseoverallandcontinuallyincreased。Itgrewlouder-louder-louder！Andstillthemenchattedpleasantly，andsmiled。Wasitpossibletheyheardnot？AlmightyGod！-no，no！Theyheard！-theysuspected！-
theyknew！-theyweremakingamockeryofmyhorror！-thisIthought，andthisIthink。Butanythingwasbetterthanthisagony！Anythingwasmoretolerablethanthisderision！Icouldbearthosehypocriticalsmilesnolonger！IfeltthatImustscreamordie！andnow-again！-hark！louder！louder！louder！louder！
“Villains！”Ishrieked，“dissemblenomore！Iadmitthedeed！-tearuptheplanks！here，here！-Itisthebeatingofhishideousheart！”
Dicebantmihisodales，sisepulchrumamicaevisitarem，curasmeasaliquantulumforelevatas-
_EbnZaiat_。
MISERYismanifold。Thewretchednessofearthismultiform。
Overreachingthewidehorizonastherainbow，itshuesareasvariousasthehuesofthatarch-asdistincttoo，yetasintimatelyblended。Overreachingthewidehorizonastherainbow！HowisitthatfrombeautyIhavederivedatypeofunloveliness？-fromthecovenantofpeace，asimileofsorrow？Butas，inethics，evilisaconsequenceofgood，so，infact，outofjoyissorrowborn。Eitherthememoryofpastblissistheanguishofto-day，ortheagonieswhich_are_，havetheiroriginintheecstasieswhich_mighthavebeen_。
MybaptismalnameisEgaeus；thatofmyfamilyIwillnotmention。Yettherearenotowersinthelandmoretime-honoredthanmygloomy，gray，hereditaryhalls。Ourlinehasbeencalledaraceofvisionaries；andinmanystrikingparticulars-inthecharacterofthefamilymansion-inthefrescosofthechiefsaloon-inthetapestriesofthedormitories-inthechisellingofsomebuttressesinthearmory-butmoreespeciallyinthegalleryofantiquepaintings-inthefashionofthelibrarychamber-and，lastly，intheverypeculiarnatureofthelibrary’scontents-thereismorethansufficientevidencetowarrantthebelief。
Therecollectionsofmyearliestyearsareconnectedwiththatchamber，andwithitsvolumes-ofwhichlatterIwillsaynomore。
Herediedmymother。HereinwasIborn。ButitismereidlenesstosaythatIhadnotlivedbefore-thatthesoulhasnopreviousexistence。Youdenyit？-letusnotarguethematter。Convincedmyself，Iseeknottoconvince。Thereis，however，aremembranceofaerialforms-ofspiritualandmeaningeyes-ofsounds，musicalyetsad-aremembrancewhichwillnotbeexcluded；amemorylikeashadow-vague，variable，indefinite，unsteady；andlikeashadow，too，intheimpossibilityofmygettingridofitwhilethesunlightofmyreasonshallexist。
InthatchamberwasIborn。Thusawakingfromthelongnightofwhatseemed，butwasnot，nonentity，atonceintotheveryregionsoffairyland-intoapalaceofimagination-intothewilddominionsofmonasticthoughtanderudition-itisnotsingularthatIgazedaroundmewithastartledandardenteye-thatIloiteredawaymyboyhoodinbooks，anddissipatedmyyouthinreverie；butit_is_
singularthatasyearsrolledaway，andthenoonofmanhoodfoundmestillinthemansionofmyfathers-it_is_wonderfulwhatstagnationtherefelluponthespringsofmylife-wonderfulhowtotalaninversiontookplaceinthecharacterofmycommonestthought。Therealitiesoftheworldaffectedmeasvisions，andasvisionsonly，whilethewildideasofthelandofdreamsbecame，inturn，notthematerialofmyevery-dayexistence，butinverydeedthatexistenceutterlyandsolelyinitself。