minutelyrememberthedetailsofthechamberyetIamsadlyforgetfulontopicsofdeepmomentandheretherewasnosystem，nokeeping，inthefantasticdisplay，totakeholduponthememory。
Theroomlayinahighturretofthecastellatedabbey，waspentagonalinshape，andofcapacioussize。OccupyingthewholesouthernfaceofthepentagonwasthesolewindowanimmensesheetofunbrokenglassfromVeniceasinglepane，andtintedofaleadenhue，sothattheraysofeitherthesunormoon，passingthroughit，fellwithaghastlylustreontheobjectswithin。Overtheupperportionofthishugewindow，extendedthetrellice-workofanagedvine，whichclamberedupthemassywallsoftheturret。Theceiling，ofgloomy-lookingoak，wasexcessivelylofty，vaulted，andelaboratelyfrettedwiththewildestandmostgrotesquespecimensofasemi-Gothic，semi-Druidicaldevice。Fromoutthemostcentralrecessofthismelancholyvaulting，depended，byasinglechainofgoldwithlonglinks，ahugecenserofthesamemetal，Saracenicinpattern，andwithmanyperforationssocontrivedthattherewrithedinandoutofthem，asifenduedwithaserpentvitality，acontinualsuccessionofparti-coloredfires。
Somefewottomansandgoldencandelabra，ofEasternfigure，wereinvariousstationsaboutandtherewasthecouch，toobridalcouchofanIndianmodel，andlow，andsculpturedofsolidebony，withapall-likecanopyabove。Ineachoftheanglesofthechamberstoodonendagiganticsarcophagusofblackgranite，fromthetombsofthekingsoveragainstLuxor，withtheiragedlidsfullofimmemorialsculpture。Butinthedrapingoftheapartmentlay，alas！
thechiefphantasyofall。Theloftywalls，giganticinheight
evenunproportionablysowerehungfromsummittofoot，invastfolds，withaheavyandmassive-lookingtapestrytapestryofamaterialwhichwasfoundalikeasacarpetonthefloor，asacoveringfortheottomansandtheebonybed，asacanopyforthebed，andasthegorgeousvolutesofthecurtainswhichpartiallyshadedthewindow。Thematerialwastherichestclothofgold。Itwasspottedallover，atirregularintervals，witharabesquefigures，aboutafootindiameter，andwroughtupontheclothinpatternsofthemostjettyblack。Butthesefigurespartookofthetruecharacterofthearabesqueonlywhenregardedfromasinglepointofview。Byacontrivancenowcommon，andindeedtraceabletoaveryremoteperiodofantiquity，theyweremadechangeableinaspect。Tooneenteringtheroom，theyboretheappearanceofsimplemonstrosities；butuponafartheradvance，thisappearancegraduallydeparted；andstepbystep，asthevisitormovedhisstationinthechamber，hesawhimselfsurroundedbyanendlesssuccessionoftheghastlyformswhichbelongtothesuperstitionoftheNorman，orariseintheguiltyslumbersofthemonk。Thephantasmagoriceffectwasvastlyheightenedbytheartificialintroductionofastrongcontinualcurrentofwindbehindthedraperiesgivingahideousanduneasyanimationtothewhole。
InhallssuchastheseinabridalchambersuchasthisI
passed，withtheLadyofTremaine，theunhallowedhoursofthefirstmonthofourmarriagepassedthemwithbutlittledisquietude。
ThatmywifedreadedthefiercemoodinessofmytemperthatsheshunnedmeandlovedmebutlittleIcouldnothelpperceiving；
butitgavemeratherpleasurethanotherwise。Iloathedherwithahatredbelongingmoretodemonthantoman。Mymemoryflewback，oh，withwhatintensityofregret！toLigeia，thebeloved，theaugust，thebeautiful，theentombed。Irevelledinrecollectionsofherpurity，ofherwisdom，ofherlofty，heretherealnature，ofherpassionate，heridolatrouslove。Now，then，didmyspiritfullyandfreelyburnwithmorethanallthefiresofherown。IntheexcitementofmyopiumdreamsforIwashabituallyfetteredintheshacklesofthedrugIwouldcallalouduponhername，duringthesilenceofthenight，oramongtheshelteredrecessesoftheglensbyday，asif，throughthewildeagerness，thesolemnpassion，theconsumingardorofmylongingforthedeparted，Icouldrestorehertothepathwayshehadabandonedah，coulditbeforever？upontheearth。
Aboutthecommencementofthesecondmonthofthemarriage，theLadyRowenawasattackedwithsuddenillness，fromwhichherrecoverywasslow。Thefeverwhichconsumedherrenderedhernightsuneasy；andinherperturbedstateofhalf-slumber，shespokeofsounds，andofmotions，inandaboutthechamberoftheturret，whichIconcludedhadnooriginsaveinthedistemperofherfancy，orperhapsinthephantasmagoricinfluencesofthechamberitself。Shebecameatlengthconvalescentfinallywell。Yetbutabriefperiodelapsed，ereasecondmoreviolentdisorderagainthrewheruponabedofsuffering；
andfromthisattackherframe，atalltimesfeeble，neveraltogetherrecovered。Herillnesseswere，afterthisepoch，ofalarmingcharacter，andofmorealarmingrecurrence，defyingaliketheknowledgeandthegreatexertionsofherphysicians。Withtheincreaseofthechronicdiseasewhichhadthus，apparently，takentoosureholduponherconstitutiontobeeradicatedbyhumanmeans，I
couldnotfalltoobserveasimilarincreaseinthenervousirritationofhertemperament，andinherexcitabilitybytrivialcausesoffear。Shespokeagain，andnowmorefrequentlyandpertinaciously，ofthesoundsoftheslightsoundsandoftheunusualmotionsamongthetapestries，towhichshehadformerlyalluded。
Onenight，neartheclosinginofSeptember，shepressedthisdistressingsubjectwithmorethanusualemphasisuponmyattention。
Shehadjustawakenedfromanunquietslumber，andIhadbeenwatching，withfeelingshalfofanxiety，halfofvagueterror，theworkingsofheremaciatedcountenance。Isatbythesideofherebonybed，upononeoftheottomansofIndia。Shepartlyarose，andspoke，inanearnestlowwhisper，ofsoundswhichshethenheard，butwhichIcouldnothearofmotionswhichshethensaw，butwhichIcouldnotperceive。Thewindwasrushinghurriedlybehindthetapestries，andIwishedtoshowherwhat，letmeconfessit，Icouldnotallbelievethatthosealmostinarticulatebreathings，andthoseverygentlevariationsofthefiguresuponthewall，werebutthenaturaleffectsofthatcustomaryrushingofthewind。Butadeadlypallor，overspreadingherface，hadprovedtomethatmyexertionstoreassureherwouldbefruitless。Sheappearedtobefainting，andnoattendantswerewithincall。Irememberedwherewasdepositedadecanteroflightwinewhichhadbeenorderedbyherphysicians，andhastenedacrossthechambertoprocureit。But，asIsteppedbeneaththelightofthecenser，twocircumstancesofastartlingnatureattractedmyattention。Ihadfeltthatsomepalpablealthoughinvisibleobjecthadpassedlightlybymyperson；andIsawthattherelayuponthegoldencarpet，intheverymiddleoftherichlustrethrownfromthecenser，ashadowafaint，indefiniteshadowofangelicaspectsuchasmightbefanciedfortheshadowofashade。ButIwaswildwiththeexcitementofanimmoderatedoseofopium，andheededthesethingsbutlittle，norspokeofthemtoRowena。Havingfoundthewine，Irecrossedthechamber，andpouredoutagobletful，whichIheldtothelipsofthefaintinglady。Shehadnowpartiallyrecovered，however，andtookthevesselherself，whileIsankuponanottomannearme，withmyeyesfasteneduponherperson。ItwasthenthatIbecamedistinctlyawareofagentlefootfalluponthecarpet，andnearthecouch；andinasecondthereafter，asRowenawasintheactofraisingthewinetoherlips，Isaw，ormayhavedreamedthatIsaw，fallwithinthegoblet，asiffromsomeinvisiblespringintheatmosphereoftheroom，threeorfourlargedropsofabrilliantandrubycoloredfluid。IfthisIsawnotsoRowena。Sheswallowedthewineunhesitatingly，andI
forboretospeaktoherofacircumstancewhichmust，afterall，I
considered，havebeenbutthesuggestionofavividimagination，renderedmorbidlyactivebytheterrorofthelady，bytheopium，andbythehour。
YetIcannotconcealitfrommyownperceptionthat，immediatelysubsequenttothefalloftheruby-drops，arapidchangefortheworsetookplaceinthedisorderofmywife；sothat，onthethirdsubsequentnight，thehandsofhermenialspreparedherforthetomb，andonthefourth，Isatalone，withhershroudedbody，inthatfantasticchamberwhichhadreceivedherasmybride。Wildvisions，opium-engendered，flitted，shadow-like，beforeme。Igazedwithunquieteyeuponthesarcophagiintheanglesoftheroom，uponthevaryingfiguresofthedrapery，anduponthewrithingoftheparti-coloredfiresinthecenseroverhead。Myeyesthenfell，asI
calledtomindthecircumstancesofaformernight，tothespotbeneaththeglareofthecenserwhereIhadseenthefainttracesoftheshadow。Itwasthere，however，nolonger；andbreathingwithgreaterfreedom，Iturnedmyglancestothepallidandrigidfigureuponthebed。ThenrusheduponmeathousandmemoriesofLigeia
andthencamebackuponmyheart，withtheturbulentviolenceofaflood，thewholeofthatunutterablewowithwhichIhadregardedherthusenshrouded。Thenightwaned；andstill，withabosomfullofbitterthoughtsoftheoneonlyandsupremelybeloved，IremainedgazinguponthebodyofRowena。
Itmighthavebeenmidnight，orperhapsearlier，orlater，forIhadtakennonoteoftime，whenasob，low，gentle，butverydistinct，startledmefrommyrevery。Ifeltthatitcamefromthebedofebonythebedofdeath。Ilistenedinanagonyofsuperstitiousterrorbuttherewasnorepetitionofthesound。Istrainedmyvisiontodetectanymotioninthecorpsebuttherewasnottheslightestperceptible。YetIcouldnothavebeendeceived。Ihadheardthenoise，howeverfaint，andmysoulwasawakenedwithinme。I
resolutelyandperseveringlykeptmyattentionriveteduponthebody。
Manyminuteselapsedbeforeanycircumstanceoccurredtendingtothrowlightuponthemystery。Atlengthitbecameevidentthataslight，averyfeeble，andbarelynoticeabletingeofcolorhadflushedupwithinthecheeks，andalongthesunkensmallveinsoftheeyelids。Throughaspeciesofunutterablehorrorandawe，forwhichthelanguageofmortalityhasnosufficientlyenergeticexpression，I
feltmyheartceasetobeat，mylimbsgrowrigidwhereIsat。Yetasenseofdutyfinallyoperatedtorestoremyself-possession。Icouldnolongerdoubtthatwehadbeenprecipitateinourpreparations
thatRowenastilllived。Itwasnecessarythatsomeimmediateexertionbemade；yetturretwasaltogetherapartfromtheportionoftheabbeytenantedbytheservantstherewerenonewithincall
IhadnomeansofsummoningthemtomyaidwithoutleavingtheroomformanyminutesandthisIcouldnotventuretodo。Ithereforestruggledaloneinmyendeavorstocallbackthespiritillhovering。
Inashortperioditwascertain，however，thatarelapsehadtakenplace；thecolordisappearedfrombotheyelidandcheek，leavingawannessevenmorethanthatofmarble；thelipsbecamedoublyshrivelledandpinchedupintheghastlyexpressionofdeath；arepulsiveclamminessandcoldnessoverspreadrapidlythesurfaceofthebody；andalltheusualrigorousillnessimmediatelysupervened。
IfellbackwithashudderuponthecouchfromwhichIhadbeensostartlinglyaroused，andagaingavemyselfuptopassionatewakingvisionsofLigeia。
Anhourthuselapsedwhencoulditbepossible？Iwasasecondtimeawareofsomevaguesoundissuingfromtheregionofthebed。I
listenedinextremityofhorror。Thesoundcameagainitwasasigh。Rushingtothecorpse，Isawdistinctlysawatremoruponthelips。Inaminuteafterwardtheyrelaxed，disclosingabrightlineofthepearlyteeth。Amazementnowstruggledinmybosomwiththeprofoundawewhichhadhithertoreignedtherealone。Ifeltthatmyvisiongrewdim，thatmyreasonwandered；anditwasonlybyaviolenteffortthatIatlengthsucceededinnervingmyselftothetaskwhichdutythusoncemorehadpointedout。Therewasnowapartialglowupontheforeheadanduponthecheekandthroat；aperceptiblewarmthpervadedthewholeframe；therewasevenaslightpulsationattheheart。Theladylived；andwithredoubledardorI
betookmyselftothetaskofrestoration。Ichafedandbathedthetemplesandthehands，andusedeveryexertionwhichexperience，andnolittle。medicalreading，couldsuggest。Butinvain。Suddenly，thecolorfled，thepulsationceased，thelipsresumedtheexpressionofthedead，and，inaninstantafterward，thewholebodytookuponitselftheicychilliness，thelividhue，theintenserigidity，thesunkenoutline，andalltheloathsomepeculiaritiesofthatwhichhasbeen，formanydays，atenantofthetomb。
AndagainIsunkintovisionsofLigeiaandagain，whatmarvelthatIshudderwhileIwrite，againtherereachedmyearsalowsobfromtheregionoftheebonybed。ButwhyshallIminutelydetailtheunspeakablehorrorsofthatnight？WhyshallIpausetorelatehow，timeaftertime，untilneartheperiodofthegraydawn，thishideousdramaofrevivificationwasrepeated；howeachterrificrelapsewasonlyintoasternerandapparentlymoreirredeemabledeath；howeachagonyworetheaspectofastrugglewithsomeinvisiblefoe；andhoweachstrugglewassucceededbyIknownotwhatofwildchangeinthepersonalappearanceofthecorpse？Letmehurrytoaconclusion。