Headmitted，however，althoughwithhesitation，thatmuchofthepeculiargloomwhichthusafflictedhimcouldbetracedtoamorenaturalandfarmorepalpableorigin-tothesevereandlong-continuedillness-indeedtotheevidentlyapproachingdissolution-ofatenderlybelovedsister-hissolecompanionforlongyears-hislastandonlyrelativeonearth。“Herdecease。”hesaid，withabitternesswhichIcanneverforget，“wouldleavehimhimthehopelessandthefrailthelastoftheancientraceoftheUshers。”Whilehespoke，theladyMadelineforsowasshecalled
passedslowlythrougharemoteportionoftheapartment，and，withouthavingnoticedmypresence，disappeared。Iregardedherwithanutterastonishmentnotunmingledwithdread-andyetIfounditimpossibletoaccountforsuchfeelings。Asensationofstuporoppressedme，asmyeyesfollowedherretreatingsteps。Whenadoor，atlength，closeduponher，myglancesoughtinstinctivelyandeagerlythecountenanceofthebrother-buthehadburiedhisfaceinhishands，andIcouldonlyperceivethatafarmorethanordinarywannesshadoverspreadtheemaciatedfingersthroughwhichtrickledmanypassionatetears。
ThediseaseoftheladyMadelinehadlongbaffledtheskillofherphysicians。Asettledapathy，agradualwastingawayoftheperson，andfrequentalthoughtransientaffectionsofapartiallycatalepticalcharacter，weretheunusualdiagnosis。Hithertoshehadsteadilyborneupagainstthepressureofhermalady，andhadnotbetakenherselffinallytobed；but，ontheclosinginoftheeveningofmyarrivalatthehouse，shesuccumbedasherbrothertoldmeatnightwithinexpressibleagitationtotheprostratingpowerofthedestroyer；andIlearnedthattheglimpseIhadobtainedofherpersonwouldthusprobablybethelastIshouldobtain-thatthelady，atleastwhileliving，wouldbeseenbymenomore。
Forseveraldaysensuing，hernamewasunmentionedbyeitherUsherormyself：andduringthisperiodIwasbusiedinearnestendeavorstoalleviatethemelancholyofmyfriend。Wepaintedandreadtogether；orIlistened，asifinadream，tothewildimprovisationsofhisspeakingguitar。Andthus，asacloserandstillcloserintimacyadmittedmemoreunreservedlyintotherecessesofhisspirit，themorebitterlydidIperceivethefutilityofallattemptatcheeringamindfromwhichdarkness，asifaninherentpositivequality，pouredforthuponallobjectsofthemoralandphysicaluniverse，inoneunceasingradiationofgloom。
IshalleverbearaboutmeamemoryofthemanysolemnhoursI
thusspentalonewiththemasteroftheHouseofUsher。YetIshouldfailinanyattempttoconveyanideaoftheexactcharacterofthestudies，oroftheoccupations，inwhichheinvolvedme，orledmetheway。Anexcitedandhighlydistemperedidealitythrewasulphureouslustreoverall。Hislongimproviseddirgeswillringforeverinmyears。Amongotherthings，IholdpainfullyinmindacertainsingularperversionandamplificationofthewildairofthelastwaltzofVonWeber。Fromthepaintingsoverwhichhiselaboratefancybrooded，andwhichgrew，touchbytouch，intovaguenessesatwhichIshudderedthemorethrillingly，becauseIshudderedknowingnotwhy；-fromthesepaintingsvividastheirimagesnowarebeforemeIwouldinvainendeavortoeducemorethanasmallportionwhichshouldliewithinthecompassofmerelywrittenwords。
Bytheuttersimplicity，bythenakednessofhisdesigns，hearrestedandoverawedattention。Ifevermortalpaintedanidea，thatmortalwasRoderickUsher。Formeatleast-inthecircumstancesthensurroundingme-therearoseoutofthepureabstractionswhichthehypochondriaccontrivedtothrowuponhiscanvass，anintensityofintolerableawe，noshadowofwhichfeltIeveryetinthecontemplationofthecertainlyglowingyettooconcretereveriesofFuseli。
Oneofthephantasmagoricconceptionsofmyfriend，partakingnotsorigidlyofthespiritofabstraction，maybeshadowedforth，althoughfeebly，inwords。Asmallpicturepresentedtheinteriorofanimmenselylongandrectangularvaultortunnel，withlowwalls，smooth，white，andwithoutinterruptionordevice。Certainaccessorypointsofthedesignservedwelltoconveytheideathatthisexcavationlayatanexceedingdepthbelowthesurfaceoftheearth。
Nooutletwasobservedinanyportionofitsvastextent，andnotorch，orotherartificialsourceoflightwasdiscernible；yetafloodofintenseraysrolledthroughout，andbathedthewholeinaghastlyandinappropriatesplendor。
Ihavejustspokenofthatmorbidconditionoftheauditorynervewhichrenderedallmusicintolerabletothesufferer，withtheexceptionofcertaineffectsofstringedinstruments。Itwas，perhaps，thenarrowlimitstowhichhethusconfinedhimselfupontheguitar，whichgavebirth，ingreatmeasure，tothefantasticcharacterofhisperformances。Butthefervid_facility_ofhis_impromptus_couldnotbesoaccountedfor。Theymusthavebeen，andwere，inthenotes，aswellasinthewordsofhiswildfantasiasforhenotunfrequentlyaccompaniedhimselfwithrhymedverbalimprovisations，theresultofthatintensementalcollectednessandconcentrationtowhichIhavepreviouslyalludedasobservableonlyinparticularmomentsofthehighestartificialexcitement。ThewordsofoneoftheserhapsodiesIhaveeasilyremembered。Iwas，perhaps，themoreforciblyimpressedwithit，ashegaveit，because，intheunderormysticcurrentofitsmeaning，IfanciedthatIperceived，andforthefirsttime，afullconsciousnessonthepartofUsher，ofthetotteringofhisloftyreasonuponherthrone。Theverses，whichwereentitled“TheHauntedPalace。”ranverynearly，ifnotaccurately，thus：
Inthegreenestofourvalleys，Bygoodangelstenanted，Onceafairandstatelypalace-
Radiantpalace-reareditshead。
InthemonarchThought’sdominion-
Itstoodthere！
NeverseraphspreadapinionOverfabrichalfsofair。
Bannersyellow，glorious，golden，Onitsroofdidfloatandflow；
This-allthis-wasintheoldenTimelongago
Andeverygentleairthatdallied，Inthatsweetday，Alongtherampartsplumedandpallid，Awingedodorwentaway。
WanderersinthathappyvalleyThroughtwoluminouswindowssawSpiritsmovingmusicallyToalute’swell-tun閐law，Roundaboutathrone，wheresittingPorphyrogene！
Instatehisglorywellbefitting，Theruleroftherealmwasseen。
IV。
AndallwithpearlandrubyglowingWasthefairpalacedoor，Throughwhichcameflowing，flowing，flowing，Andsparklingevermore，AtroopofEchoeswhosesweetdutyWasbuttosing，Invoicesofsurpassingbeauty，Thewitandwisdomoftheirking。
V。
Butevilthings，inrobesofsorrow，Assailedthemonarch’shighestate；
Ah，letusmourn，fornevermorrowShalldawnuponhim，desolate！
And，roundabouthishome，thegloryThatblushedandbloomedIsbutadim-rememberedstoryOftheoldtimeentombed。
VI。
Andtravellersnowwithinthatvalley，Throughthered-littenwindows，seeVastformsthatmovefantasticallyToadiscordantmelody；
While，likearapidghastlyriver，Throughthepaledoor，Ahideousthrongrushoutforever，Andlaugh-butsmilenomore。
Iwellrememberthatsuggestionsarisingfromthisballad，ledusintoatrainofthoughtwhereintherebecamemanifestanopinionofUsher’swhichImentionnotsomuchonaccountofitsnovelty，forothermen*havethoughtthus，asonaccountofthepertinacitywithwhichhemaintainedit。Thisopinion，initsgeneralform，wasthatofthesentienceofallvegetablethings。But，inhisdisorderedfancy，theideahadassumedamoredaringcharacter，andtrespassed，undercertainconditions，uponthekingdomofinorganization。Ilackwordstoexpressthefullextent，ortheearnest_abandon_ofhispersuasion。Thebelief，however，wasconnectedasIhavepreviouslyhintedwiththegraystonesofthehomeofhisforefathers。Theconditionsofthesentiencehadbeenhere，heimagined，fulfilledinthemethodofcollocationofthesestones-intheorderoftheirarrangement，aswellasinthatofthemany_fungi_whichoverspreadthem，andofthedecayedtreeswhichstoodaround-aboveall，inthelongundisturbedenduranceofthisarrangement，andinitsreduplicationinthestillwatersofthetarn。Itsevidence-theevidenceofthesentience-wastobeseen，hesaid，andIherestartedashespoke，inthegradualyetcertaincondensationofanatmosphereoftheirownaboutthewatersandthewalls。Theresultwasdiscoverable，headded，inthatsilent，yetimportunateandterribleinfluencewhichforcenturieshadmouldedthedestiniesofhisfamily，andwhichmade_him_whatInowsawhim-whathewas。
Suchopinionsneednocomment，andIwillmakenone。
*Watson，Dr。Percival，Spallanzani，andespeciallytheBishopofLandaff-See“ChemicalEssays。”volv。
Ourbooks-thebookswhich，foryears，hadformednosmallportionofthementalexistenceoftheinvalid-were，asmightbesupposed，instrictkeepingwiththischaracterofphantasm。WeporedtogetheroversuchworksastheVervertetChartreuseofGresset；theBelphegorofMachiavelli；theHeavenandHellofSwedenborg；theSubterraneanVoyageofNicholasKlimmbyHolberg；
theChiromancyofRobertFlud，ofJeanD’Indagin？andofDelaChambre；theJourneyintotheBlueDistanceofTieck；andtheCityoftheSunofCampanella。Onefavoritevolumewasasmalloctavoeditionofthe_DirectoriumInquisitorium_，bytheDominicanEymericdeGironne；andtherewerepassagesinPomponiusMela，abouttheoldAfricanSatyrsand実ipans，overwhichUsherwouldsitdreamingforhours。Hischiefdelight，however，wasfoundintheperusalofanexceedinglyrareandcuriousbookinquartoGothic-
themanualofaforgottenchurch-the_VigiliaeMortuorumsecundumChorumEcclesiaeMaguntinae_。
Icouldnothelpthinkingofthewildritualofthiswork，andofitsprobableinfluenceuponthehypochondriac，when，oneevening，havinginformedmeabruptlythattheladyMadelinewasnomore，hestatedhisintentionofpreservinghercorpseforafortnight，previouslytoitsfinalinterment，inoneofthenumerousvaultswithinthemainwallsofthebuilding。Theworldlyreason，however，assignedforthissingularproceeding，wasonewhichIdidnotfeelatlibertytodispute。Thebrotherhadbeenledtohisresolutionsohetoldmebyconsiderationoftheunusualcharacterofthemaladyofthedeceased，ofcertainobtrusiveandeagerinquiriesonthepartofhermedicalmen，andoftheremoteandexposedsituationoftheburial-groundofthefamily。IwillnotdenythatwhenI
calledtomindthesinistercountenanceofthepersonwhomImetuponthestaircase，onthedayofmyarrivalatthehouse，IhadnodesiretoopposewhatIregardedasatbestbutaharmless，andbynomeansanunnatural，precaution。
AttherequestofUsher，Ipersonallyaidedhiminthearrangementsforthetemporaryentombment。Thebodyhavingbeenencoffined，wetwoaloneboreittoitsrest。Thevaultinwhichweplaceditandwhichhadbeensolongunopenedthatourtorches，halfsmotheredinitsoppressiveatmosphere，gaveuslittleopportunityforinvestigationwassmall，damp，andentirelywithoutmeansofadmissionforlight；lying，atgreatdepth，immediatelybeneaththatportionofthebuildinginwhichwasmyownsleepingapartment。
Ithadbeenused，apparently，inremotefeudaltimes，fortheworstpurposesofadonjon-keep，and，inlaterdays，asaplaceofdepositforpowder，orsomeotherhighlycombustiblesubstance，asaportionofitsfloor，andthewholeinteriorofalongarchwaythroughwhichwereachedit，werecarefullysheathedwithcopper。Thedoor，ofmassiveiron，hadbeen，also，similarlyprotected。Itsimmenseweightcausedanunusuallysharpgratingsound，asitmoveduponitshinges。
Havingdepositedourmournfulburdenupontresselswithinthisregionofhorror，wepartiallyturnedasidetheyetunscrewedlidofthecoffin，andlookeduponthefaceofthetenant。Astrikingsimilitudebetweenthebrotherandsisternowfirstarrestedmyattention；andUsher，divining，perhaps，mythoughts，murmuredoutsomefewwordsfromwhichIlearnedthatthedeceasedandhimselfhadbeentwins，andthatsympathiesofascarcelyintelligiblenaturehadalwaysexistedbetweenthem。Ourglances，however，restednotlonguponthedead-forwecouldnotregardherunawed。Thediseasewhichhadthusentombedtheladyinthematurityofyouth，hadleft，asusualinallmaladiesofastrictlycatalepticalcharacter，themockeryofafaintblushuponthebosomandtheface，andthatsuspiciouslylingeringsmileuponthelipwhichissoterribleindeath。Wereplacedandscreweddownthelid，and，havingsecuredthedoorofiron，madeourway，withtoil，intothescarcelylessgloomyapartmentsoftheupperportionofthehouse。
Andnow，somedaysofbittergriefhavingelapsed，anobservablechangecameoverthefeaturesofthementaldisorderofmyfriend。
Hisordinarymannerhadvanished。Hisordinaryoccupationswereneglectedorforgotten。Heroamedfromchambertochamberwithhurried，unequal，andobjectlessstep。Thepallorofhiscountenancehadassumed，ifpossible，amoreghastlyhue-buttheluminousnessofhiseyehadutterlygoneout。Theonceoccasionalhuskinessofhistonewasheardnomore；andatremulousquaver，asifofextremeterror，habituallycharacterizedhisutterance。Thereweretimes，indeed，whenIthoughthisunceasinglyagitatedmindwaslaboringwithsomeoppressivesecret，todivulgewhichhestruggledforthenecessarycourage。Attimes，again，Iwasobligedtoresolveallintothemereinexplicablevagariesofmadness，forIbeheldhimgazinguponvacancyforlonghours，inanattitudeoftheprofoundestattention，asiflisteningtosomeimaginarysound。Itwasnowonderthathisconditionterrified-thatitinfectedme。Ifeltcreepinguponme，byslowyetcertaindegrees，thewildinfluencesofhisownfantasticyetimpressivesuperstitions。
Itwas，especially，uponretiringtobedlateinthenightoftheseventhoreighthdayaftertheplacingoftheladyMadelinewithinthedonjon，thatIexperiencedthefullpowerofsuchfeelings。Sleepcamenotnearmycouch-whilethehourswanedandwanedaway。I