remained，untilthecrisisofthediseaserestoredme，suddenly，toperfectsensation。AtothertimesIwasquicklyandimpetuouslysmitten。Igrewsick，andnumb，andchilly，anddizzy，andsofellprostrateatonce。Then，forweeks，allwasvoid，andblack，andsilent，andNothingbecametheuniverse。Totalannihilationcouldbenomore。FromtheselatterattacksIawoke，however，withagradationslowinproportiontothesuddennessoftheseizure。JustasthedaydawnstothefriendlessandhouselessbeggarwhoroamsthestreetsthroughoutthelongdesolatewinternightjustsotardilyjustsowearilyjustsocheerilycamebackthelightoftheSoultome。
Apartfromthetendencytotrance，however，mygeneralhealthappearedtobegood；norcouldIperceivethatitwasatallaffectedbytheoneprevalentmaladyunless，indeed，anidiosyncrasyinmyordinarysleepmaybelookeduponassuperinduced。Uponawakingfromslumber，Icouldnevergain，atonce，thoroughpossessionofmysenses，andalwaysremained，formanyminutes，inmuchbewildermentandperplexity；thementalfacultiesingeneral，butthememoryinespecial，beinginaconditionofabsoluteabeyance。
InallthatIenduredtherewasnophysicalsufferingbutofmoraldistressaninfinitude。Myfancygrewcharnel，Italked“ofworms，oftombs，andepitaphs。”Iwaslostinreveriesofdeath，andtheideaofprematureburialheldcontinualpossessionofmybrain。TheghastlyDangertowhichIwassubjectedhauntedmedayandnight。Intheformer，thetortureofmeditationwasexcessiveinthelatter，supreme。WhenthegrimDarknessoverspreadtheEarth，then，witheveryhorrorofthought，Ishookshookasthequiveringplumesuponthehearse。WhenNaturecouldendurewakefulnessnolonger，itwaswithastrugglethatIconsentedtosleepforIshudderedtoreflectthat，uponawaking，Imightfindmyselfthetenantofagrave。Andwhen，finally，Isankintoslumber，itwasonlytorushatonceintoaworldofphantasms，abovewhich，withvast，sable，overshadowingwing，hovered，predominant，theonesepulchralIdea。
Fromtheinnumerableimagesofgloomwhichthusoppressedmeindreams，Iselectforrecordbutasolitaryvision。MethoughtIwasimmersedinacataleptictranceofmorethanusualdurationandprofundity。Suddenlytherecameanicyhanduponmyforehead，andanimpatient，gibberingvoicewhisperedtheword“Arise！”withinmyear。
Isaterect。Thedarknesswastotal。Icouldnotseethefigureofhimwhohadarousedme。IcouldcalltomindneithertheperiodatwhichIhadfallenintothetrance，northelocalityinwhichIthenlay。WhileIremainedmotionless，andbusiedinendeavorstocollectmythought，thecoldhandgraspedmefiercelybythewrist，shakingitpetulantly，whilethegibberingvoicesaidagain：
“Arise！didInotbidtheearise？”
“Andwho。”Idemanded，“artthou？”
“IhavenonameintheregionswhichIinhabit。”repliedthevoice，mournfully；“Iwasmortal，butamfiend。Iwasmerciless，butampitiful。ThoudostfeelthatIshudder。MyteethchatterasI
speak，yetitisnotwiththechillinessofthenightofthenightwithoutend。Butthishideousnessisinsufferable。Howcanstthoutranquillysleep？Icannotrestforthecryofthesegreatagonies。
ThesesightsaremorethanIcanbear。Gettheeup！ComewithmeintotheouterNight，andletmeunfoldtotheethegraves。Isnotthisaspectacleofwoe？Behold！”
Ilooked；andtheunseenfigure，whichstillgraspedmebythewrist，hadcausedtobethrownopenthegravesofallmankind，andfromeachissuedthefaintphosphoricradianceofdecay，sothatIcouldseeintotheinnermostrecesses，andthereviewtheshroudedbodiesintheirsadandsolemnslumberswiththeworm。Butalas！therealsleeperswerefewer，bymanymillions，thanthosewhoslumberednotatall；andtherewasafeeblestruggling；andtherewasageneralsadunrest；andfromoutthedepthsofthecountlesspitstherecameamelancholyrustlingfromthegarmentsoftheburied。Andofthosewhoseemedtranquillytorepose，Isawthatavastnumberhadchanged，inagreaterorlessdegree，therigidanduneasypositioninwhichtheyhadoriginallybeenentombed。AndthevoiceagainsaidtomeasIgazed：
“Isitnotoh！isitnotapitifulsight？”but，beforeIcouldfindwordstoreply，thefigurehadceasedtograspmywrist，thephosphoriclightsexpired，andthegraveswereclosedwithasuddenviolence，whilefromoutthemaroseatumultofdespairingcries，sayingagain：“IsitnotO，God，isitnotaverypitifulsight？”
Phantasiessuchasthese，presentingthemselvesatnight，extendedtheirterrificinfluencefarintomywakinghours。Mynervesbecamethoroughlyunstrung，andIfellapreytoperpetualhorror。I
hesitatedtoride，ortowalk，ortoindulgeinanyexercisethatwouldcarrymefromhome。Infact，Inolongerdaredtrustmyselfoutoftheimmediatepresenceofthosewhowereawareofmypronenesstocatalepsy，lest，fallingintooneofmyusualfits，Ishouldbeburiedbeforemyrealconditioncouldbeascertained。Idoubtedthecare，thefidelityofmydearestfriends。Idreadedthat，insometranceofmorethancustomaryduration，theymightbeprevailedupontoregardmeasirrecoverable。Ievenwentsofarastofearthat，asIoccasionedmuchtrouble，theymightbegladtoconsideranyveryprotractedattackassufficientexcuseforgettingridofmealtogether。Itwasinvaintheyendeavoredtoreassuremebythemostsolemnpromises。Iexactedthemostsacredoaths，thatundernocircumstancestheywouldburymeuntildecompositionhadsomateriallyadvancedastorenderfartherpreservationimpossible。
And，eventhen，mymortalterrorswouldlistentonoreasonwouldacceptnoconsolation。Ienteredintoaseriesofelaborateprecautions。Amongotherthings，Ihadthefamilyvaultsoremodelledastoadmitofbeingreadilyopenedfromwithin。Theslightestpressureuponalongleverthatextendedfarintothetombwouldcausetheironportaltoflyback。Therewerearrangementsalsoforthefreeadmissionofairandlight，andconvenientreceptaclesforfoodandwater，withinimmediatereachofthecoffinintendedformyreception。Thiscoffinwaswarmlyandsoftlypadded，andwasprovidedwithalid，fashionedupontheprincipleofthevault-door，withtheadditionofspringssocontrivedthatthefeeblestmovementofthebodywouldbesufficienttosetitatliberty。Besidesallthis，therewassuspendedfromtheroofofthetomb，alargebell，theropeofwhich，itwasdesigned，shouldextendthroughaholeinthecoffin，andsobefastenedtooneofthehandsofthecorpse。But，alas？whatavailsthevigilanceagainsttheDestinyofman？Noteventhesewell-contrivedsecuritiessufficedtosavefromtheuttermostagoniesoflivinginhumation，awretchtotheseagoniesforedoomed！
TherearrivedanepochasoftenbeforetherehadarrivedinwhichIfoundmyselfemergingfromtotalunconsciousnessintothefirstfeebleandindefinitesenseofexistence。Slowlywithatortoisegradationapproachedthefaintgraydawnofthepsychalday。Atorpiduneasiness。Anapatheticenduranceofdullpain。Nocarenohopenoeffort。Then，afteralonginterval，aringingintheears；then，afteralapsestilllonger，apricklingortinglingsensationintheextremities；thenaseeminglyeternalperiodofpleasurablequiescence，duringwhichtheawakeningfeelingsarestrugglingintothought；thenabriefre-sinkingintonon-entity；
thenasuddenrecovery。Atlengththeslightquiveringofaneyelid，andimmediatelythereupon，anelectricshockofaterror，deadlyandindefinite，whichsendsthebloodintorrentsfromthetemplestotheheart。Andnowthefirstpositiveefforttothink。Andnowthefirstendeavortoremember。Andnowapartialandevanescentsuccess。Andnowthememoryhassofarregaineditsdominion，that，insomemeasure，Iamcognizantofmystate。IfeelthatIamnotawakingfromordinarysleep。IrecollectthatIhavebeensubjecttocatalepsy。Andnow，atlast，asifbytherushofanocean，myshudderingspiritisoverwhelmedbytheonegrimDangerbytheonespectralandever-prevalentidea。
Forsomeminutesafterthisfancypossessedme，Iremainedwithoutmotion。Andwhy？Icouldnotsummoncouragetomove。Idarednotmaketheeffortwhichwastosatisfymeofmyfateandyettherewassomethingatmyheartwhichwhisperedmeitwassure。Despairsuchasnootherspeciesofwretchednessevercallsintobeingdespairaloneurgedme，afterlongirresolution，touplifttheheavylidsofmyeyes。Iupliftedthem。Itwasdarkalldark。Iknewthatthefitwasover。Iknewthatthecrisisofmydisorderhadlongpassed。
IknewthatIhadnowfullyrecoveredtheuseofmyvisualfacultiesandyetitwasdarkalldarktheintenseandutterraylessnessoftheNightthatendurethforevermore。
Iendeavoredtoshriek-，andmylipsandmyparchedtonguemovedconvulsivelytogetherintheattemptbutnovoiceissuedfromthecavernouslungs，whichoppressedasifbytheweightofsomeincumbentmountain，gaspedandpalpitated，withtheheart，ateveryelaborateandstrugglinginspiration。
Themovementofthejaws，inthisefforttocryaloud，showedmethattheywereboundup，asisusualwiththedead。Ifelt，too，thatI
layuponsomehardsubstance，andbysomethingsimilarmysideswere，also，closelycompressed。Sofar，IhadnotventuredtostiranyofmylimbsbutnowIviolentlythrewupmyarms，whichhadbeenlyingatlength，withthewristscrossed。Theystruckasolidwoodensubstance，whichextendedabovemypersonatanelevationofnotmorethansixinchesfrommyface。IcouldnolongerdoubtthatIreposedwithinacoffinatlast。
Andnow，amidallmyinfinitemiseries，camesweetlythecherubHopeforIthoughtofmyprecautions。Iwrithed，andmadespasmodicexertionstoforceopenthelid：itwouldnotmove。Ifeltmywristsforthebell-rope：itwasnottobefound。AndnowtheComforterfledforever，andastillsternerDespairreignedtriumphant；forIcouldnothelpperceivingtheabsenceofthepaddingswhichIhadsocarefullypreparedandthen，too，therecamesuddenlytomynostrilsthestrongpeculiarodorofmoistearth。Theconclusionwasirresistible。Iwasnotwithinthevault。Ihadfallenintoatrancewhileabsentfromhome-whileamongstrangerswhen，orhow，Icouldnotrememberanditwastheywhohadburiedmeasadognailedupinsomecommoncoffinandthrustdeep，deep，andforever，intosomeordinaryandnamelessgrave。
Asthisawfulconvictionforceditself，thus，intotheinnermostchambersofmysoul，Ionceagainstruggledtocryaloud。AndinthissecondendeavorIsucceeded。Along，wild，andcontinuousshriek，oryellofagony，resoundedthroughtherealmsofthesubterraneanNight。
“Hillo！hillo，there！”saidagruffvoice，inreply。
“Whatthedevil’sthematternow！”saidasecond。
“Getouto’that！”saidathird。
“Whatdoyoumeanbyyowlinginthaterekindofstyle，likeacattymount？”saidafourth；andhereuponIwasseizedandshakenwithoutceremony，forseveralminutes，byajuntoofveryrough-lookingindividuals。Theydidnotarousemefrommyslumber
forIwaswideawakewhenIscreamedbuttheyrestoredmetothefullpossessionofmymemory。
ThisadventureoccurrednearRichmond，inVirginia。Accompaniedbyafriend，Ihadproceeded，uponagunningexpedition，somemilesdownthebanksoftheJamesRiver。Nightapproached，andwewereovertakenbyastorm。Thecabinofasmallslooplyingatanchorinthestream，andladenwithgardenmould，affordedustheonlyavailableshelter。
Wemadethebestofit，andpassedthenightonboard。Isleptinoneoftheonlytwoberthsinthevesselandtheberthsofasloopofsixtyortwentytonsneedscarcelybedescribed。ThatwhichI
occupiedhadnobeddingofanykind。Itsextremewidthwaseighteeninches。Thedistanceofitsbottomfromthedeckoverheadwaspreciselythesame。Ifounditamatterofexceedingdifficultytosqueezemyselfin。Nevertheless，Isleptsoundly，andthewholeofmyvisionforitwasnodream，andnonightmarearosenaturallyfromthecircumstancesofmypositionfrommyordinarybiasofthoughtandfromthedifficulty，towhichIhavealluded，ofcollectingmysenses，andespeciallyofregainingmymemory，foralongtimeafterawakingfromslumber。Themenwhoshookmewerethecrewofthesloop，andsomelaborersengagedtounloadit。Fromtheloaditselfcametheearthlysmell。ThebandageaboutthejawswasasilkhandkerchiefinwhichIhadboundupmyhead，indefaultofmycustomarynightcap。
Thetorturesendured，however，wereindubitablyquiteequalforthetime，tothoseofactualsepulture。Theywerefearfullytheywereinconceivablyhideous；butoutofEvilproceededGood；fortheirveryexcesswroughtinmyspiritaninevitablerevulsion。Mysoulacquiredtoneacquiredtemper。Iwentabroad。Itookvigorousexercise。I
breathedthefreeairofHeaven。IthoughtuponothersubjectsthanDeath。Idiscardedmymedicalbooks。“Buchan“Iburned。Ireadno“NightThoughts“nofustianaboutchurchyardsnobugabootalessuchasthis。Inshort，Ibecameanewman，andlivedaman’slife。Fromthatmemorablenight，Idismissedforevermycharnelapprehensions，andwiththemvanishedthecatalepticdisorder，ofwhich，perhaps，theyhadbeenlesstheconsequencethanthecause。
Therearemomentswhen，eventothesobereyeofReason，theworldofoursadHumanitymayassumethesemblanceofaHellbuttheimaginationofmanisnoCarathis，toexplorewithimpunityitseverycavern。Alas！thegrimlegionofsepulchralterrorscannotberegardedasaltogetherfancifulbut，liketheDemonsinwhosecompanyAfrasiabmadehisvoyagedowntheOxus，theymustsleep，ortheywilldevourustheymustbesufferedtoslumber，orweperish。