“Andwhatoneisthat？”askedabystander，overhearinghim。
Itwasadark-browedman，whoputthequestion；hehadanevasive
eye，which，inthecourseofadozenyears，hadlookednomortal
directlyintheface。Therewasanambiguityaboutthisperson’s
character-astainuponhisreputation-yetnonecouldtell
preciselyofwhatnature；althoughthecity-gossips，maleand
female，whisperedthemostatrocioussurmises。Untilarecentperiod
hehadfollowedthesea，andwas，infact，theveryship-masterwhom
GeorgeHerkimerhadencountered，undersuchsingularcircumstances，in
theGrecianArchipelago。
“Whatbosom-serpenthasthesharpeststing？”repeatedthisman：but
heputthequestionasifbyareluctantnecessity，andgrewpale
whilehewasutteringit。
“Whyneedyouask？”repliedRoderick，withalookofdark
intelligence。“Lookintoyourownbreast！Hark，myserpentbestirs
himself！Heacknowledgesthepresenceofamaster-fiend！”
Andthen，asthebystandersafterwardsaffirmed，ahissingsound
washeard，apparentlyinRoderickElliston’sbreast。Itwassaid，too，
thatanansweringhisscamefromthevitalsoftheshipmaster，asifa
snakewereactuallylurkingthere，andhadbeenarousedbythecallof
itsbrother-reptile。Iftherewereinfactanysuchsound，itmight
havebeencausedbyamaliciousexerciseofventriloquism，onthepart
ofRoderick。
Thus，makinghisownactualserpent-ifaserpentthereactually
wasinhisbosom-thetypeofeachman’sfatalerror，orhoarded
sin，orunquietconscience，andstrikinghisstingsounremorsefully
intothesorestspot，wemaywellimaginethatRoderickbecamethe
pestofthecity。Nobodycouldeludehim；nonecouldwithstandhim。He
grappledwiththeugliesttruththathecouldlayhishandon，and
compelledhisadversarytodothesame。Strangespectacleinhuman
life，whereitistheinstinctiveeffortofoneandalltohide
thosesadrealities，andleavethemundisturbedbeneathaheapof
superficialtopics，whichconstitutethematerialsofintercourse
betweenmanandman！ItwasnottobetoleratedthatRoderickElliston
shouldbreakthroughthetacitcompact，bywhichtheworldhasdone
itsbesttosecurerepose，withoutrelinquishingevil。Thevictims
ofhismaliciousremarks，itistrue，hadbrothersenoughtokeepthem
incountenance；for，byRoderick’stheory，everymortalbosomharbored
eitherabroodofsmallserpents，oroneovergrownmonster，thathad
devouredalltherest。Still，thecitycouldnotbearthisnew
apostle。Itwasdemandedbynearlyall，andparticularlybythemost
respectableinhabitants，thatRoderickshouldnolongerbepermitted
toviolatethereceivedrulesofdecorum，byobtrudinghisown
bosom-serpenttothepublicgaze，anddraggingthoseofdecent
peoplefromtheirlurking-places。
Accordingly，hisrelativesinterfered，andplacedhimina
privateasylumfortheinsane。Whenthenewswasnoisedabroad，itwas
observedthatmanypersonswalkedthestreetswithfreercountenances，
andcoveredtheirbreastslesscarefullywiththeirhands。
Hisconfinement，however，althoughitcontributednotalittleto
thepeaceofthetown，operatedunfavorablyuponRoderickhimself。
Insolitude，hismelancholygrewmoreblackandsullen。Hespentwhole
days-indeed，itwashissoleoccupation-incommuningwiththe
serpent。Aconversationwassustained，inwhich，asitseemed，the
hiddenmonsterboreapart，thoughunintelligiblytothelisteners，
andinaudible，exceptinahiss。Singularasitmayappear，the
suffererhadnowcontractedasortofaffectionforhistormentor；
mingled，however，withtheintensestloathingandhorror。Norwere
suchdiscordantemotionsincompatible；each，onthecontrary，imparted
strengthandpoignancytoitsopposite。Horriblelove-horrible
antipathy-embracingoneanotherinhisbosom，andboth
concentratingthemselvesuponabeingthathadcreptintohis
vitals，orbeenengenderedthere，andwhichwasnourishedwithhis
food，andliveduponhislife，andwasasintimatewithhimashisown
heart，andyetwasthefoulestofallcreatedthings！Butnottheless
wasitthetruetypeofamorbidnature。
Sometimes，inhismomentsofrageandbitterhatredagainstthe
snakeandhimself，Roderickdeterminedtobethedeathofhim，evenat
theexpenseofhisownlife。Onceheattempteditbystarvation。
But，whilethewretchedmanwasonthepointoffamishing，themonster
seemedtofeeduponhisheart，andtothriveandwaxgamesome，asif
itwerehissweetestandmostcongenialdiet。Thenheprivilytooka
doseofactivepoison，imaginingthatitwouldnotfailtokilleither
himself，orthedevilthatpossessedhim，orbothtogether。Another
mistake；forifRoderickhadnotyetbeendestroyedbyhisown
poisonedheart，northesnakebygnawingit，theyhadlittletofear
fromarsenicorcorrosivesublimate。Indeed，thevenomouspest
appearedtooperateasanantidoteagainstallotherpoisons。The
physicianstriedtosuffocatethefiendwithtobacco-smoke。He
breatheditasfreelyasifitwerehisnativeatmosphere。Again，they
druggedtheirpatientwithopium，anddrenchedhimwithintoxicating
liquors，hopingthatthesnakemightthusbereducedtostupor，and
perhapsbeejectedfromthestomach。Theysucceededinrendering
Roderickinsensible；but，placingtheirhandsuponhisbreast，they
wereinexpressiblyhorror-strickentofeelthemonsterwriggling，
twining，anddartingtoandfro，withinhisnarrowlimits，evidently
enlivenedbytheopiumoralcohol，andincitedtounusualfeatsof
activity。Thenceforth，theygaveupallattemptsatcureor
palliation。Thedoomedsufferersubmittedtohisfate，resumedhis
formerloathsomeaffectionforthebosom-fiend，andspentwhole
miserabledaysbeforealooking-glass，withhismouthwideopen，
watching，inhopeandhorror，tocatchaglimpseofthesnake’s
head，fardownwithinhisthroat。Itissupposedthathesucceeded；
fortheattendantsonceheardafrenziedshout，andrushingintothe
room，foundRodericklifelessuponthefloor。
Hewaskeptbutlittlelongerunderrestraint。Afterminute
investigation，themedicaldirectorsoftheasylumdecidedthathis
mentaldiseasedidnotamounttoinsanity，norwouldwarranthis
confinement；especiallyasitsinfluenceuponhisspiritswas
unfavorable，andmightproducetheevilwhichitwasmeantto
remedy。Hiseccentricitiesweredoubtlessgreat-hehadhabitually
violatedmanyofthecustomsandprejudicesofsociety；butthe
worldwasnot，withoutsurerground，entitledtotreathimasa
madman。Onthisdecisionofsuchcompetentauthority，Roderickwas
released，andhadreturnedtohisnativecity，theverydaybeforehis
encounterwithGeorgeHerkimer。
Assoonaspossibleafterlearningtheseparticulars，thesculptor，
togetherwithasadandtremulouscompanion，soughtEllistonathis
ownhouse。Itwasalarge，sombreedificeofwood，withpilasters
andabalcony，andwasdividedfromoneoftheprincipalstreetsby
aterraceofthreeelevations，whichwasascendedbysuccessive
flightsofstonesteps。Someimmenseoldelmsalmostconcealedthe
frontofthemansion。Thisspaciousandoncemagnificent
family-residencewasbuiltbyagrandeeoftherace，earlyinthepast
century；atwhichepoch，landbeingofsmallcomparativevalue，the
gardenandothergroundshadformedquiteanextensivedomain。
Althoughaportionoftheancestralheritagehadbeenalienated，there
wasstillashadowyenclosureintherearofthemansion，wherea
student，oradreamer，oramanofstrickenheart，mightlieallday
uponthegrass，amidthesolitudeofmurmuringboughs，andforgetthat
acityhadgrownuparoundhim。
Intothisretirement，thesculptorandhiscompanionwereushered
byScipio，theoldblackservant，whosewrinkledvisagegrewalmost
sunnywithintelligenceandjoy，ashepaidhishumblegreetingsto
oneofthetwovisitors。
“Remaininthearbor，whisperedthesculptortothefigurethat
leaneduponhisarm，“youwillknowwhether，andwhen，tomakeyour
appearance。”
“Godwillteachme。”wasthereply。“Mayhesupportmetoo！”
Roderickwasrecliningonthemarginofafountain，whichgushed
intothefleckeredsunshinewiththesameclearsparkle，andthe
samevoiceofairyquietude，aswhentreesofprimevalgrowthflung
theirshadowsacrossitsbosom。Howstrangeisthelifeofafountain，
bornateverymoment，yetofanagecoevalwiththerocks，andfar
surpassingthevenerableantiquityofaforest！
“Youarecome！Ihaveexpectedyou。”saidElliston，whenhe
becameawareofthesculptor’spresence。
Hismannerwasverydifferentfromthatoftheprecedingday-
quiet，courteous，and，asHerkimerthought，watchfulbothoverhis
guestandhimself。Thisunnaturalrestraintwasalmosttheonly
traitthatbetokenedanythingamiss。Hehadjustthrownabookupon
thegrass，whereitlayhalfopened，thusdisclosingitselftobea
naturalhistoryoftheserpent-tribe，illustratedbylife-likeplates。
Nearitlaythatbulkyvolume，theDuctorDubitantiumofJeremy
Taylor，fullofcasesofconscience，andinwhichmostmen，
possessedofaconscience，mayfindsomethingapplicabletotheir
purpose。
“Yousee。”observedElliston，pointingtothebookofserpents，
whileasmilegleameduponhislips，“Iammakinganeffortto
becomebetteracquaintedwithmybosom-friend。ButIfindnothing
satisfactoryinthisvolume。IfImistakenot，hewillprovetobesui
generis，andakintonootherreptileincreation。”
“Whencecamethisstrangecalamity？”inquiredthesculptor。
“Mysablefriend，Scipio，hasastory。”repliedRoderick，“ofa
snakethathadlurkedinthisfountain-pureandinnocentasit
looks-eversinceitwasknowntothefirstsettlers。This
insinuatingpersonageoncecreptintothevitalsofmy
great-grandfather，anddwelttheremanyyears，tormentingtheold
gentlemanbeyondmortalendurance。Inshort，itisafamily
peculiarity。But，totellyouthetruth，Ihavenofaithinthis
ideaofthesnake’sbeinganheir-loom。Heismyownsnake，andno
man’selse。”
“Butwhatwashisorigin？”demandedHerkimer。
“Oh！thereispoisonousstuffinanyman’sheart，sufficientto
generateabroodofserpents。”saidElliston，withahollowlaugh。
“Youshouldhaveheardmyhomiliestothegoodtownspeople。
Positively，Ideemmyselffortunateinhavingbredbutasingle
serpent。You，however，havenoneinyourbosom，andthereforecannot
sympathizewiththerestoftheworld。Itgnawsme！Itgnawsme！”
Withthisexclamation，Rodericklosthisself-controlandthrew
himselfuponthegrass，testifyinghisagonybyintricatewrithings，
inwhichHerkimercouldnotbutfancyaresemblancetothemotions
ofasnake。Then，likewise，washeardthatfrightfulhiss，whichoften
ranthroughthesufferer’sspeech，andcreptbetweenthewordsand
syllables，withoutinterruptingtheirsuccession。
“Thisisawfulindeed！”exclaimedthesculptor-“anawful
infliction，whetheritbeactualorimaginary！Tellme，Roderick
Elliston，isthereanyremedyforthisloathsomeevil？”
“Yes，butanimpossibleone。”mutteredRoderick，ashelay
wallowingwithhisfaceinthegrass。“CouldI，foroneinstant，
forgetmyself，theserpentmightnotabidewithinme。Itismy
diseasedself-contemplationthathasengenderedandnourishedhim！”
“Thenforgetyourself，myhusband。”saidagentlevoiceabove
him-“forgetyourselfintheideaofanother！”
Rosinahademergedfromthearbor，andwasbendingoverhim，with
theshadowofhisanguishreflectedinhercountenance，yetsomingled
withhopeandunselfishlove，thatallanguishseemedbutanearthly
shadowandadream。ShetouchedRoderickwithherhand。Atremor
shiveredthroughhisframe。Atthatmoment，ifreportbe
trustworthy，thesculptorbeheldawavingmotionthroughthegrass，
andheardatinklingsound，asifsomethinghadplungedintothe
fountain。Bethetruthasitmight，itiscertainthatRoderick
Ellistonsatup，likeamanrenewed，restoredtohisrightmind，and
rescuedfromthefiend，whichhadsomiserablyovercomehiminthe
battlefieldofhisownbreast。