The Fall of the House of Usher

di Edgar Allen Poe (Autore)

Morticia Knight (Autore)

Total-E-Bound Publishing, 2013

Copyright © Morticia Knight, Edgar Allan Poe 2013. All Rights Reserved, Total-E-Ntwined Limited, T/A Totally Bound Publishing. He admitted, however, although with hesitation, that much of the peculiar gloom which thus afflicted him could be traced to a more natural and far more palpable origin—to the severe and long-continued illness—indeed to the evidently approaching dissolution—of a tenderly beloved sister, his sole companion for long years, his last and only relative on earth. “Her decease,” he said, with a bitterness which I can never forget, “would leave him (him the hopeless and the frail) the last of the ancient race of the Ushers.” While he spoke, the lady Madeline (for so was she called) passed slowly through a remote portion of the apartment, and, without having noticed my presence, disappeared. I regarded her with an utter astonishment not unmingled with dread; and yet I found it impossible to account for such feelings. A sensation of stupor oppressed me as my eyes followed her retreating steps. For whilst she appeared almost as a spectre before me, there was still a radiant beauty of which I was captivated. Wavy tresses of a rich auburn hue flowed down her back, and even though her skin was as pale as alabaster, her features were powerfully outlined with a strong nose and high cheekbones. Full lips and large doll-like eyes made me long to get closer so that I might ascertain their colour. When a door, at length, closed upon her, my glance sought instinctively and eagerly the countenance of the brother; but he had buried his face in his hands, and I could only perceive that a far more than ordinary wanness had overspread the emaciated fingers through which trickled many passionate tears. The disease of the lady Madeline had long baffled the skill of her physicians. A settled apathy, a gradual wasting away of the person, and frequent although transient affections of a partially cataleptical character were the unusual diagnosis. Hitherto she had steadily borne up against the pressure of her malady, and had not betaken herself finally to bed; but on the closing in of the evening of my arrival at the house, she succumbed (as her brother told me at night with inexpressible agitation) to the prostrating power of the destroyer by shutting herself in her quarters and accepting the comfort of her bed at last. I learned that the glimpse I had obtained of her person would thus probably be the last I should obtain—and my assumption was that the lady, at least while living, would be seen by me no more. I fretted upon this, for that brief glimpse of the Lady Madeline intrigued me to no end, and I hoped that Roderick was mistaken. I yearned for the opportunity to see her closer, and perchance to even have the occasion to speak with her. For several days ensuing, her name was unmentioned by either Usher or myself between one another; and during this period I was busied in earnest endeavours to alleviate the melancholy of my friend. Initially, I thought to spare him the agony of being reminded of the one whose loss I knew he could not bear. We painted and read together, or I listened, as if in a dream, to the wild improvisations of his speaking guitar. And thus, as a closer and still closer intimacy admitted me more unreservedly into the recesses of his spirit, the more bitterly did I perceive the futility of all attempt at cheering a mind from which darkness, as if an inherent positive quality, poured forth upon all objects of the moral and physical universe in one unceasing radiation of gloom. I shall ever bear about me a memory of the many solemn hours I thus spent alone with the master of the House of Usher. Yet I should fail in any attempt to convey an idea of the exact character of the studies, or of the occupations, in which he involved me, or led me the way. Had I been more aware of the coming events, I would have used these days for further analysis into the distorted thoughts of my once intimate

• Autore: Edgar Allen Poe, Morticia Knight
• Anno edizione: 2013
• Editore: Total-E-Bound Publishing
• Formato: EPUB2 con Adobe DRM
• Compatibilità: Tutti i dispositivi (eccetto Kindle)
• Layout: Reflowable
• EAN: 9781781848845

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