Thoseeyes！thoselarge，thoseshining，thosedivineorbs！theybecametometwinstarsofLeda，andItothemdevoutestofastrologers。
　　Thereisnopoint，amongthemanyincomprehensibleanomaliesofthescienceofmind，morethrillinglyexcitingthanthefactnever，I
　　believe，noticedintheschoolsthat，inourendeavorstorecalltomemorysomethinglongforgotten，weoftenfindourselvesupontheveryvergeofremembrance，withoutbeingable，intheend，toremember。Andthushowfrequently，inmyintensescrutinyofLigeia’seyes，haveIfeltapproachingthefullknowledgeoftheirexpressionfeltitapproachingyetnotquitebemineandsoatlengthentirelydepart！Andstrange，ohstrangestmysteryofall！Ifound，inthecommonestobjectsoftheuniverse，acircleofanalogiestotheatexpression。Imeantosaythat，subsequentlytotheperiodwhenLigeia’sbeautypassedintomyspirit，theredwellingasinashrine，Iderived，frommanyexistencesinthematerialworld，asentimentsuchasIfeltalwaysarousedwithinmebyherlargeandluminousorbs。YetnotthemorecouldIdefinethatsentiment，oranalyze，orevensteadilyviewit。Irecognizedit，letmerepeat，sometimesinthesurveyofarapidly-growingvineinthecontemplationofamoth，abutterfly，achrysalis，astreamofrunningwater。Ihavefeltitintheocean；inthefallingofameteor。Ihavefeltitintheglancesofunusuallyagedpeople。Andthereareoneortwostarsinheavenoneespecially，astarofthesixthmagnitude，doubleandchangeable，tobefoundnearthelargestarinLyrainatelescopicscrutinyofwhichIhavebeenmadeawareofthefeeling。I
　　havebeenfilledwithitbycertainsoundsfromstringedinstruments，andnotunfrequentlybypassagesfrombooks。Amonginnumerableotherinstances，IwellremembersomethinginavolumeofJosephGlanvill，whichperhapsmerelyfromitsquaintnesswhoshallsay？neverfailedtoinspiremewiththesentiment；“Andthewillthereinlieth，whichdiethnot。Whoknoweththemysteriesofthewill，withitsvigor？ForGodisbutagreatwillpervadingallthingsbynatureofitsintentness。Mandothnotyieldhimtotheangels，noruntodeathutterly，saveonlythroughtheweaknessofhisfeeblewill。”
　　Lengthofyears，andsubsequentreflection，haveenabledmetotrace，indeed，someremoteconnectionbetweenthispassageintheEnglishmoralistandaportionofthecharacterofLigeia。Anintensityinthought，action，orspeech，waspossibly，inher，aresult，oratleastanindex，ofthatgiganticvolitionwhich，duringourlongintercourse，failedtogiveotherandmoreimmediateevidenceofitsexistence。OfallthewomenwhomIhaveeverknown，she，theoutwardlycalm，theever-placidLigeia，wasthemostviolentlyapreytothetumultuousvulturesofsternpassion。AndofsuchpassionI
　　couldformnoestimate，savebythemiraculousexpansionofthoseeyeswhichatoncesodelightedandappalledmebythealmostmagicalmelody，modulation，distinctnessandplacidityofherverylowvoiceandbythefierceenergyrendereddoublyeffectivebycontrastwithhermannerofutteranceofthewildwordswhichshehabituallyuttered。
　　IhavespokenofthelearningofLigeia：itwasimmensesuchasI
　　haveneverknowninwoman。Intheclassicaltongueswasshedeeplyproficient，andasfarasmyownacquaintanceextendedinregardtothemoderndialectsofEurope，Ihaveneverknownheratfault。
　　Indeeduponanythemeofthemostadmired，becausesimplythemostabstruseoftheboastederuditionoftheacademy，haveIeverfoundLigeiaatfault？Howsingularlyhowthrillingly，thisonepointinthenatureofmywifehasforceditself，atthislateperiodonly，uponmyattention！IsaidherknowledgewassuchasIhaveneverknowninwomanbutwherebreathesthemanwhohastraversed，andsuccessfully，allthewideareasofmoral，physical，andmathematicalscience？IsawnotthenwhatInowclearlyperceive，thattheacquisitionsofLigeiaweregigantic，wereastounding；yetIwassufficientlyawareofherinfinitesupremacytoresignmyself，withachild-likeconfidence，toherguidancethroughthechaoticworldofmetaphysicalinvestigationatwhichIwasmostbusilyoccupiedduringtheearlieryearsofourmarriage。WithhowvastatriumphwithhowvividadelightwithhowmuchofallthatisetherealinhopedidIfeel，asshebentovermeinstudiesbutlittlesought
　　butlessknownthatdeliciousvistabyslowdegreesexpandingbeforeme，downwhoselong，gorgeous，andalluntroddenpath，Imightatlengthpassonwardtothegoalofawisdomtoodivinelypreciousnottobeforbidden！
　　Howpoignant，then，musthavebeenthegriefwithwhich，aftersomeyears，Ibeheldmywell-groundedexpectationstakewingstothemselvesandflyaway！WithoutLigeiaIwasbutasachildgropingbenighted。Herpresence，herreadingsalone，renderedvividlyluminousthemanymysteriesofthetranscendentalisminwhichwewereimmersed。Wantingtheradiantlustreofhereyes，letters，lambentandgolden，grewdullerthanSaturnianlead。AndnowthoseeyesshonelessandlessfrequentlyuponthepagesoverwhichIpored。Ligeiagrewill。Thewildeyesblazedwithatootoogloriouseffulgence；
　　thepalefingersbecameofthetransparentwaxenhueofthegrave，andtheblueveinsupontheloftyforeheadswelledandsankimpetuouslywiththetidesofthegentleemotion。IsawthatshemustdieandIstruggleddesperatelyinspiritwiththegrimAzrael。
　　Andthestrugglesofthepassionatewifewere，tomyastonishment，evenmoreenergeticthanmyown。Therehadbeenmuchinhersternnaturetoimpressmewiththebeliefthat，toher，deathwouldhavecomewithoutitsterrors；butnotso。WordsareimpotenttoconveyanyjustideaofthefiercenessofresistancewithwhichshewrestledwiththeShadow。Igroanedinanguishatthepitiablespectacle。
　　wouldhavesoothedIwouldhavereasoned；but，intheintensityofherwilddesireforlife，forlifebutforlifesolaceandreasonweretheuttermostfolly。Yetnotuntilthelastinstance，amidthemostconvulsivewrithingsofherfiercespirit，wasshakentheexternalplacidityofherdemeanor。Hervoicegrewmoregentle
　　grewmorelowyetIwouldnotwishtodwelluponthewildmeaningofthequietlyutteredwords。MybrainreeledasIhearkenedentranced，toamelodymorethanmortaltoassumptionsandaspirationswhichmortalityhadneverbeforeknown。
　　ThatshelovedmeIshouldnothavedoubted；andImighthavebeeneasilyawarethat，inabosomsuchashers，lovewouldhavereignednoordinarypassion。Butindeathonly，wasIfullyimpressedwiththestrengthofheraffection。Forlonghours，detainingmyhand，wouldshepouroutbeforemetheoverflowingofaheartwhosemorethanpassionatedevotionamountedtoidolatry。HowhadIdeservedtobesoblessedbysuchconfessions？howhadIdeservedtobesocursedwiththeremovalofmybelovedinthehourofhermakingthem，ButuponthissubjectIcannotbeartodilate。Letmesayonly，thatinLigeia’smorethanwomanlyabandonmenttoalove，alas！allunmerited，allunworthilybestowed，Iatlengthrecognizedtheprincipleofherlongingwithsowildlyearnestadesireforthelifewhichwasnowfleeingsorapidlyaway。ItisthiswildlongingitisthiseagervehemenceofdesireforlifebutforlifethatI
　　havenopowertoportraynoutterancecapableofexpressing。
　　Athighnoonofthenightinwhichshedeparted，beckoningme，peremptorily，toherside，shebademerepeatcertainversescomposedbyherselfnotmanydaysbefore。Iobeyedher。Theywerethese：
　　Lo！’tisagalanightWithinthelonesomelatteryears！
　　Anangelthrong，bewinged，bedightInveils，anddrownedintears，Sitinatheatre，toseeAplayofhopesandfears，WhiletheorchestrabreathesfitfullyThemusicofthespheres。
　　Mimes，intheformofGodonhigh，Mutterandmumblelow，Andhitherandthitherfly；
　　Merepuppetsthey，whocomeandgoAtbiddingofvastformlessthingsThatshiftthescenerytoandfro，FlappingfromouttheirCondorwingsInvisibleWo！
　　Thatmotleydrama！oh，besureItshallnotbeforgot！
　　WithitsPhantomchasedforevermore，Byacrowdthatseizeitnot，ThroughacirclethateverreturnethinTotheself-samespot，AndmuchofMadnessandmoreofSinAndHorrorthesouloftheplot。
　　Butsee，amidthemimicrout，Acrawlingshapeintrude！
　　Ablood-redthingthatwrithesfromoutThescenicsolitude！
　　Itwrithes！itwrithes！withmortalpangsThemimesbecomeitsfood，AndtheseraphssobatverminfangsInhumangoreimbued。
　　Outoutarethelightsoutall！
　　Andovereachquiveringform，Thecurtain，afuneralpall，Comesdownwiththerushofastorm，Andtheangels，allpallidandwan，Uprising，unveiling，affirmThattheplayisthetragedy，“Man。”
　　AnditsherotheConquerorWorm。
　　“OGod！”halfshriekedLigeia，leapingtoherfeetandextendingherarmsaloftwithaspasmodicmovement，asImadeanendoftheselines“OGod！ODivineFather！shallthesethingsbeundeviatinglyso？shallthisConquerorbenotonceconquered？ArewenotpartandparcelinThee？Whowhoknoweththemysteriesofthewillwithitsvigor？Mandothnotyieldhimtotheangels，noruntodeathutterly，saveonlythroughtheweaknessofhisfeeblewill。”
　　Andnow，asifexhaustedwithemotion，shesufferedherwhitearmstofall，andreturnedsolemnlytoherbedofdeath。Andasshebreathedherlastsighs，therecamemingledwiththemalowmurmurfromherlips。Ibenttothemmyearanddistinguished，again，theconcludingwordsofthepassageinGlanvill“Mandothnotyieldhimtotheangels，noruntodeathutterly，saveonlythroughtheweaknessofhisfeeblewill。”
　　Shedied；andI，crushedintotheverydustwithsorrow，couldnolongerendurethelonelydesolationofmydwellinginthedimanddecayingcitybytheRhine。Ihadnolackofwhattheworldcallswealth。Ligeiahadbroughtmefarmore，veryfarmorethanordinarilyfallstothelotofmortals。Afterafewmonths，therefore，ofwearyandaimlesswandering，Ipurchased，andputinsomerepair，anabbey，whichIshallnotname，inoneofthewildestandleastfrequentedportionsoffairEngland。Thegloomyanddrearygrandeurofthebuilding，thealmostsavageaspectofthedomain，themanymelancholyandtime-honoredmemoriesconnectedwithboth，hadmuchinunisonwiththefeelingsofutterabandonmentwhichhaddrivenmeintothatremoteandunsocialregionofthecountry。Yetalthoughtheexternalabbey，withitsverdantdecayhangingaboutit，sufferedbutlittlealteration，Igaveway，withachild-likeperversity，andperchancewithafainthopeofalleviatingmysorrows，toadisplayofmorethanregalmagnificencewithin。Forsuchfollies，eveninchildhood，Ihadimbibedatasteandnowtheycamebacktomeasifinthedotageofgrief。Alas，Ifeelhowmuchevenofincipientmadnessmighthavebeendiscoveredinthegorgeousandfantasticdraperies，inthesolemncarvingsofEgypt，inthewildcornicesandfurniture，intheBedlampatternsofthecarpetsoftuftedgold！I
　　hadbecomeaboundenslaveinthetrammelsofopium，andmylaborsandmyordershadtakenacoloringfrommydreams。Buttheseabsurditiesmustnotpausetodetail。Letmespeakonlyofthatonechamber，everaccursed，whitherinamomentofmentalalienation，I
　　ledfromthealtarasmybrideasthesuccessoroftheunforgottenLigeiathefair-hairedandblue-eyedLadyRowenaTrevanion，ofTremaine。
　　Thereisnoindividualportionofthearchitectureanddecorationofthatbridalchamberwhichisnotnowvisiblybeforeme。Wherewerethesoulsofthehaughtyfamilyofthebride，when，throughthirstofgold，theypermittedtopassthethresholdofanapartmentsobedecked，amaidenandadaughtersobeloved？IhavesaidthatI