’Jistso，’repliedBob，withawinkandafrown’I’llbeinto’em，I’lllet’emknowathingortwo；butindemeantime，thatereparagrab？Musgointo-night，youknowelsethere’llbethed-ltopay，and-’
　　’Andnotabitofpitchhot，’interruptedtheforeman，withadeepsigh，andanemphasisonthe’bit。’’Isitalongparagraph，Bob？’
　　’Shouldn’tcallitawerylongparagrab，’saidBob。
　　’Ah，well，then！dothebestyoucanwithit！Wemustgettopress。”
　　saidtheforeman，whowasoverheadandearsinwork；’juststickinsomeotherletterforo；nobody’sgoingtoreadthefellow’strashanyhow。’
　　’Werywell，’repliedBob，’heregoesit！’andoffhehurriedtohiscase，mutteringashewent：’Considdeblevell，themereexpressions，perticclerforamanasdoesn’tswar。SoI’stogougeoutalltheireyes，eh？andd-nalltheirgizzards！Vell！thishere’sthechapasisjustablefortodoit。’ThefactisthatalthoughBobwasbuttwelveyearsoldandfourfeethigh，hewasequaltoanyamountoffight，inasmallway。
　　Theexigencyheredescribedisbynomeansofrareoccurrenceinprinting-offices；andIcannottellhowtoaccountforit，butthefactisindisputable，thatwhentheexigencydoesoccur，italmostalwayshappensthatxisadoptedasasubstitutefortheletterdeficient。Thetruereason，perhaps，isthatxisratherthemostsuperabundantletterinthecases，oratleastwassointheoldtimeslongenoughtorenderthesubstitutioninquestionanhabitualthingwithprinters。AsforBob，hewouldhaveconsideredithereticaltoemployanyothercharacter，inacaseofthiskind，thanthextowhichhehadbeenaccustomed。
　　’Ishellhavetoxthisereparagrab，’saidhetohimself，ashereaditoverinastonishment，’butit’sjestabouttheawfulesto-wyparagrabIeverdidsee’：soxithedid，unflinchingly，andtopressitwentx-ed。
　　NextmorningthepopulationofNopolisweretakenallabackbyreadingin’TheTea-Pot，’thefollowingextraordinaryleader：
　　’Sxhx，Jxhn！hxwnxw？Txldyxusx，yxuknxw。Dxn’tcrxw，anxthertime，befxreyxu’rexutxfthewxxds！Dxesyxurmxtherknxwyxu’rexut？Xh，nx，nx！sxgxhxmeatxnce，nxw，Jxhn，txyxurxdixusxldwxxdsxfCxncxrd！Gxhxmetxyxurwxxds，xldxwl，gx！Yxuwxn’t？
　　Xh，pxh，pxh，Jxhn，dxn’tdxsx！Yxu’vegxttxgx，yxuknxw，sxgxatxnce，anddxn’tgxslxw；fxrnxbxdyxwnsyxuhere，yxuknxw。Xh，Jxhn，Jxhn，Jxhn，ifyxudxn’tgxyxu’renxhxmxnx！Yxu’rexnlyafxwl，anxwl；acxw，asxw；adxll，apxll；apxxrxldgxxd-fxr-nxthing-tx-nxbxdy，lxg，dxg，hxg，xrfrxg，cxmexutxfaCxncxrdbxg。Cxxl，nxwcxxl！Dxbecxxl，yxufxxl！Nxnexfyxurcrxwing，xldcxck！Dxn’tfrxwnsxdxn’t！Dxn’thxllx，nxrhxwl，nxrgrxwl，nxrbxw-wxw-wxw！GxxdLxrd，Jxhn，hxwyxudxlxxk！Txldyxusx，yxuknxw，butstxprxllingyxurgxxsexfanxldpxllabxutsx，andgxanddrxwnyxursxrrxwsinabxwl！’
　　Theuproaroccasionedbythismysticalandcabalisticalarticle，isnottobeconceived。Thefirstdefiniteideaentertainedbythepopulacewas，thatsomediabolicaltreasonlayconcealedinthehieroglyphics；andtherewasageneralrushtoBullet-head’sresidence，forthepurposeofridinghimonarail；butthatgentlemanwasnowheretobefound。Hehadvanished，noonecouldtellhow；andnoteventheghostofhimhaseverbeenseensince。
　　Unabletodiscoveritslegitimateobject，thepopularfuryatlengthsubsided；leavingbehindit，bywayofsediment，quiteamedleyofopinionaboutthisunhappyaffair。
　　OnegentlemanthoughtthewholeanX-ellentjoke。
　　Anothersaidthat，indeed，Bullet-headhadshownmuchX-uberanceoffancy。
　　AthirdadmittedhimX-entric，butnomore。
　　AfourthcouldonlysupposeittheYankee’sdesigntoX-press，inageneralway，hisX-asperation。
　　’Say，rather，tosetanX-ampletoposterity，’suggestedafifth。
　　ThatBullet-headhadbeendriventoanextremity，wascleartoall；
　　andinfact，sincethateditorcouldnotbefound，therewassometalkaboutlynchingtheotherone。
　　Themorecommonconclusion，however，wasthattheaffairwas，simply，X-traordinaryandin-X-plicable。Eventhetownmathematicianconfessedthathecouldmakenothingofsodarkaproblem。X，every。
　　bodyknew，wasanunknownquantity；butinthiscaseasheproperlyobserved，therewasanunknownquantityofX。
　　TheopinionofBob，thedevilwhokeptdarkabouthishaving’X-edtheparagrab’，didnotmeetwithsomuchattentionasIthinkitdeserved，althoughitwasveryopenlyandveryfearlesslyexpressed。
　　Hesaidthat，forhispart，hehadnodoubtaboutthematteratall，thatitwasaclearcase，thatMr。Bullet-head’nevercouldbepersuadedfurtodrinklikeotherfolks，butvascontinuallya-sviggingo’thatereblessedXXXale，andasanaiteralconsekvence，itjustpuffedhimupsavage，andmadehimXcrossintheX-treme。’
　　Pestiseramvivus-morienstuamorsero。
　　_MartinLuther_
　　HORRORandfatalityhavebeenstalkingabroadinallages。WhythengiveadatetothisstoryIhavetotell？Letitsufficetosay，thatattheperiodofwhichIspeak，thereexisted，intheinteriorofHungary，asettledalthoughhiddenbeliefinthedoctrinesoftheMetempsychosis。Ofthedoctrinesthemselves-thatis，oftheirfalsity，oroftheirprobability-Isaynothing。Iassert，however，thatmuchofourincredulity-asLaBruyeresaysofallourunhappiness-“_vientdenepouvoir阾reseuls_。”{*1}
　　ButtherearesomepointsintheHungariansuperstitionwhichwerefastvergingtoabsurdity。They-theHungarians-differedveryessentiallyfromtheirEasternauthorities。Forexample，“_Thesoul_。”saidtheformer-IgivethewordsofanacuteandintelligentParisian-“_nedemeurequ’unseulfoisdansuncorpssensible：aureste-uncheval，unchien，unhommememe，n’estquelaressemblancepeutangibledecesanimaux。_“
　　ThefamiliesofBerlifitzingandMetzengersteinhadbeenatvarianceforcenturies。Neverbeforeweretwohousessoillustrious，mutuallyembitteredbyhostilitysodeadly。Theoriginofthisenmityseemstobefoundinthewordsofanancientprophecy-“Aloftynameshallhaveafearfulfallwhen，astherideroverhishorse，themortalityofMetzengersteinshalltriumphovertheimmortalityofBerlifitzing。”
　　Tobesurethewordsthemselveshadlittleornomeaning。Butmoretrivialcauseshavegivenrise-andthatnolongwhileago-toconsequencesequallyeventful。Besides，theestates，whichwerecontiguous，hadlongexercisedarivalinfluenceintheaffairsofabusygovernment。Moreover，nearneighborsareseldomfriends；andtheinhabitantsoftheCastleBerlifitzingmightlook，fromtheirloftybuttresses，intotheverywindowsofthepalaceMetzengerstein。Leastofallhadthemorethanfeudalmagnificence，thusdiscovered，atendencytoallaytheirritablefeelingsofthelessancientandlesswealthyBerlifitzings。Whatwonderthen，thatthewords，howeversilly，ofthatprediction，shouldhavesucceededinsettingandkeepingatvariancetwofamiliesalreadypredisposedtoquarrelbyeveryinstigationofhereditaryjealousy？Theprophecyseemedtoimply-ifitimpliedanything-afinaltriumphonthepartofthealreadymorepowerfulhouse；andwasofcourserememberedwiththemorebitteranimositybytheweakerandlessinfluential。
　　Wilhelm，CountBerlifitzing，althoughloftilydescended，was，attheepochofthisnarrative，aninfirmanddotingoldman，remarkablefornothingbutaninordinateandinveteratepersonalantipathytothefamilyofhisrival，andsopassionatealoveofhorses，andofhunting，thatneitherbodilyinfirmity，greatage，normentalincapacity，preventedhisdailyparticipationinthedangersofthechase。
　　Frederick，BaronMetzengerstein，was，ontheotherhand，notyetMary，followedhimquicklyafter。Frederickwas，atthattime，inhisfifteenthyear。Inacity，fifteenyearsarenolongperiod-achildmaybestillachildinhisthirdlustrum：butinawilderness-insomagnificentawildernessasthatoldprincipality，fifteenyearshaveafardeepermeaning。
　　Fromsomepeculiarcircumstancesattendingtheadministrationofhisfather，theyoungBaron，atthedeceaseoftheformer，enteredimmediatelyuponhisvastpossessions。SuchestateswereseldomheldbeforebyanoblemanofHungary。Hiscastleswerewithoutnumber。Thechiefinpointofsplendorandextentwasthe“ChateauMetzengerstein。”Theboundarylineofhisdominionswasneverclearlydefined；buthisprincipalparkembracedacircuitoffiftymiles。
　　Uponthesuccessionofaproprietorsoyoung，withacharactersowellknown，toafortunesounparalleled，littlespeculationwasafloatinregardtohisprobablecourseofconduct。And，indeed，forthespaceofthreedays，thebehavioroftheheirout-herodedHerod，andfairlysurpassedtheexpectationsofhismostenthusiasticadmirers。Shamefuldebaucheries-flagranttreacheries-unheard-ofatrocities-gavehistremblingvassalsquicklytounderstandthatnoservilesubmissionontheirpart-nopunctiliosofconscienceonhisown-werethenceforwardtoproveanysecurityagainsttheremorselessfangsofapettyCaligula。Onthenightofthefourthday，thestablesofthecastleBerlifitzingwerediscoveredtobeonfire；andtheunanimousopinionoftheneighborhoodaddedthecrimeoftheincendiarytothealreadyhideouslistoftheBaron’smisdemeanorsandenormities。
　　Butduringthetumultoccasionedbythisoccurrence，theyoungnoblemanhimselfsatapparentlyburiedinmeditation，inavastanddesolateupperapartmentofthefamilypalaceofMetzengerstein。Therichalthoughfadedtapestryhangingswhichswunggloomilyuponthewalls，representedtheshadowyandmajesticformsofathousandillustriousancestors。_Here_，rich-erminedpriests，andpontificaldignitaries，familiarlyseatedwiththeautocratandthesovereign，putavetoonthewishesofatemporalking，orrestrainedwiththefiatofpapalsupremacytherebellioussceptreoftheArch-enemy。
　　_There_，thedark，tallstaturesofthePrincesMetzengerstein-
　　theirmuscularwar-coursersplungingoverthecarcassesoffallenfoes-startledthesteadiestnerveswiththeirvigorousexpression；
　　and_here_，again，thevoluptuousandswan-likefiguresofthedamesofdaysgoneby，floatedawayinthemazesofanunrealdancetothestrainsofimaginarymelody。
　　ButastheBaronlistened，oraffectedtolisten，tothegraduallyincreasinguproarinthestablesofBerlifitzing-orperhapspondereduponsomemorenovel，somemoredecidedactofaudacity-hiseyesbecameunwittinglyrivettedtothefigureofanenormous，andunnaturallycoloredhorse，representedinthetapestryasbelongingtoaSaracenancestorofthefamilyofhisrival。Thehorseitself，intheforegroundofthedesign，stoodmotionlessandstatue-like-whilefartherback，itsdiscomfitedriderperishedbythedaggerofaMetzengerstein。
　　OnFrederick’sliparoseafiendishexpression，ashebecameawareofthedirectionwhichhisglancehad，withouthisconsciousness，assumed。Yethedidnotremoveit。Onthecontrary，hecouldbynomeansaccountfortheoverwhelminganxietywhichappearedfallinglikeapalluponhissenses。Itwaswithdifficultythathereconciledhisdreamyandincoherentfeelingswiththecertaintyofbeingawake。Thelongerhegazedthemoreabsorbingbecamethespell-themoreimpossiblediditappearthathecouldeverwithdrawhisglancefromthefascinationofthattapestry。Butthetumultwithoutbecomingsuddenlymoreviolent，withacompulsoryexertionhedivertedhisattentiontotheglareofruddylightthrownfullbytheflamingstablesuponthewindowsoftheapartment。
　　Theaction，however，wasbutmomentary，hisgazereturnedmechanicallytothewall。Tohisextremehorrorandastonishment，theheadofthegiganticsteedhad，inthemeantime，altereditsposition。Theneckoftheanimal，beforearched，asifincompassion，overtheprostratebodyofitslord，wasnowextended，atfulllength，inthedirectionoftheBaron。Theeyes，beforeinvisible，nowworeanenergeticandhumanexpression，whiletheygleamedwithafieryandunusualred；andthedistendedlipsoftheapparentlyenragedhorseleftinfullviewhisgiganticanddisgustingteeth。
　　Stupifiedwithterror，theyoungnoblemantotteredtothedoor。
　　Ashethrewitopen，aflashofredlight，streamingfarintothechamber，flunghisshadowwithaclearoutlineagainstthequiveringtapestry，andheshudderedtoperceivethatshadow-ashestaggeredawhileuponthethreshold-assumingtheexactposition，andpreciselyfillingupthecontour，oftherelentlessandtriumphantmurdereroftheSaracenBerlifitzing。
　　Tolightenthedepressionofhisspirits，theBaronhurriedintotheopenair。Attheprincipalgateofthepalaceheencounteredthreeequerries。Withmuchdifficulty，andattheimminentperiloftheirlives，theywererestrainingtheconvulsiveplungesofagiganticandfiery-coloredhorse。
　　“Whosehorse？Wheredidyougethim？”demandedtheyouth，inaquerulousandhuskytoneofvoice，ashebecameinstantlyawarethatthemysterioussteedinthetapestriedchamberwastheverycounterpartofthefuriousanimalbeforehiseyes。
　　“Heisyourownproperty，sire。”repliedoneoftheequerries，“atleastheisclaimedbynootherowner。Wecaughthimflying，allsmokingandfoamingwithrage，fromtheburningstablesoftheCastleBerlifitzing。SupposinghimtohavebelongedtotheoldCount’sstudofforeignhorses，weledhimbackasanestray。Butthegroomstheredisclaimanytitletothecreature；whichisstrange，sincehebearsevidentmarksofhavingmadeanarrowescapefromtheflames。