DURINGthedreadreignoftheCholerainNewYork，Ihadacceptedtheinvitationofarelativetospendafortnightwithhimintheretirementofhis_cottageornee_onthebanksoftheHudson。Wehadherearoundusalltheordinarymeansofsummeramusement；andwhatwithramblinginthewoods，sketching，boating，fishing，bathing，music，andbooks，weshouldhavepassedthetimepleasantlyenough，butforthefearfulintelligencewhichreacheduseverymorningfromthepopulouscity。Notadayelapsedwhichdidnotbringusnewsofthedeceaseofsomeacquaintance。Thenasthefatalityincreased，welearnedtoexpectdailythelossofsomefriend。Atlengthwetrembledattheapproachofeverymessenger。TheveryairfromtheSouthseemedtousredolentwithdeath。Thatpalsyingthought，indeed，tookentirepossessionofmysoul。Icouldneitherspeak，think，nordreamofanythingelse。Myhostwasofalessexcitabletemperament，and，althoughgreatlydepressedinspirits，exertedhimselftosustainmyown。Hisrichlyphilosophicalintellectwasnotatanytimeaffectedbyunrealities。Tothesubstancesofterrorhewassufficientlyalive，butofitsshadowshehadnoapprehension。
　　HisendeavorstoarousemefromtheconditionofabnormalgloomintowhichIhadfallen，werefrustrated，ingreatmeasure，bycertainvolumeswhichIhadfoundinhislibrary。Thesewereofacharactertoforceintogerminationwhateverseedsofhereditarysuperstitionlaylatentinmybosom。Ihadbeenreadingthesebookswithouthisknowledge，andthushewasoftenatalosstoaccountfortheforcibleimpressionswhichhadbeenmadeuponmyfancy。
　　Afavoritetopicwithmewasthepopularbeliefinomensabeliefwhich，atthisoneepochofmylife，Iwasalmostseriouslydisposedtodefend。Onthissubjectwehadlongandanimateddiscussionshemaintainingtheuttergroundlessnessoffaithinsuchmatters，I
　　contendingthatapopularsentimentarisingwithabsolutespontaneity-
　　thatistosay，withoutapparenttracesofsuggestionhadinitselftheunmistakableelementsoftruth，andwasentitledtoasmuchrespectasthatintuitionwhichistheidiosyncrasyoftheindividualmanofgenius。
　　Thefactis，thatsoonaftermyarrivalatthecottagetherehadoccurredtomyselfanincidentsoentirelyinexplicable，andwhichhadinitsomuchoftheportentouscharacter，thatImightwellhavebeenexcusedforregardingitasanomen。Itappalled，andatthesametimesoconfoundedandbewilderedme，thatmanydayselapsedbeforeIcouldmakeupmymindtocommunicatethecircumstancestomyfriend。
　　Nearthecloseofexceedinglywarmday，Iwassitting，bookinhand，atanopenwindow，commanding，throughalongvistaoftheriverbanks，aviewofadistanthill，thefaceofwhichnearestmypositionhadbeendenudedbywhatistermedaland-slide，oftheprincipalportionofitstrees。Mythoughtshadbeenlongwanderingfromthevolumebeforemetothegloomanddesolationoftheneighboringcity。Upliftingmyeyesfromthepage，theyfelluponthenakedfaceofthebill，anduponanobjectuponsomelivingmonsterofhideousconformation，whichveryrapidlymadeitswayfromthesummittothebottom，disappearingfinallyinthedenseforestbelow。Asthiscreaturefirstcameinsight，Idoubtedmyownsanityoratleasttheevidenceofmyowneyes；andmanyminutespassedbeforeI
　　succeededinconvincingmyselfthatIwasneithermadnorinadream。YetwhenIdescribedthemonsterwhichIdistinctlysaw，andcalmlysurveyedthroughthewholeperiodofitsprogress，myreaders，Ifear，willfeelmoredifficultyinbeingconvincedofthesepointsthanevenIdidmyself。
　　Estimatingthesizeofthecreaturebycomparisonwiththediameterofthelargetreesnearwhichitpassedthefewgiantsoftheforestwhichhadescapedthefuryoftheland-slideIconcludedittobefarlargerthananyshipofthelineinexistence。Isayshipoftheline，becausetheshapeofthemonstersuggestedtheidea-thehullofoneofourseventy-fourmightconveyaverytolerableconceptionofthegeneraloutline。Themouthoftheanimalwassituatedattheextremityofaproboscissomesixtyorseventyfeetinlength，andaboutasthickasthebodyofanordinaryelephant。Neartherootofthistrunkwasanimmensequantityofblackshaggyhair-morethancouldhavebeensuppliedbythecoatsofascoreofbuffaloes；andprojectingfromthishairdownwardlyandlaterally，sprangtwogleamingtusksnotunlikethoseofthewildboar，butofinfinitelygreaterdimensions。Extendingforward，parallelwiththeproboscis，andoneachsideofit，wasagiganticstaff，thirtyorfortyfeetinlength，formedseeminglyofpurecrystalandinshapeaperfectprism，itreflectedinthemostgorgeousmannertheraysofthedecliningsun。Thetrunkwasfashionedlikeawedgewiththeapextotheearth。Fromittherewereoutspreadtwopairsofwings-eachwingnearlyonehundredyardsinlengthonepairbeingplacedabovetheother，andallthicklycoveredwithmetalscales；eachscaleapparentlysometenortwelvefeetindiameter。Iobservedthattheupperandlowertiersofwingswereconnectedbyastrongchain。ButthechiefpeculiarityofthishorriblethingwastherepresentationofaDeath’sHead，whichcoverednearlythewholesurfaceofitsbreast，andwhichwasasaccuratelytracedinglaringwhite，uponthedarkgroundofthebody，asifithadbeentherecarefullydesignedbyanartist。WhileIregardedtheterrificanimal，andmoreespeciallytheappearanceonitsbreast，withafeelingorhorrorandawewithasentimentofforthcomingevil，whichIfounditimpossibletoquellbyanyeffortofthereason，Iperceivedthehugejawsattheextremityoftheproboscissuddenlyexpandthemselves，andfromthemthereproceededasoundsoloudandsoexpressiveofwo，thatitstruckuponmynerveslikeaknellandasthemonsterdisappearedatthefootofthehill，Ifellatonce，fainting，tothefloor。
　　Uponrecovering，myfirstimpulse，ofcourse，wastoinformmyfriendofwhatIhadseenandheardandIcanscarcelyexplainwhatfeelingofrepugnanceitwaswhich，intheend，operatedtopreventme。
　　Atlength，oneevening，somethreeorfourdaysaftertheoccurrence，weweresittingtogetherintheroominwhichIhadseentheapparitionI
　　occupyingthesameseatatthesamewindow，andheloungingonasofanearathand。Theassociationoftheplaceandtimeimpelledmetogivehimanaccountofthephenomenon。Heheardmetotheendatfirstlaughedheartilyandthenlapsedintoanexcessivelygravedemeanor，asifmyinsanitywasathingbeyondsuspicion。AtthisinstantIagainhadadistinctviewofthemonster-towhich，withashoutofabsoluteterror，I
　　nowdirectedhisattention。Helookedeagerlybutmaintainedthathesawnothing-althoughIdesignatedminutelythecourseofthecreature，asitmadeitswaydownthenakedfaceofthehill。
　　Iwasnowimmeasurablyalarmed，forIconsideredthevisioneitherasanomenofmydeath，or，worse，asthefore-runnerofanattackofmania。I
　　threwmyselfpassionatelybackinmychair，andforsomemomentsburiedmyfaceinmyhands。WhenIuncoveredmyeyes，theapparitionwasnolongerapparent。
　　Myhost，however，hadinsomedegreeresumedthecalmnessofhisdemeanor，andquestionedmeveryrigorouslyinrespecttotheconformationofthevisionarycreature。WhenIhadfullysatisfiedhimonthishead，hesigheddeeply，asifrelievedofsomeintolerableburden，andwentontotalk，withwhatIthoughtacruelcalmness，ofvariouspointsofspeculativephilosophy，whichhadheretoforeformedsubjectofdiscussionbetweenus。
　　Irememberhisinsistingveryespeciallyamongotherthingsupontheideathattheprinciplesourceoferrorinallhumaninvestigationslayintheliabilityoftheunderstandingtounder-rateortoover-valuetheimportanceofanobject，throughmeremis-admeasurementofitspropinquity。“Toestimateproperly，forexample。”hesaid，“theinfluencetobeexercisedonmankindatlargebythethoroughdiffusionofDemocracy，thedistanceoftheepochatwhichsuchdiffusionmaypossiblybeaccomplishedshouldnotfailtoformanitemintheestimate。Yetcanyoutellmeonewriteronthesubjectofgovernmentwhohaseverthoughtthisparticularbranchofthesubjectworthyofdiscussionatall？”
　　Heherepausedforamoment，steppedtoabook-case，andbroughtforthoneoftheordinarysynopsesofNaturalHistory。Requestingmethentoexchangeseatswithhim，thathemightthebetterdistinguishthefineprintofthevolume，hetookmyarmchairatthewindow，and，openingthebook，resumedhisdiscourseverymuchinthesametoneasbefore。
　　“Butforyourexceedingminuteness。”hesaid，“indescribingthemonster，Imightneverhavehaditinmypowertodemonstratetoyouwhatitwas。
　　Inthefirstplace，letmereadtoyouaschoolboyaccountofthegenusSphinx，ofthefamilyCrepusculariaoftheorderLepidoptera，oftheclassofInsectaorinsects。Theaccountrunsthus：
　　“’Fourmembranouswingscoveredwithlittlecoloredscalesofmetallicappearance；mouthformingarolledproboscis，producedbyanelongationofthejaws，uponthesidesofwhicharefoundtherudimentsofmandiblesanddownypalpi；theinferiorwingsretainedtothesuperiorbyastiffhair；
　　antennaeintheformofanelongatedclub，prismatic；abdomenpointed，TheDeath’sheadedSphinxhasoccasionedmuchterroramongthevulgar，attimes，bythemelancholykindofcrywhichitutters，andtheinsigniaofdeathwhichitwearsuponitscorslet。’“
　　Hehereclosedthebookandleanedforwardinthechair，placinghimselfaccuratelyinthepositionwhichIhadoccupiedatthemomentofbeholding“themonster。”
　　“Ah，hereitis。”hepresentlyexclaimed“itisreascendingthefaceofthehill，andaveryremarkablelookingcreatureIadmitittobe。Still，itisbynomeanssolargeorsodistantasyouimaginedit，forthefactisthat，asitwrigglesitswayupthisthread，whichsomespiderhaswroughtalongthewindow-sash，Ifindittobeaboutthesixteenthofaninchinitsextremelength，andalsoaboutthesixteenthofaninchdistantfromthepupilofmyeye。”
　　INEVERknewanyonesokeenlyalivetoajokeasthekingwas。Heseemedtoliveonlyforjoking。Totellagoodstoryofthejokekind，andtotellitwell，wasthesurestroadtohisfavor。Thusithappenedthathissevenministerswereallnotedfortheiraccomplishmentsasjokers。
　　Theyalltookaftertheking，too，inbeinglarge，corpulent，oilymen，aswellasinimitablejokers。Whetherpeoplegrowfatbyjoking，orwhetherthereissomethinginfatitselfwhichpredisposestoajoke，Ihaveneverbeenquiteabletodetermine；butcertainitisthataleanjokerisararaavisinterris。
　　Abouttherefinements，or，ashecalledthem，the’ghost’ofwit，thekingtroubledhimselfverylittle。Hehadanespecialadmirationforbreadthinajest，andwouldoftenputupwithlength，forthesakeofit。
　　Over-nicetiesweariedhim。HewouldhavepreferredRabelais’’Gargantua’
　　tothe’Zadig’ofVoltaire：and，uponthewhole，practicaljokessuitedhistastefarbetterthanverbalones。
　　Atthedateofmynarrative，professingjestershadnotaltogethergoneoutoffashionatcourt。Severalofthegreatcontinental’powers’stillretaintheir’fools，’whoworemotley，withcapsandbells，andwhowereexpectedtobealwaysreadywithsharpwitticisms，atamoment’snotice，inconsiderationofthecrumbsthatfellfromtheroyaltable。
　　Ourking，asamatterofcourse，retainedhis’fool。’Thefactis，herequiredsomethinginthewayoffollyifonlytocounterbalancetheheavywisdomofthesevenwisemenwhowerehisministersnottomentionhimself。
　　Hisfool，orprofessionaljester，wasnotonlyafool，however。Hisvaluewastrebledintheeyesoftheking，bythefactofhisbeingalsoadwarfandacripple。Dwarfswereascommonatcourt，inthosedays，asfools；
　　andmanymonarchswouldhavefounditdifficulttogetthroughtheirdaysdaysareratherlongeratcourtthanelsewherewithoutbothajestertolaughwith，andadwarftolaughat。But，asIhavealreadyobserved，yourjesters，inninety-ninecasesoutofahundred，arefat，round，andunwieldysothatitwasnosmallsourceofself-gratulationwithourkingthat，inHop-Frogthiswasthefool’sname，hepossessedatriplicatetreasureinoneperson。
　　Ibelievethename’Hop-Frog’wasnotthatgiventothedwarfbyhissponsorsatbaptism，butitwasconferreduponhim，bygeneralconsentoftheseveralministers，onaccountofhisinabilitytowalkasothermendo。Infact，Hop-Frogcouldonlygetalongbyasortofinterjectionalgaitsomethingbetweenaleapandawriggleamovementthataffordedillimitableamusement，andofcourseconsolation，totheking，fornotwithstandingtheprotuberanceofhisstomachandaconstitutionalswellingoftheheadtheking，byhiswholecourt，wasaccountedacapitalfigure。
　　ButalthoughHop-Frog，throughthedistortionofhislegs，couldmoveonlywithgreatpainanddifficultyalongaroadorfloor，theprodigiousmuscularpowerwhichnatureseemedtohavebestoweduponhisarms，bywayofcompensationfordeficiencyinthelowerlimbs，enabledhimtoperformmanyfeatsofwonderfuldexterity，wheretreesorropeswereinquestion，oranythingelsetoclimb。Atsuchexerciseshecertainlymuchmoreresembledasquirrel，orasmallmonkey，thanafrog。
　　Iamnotabletosay，withprecision，fromwhatcountryHop-Frogoriginallycame。Itwasfromsomebarbarousregion，however，thatnopersoneverheardofavastdistancefromthecourtofourking。
　　Hop-Frog，andayounggirlverylittlelessdwarfishthanhimselfalthoughofexquisiteproportions，andamarvellousdancer，hadbeenforciblycarriedofffromtheirrespectivehomesinadjoiningprovinces，andsentaspresentstotheking，byoneofhisever-victoriousgenerals。
　　Underthesecircumstances，itisnottobewonderedatthatacloseintimacyarosebetweenthetwolittlecaptives。Indeed，theysoonbecameswornfriends。Hop-Frog，who，althoughhemadeagreatdealofsport，wasbynomeanspopular，haditnotinhispowertorenderTrippettamanyservices；butshe，onaccountofhergraceandexquisitebeautyalthoughadwarf，wasuniversallyadmiredandpetted；soshepossessedmuchinfluence；andneverfailedtouseit，whenevershecould，forthebenefitofHop-Frog。