Wehaveataskbeforeuswhichmustbespeedilyperformed。Weknowthatitwillberuinoustomakedelay。Themostimportantcrisisofourlifecalls，trumpet-tongued，forimmediateenergyandaction。Weglow，weareconsumedwitheagernesstocommencethework，withtheanticipationofwhosegloriousresultourwholesoulsareonfire。Itmust，itshallbeundertakento-day，andyetweputitoffuntilto-morrow，andwhy？Thereisnoanswer，exceptthatwefeelperverse，usingthewordwithnocomprehensionoftheprinciple。To-morrowarrives，andwithitamoreimpatientanxietytodoourduty，butwiththisveryincreaseofanxietyarrives，also，anameless，apositivelyfearful，becauseunfathomable，cravingfordelay。Thiscravinggathersstrengthasthemomentsfly。Thelasthourforactionisathand。Wetremblewiththeviolenceoftheconflictwithinus，ofthedefinitewiththeindefiniteofthesubstancewiththeshadow。But，ifthecontesthaveproceededthusfar，itistheshadowwhichprevails，westruggleinvain。Theclockstrikes，andistheknellofourwelfare。Atthesametime，itisthechanticleernotetotheghostthathassolongoverawedus。Itfliesitdisappearswearefree。Theoldenergyreturns。Wewilllabornow。Alas，itistoolate！
　　Westanduponthebrinkofaprecipice。Wepeerintotheabysswegrowsickanddizzy。Ourfirstimpulseistoshrinkfromthedanger。
　　Unaccountablyweremain。Byslowdegreesoursicknessanddizzinessandhorrorbecomemergedinacloudofunnamablefeeling。Bygradations，stillmoreimperceptible，thiscloudassumesshape，asdidthevaporfromthebottleoutofwhicharosethegeniusintheArabianNights。Butoutofthisourcloudupontheprecipice’sedge，theregrowsintopalpability，ashape，farmoreterriblethananygeniusoranydemonofatale，andyetitisbutathought，althoughafearfulone，andonewhichchillstheverymarrowofourboneswiththefiercenessofthedelightofitshorror。Itismerelytheideaofwhatwouldbeoursensationsduringthesweepingprecipitancyofafallfromsuchaheight。Andthisfallthisrushingannihilationfortheveryreasonthatitinvolvesthatonemostghastlyandloathsomeofallthemostghastlyandloathsomeimagesofdeathandsufferingwhichhaveeverpresentedthemselvestoourimagination
　　forthisverycausedowenowthemostvividlydesireit。Andbecauseourreasonviolentlydetersusfromthebrink，thereforedowethemostimpetuouslyapproachit。Thereisnopassioninnaturesodemoniacallyimpatient，asthatofhimwho，shudderingupontheedgeofaprecipice，thusmeditatesaPlunge。Toindulge，foramoment，inanyattemptatthought，istobeinevitablylost；forreflectionbuturgesustoforbear，andthereforeitis，Isay，thatwecannot。Iftherebenofriendlyarmtocheckus，orifwefailinasuddenefforttoprostrateourselvesbackwardfromtheabyss，weplunge，andaredestroyed。
　　Examinethesesimilaractionsaswewill，weshallfindthemresultingsolelyfromthespiritofthePerverse。Weperpetratethembecausewefeelthatweshouldnot。Beyondorbehindthisthereisnointelligibleprinciple；andwemight，indeed，deemthisperversenessadirectinstigationoftheArch-Fiend，wereitnotoccasionallyknowntooperateinfurtheranceofgood。
　　Ihavesaidthusmuch，thatinsomemeasureImayansweryourquestion，thatImayexplaintoyouwhyIamhere，thatImayassigntoyousomethingthatshallhaveatleastthefaintaspectofacauseformywearingthesefetters，andformytenantingthiscellofthecondemned。HadInotbeenthusprolix，youmighteitherhavemisunderstoodmealtogether，or，withtherabble，havefanciedmemad。Asitis，youwilleasilyperceivethatIamoneofthemanyuncountedvictimsoftheImpofthePerverse。
　　Itisimpossiblethatanydeedcouldhavebeenwroughtwithamorethoroughdeliberation。Forweeks，formonths，Ipondereduponthemeansofthemurder。Irejectedathousandschemes，becausetheiraccomplishmentinvolvedachanceofdetection。Atlength，inreadingsomeFrenchMemoirs，IfoundanaccountofanearlyfatalillnessthatoccurredtoMadamePilau，throughtheagencyofacandleaccidentallypoisoned。Theideastruckmyfancyatonce。Iknewmyvictim’shabitofreadinginbed。Iknew，too，thathisapartmentwasnarrowandill-ventilated。ButIneednotvexyouwithimpertinentdetails。IneednotdescribetheeasyartificesbywhichI
　　substituted，inhisbed-roomcandle-stand，awax-lightofmyownmakingfortheonewhichItherefound。Thenextmorninghewasdiscovereddeadinhisbed，andtheCoroner’sverdictwas“DeathbythevisitationofGod。”
　　Havinginheritedhisestate，allwentwellwithmeforyears。Theideaofdetectionneveronceenteredmybrain。OftheremainsofthefataltaperIhadmyselfcarefullydisposed。Ihadleftnoshadowofaclewbywhichitwouldbepossibletoconvict，oreventosuspectmeofthecrime。ItisinconceivablehowrichasentimentofsatisfactionaroseinmybosomasIreflecteduponmyabsolutesecurity。ForaverylongperiodoftimeIwasaccustomedtorevelinthissentiment。Itaffordedmemorerealdelightthanallthemereworldlyadvantagesaccruingfrommysin。Buttherearrivedatlengthanepoch，fromwhichthepleasurablefeelinggrew，byscarcelyperceptiblegradations，intoahauntingandharassingthought。Itharassedbecauseithaunted。Icouldscarcelygetridofitforaninstant。Itisquiteacommonthingtobethusannoyedwiththeringinginourears，orratherinourmemories，oftheburthenofsomeordinarysong，orsomeunimpressivesnatchesfromanopera。Norwillwebethelesstormentedifthesonginitselfbegood，ortheoperaairmeritorious。Inthismanner，atlast，Iwouldperpetuallycatchmyselfponderinguponmysecurity，andrepeating，inalowundertone，thephrase，“Iamsafe。”
　　Oneday，whilstsaunteringalongthestreets，Iarrestedmyselfintheactofmurmuring，halfaloud，thesecustomarysyllables。Inafitofpetulance，Iremodelledthemthus；“IamsafeIamsafeyesifIbenotfoolenoughtomakeopenconfession！”
　　NosoonerhadIspokenthesewords，thanIfeltanicychillcreeptomyheart。Ihadhadsomeexperienceinthesefitsofperversity，whosenatureIhavebeenatsometroubletoexplain，andI
　　rememberedwellthatinnoinstanceIhadsuccessfullyresistedtheirattacks。Andnowmyowncasualself-suggestionthatImightpossiblybefoolenoughtoconfessthemurderofwhichIhadbeenguilty，confrontedme，asiftheveryghostofhimwhomIhadmurderedandbeckonedmeontodeath。
　　Atfirst，Imadeanefforttoshakeoffthisnightmareofthesoul。I
　　walkedvigorouslyfasterstillfasteratlengthIran。I
　　feltamaddeningdesiretoshriekaloud。Everysucceedingwaveofthoughtoverwhelmedmewithnewterror，for，alas！Iwell，toowellunderstoodthattothink，inmysituation，wastobelost。Istillquickenedmypace。Iboundedlikeamadmanthroughthecrowdedthoroughfares。Atlength，thepopulacetookthealarm，andpursuedme。Ifeltthentheconsummationofmyfate。CouldIhavetornoutmytongue，Iwouldhavedoneit，butaroughvoiceresoundedinmyearsaroughergraspseizedmebytheshoulder。IturnedIgaspedforbreath。ForamomentIexperiencedallthepangsofsuffocation；
　　Ibecameblind，anddeaf，andgiddy；andthensomeinvisiblefiend，I
　　thought，struckmewithhisbroadpalmupontheback。Thelongimprisonedsecretburstforthfrommysoul。
　　TheysaythatIspokewithadistinctenunciation，butwithmarkedemphasisandpassionatehurry，asifindreadofinterruptionbeforeconcludingthebrief，butpregnantsentencesthatconsignedmetothehangmanandtohell。
　　Havingrelatedallthatwasnecessaryforthefullestjudicialconviction，Ifellprostrateinaswoon。
　　ButwhyshallIsaymore？To-dayIwearthesechains，andamhere！
　　To-morrowIshallbefetterless！butwhere？
　　Nullusenimlocussinegenioest。_Servius_。
　　“LAMUSIQUE。”saysMarmontel，inthose“ContesMoraux“{*1}whichinallourtranslations，wehaveinsisteduponcalling“MoralTales。”asifinmockeryoftheirspirit“lamusiqueestleseuldestalentsquijouissentdelui-meme；touslesautresveulentdestemoins。”Hehereconfoundsthepleasurederivablefromsweetsoundswiththecapacityforcreatingthem。Nomorethananyothertalent，isthatformusicsusceptibleofcompleteenjoyment，wherethereisnosecondpartytoappreciateitsexercise。Anditisonlyincommonwithothertalentsthatitproduceseffectswhichmaybefullyenjoyedinsolitude。Theideawhichtheraconteurhaseitherfailedtoentertainclearly，orhassacrificedinitsexpressiontohisnationalloveofpoint，is，doubtless，theverytenableonethatthehigherorderofmusicisthemostthoroughlyestimatedwhenweareexclusivelyalone。
　　Theproposition，inthisform，willbeadmittedatoncebythosewholovethelyreforitsownsake，andforitsspiritualuses。Butthereisonepleasurestillwithinthereachoffallenmortalityandperhapsonlyonewhichowesevenmorethandoesmusictotheaccessorysentimentofseclusion。Imeanthehappinessexperiencedinthecontemplationofnaturalscenery。Intruth，themanwhowouldbeholdarightthegloryofGoduponearthmustinsolitudebeholdthatglory。Tome，atleast，thepresencenotofhumanlifeonly，butoflifeinanyotherformthanthatofthegreenthingswhichgrowuponthesoilandarevoicelessisastainuponthelandscapeisatwarwiththegeniusofthescene。Ilove，indeed，toregardthedarkvalleys，andthegrayrocks，andthewatersthatsilentlysmile，andtheforeststhatsighinuneasyslumbers，andtheproudwatchfulmountainsthatlookdownuponall，Ilovetoregardtheseasthemselvesbutthecolossalmembersofonevastanimateandsentientwholeawholewhoseformthatofthesphereisthemostperfectandmostinclusiveofall；whosepathisamongassociateplanets；whosemeekhandmaidenisthemoon，whosemediatesovereignisthesun；whoselifeiseternity，whosethoughtisthatofaGod；
　　whoseenjoymentisknowledge；whosedestiniesarelostinimmensity，whosecognizanceofourselvesisakinwithourowncognizanceoftheanimalculaewhichinfestthebrainabeingwhichwe，inconsequence，regardaspurelyinanimateandmaterialmuchinthesamemannerastheseanimalculaemustthusregardus。
　　Ourtelescopesandourmathematicalinvestigationsassureusoneveryhandnotwithstandingthecantofthemoreignorantofthepriesthoodthatspace，andthereforethatbulk，isanimportantconsiderationintheeyesoftheAlmighty。Thecyclesinwhichthestarsmovearethosebestadaptedfortheevolution，withoutcollision，ofthegreatestpossiblenumberofbodies。Theformsofthosebodiesareaccuratelysuchas，withinagivensurface，toincludethegreatestpossibleamountofmatter；whilethesurfacesthemselvesaresodisposedastoaccommodateadenserpopulationthancouldbeaccommodatedonthesamesurfacesotherwisearranged。NorisitanyargumentagainstbulkbeinganobjectwithGod，thatspaceitselfisinfinite；fortheremaybeaninfinityofmattertofillit。Andsinceweseeclearlythattheendowmentofmatterwithvitalityisaprincipleindeed，asfarasourjudgmentsextend，theleadingprincipleintheoperationsofDeity，itisscarcelylogicaltoimagineitconfinedtotheregionsoftheminute，wherewedailytraceit，andnotextendingtothoseoftheaugust。Aswefindcyclewithincyclewithoutend，yetallrevolvingaroundonefar-distantcentrewhichistheGod-head，maywenotanalogicallysupposeinthesamemanner，lifewithinlife，thelesswithinthegreater，andallwithintheSpiritDivine？Inshort，wearemadlyerring，throughself-esteem，inbelievingman，ineitherhistemporalorfuturedestinies，tobeofmoremomentintheuniversethanthatvast“clodofthevalley“whichhetillsandcontemns，andtowhichhedeniesasoulfornomoreprofoundreasonthanthathedoesnotbeholditinoperation。{*2}
　　Thesefancies，andsuchasthese，havealwaysgiventomymeditationsamongthemountainsandtheforests，bytheriversandtheocean，atingeofwhattheeverydayworldwouldnotfailtotermfantastic。Mywanderingsamidsuchsceneshavebeenmany，andfar-searching，andoftensolitary；andtheinterestwithwhichIhavestrayedthroughmanyadim，deepvalley，orgazedintothereflectedHeavenofmanyabrightlake，hasbeenaninterestgreatlydeepenedbythethoughtthatIhavestrayedandgazedalone。WhatflippantFrenchmanwasitwhosaidinallusiontothewell-knownworkofZimmerman，that，“lasolitudeestunebellechose；maisilfautquelqu’unpourvousdirequelasolitudeestunebellechose？”Theepigramcannotbegainsayed；butthenecessityisathingthatdoesnotexist。
　　Itwasduringoneofmylonelyjourneyings，amidafardistantregionofmountainlockedwithinmountain，andsadriversandmelancholytarnwrithingorsleepingwithinallthatIchanceduponacertainrivuletandisland。IcameuponthemsuddenlyintheleafyJune，andthrewmyselfupontheturf，beneaththebranchesofanunknownodorousshrub，thatImightdozeasIcontemplatedthescene。IfeltthatthusonlyshouldIlookuponitsuchwasthecharacterofphantasmwhichitwore。
　　Onallsidessavetothewest，wherethesunwasaboutsinking
　　arosetheverdantwallsoftheforest。Thelittleriverwhichturnedsharplyinitscourse，andwasthusimmediatelylosttosight，seemedtohavenoexitfromitsprison，buttobeabsorbedbythedeepgreenfoliageofthetreestotheeastwhileintheoppositequartersoitappearedtomeasIlayatlengthandglancedupwardtherepoureddownnoiselesslyandcontinuouslyintothevalley，arichgoldenandcrimsonwaterfallfromthesunsetfountainsofthesky。