wonttoregardhimfromourremotepewinthegallery，as，withstepsolemnandslow，heascendedthepulpit！Thisreverendman，withcountenancesodemurelybenign，withrobessoglossyandsoclericallyflowing，withwigsominutelypowdered，sorigidandsovast，-couldthisbehewho，oflate，withsourvisage，andinsnuffyhabiliments，administered，feruleinhand，theDraconianlawsoftheacademy？Oh，giganticparadox，tooutterlymonstrousforsolution！
　　Atanangleoftheponderouswallfrownedamoreponderousgate。Itwasrivetedandstuddedwithironbolts，andsurmountedwithjaggedironspikes。Whatimpressionsofdeepawediditinspire！Itwasneveropenedsaveforthethreeperiodicalegressionsandingressionsalreadymentioned；then，ineverycreakofitsmightyhinges，wefoundaplenitudeofmysteryaworldofmatterforsolemnremark，orformoresolemnmeditation。
　　Theextensiveenclosurewasirregularinform，havingmanycapaciousrecesses。Ofthese，threeorfourofthelargestconstitutedtheplay-ground。Itwaslevel，andcoveredwithfinehardgravel。Iwellrememberithadnotrees，norbenches，noranythingsimilarwithinit。Ofcourseitwasintherearofthehouse。Infrontlayasmallparterre，plantedwithboxandothershrubs；butthroughthissacreddivisionwepassedonlyuponrareoccasionsindeedsuchasafirstadventtoschoolorfinaldeparturethence，orperhaps，whenaparentorfriendhavingcalledforus，wejoyfullytookourwayhomefortheChristmasorMidsummerholy-days。
　　Butthehouse！howquaintanoldbuildingwasthis！tomehowveritablyapalaceofenchantment！Therewasreallynoendtoitswindingstoitsincomprehensiblesubdivisions。Itwasdifficult，atanygiventime，tosaywithcertaintyuponwhichofitstwostoriesonehappenedtobe。Fromeachroomtoeveryotherthereweresuretobefoundthreeorfourstepseitherinascentordescent。
　　Thenthelateralbrancheswereinnumerableinconceivableandsoreturninginuponthemselves，thatourmostexactideasinregardtothewholemansionwerenotveryfardifferentfromthosewithwhichwepondereduponinfinity。Duringthefiveyearsofmyresidencehere，Iwasneverabletoascertainwithprecision，inwhatremotelocalitylaythelittlesleepingapartmentassignedtomyselfandsomeeighteenortwentyotherscholars。
　　Theschool-roomwasthelargestinthehouseIcouldnothelpthinking，intheworld。Itwasverylong，narrow，anddismallylow，withpointedGothicwindowsandaceilingofoak。Inaremoteandterror-inspiringanglewasasquareenclosureofeightortenfeet，comprisingthesanctum，“duringhours。”ofourprincipal，theReverendDr。Bransby。Itwasasolidstructure，withmassydoor，soonerthanopenwhichintheabsenceofthe“Dominic。”wewouldallhavewillinglyperishedbythepeineforteetdure。Inotheranglesweretwoothersimilarboxes，farlessreverenced，indeed，butstillgreatlymattersofawe。Oneofthesewasthepulpitofthe“classical“usher，oneofthe“Englishandmathematical。”
　　Interspersedabouttheroom，crossingandrecrossinginendlessirregularity，wereinnumerablebenchesanddesks，black，ancient，andtime-worn，pileddesperatelywithmuch-bethumbedbooks，andsobeseamedwithinitialletters，namesatfulllength，grotesquefigures，andothermultipliedeffortsoftheknife，astohaveentirelylostwhatlittleoforiginalformmighthavebeentheirportionindayslongdeparted。Ahugebucketwithwaterstoodatoneextremityoftheroom，andaclockofstupendousdimensionsattheother。
　　Encompassedbythemassywallsofthisvenerableacademy，Ipassed，yetnotintediumordisgust，theyearsofthethirdlustrumofmylife。Theteemingbrainofchildhoodrequiresnoexternalworldofincidenttooccupyoramuseit；andtheapparentlydismalmonotonyofaschoolwasrepletewithmoreintenseexcitementthanmyriperyouthhasderivedfromluxury，ormyfullmanhoodfromcrime。YetImustbelievethatmyfirstmentaldevelopmenthadinitmuchoftheuncommonevenmuchoftheoutre。Uponmankindatlargetheeventsofveryearlyexistencerarelyleaveinmatureageanydefiniteimpression。Allisgrayshadowaweakandirregularremembrance
　　anindistinctregatheringoffeeblepleasuresandphantasmagoricpains。Withmethisisnotso。InchildhoodImusthavefeltwiththeenergyofamanwhatInowfindstampeduponmemoryinlinesasvivid，asdeep，andasdurableastheexerguesoftheCarthaginianmedals。
　　Yetinfactinthefactoftheworld’sviewhowlittlewastheretoremember！Themorning’sawakening，thenightlysummonstobed；theconnings，therecitations；theperiodicalhalf-holidays，andperambulations；theplay-ground，withitsbroils，itspastimes，itsintrigues；these，byamentalsorcerylongforgotten，weremadetoinvolveawildernessofsensation，aworldofrichincident，anuniverseofvariedemotion，ofexcitementthemostpassionateandspirit-stirring。“Oh，lebontemps，quecesiecledefer！”
　　Intruth，theardor，theenthusiasm，andtheimperiousnessofmydisposition，soonrenderedmeamarkedcharacteramongmyschoolmates，andbyslow，butnaturalgradations，gavemeanascendancyoverallnotgreatlyolderthanmyself；overallwithasingleexception。Thisexceptionwasfoundinthepersonofascholar，who，althoughnorelation，borethesameChristianandsurnameasmyself；acircumstance，infact，littleremarkable；
　　for，notwithstandinganobledescent，minewasoneofthoseeverydayappellationswhichseem，byprescriptiveright，tohavebeen，timeoutofmind，thecommonpropertyofthemob。InthisnarrativeIhavethereforedesignatedmyselfasWilliamWilson，afictitioustitlenotverydissimilartothereal。Mynamesakealone，ofthosewhoinschoolphraseologyconstituted“ourset。”presumedtocompetewithmeinthestudiesoftheclassinthesportsandbroilsoftheplay-groundtorefuseimplicitbeliefinmyassertions，andsubmissiontomywillindeed，tointerferewithmyarbitrarydictationinanyrespectwhatsoever。Ifthereisonearthasupremeandunqualifieddespotism，itisthedespotismofamastermindinboyhoodoverthelessenergeticspiritsofitscompanions。
　　Wilson’srebellionwastomeasourceofthegreatestembarrassment；
　　themoresoas，inspiteofthebravadowithwhichinpublicI
　　madeapointoftreatinghimandhispretensions，IsecretlyfeltthatIfearedhim，andcouldnothelpthinkingtheequalitywhichhemaintainedsoeasilywithmyself，aproofofhistruesuperiority；
　　sincenottobeovercomecostmeaperpetualstruggle。Yetthissuperiorityeventhisequalitywasintruthacknowledgedbynoonebutmyself；ourassociates，bysomeunaccountableblindness，seemednoteventosuspectit。Indeed，hiscompetition，hisresistance，andespeciallyhisimpertinentanddoggedinterferencewithmypurposes，werenotmorepointedthanprivate。Heappearedtobedestitutealikeoftheambitionwhichurged，andofthepassionateenergyofmindwhichenabledmetoexcel。Inhisrivalryhemighthavebeensupposedactuatedsolelybyawhimsicaldesiretothwart，astonish，ormortifymyself；althoughthereweretimeswhenIcouldnothelpobserving，withafeelingmadeupofwonder，abasement，andpique，thathemingledwithhisinjuries，hisinsults，orhiscontradictions，acertainmostinappropriate，andassuredlymostunwelcomeaffectionatenessofmanner。Icouldonlyconceivethissingularbehaviortoarisefromaconsummateself-conceitassumingthevulgarairsofpatronageandprotection。
　　PerhapsitwasthislattertraitinWilson’sconduct，conjoinedwithouridentityofname，andthemereaccidentofourhavingenteredtheschooluponthesameday，whichsetafloatthenotionthatwewerebrothers，amongtheseniorclassesintheacademy。Thesedonotusuallyinquirewithmuchstrictnessintotheaffairsoftheirjuniors。Ihavebeforesaid，orshouldhavesaid，thatWilsonwasnot，inthemostremotedegree，connectedwithmyfamily。Butassuredlyifwehadbeenbrotherswemusthavebeentwins；for，afterleavingDr。Bransby’s，IcasuallylearnedthatmynamesakewasbornonthenineteenthofJanuary，1813andthisisasomewhatremarkablecoincidence；forthedayispreciselythatofmyownnativity。
　　ItmayseemstrangethatinspiteofthecontinualanxietyoccasionedmebytherivalryofWilson，andhisintolerablespiritofcontradiction，Icouldnotbringmyselftohatehimaltogether。Wehad，tobesure，nearlyeverydayaquarrelinwhich，yieldingmepubliclythepalmofvictory，he，insomemanner，contrivedtomakemefeelthatitwashewhohaddeservedit；yetasenseofprideonmypart，andaveritabledignityonhisown，keptusalwaysuponwhatarecalled“speakingterms。”whilethereweremanypointsofstrongcongenialityinourtempers，operatingtoawakemeinasentimentwhichourpositionalone，perhaps，preventedfromripeningintofriendship。Itisdifficult，indeed，todefine，oreventodescribe，myrealfeelingstowardshim。Theyformedamotleyandheterogeneousadmixture；somepetulantanimosity，whichwasnotyethatred，someesteem，morerespect，muchfear，withaworldofuneasycuriosity。Tothemoralistitwillbeunnecessarytosay，inaddition，thatWilsonandmyselfwerethemostinseparableofcompanions。
　　Itwasnodoubttheanomalousstateofaffairsexistingbetweenus，whichturnedallmyattacksuponhim，andtheyweremany，eitheropenorcovertintothechannelofbanterorpracticaljokegivingpainwhileassumingtheaspectofmerefunratherthanintoamoreseriousanddeterminedhostility。Butmyendeavoursonthisheadwerebynomeansuniformlysuccessful，evenwhenmyplanswerethemostwittilyconcocted；formynamesakehadmuchabouthim，incharacter，ofthatunassumingandquietausteritywhich，whileenjoyingthepoignancyofitsownjokes，hasnoheelofAchillesinitself，andabsolutelyrefusestobelaughedat。Icouldfind，indeed，butonevulnerablepoint，andthat，lyinginapersonalpeculiarity，arising，perhaps，fromconstitutionaldisease，wouldhavebeensparedbyanyantagonistlessathiswit’sendthanmyself；myrivalhadaweaknessinthefaucalorgutturalorgans，whichprecludedhimfromraisinghisvoiceatanytimeaboveaverylowwhisper。OfthisdefectIdidnotfalltotakewhatpooradvantagelayinmypower。
　　Wilson’sretaliationsinkindweremany；andtherewasoneformofhispracticalwitthatdisturbedmebeyondmeasure。Howhissagacityfirstdiscoveredatallthatsopettyathingwouldvexme，isaquestionInevercouldsolve；but，havingdiscovered，hehabituallypractisedtheannoyance。Ihadalwaysfeltaversiontomyuncourtlypatronymic，anditsverycommon，ifnotplebeianpraenomen。Thewordswerevenominmyears；andwhen，uponthedayofmyarrival，asecondWilliamWilsoncamealsototheacademy，Ifeltangrywithhimforbearingthename，anddoublydisgustedwiththenamebecauseastrangerboreit，whowouldbethecauseofitstwofoldrepetition，whowouldbeconstantlyinmypresence，andwhoseconcerns，intheordinaryroutineoftheschoolbusiness，mustinevitably，onaccountofthedetestablecoincidence，beoftenconfoundedwithmyown。
　　Thefeelingofvexationthusengenderedgrewstrongerwitheverycircumstancetendingtoshowresemblance，moralorphysical，betweenmyrivalandmyself。Ihadnotthendiscoveredtheremarkablefactthatwewereofthesameage；butIsawthatwewereofthesameheight，andIperceivedthatwewereevensingularlyalikeingeneralcontourofpersonandoutlineoffeature。Iwasgalled，too，bytherumortouchingarelationship，whichhadgrowncurrentintheupperforms。Inaword，nothingcouldmoreseriouslydisturbme，althoughI
　　scrupulouslyconcealedsuchdisturbance，thananyallusiontoasimilarityofmind，person，orconditionexistingbetweenus。But，intruth，Ihadnoreasontobelievethatwiththeexceptionofthematterofrelationship，andinthecaseofWilsonhimself，thissimilarityhadeverbeenmadeasubjectofcomment，orevenobservedatallbyourschoolfellows。Thatheobserveditinallitsbearings，andasfixedlyasI，wasapparent；butthathecoulddiscoverinsuchcircumstancessofruitfulafieldofannoyance，canonlybeattributed，asIsaidbefore，tohismorethanordinarypenetration。
　　Hiscue，whichwastoperfectanimitationofmyself，laybothinwordsandinactions；andmostadmirablydidheplayhispart。Mydressitwasaneasymattertocopy；mygaitandgeneralmannerwere，withoutdifficulty，appropriated；inspiteofhisconstitutionaldefect，evenmyvoicedidnotescapehim。Myloudertoneswere，ofcourse，unattempted，butthenthekey，itwasidentical；andhissingularwhisper，itgrewtheveryechoofmyown。
　　Howgreatlythismostexquisiteportraitureharassedme，foritcouldnotjustlybetermedacaricature，Iwillnotnowventuretodescribe。Ihadbutoneconsolationinthefactthattheimitation，apparently，wasnoticedbymyselfalone，andthatIhadtoendureonlytheknowingandstrangelysarcasticsmilesofmynamesakehimself。Satisfiedwithhavingproducedinmybosomtheintendedeffect，heseemedtochuckleinsecretoverthestinghehadinflicted，andwascharacteristicallydisregardfulofthepublicapplausewhichthesuccessofhiswittyendeavoursmighthavesoeasilyelicited。Thattheschool，indeed，didnotfeelhisdesign，perceiveitsaccomplishment，andparticipateinhissneer，was，formanyanxiousmonths，ariddleIcouldnotresolve。Perhapsthegradationofhiscopyrendereditnotsoreadilyperceptible；or，morepossibly，Iowedmysecuritytothemasterairofthecopyist，who，disdainingtheletter，whichinapaintingisalltheobtusecansee，gavebutthefullspiritofhisoriginalformyindividualcontemplationandchagrin。