Ifoundmyselfsittinginthelibrary，andagainsittingtherealone。ItseemedthatIhadnewlyawakenedfromaconfusedandexcitingdream。Iknewthatitwasnowmidnight，andIwaswellaware，thatsincethesettingofthesun，Berenicehadbeeninterred。
　　ButofthatdrearyperiodwhichintervenedIhadnopositive，atleastnodefinitecomprehension。Yetitsmemorywasrepletewithhorror-horrormorehorriblefrombeingvague，andterrormoreterriblefromambiguity。Itwasafearfulpageintherecordmyexistence，writtenalloverwithdim，andhideous，andunintelligiblerecollections。Istrivedtodecypherthem，butinvain；whileeverandanon，likethespiritofadepartedsound，theshrillandpiercingshriekofafemalevoiceseemedtoberinginginmyears。I
　　haddoneadeed-whatwasit？Iaskedmyselfthequestionaloud，andthewhisperingechoesofthechamberansweredme，-“_whatwasit？_“
　　Onthetablebesidemeburnedalamp，andnearitlayalittlebox。Itwasofnoremarkablecharacter，andIhadseenitfrequentlybefore，foritwasthepropertyofthefamilyphysician；buthowcameit_there_，uponmytable，andwhydidIshudderinregardingit？
　　Thesethingswereinnomannertobeaccountedfor，andmyeyesatlengthdroppedtotheopenpagesofabook，andtoasentenceunderscoredtherein。ThewordswerethesingularbutsimpleonesofthepoetEbnZaiat：-“_Dicebantmihisodalessisepulchrumamicaevisitarem，curasmeasaliquantulumforelevatas_。”Whythen，asI
　　perusedthem，didthehairsofmyheaderectthemselvesonend，andthebloodofmybodybecomecongealedwithinmyveins？
　　Therecamealighttapatthelibrarydoor-and，paleasthetenantofatomb，amenialenteredupontiptoe。Hislookswerewildwithterror，andhespoketomeinavoicetremulous，husky，andverylow。Whatsaidhe？-somebrokensentencesIheard。Hetoldofawildcrydisturbingthesilenceofthenight-ofthegatheringtogetherofthehousehold-ofasearchinthedirectionofthesound；andthenhistonesgrewthrillinglydistinctashewhisperedmeofaviolatedgrave-ofadisfiguredbodyenshrouded，yetstillbreathing-stillpalpitating-_stillalive_！
　　Hepointedtogarments；-theyweremuddyandclottedwithgore。
　　Ispokenot，andhetookmegentlybythehand：itwasindentedwiththeimpressofhumannails。Hedirectedmyattentiontosomeobjectagainstthewall。Ilookedatitforsomeminutes：itwasaspade。
　　WithashriekIboundedtothetable，andgraspedtheboxthatlayuponit。ButIcouldnotforceitopen；andinmytremor，itslippedfrommyhands，andfellheavily，andburstintopieces；andfromit，witharattlingsound，thererolledoutsomeinstrumentsofdentalsurgery，intermingledwiththirty-twosmall，whiteandivory-lookingsubstancesthatwerescatteredtoandfroaboutthefloor。
　　Subconservationeformaespecificaesalvaanima。
　　_RaymondLully_。
　　IAMcomeofaracenotedforvigoroffancyandardorofpassion。
　　Menhavecalledmemad；butthequestionisnotyetsettled，whethermadnessisorisnottheloftiestintelligencewhethermuchthatisglorious-whetherallthatisprofounddoesnotspringfromdiseaseofthoughtfrommoodsofmindexaltedattheexpenseofthegeneralintellect。Theywhodreambydayarecognizantofmanythingswhichescapethosewhodreamonlybynight。Intheirgrayvisionstheyobtainglimpsesofeternity，andthrill，inawakening，tofindthattheyhavebeenuponthevergeofthegreatsecret。Insnatches，theylearnsomethingofthewisdomwhichisofgood，andmoreofthemereknowledgewhichisofevil。Theypenetrate，however，rudderlessorcompasslessintothevastoceanofthe“lightineffable。”andagain，liketheadventuresoftheNubiangeographer，“agressisuntmaretenebrarum，quidineoessetexploraturi。”
　　Wewillsay，then，thatIammad。Igrant，atleast，thattherearetwodistinctconditionsofmymentalexistencetheconditionofalucidreason，nottobedisputed，andbelongingtothememoryofeventsformingthefirstepochofmylifeandaconditionofshadowanddoubt，appertainingtothepresent，andtotherecollectionofwhatconstitutesthesecondgreateraofmybeing。
　　Therefore，whatIshalltelloftheearlierperiod，believe；andtowhatImayrelateofthelatertime，giveonlysuchcreditasmayseemdue，ordoubtitaltogether，or，ifdoubtityecannot，thenplayuntoitsriddletheOedipus。
　　ShewhomIlovedinyouth，andofwhomInowpencalmlyanddistinctlytheseremembrances，wasthesoledaughteroftheonlysisterofmymotherlongdeparted。Eleonorawasthenameofmycousin。Wehadalwaysdwelledtogether，beneathatropicalsun，intheValleyoftheMany-ColoredGrass。Nounguidedfootstepevercameuponthatvale；foritlayawayupamongarangeofgianthillsthathungbeetlingaroundaboutit，shuttingoutthesunlightfromitssweetestrecesses。Nopathwastroddeninitsvicinity；and，toreachourhappyhome，therewasneedofputtingback，withforce，thefoliageofmanythousandsofforesttrees，andofcrushingtodeaththegloriesofmanymillionsoffragrantflowers。Thusitwasthatwelivedallalone，knowingnothingoftheworldwithoutthevalley
　　I，andmycousin，andhermother。
　　Fromthedimregionsbeyondthemountainsattheupperendofourencircleddomain，therecreptoutanarrowanddeepriver，brighterthanallsavetheeyesofEleonora；and，windingstealthilyaboutinmazycourses，itpassedaway，atlength，throughashadowygorge，amonghillsstilldimmerthanthosewhenceithadissued。Wecalleditthe“RiverofSilence“；forthereseemedtobeahushinginfluenceinitsflow。Nomurmurarosefromitsbed，andsogentlyitwanderedalong，thatthepearlypebblesuponwhichwelovedtogaze，fardownwithinitsbosom，stirrednotatall，butlayinamotionlesscontent，eachinitsownoldstation，shiningongloriouslyforever。
　　Themarginoftheriver，andofthemanydazzlingrivuletsthatglidedthroughdeviouswaysintoitschannel，aswellasthespacesthatextendedfromthemarginsawaydownintothedepthsofthestreamsuntiltheyreachedthebedofpebblesatthebottom，thesespots，notlessthanthewholesurfaceofthevalley，fromtherivertothemountainsthatgirdleditin，werecarpetedallbyasoftgreengrass，thick，short，perfectlyeven，andvanilla-perfumed，butsobesprinkledthroughoutwiththeyellowbuttercup，thewhitedaisy，thepurpleviolet，andtheruby-redasphodel，thatitsexceedingbeautyspoketoourheartsinloudtones，oftheloveandofthegloryofGod。
　　And，hereandthere，ingrovesaboutthisgrass，likewildernessesofdreams，sprangupfantastictrees，whosetallslenderstemsstoodnotupright，butslantedgracefullytowardthelightthatpeeredatnoon-dayintothecentreofthevalley。Theirmarkwasspeckledwiththevividalternatesplendorofebonyandsilver，andwassmootherthanallsavethecheeksofEleonora；sothat，butforthebrilliantgreenofthehugeleavesthatspreadfromtheirsummitsinlong，tremulouslines，dallyingwiththeZephyrs，onemighthavefanciedthemgiantserpentsofSyriadoinghomagetotheirsovereigntheSun。
　　Handinhandaboutthisvalley，forfifteenyears，roamedIwithEleonorabeforeLoveenteredwithinourhearts。Itwasoneeveningatthecloseofthethirdlustrumofherlife，andofthefourthofmyown，thatwesat，lockedineachother’sembrace，beneaththeserpent-liketrees，andlookeddownwithinthewateroftheRiverofSilenceatourimagestherein。Wespokenowordsduringtherestofthatsweetday，andourwordsevenuponthemorrowweretremulousandfew。WehaddrawntheGodErosfromthatwave，andnowwefeltthathehadenkindledwithinusthefierysoulsofourforefathers。Thepassionswhichhadforcenturiesdistinguishedourrace，camethrongingwiththefanciesforwhichtheyhadbeenequallynoted，andtogetherbreathedadeliriousblissovertheValleyoftheMany-ColoredGrass。Achangefelluponallthings。Strange，brilliantflowers，star-shaped，burnoutuponthetreeswherenoflowershadbeenknownbefore。Thetintsofthegreencarpetdeepened；andwhen，onebyone，thewhitedaisiesshrankaway，theresprangupinplaceofthem，tenbytenoftheruby-redasphodel。Andlifearoseinourpaths；forthetallflamingo，hithertounseen，withallgayglowingbirds，flauntedhisscarletplumagebeforeus。Thegoldenandsilverfishhauntedtheriver，outofthebosomofwhichissued，littlebylittle，amurmurthatswelled，atlength，intoalullingmelodymoredivinethanthatoftheharpofAeolus-sweeterthanallsavethevoiceofEleonora。Andnow，too，avoluminouscloud，whichwehadlongwatchedintheregionsofHesper，floatedoutthence，allgorgeousincrimsonandgold，andsettlinginpeaceaboveus，sank，daybyday，lowerandlower，untilitsedgesresteduponthetopsofthemountains，turningalltheirdimnessintomagnificence，andshuttingusup，asifforever，withinamagicprison-houseofgrandeurandofglory。
　　ThelovelinessofEleonorawasthatoftheSeraphim；butshewasamaidenartlessandinnocentasthebrieflifeshehadledamongtheflowers。Noguiledisguisedthefervoroflovewhichanimatedherheart，andsheexaminedwithmeitsinmostrecessesaswewalkedtogetherintheValleyoftheMany-ColoredGrass，anddiscoursedofthemightychangeswhichhadlatelytakenplacetherein。
　　Atlength，havingspokenoneday，intears，ofthelastsadchangewhichmustbefallHumanity，shethenceforwarddweltonlyuponthisonesorrowfultheme，interweavingitintoallourconverse，as，inthesongsofthebardofSchiraz，thesameimagesarefoundoccurring，againandagain，ineveryimpressivevariationofphrase。
　　ShehadseenthatthefingerofDeathwasuponherbosomthat，liketheephemeron，shehadbeenmadeperfectinlovelinessonlytodie；buttheterrorsofthegravetoherlaysolelyinaconsiderationwhichsherevealedtome，oneeveningattwilight，bythebanksoftheRiverofSilence。Shegrievedtothinkthat，havingentombedherintheValleyoftheMany-ColoredGrass，Iwouldquitforeveritshappyrecesses，transferringthelovewhichnowwassopassionatelyherowntosomemaidenoftheouterandeverydayworld。
　　And，thenandthere，IthrewmyselfhurriedlyatthefeetofEleonora，andofferedupavow，toherselfandtoHeaven，thatI
　　wouldneverbindmyselfinmarriagetoanydaughterofEarththatIwouldinnomannerproverecreanttoherdearmemory，ortothememoryofthedevoutaffectionwithwhichshehadblessedme。AndI
　　calledtheMightyRuleroftheUniversetowitnessthepioussolemnityofmyvow。AndthecursewhichIinvokedofHimandofher，asaintinHelusionshouldIprovetraitoroustothatpromise，involvedapenaltytheexceedinggreathorrorofwhichwillnotpermitmetomakerecordofithere。AndthebrighteyesofEleonoragrewbrighteratmywords；andshesighedasifadeadlyburthenhadbeentakenfromherbreast；andshetrembledandverybitterlywept；
　　butshemadeacceptanceofthevow，forwhatwasshebutachild？
　　anditmadeeasytoherthebedofherdeath。Andshesaidtome，notmanydaysafterward，tranquillydying，that，becauseofwhatIhaddoneforthecomfortofherspiritshewouldwatchovermeinthatspiritwhendeparted，and，ifsoitwerepermittedherreturntomevisiblyinthewatchesofthenight；but，ifthisthingwere，indeed，beyondthepowerofthesoulsinParadise，thatshewould，atleast，givemefrequentindicationsofherpresence，sighinguponmeintheeveningwinds，orfillingtheairwhichIbreathedwithperfumefromthecensersoftheangels。And，withthesewordsuponherlips，sheyieldedupherinnocentlife，puttinganendtothefirstepochofmyown。
　　ThusfarIhavefaithfullysaid。ButasIpassthebarrierinTimespath，formedbythedeathofmybeloved，andproceedwiththeseconderaofmyexistence，Ifeelthatashadowgathersovermybrain，andImistrusttheperfectsanityoftherecord。Butletmeon。Yearsdraggedthemselvesalongheavily，andstillIdwelledwithintheValleyoftheMany-ColoredGrass；butasecondchangehadcomeuponallthings。Thestar-shapedflowersshrankintothestemsofthetrees，andappearednomore。Thetintsofthegreencarpetfaded；
　　and，onebyone，theruby-redasphodelswitheredaway；andtheresprangup，inplaceofthem，tenbyten，dark，eye-likeviolets，thatwritheduneasilyandwereeverencumberedwithdew。AndLifedepartedfromourpaths；forthetallflamingoflauntednolongerhisscarletplumagebeforeus，butflewsadlyfromthevaleintothehills，withallthegayglowingbirdsthathadarrivedinhiscompany。Andthegoldenandsilverfishswamdownthroughthegorgeatthelowerendofourdomainandbedeckedthesweetriverneveragain。Andthelullingmelodythathadbeensofterthanthewind-harpofAeolus，andmoredivinethanallsavethevoiceofEleonora，itdiedlittlebylittleaway，inmurmursgrowinglowerandlower，untilthestreamreturned，atlength，utterly，intothesolemnityofitsoriginalsilence。Andthen，lastly，thevoluminousclouduprose，and，abandoningthetopsofthemountainstothedimnessofold，fellbackintotheregionsofHesper，andtookawayallitsmanifoldgoldenandgorgeousgloriesfromtheValleyoftheMany-ColoredGrass。
　　YetthepromisesofEleonorawerenotforgotten；forIheardthesoundsoftheswingingofthecensersoftheangels；andstreamsofaholyperfumefloatedeverandeveraboutthevalley；andatlonehours，whenmyheartbeatheavily，thewindsthatbathedmybrowcameuntomeladenwithsoftsighs；andindistinctmurmursfilledoftenthenightair，andonceoh，butonceonly！Iwasawakenedfromaslumber，liketheslumberofdeath，bythepressingofspirituallipsuponmyown。