the oval portrait

by Edgar Allan Poe

the chateau into which my valet had ventured to_make forcible entrance, rather than permit me, in my desperately wounded condition, to_pass a night in_the open air, was one of_those piles of commingled gloom and grandeur which_have so_long frowned among_the Appennines, not less in_fact than in_the fancy of Mrs Radcliffe . to all appearance it had_been temporarily and very lately abandoned . we established ourselves in one_of_the smallest and least sumptuously furnished apartments . it lay in a remote turret of_the building . its decorations were rich, yet tattered and antique . its walls were hung with tapestry and bedecked with manifold and multiform armorial trophies, together with an unusually great number of very spirited modern paintings in frames of rich golden arabesque . in_these paintings, which depended from_the walls not_only in their main surfaces, but in very_many nooks which the bizarre architecture of_the chateau rendered necessary -- in_these paintings my incipient delirium, perhaps, had caused me to_take deep interest; so_that I bade Pedro to close the heavy shutters of_the room -- since it_was already night -- to light the tongues of a tall candelabrum which stood by_the head of_my bed -- and to throw open far and wide the fringed curtains of black velvet which enveloped the bed itself .I wished all this done that I_might resign myself, if_not to sleep, at_least alternately to_the contemplation of_these pictures, and_the perusal of a small volume which had_been found upon_the pillow, and which purported to criticise and describe them .

long -- long I_read -- and devoutly, devotedly I gazed . rapidly and gloriously the hours flew by and_the deep midnight came . the position of_the candelabrum displeased me, and outreaching my hand with difficulty, rather than disturb my slumbering valet, I placed it so as_to throw its rays more fully upon_the book .

but the action produced an effect altogether unanticipated . the rays of_the numerous candles ( for there were many) now fell within a niche of_the room which had hitherto been thrown into deep shade by one_of_the bed-posts .I thus saw in vivid light a picture all unnoticed before . it was_the portrait of a young girl just ripening into womanhood .I glanced at_the painting hurriedly, and then closed my eyes . why I_did this_was not at first apparent even to my own perception . but while my lids remained thus shut, I ran over in my mind my reason for so shutting them . it_was an impulsive movement to gain time for thought -- to_make sure that my vision had_not deceived me -- to calm and subdue my fancy for a more sober and more certain gaze . in a very few_moments I again looked fixedly at_the painting .

that I now saw aright I_could_not and would_not doubt; for_the first flashing of_the candles upon that canvas had seemed to dissipate the dreamy stupor which_was stealing over my senses, and to startle me at once into waking life .

the portrait, I_have already said, was_that of a young girl . it_was amere head and shoulders, done in what_is technically termed a vignette manner; much in_the style of_the favorite heads of sully . the arms, the bosom, and even the ends of_the radiant hair melted imperceptibly into_the vague yet deep shadow which formed the back- ground of_the whole . the frame was oval, richly gilded and filigreed in Moresque . as a thing of art nothing could_be more admirable than_the painting itself . but it could_have_been neither the execution of_the work, nor the immortal beauty of_the countenance, which had so suddenly and so vehemently moved me . least of all, could it have_been that my fancy, shaken from its half slumber, had mistaken the head for_that of aliving person . I_saw at once that_the peculiarities of_the design, of_the vignetting, and of_the frame, must_have instantly dispelled such idea -- must_have prevented even its momentary entertainment .Thinking earnestly upon these points, I remained, for an hour perhaps, half sitting, half reclining, with my vision riveted upon_the portrait . at_length, satisfied with_the true secret of_its effect, I fell back within_the bed .I had found the spell of_the picture in an absolute life-likeliness of expression, which, at first startling, finally confounded, subdued, and appalled me . with deep and reverent awe I replaced the candelabrum in its former position . the cause of_my deep agitation being thus shut from view, I sought eagerly the volume which discussed the paintings and their histories .Turning to_the number which designated the oval portrait, I there read the vague and quaint words which follow:

" she was a maiden of rarest beauty, and not more lovely than full of glee . and evil was_the hour when she saw, and loved, and wedded the painter . he, passionate, studious, austere, and having already a bride in_his art; she a maiden of rarest beauty, and not more lovely than full of glee; all light and smiles, and frolicsome as_the young fawn; loving and cherishing all things; hating only the art which_was her rival; dreading only the pallet and brushes and other untoward instruments which deprived her of_the countenance of her lover . it_was thus a terrible thing for_this lady to hear the painter speak of_his desire to portray even his young bride . but she was humble and obedient, and sat meekly for many weeks in_the dark, high turret- chamber where the light dripped upon_the pale canvas only from overhead . but he, the painter, took glory in_his work, which went on from hour to hour, and from day to day . and he_was a passionate, and wild, and moody man, who became lost in reveries; so_that he_would_not see that_the light which fell so ghastly in_that lone turret withered the health and_the spirits of_his bride, who pined visibly to all but him . yet she smiled on and still on, uncomplainingly, because she saw that_the painter ( who had high renown) took a fervid and burning pleasure in_his task, and wrought day and night to depict her who so loved him, yet who grew daily more dispirited and weak . and in sooth some who beheld the portrait spoke of_its resemblance in low words, as of a mighty marvel, and a proof not less of_the power of_the painter than of_his deep love for her whom he depicted so surpassingly well . but at_length, as_the labor drew nearer to its conclusion, there were admitted none into_the turret; for_the painter had grown wild with_the ardor of_his work, and turned his eyes from canvas merely, even to regard the countenance of_his wife . and he_would_not see that_the tints which he spread upon_the canvas were drawn from_the cheeks of her who sate beside him . and when many weeks bad passed, and but little remained to_do, save one brush upon_the mouth and one tint upon_the eye, the spirit of_the lady again flickered up as_the flame within_the socket of_the lamp . and then the brush was given, and then the tint was placed; and, for_one moment, the painter stood entranced before_the work which he had wrought; but in_the next, while he yet gazed, he grew tremulous and very pallid, and aghast, and crying with a loud voice, ' this_is indeed life itself ! ' turned suddenly to regard his beloved: -- she was dead ! "