The Pit and the Pendulum by Edgar Allan Poe
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. to_the victims of_its tyranny, there_was the choice of death with its direst physical agonies, or death with its most hideous moral horrors .I had_been reserved for_the latter . by long suffering my nerves had_been unstrung, until I trembled at_the sound of_my own voice, and had become in every respect afitting subject for_the species of torture which awaited me .

Shaking in every limb, I groped my way back to_the wall; resolving there to perish rather than risk the terrors of_the wells, of_which my imagination now pictured many in various positions about_the dungeon . in other conditions of mind I_might_have had courage to end my misery at once by a plunge into one_of_these abysses; but now I was_the veriest of cowards . neither could I forget what I had read of_these pits -- that_the sudden extinction of life formed no part of_their most horrible plan .

agitation of spirit kept me awake for many long hours; but at_length I again slumbered . upon arousing, I_found by my side, as before, a loaf and a pitcher of water .aburning thirst consumed me, and I emptied the vessel at a draught . it must_have been drugged; for scarcely had I drunk, before I became irresistibly drowsy .a deep sleep fell upon me -- a sleep like that of death . how long it lasted of_course, I_know not; but when, once again, I unclosed my eyes, the objects around me were visible . by a wild sulphurous lustre, the origin of_which I_could_not at first determine, i_was enabled to_see the extent and aspect of_the prison .

in its size I had_been greatly mistaken . the whole circuit of_its walls did_not exceed twenty-five yards . for some minutes this fact occasioned me a world of vain trouble; vain indeed ! for what could_be of less importance, under the terrible circumstances which environed me, then the mere dimensions of_my dungeon ? but my soul took a wild interest in trifles, and I busied myself in endeavors to account for_the error I had committed in my measurement . the truth at_length flashed upon me . in my first attempt at exploration I had counted fifty- two paces, up_to_the period when I fell; I_must then have_been within apace or two of_the fragment of serge; in_fact, I had nearly performed the circuit of_the vault .I then slept, and upon awaking, I_must_have returned upon my steps -- thus supposing the circuit nearly double what it actually was . my confusion of mind prevented me from observing that I began my tour with_the wall to_the left, and ended it with_the wall to_the right .

I had_been deceived, too, in respect to_the shape of_the enclosure . in feeling my way I had found many angles, and thus deduced an idea of great irregularity; so potent is_the effect of total darkness upon one arousing from lethargy or sleep ! the angles were simply those of a few slight depressions, or niches, at odd intervals . the general shape of_the prison was square . what I had taken for masonry seemed now to_be iron, or some other metal, in huge plates, whose sutures or joints occasioned the depression . the entire surface of_this metallic enclosure was rudely daubed in all the hideous and repulsive devices to_which_the charnel superstition of_the monks has_given rise . the figures of fiends in aspects of menace, with skeleton forms, and other more really fearful images, overspread and disfigured the walls .I observed that_the outlines of_these monstrosities were sufficiently distinct, but that_the colors seemed faded and blurred, as_if from_the effects of a damp atmosphere .I now noticed the floor, too, which_was of stone . in_the centre yawned the circular pit from whose jaws I had escaped; but it was_the only_one in_the dungeon .

all this I_saw indistinctly and by much effort: for_my personal condition had_been greatly changed during slumber .I now lay upon my back, and at full length, on a species of low framework of wood . to_this i_was securely bound by a long strap resembling a surcingle . it passed in many convolutions about_my limbs and body, leaving at liberty only my head, and my left arm to such extent that I_could, by dint of much exertion, supply myself with food from an earthen dish which lay by my side on_the floor . I_saw, to my horror, that_the pitcher had_been removed . I_say to my horror; for i_was consumed with intolerable thirst . this thirst it appeared to_be the design of_my persecutors to stimulate: for_the food in_the dish was meat pungently seasoned .

looking upward, I surveyed the ceiling of_my prison . it_was some thirty or forty feet overhead, and constructed much as_the side walls . in one of_its panels a very singular figure riveted my whole attention . it was_the painted figure of_time as he_is commonly represented, save that, in lieu of a scythe, he held what, at a casual glance, I supposed to_be the pictured image of a huge pendulum such as_we see on antique clocks . there_was something, however, in_the appearance of_this machine which caused me to regard it more attentively . while I gazed directly upward at it ( for its position was immediately over my own) I fancied that I_saw it in motion . in an instant afterward the fancy was confirmed . its sweep was brief, and of_course slow .I watched it for some minutes, somewhat in fear, but more in wonder . wearied at_length with observing its dull movement, I turned my eyes upon_the other objects in_the cell .

a slight noise attracted my notice, and, looking to_the floor, I_saw several enormous rats traversing it . they had issued from_the well, which lay just within view to my right . even then, while I gazed, they came up in troops, hurriedly, with ravenous eyes, allured by_the scent of_the meat . from_this it required much effort and attention to scare them away .

it might_have_been half an hour, perhaps even an hour, ( for in cast my I_could take but imperfect note of_time) before I again cast my eyes upward . what I then saw confounded and amazed me . the sweep of_the pendulum had increased in extent by nearly a yard . as a natural consequence, its velocity was also much greater . but what mainly disturbed me was_the idea that had perceptibly descended .I now observed -- with what horror it_is needless to_say -- that its nether extremity was formed of a crescent of glittering steel, about a foot in length from horn to horn; the horns upward, and_the under edge evidently as keen as_that of a razor . like a razor also, it seemed massy and heavy, tapering from_the edge into a solid and broad structure above . it_was appended to a weighty rod of brass, and_the whole hissed as it swung through_the air .

I_could no longer doubt the doom prepared for_me by monkish ingenuity in torture . my cognizance of_the pit had become known to_the inquisitorial agents -- the pit whose horrors had_been destined for so bold arecusant as myself -- the pit, typical of hell, and regarded by rumor as_the Ultima Thule of all their punishments . the plunge into_this pit I had avoided by_the merest of accidents, I_knew that surprise, or entrapment into torment, formed an important portion of all the grotesquerie of_these dungeon deaths .Having failed to_fall, it_was no part of_the demon plan to hurl me into_the abyss; and thus ( there being no alternative) a different and a milder destruction awaited me . milder ! I half smiled in my agony as i_thought of_such application of_such a term .

what boots it to_tell of_the long, long hours of horror more than mortal, during which I counted the rushing vibrations of_the steel ! inch by inch -- line by line -- with a descent only appreciable at intervals that seemed ages -- down and still down it came ! Days passed -- it might_have_been that many days passed -- ere it swept so closely over me as_to fan me with its acrid breath . the odor of_the sharp steel forced itself into my nostrils .I prayed -- I wearied heaven with my prayer for its more speedy descent .I grew frantically mad, and struggled to force myself upward against the sweep of_the fearful scimitar . and then I fell suddenly calm, and lay smiling at_the glittering death, as a child at some rare bauble .

there_was another interval of utter insensibility; it_was brief; for, upon again lapsing into life there had_been no perceptible descent in_the pendulum . but it might_have_been long; for I_knew there were demons who took note of_my swoon, and who could_have arrested the vibration at pleasure . upon my recovery, too, I_felt very -- oh, inexpressibly sick and weak, as_if through long inanition . even amid the agonies of_that period, the human nature craved food . with painful effort I outstretched my left arm as far as my bonds permitted, and took possession of_the small remnant which had_been spared me by_the rats . as I put a portion of it within my lips, there rushed to my mind a half formed thought of joy -- of hope . yet what business had I with hope ? it_was, as I_say, a half formed thought -- man has many such which are never completed . I_felt that_it_was of joy -- of hope; but felt also that_it had perished in its formation . in vain I struggled to perfect -- to regain it . long suffering had nearly annihilated all my ordinary powers of mind . i_was an imbecile -- an idiot .

the vibration of_the pendulum was at right angles to my length . I_saw that_the crescent was designed to cross the region of_the heart . it would fray the serge of_my robe -- it would return and repeat its operations -- again -- and again . notwithstanding terrifically wide sweep ( some thirty feet or more) and_the its hissing vigor of_its descent, sufficient to sunder these very walls of iron, still the fraying of_my robe would_be all that, for several minutes, it would accomplish . and at_this thought I paused .I dared not go farther than this reflection .I dwelt upon it with a pertinacity of attention -- as_if, in so dwelling, I_could arrest here the descent of_the steel .I forced myself to ponder upon_the sound of_the crescent as it should pass across the garment -- upon_the peculiar thrilling sensation which the friction of cloth produces on_the nerves .I pondered upon all this frivolity until my teeth were on edge .

down -- steadily down it crept . i_took a frenzied pleasure in contrasting its downward with its lateral velocity . to_the right -- to_the left -- far and wide -- with_the shriek of adamned spirit; to my heart with_the stealthy pace of_the tiger ! I alternately laughed and howled as_the one or the other idea grew predominant .

down -- certainly, relentlessly down ! it vibrated within three inches of_my bosom ! I struggled violently, furiously, to free my left arm . this_was free only from_the elbow to_the hand . I_could reach the latter, from_the platter beside me, to my mouth, with great effort, but no farther . could I_have broken the fastenings above the elbow, i_would_have seized and attempted to arrest the pendulum . I_might as_well have attempted to arrest an avalanche !

down -- still unceasingly -- still inevitably down ! I gasped and struggled at each vibration .I shrunk convulsively at its every sweep . my eyes followed its outward or upward whirls with_the eagerness of_the most unmeaning despair; they closed themselves spasmodically at_the descent, although death would_have_been a relief, oh ! how unspeakable ! still I quivered in every nerve to_think how slight asinking of_the machinery would precipitate that keen, glistening axe upon my bosom . it_was hope_that prompted the nerve to quiver -- the frame to shrink . it_was hope -- the hope_that triumphs on_the rack -- that whispers to_the death- condemned even in_the dungeons of_the inquisition .

I_saw that some ten or twelve vibrations would bring the steel in actual contact with my robe, and with_this observation there suddenly came over my spirit all the keen, collected calmness of despair . for_the first time during many hours -- or perhaps days -- i_thought . it now occurred to_me that_the bandage, or surcingle, which enveloped me, was unique . i_was tied by no separate cord . the first stroke of_the razorlike crescent athwart any portion of_the band, would so detach it that_it might_be unwound from my person by_means of_my left_hand . but how fearful, in_that case, the proximity of_the steel ! the result of_the slightest struggle how deadly ! was_it likely, moreover, that_the minions of_the torturer had_not foreseen and provided for_this possibility ! was_it probable that_the bandage crossed my bosom in_the track of_the pendulum ? Dreading to_find my faint, and, as it seemed, in last hope frustrated, I so_far elevated my head as_to obtain a distinct view of_my breast . the surcingle enveloped my limbs and body close in all directions -- save in_the path of_the destroying crescent .

scarcely had I dropped my head back into its original position, when there flashed upon my mind what I_cannot better describe than as_the unformed half of_that idea of deliverance to_which I_have previously alluded, and of_which a moiety only floated indeterminately through my brain when I raised food to my burning lips . the whole thought was now present -- feeble, scarcely sane, scarcely definite, -- but still entire .I proceeded at once, with_the nervous energy of despair, to attempt its execution .

for many hours the immediate vicinity of_the low framework upon_which I lay, had_been literally swarming with rats . they were wild, bold, ravenous; their red eyes glaring upon me as if_they waited but for motionlessness on my part to_make me their prey ." to what food," i_thought, " have they been accustomed in_the well ? "

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