The Premature Burial by Edgar Allan Poe
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torpid, unequal, and vacillating action of_the lungs . then again the duration of_the trance is for weeks -- even for months; while the closest scrutiny, and_the most rigorous medical tests, fail to establish any material distinction between_the state of_the sufferer and what we conceive of absolute death . very usually he_is saved from premature interment solely by_the knowledge of_his friends that he has_been previously subject to catalepsy, by_the consequent suspicion excited, and, above all, by_the non- appearance of decay . the advances of_the malady are, luckily, gradual . the first manifestations, although marked, are unequivocal . the fits grow successively more and more distinctive, and endure each for a longer term than_the preceding . in_this lies the principal security from inhumation . the unfortunate whose first attack should_be of_the extreme character which_is occasionally seen, would almost inevitably be consigned alive to_the tomb .

my own case differed in no important particular from those mentioned in medical books .Sometimes, without any apparent cause, I sank, little by little, into a condition of hemi- syncope, or half swoon; and, in_this condition, without pain, without ability to stir, or, strictly speaking, to_think, but with a dull lethargic consciousness of life and of_the presence of_those who surrounded my bed, I remained, until the crisis of_the disease restored me, suddenly, to perfect sensation . at other times i_was quickly and impetuously smitten .I grew sick, and numb, and chilly, and dizzy, and so fell prostrate at once . then, for weeks, all was void, and black, and silent, and nothing became the universe . total annihilation could_be no more . from_these latter attacks I awoke, however, with a gradation slow in proportion to_the suddenness of_the seizure . just as_the day dawns to_the friendless and houseless beggar who roams the streets throughout_the long desolate winter night -- just so tardily -- just so wearily -- just so cheerily came back the light of_the soul to_me .

apart from_the tendency to trance, however, my general health appeared to_be good; nor could I perceive that_it_was at all affected by_the one prevalent malady -- unless, indeed, an idiosyncrasy in my ordinary sleep may_be looked upon as superinduced . upon awaking from slumber, I_could never gain, at once, thorough possession of_my senses, and always remained, for many minutes, in much bewilderment and perplexity; -- the mental faculties in general, but the memory in especial, being in a condition of absolute abeyance .

in all that I endured there_was no physical suffering but of moral distress an infinitude . my fancy grew charnel, i_talked " of worms, of tombs, and epitaphs ." i_was lost in reveries of death, and_the idea of premature burial held continual possession of_my brain . the ghastly danger to_which i_was subjected haunted me day and night . in_the former, the torture of meditation was excessive -- in_the latter, supreme . when_the grim darkness overspread the earth, then, with every horror of thought, I shook -- shook as_the quivering plumes upon_the hearse . when nature could endure wakefulness no longer, it_was with a struggle that I consented to sleep -- for I shuddered to reflect that, upon awaking, I_might find myself the tenant of a grave . and when, finally, I sank into slumber, it_was only to rush at once into a world of phantasms, above which, with vast, sable, overshadowing wing, hovered, predominant, the one sepulchral idea .

from_the innumerable images of gloom which thus oppressed me in dreams, I select for record but a solitary vision .Methought i_was immersed in a cataleptic trance of more than usual duration and profundity . suddenly there came an icy hand upon my forehead, and an impatient, gibbering voice whispered the word " arise ! " within my ear .

I sat erect . the darkness was total .I could_not_see the figure of him who had aroused me . I_could call to mind neither the period at which I had fallen into_the trance, nor the locality in_which I then lay . while I remained motionless, and busied in endeavors to collect my thought, the cold hand grasped me fiercely by_the wrist, shaking it petulantly, while the gibbering voice said again:

" arise ! did I not bid thee arise ? "

" and who," I demanded, " art thou ? "

" I_have no name in_the regions which I inhabit," replied the voice, mournfully; " i_was mortal, but am fiend . i_was merciless, but am pitiful . thou dost feel that I shudder .-- my teeth chatter as I speak, yet it_is_not with_the chilliness of_the night -- of_the night without end . but this hideousness is insufferable . how canst thou tranquilly sleep ? I_cannot rest for_the cry of_these great agonies . these sights are more than I_can bear . get thee up ! come with me into_the outer night, and let me unfold to thee the graves . is_not this a spectacle of woe ? -- behold ! "

I looked; and_the unseen figure, which still grasped me by_the wrist, had caused to_be thrown open the graves of all mankind, and from each issued the faint phosphoric radiance of decay, so_that I could_see into_the innermost recesses, and there view the shrouded bodies in their sad and solemn slumbers with_the worm . but alas ! the real sleepers were fewer, by many millions, than those who slumbered not at all; and there_was a feeble struggling; and there_was a general sad unrest; and from out the depths of_the countless pits there came a melancholy rustling from_the garments of_the buried . and of_those who seemed tranquilly to repose, I_saw that a vast number had changed, in a greater or less degree, the rigid and uneasy position in_which they had originally been entombed . and_the voice again said to_me as I gazed:

" is_it not -- oh ! is_it not a pitiful sight ? " -- but, before I_could find words to reply, the figure had ceased to grasp my wrist, the phosphoric lights expired, and_the graves were closed with a sudden violence, while from out them arose a tumult of despairing cries, saying again: " is_it not -- O, god, is_it not a very pitiful sight ? "

Phantasies such as_these, presenting themselves at night, extended their terrific influence far into my waking hours . my nerves became thoroughly unstrung, and I fell a prey to perpetual horror .I hesitated to ride, or to walk, or to indulge in any exercise that_would carry me from home . in_fact, I no longer dared trust myself out_of_the immediate presence of_those who were aware of_my proneness to catalepsy, lest, falling into one of_my usual fits, i_should_be buried before my real condition could_be ascertained .I doubted the care, the fidelity of_my dearest friends .I dreaded that, in some trance of more than customary duration, they_might_be prevailed upon to regard me as irrecoverable .I even went so_far as_to fear that, as I occasioned much trouble, they_might_be glad to consider any very protracted attack as sufficient excuse for getting rid of me altogether . it_was in vain they endeavored to reassure me by_the most solemn promises .I exacted the most sacred oaths, that under no circumstances they_would bury me until decomposition had so materially advanced as_to render farther preservation impossible . and, even then, my mortal terrors would listen to no reason -- would accept no consolation .I entered into a series of elaborate precautions . among other things, I had the family vault so remodelled as_to admit of being readily opened from within . the slightest pressure upon a long lever that extended far into_the tomb would cause the iron portal to fly back . there were arrangements also for_the free admission of air and light, and convenient receptacles for food and water, within immediate reach of_the coffin intended for_my reception . this coffin was warmly and softly padded, and was provided with alid, fashioned upon_the principle of_the vault- door, with_the addition of springs so contrived that_the feeblest movement of_the body would_be sufficient to set it at liberty . besides all this, there_was suspended from_the roof of_the tomb, a large bell, the rope of_which, it_was designed, should extend through a hole in_the coffin, and so be fastened to one_of_the hands of_the corpse . but, alas ? what avails the vigilance against the destiny of man ? not even these well-contrived securities sufficed to save from_the uttermost agonies of living inhumation, a wretch to_these agonies foredoomed !

there arrived an epoch -- as often before there had arrived -- in_which I_found myself emerging from total unconsciousness into_the first feeble and indefinite sense of existence . slowly -- with a tortoise gradation -- approached the faint gray dawn of_the psychal day .a torpid uneasiness . an apathetic endurance of dull pain . no care -- no hope -- no effort . then, after a long interval, aringing in_the ears; then, after a lapse still longer, aprickling or tingling sensation in_the extremities; then a seemingly eternal period of pleasurable quiescence, during which the awakening feelings are struggling into thought; then a brief re-sinking into non- entity; then a sudden recovery . at_length the slight quivering of an eyelid, and immediately thereupon, an electric shock of a terror, deadly and indefinite, which sends the blood in torrents from_the temples to_the heart . and now the first positive effort to_think . and now the first endeavor to remember . and now a partial and evanescent success . and now the memory has so_far regained its dominion, that, in some measure, I_am cognizant of_my state . I_feel that I_am not awaking from ordinary sleep .I recollect that I_have_been subject to catalepsy . and now, at last, as_if by_the rush of an ocean, my shuddering spirit is overwhelmed by_the one grim danger -- by_the one spectral and ever- prevalent idea .

for some minutes after_this fancy possessed me, I remained without motion . and why ? I_could_not summon courage to move .I dared not make_the effort which_was to satisfy me of_my fate -- and yet there_was something at my heart which whispered me it_was sure . despair -- such as no other species of wretchedness ever calls into being -- despair alone urged me, after long irresolution, to uplift the heavy lids of_my eyes .I uplifted them . it_was dark -- all dark . I_knew that_the fit was over . I_knew that_the crisis of_my disorder had long passed . I_knew that I had now fully recovered the use of_my visual faculties -- and yet it_was dark -- all dark -- the intense and utter raylessness of_the night that endureth for evermore .

I endeavored to shriek-, and my lips and my parched tongue moved convulsively together in_the attempt -- but no voice issued from_the cavernous lungs, which oppressed as_if by_the weight of some incumbent mountain, gasped and palpitated, with_the heart, at every elaborate and struggling inspiration .

the movement of_the jaws, in_this effort to cry aloud, showed me that_they were bound up, as is usual with_the dead . I_felt, too, that I lay upon some hard substance, and by something similar my sides were, also, closely compressed . so_far, I had_not ventured to stir any of_my limbs -- but now I violently threw up my arms, which had_been lying at_length, with_the wrists crossed . they struck a solid wooden substance, which extended above my person at an elevation of not more than six inches from my face . I_could no longer doubt that I reposed within a coffin at last .

and now, amid all my infinite miseries, came sweetly the cherub hope -- for i_thought of_my precautions .I writhed, and made spasmodic exertions to force open the lid: it would_not move . I_felt my wrists for_the bell- rope: it_was not to_be found . and now the comforter fled for ever, and a still sterner despair reigned triumphant; for I_could_not help perceiving the absence of_the paddings which I had so carefully prepared -- and then, too, there came suddenly to my nostrils the strong peculiar odor of moist earth . the conclusion was irresistible . i_was not within_the vault .I had fallen into a trance while absent from home- while among strangers -- when, or how, I_could_not remember -- and it_was they who had buried me as a dog -- nailed up in some common coffin -- and thrust deep, deep, and for ever, into some ordinary and nameless grave .

as_this awful conviction forced itself, thus, into_the innermost chambers of_my soul, I once again struggled to cry aloud . and in_this second endeavor I succeeded .a long, wild, and continuous shriek, or yell of agony, resounded through_the realms of_the subterranean night .

"Hillo ! hillo, there ! " said a gruff voice, in reply .

" what the devil's the matter now ! " said a second .

" get out o' that ! " said a third .

" what do_you_mean by yowling in_that ere kind of style, like acattymount ? " said a fourth; and hereupon i_was seized and shaken without ceremony, for several minutes, by ajunto of very rough- looking individuals . they_did_not arouse me from my slumber -- for i_was wide awake when I screamed -- but they restored me to_the full possession of_my memory .

this adventure occurred near Richmond, in Virginia . accompanied by a friend, I had proceeded, upon agunning expedition, some miles down the banks of_the James river . night approached, and we were overtaken by a storm . the cabin of a small sloop lying at anchor in_the stream, and laden with garden mould, afforded us the only available shelter . we_made the best of it, and passed the night on board .I slept in one_of_the only two berths in_the vessel -- and_the berths of a sloop of sixty or twenty tons need scarcely be described . that which I occupied had no bedding of any kind . its extreme width was eighteen inches . the distance of_its bottom from_the deck overhead was precisely the same . I_found it a matter of exceeding difficulty to squeeze myself in . nevertheless, I slept soundly, and_the whole of_my vision -- for it_was no dream, and no nightmare -- arose naturally from_the circumstances of_my position -- from my ordinary bias of thought -- and from_the difficulty, to_which I_have alluded, of collecting my senses, and especially of regaining my memory, for_a_long_time after awaking from slumber . the men who shook me were the crew of_the sloop, and some laborers engaged to unload it . from_the load itself came the earthly smell . the bandage about_the jaws was a silk handkerchief in_which I had bound up my head, in default of_my customary nightcap .

the tortures endured, however, were indubitably quite equal for_the_time, to_those of actual sepulture . they were fearfully -- they were inconceivably hideous; but out of evil proceeded good; for their very excess wrought in my spirit an inevitable revulsion . my soul acquired tone -- acquired temper .I went abroad . i_took vigorous exercise .I breathed the free air of heaven . i_thought upon other subjects than death .I discarded my medical books ."Buchan" I burned . I_read no " night Thoughts" -- no fustian about churchyards -- no bugaboo tales -- such as_this . in short, I became a new man, and lived a man's life . from_that memorable night, I dismissed forever my charnel apprehensions, and with_them vanished the cataleptic disorder, of_which, perhaps, they had_been less the consequence than_the cause .

there_are moments when, even to_the sober eye of reason, the world of_our sad humanity may assume the semblance of aHell -- but the imagination of man is no Carathis, to explore with impunity its every cavern . alas ! the grim legion of sepulchral terrors cannot_be regarded as altogether fanciful -- but, like the Demons in whose company Afrasiab made his voyage down the Oxus, they_must sleep, or they_will devour us -- they_must_be suffered to slumber, or we perish .

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