by Edgar Allan Poe

Sub conservatione formae specificae salva anima

Raymond Lully

come of race noted for vigor of fancy and ardor of passion Men have called me mad; but the question settled, whether madness is or the loftiest intelligence -- whether much glorious- whether all profound -- spring from disease of thought -- from moods of mind exalted expense general intellect They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night In their gray visions they obtain glimpses of eternity, and thrill, in awakening, verge great secret In snatches, they learn something wisdom of good, and more mere knowledge of evil They penetrate, however, rudderless or compassless vast ocean "light ineffable," and again, like the adventures Nubian geographer, "agressi sunt mare tenebrarum, quid in eo esset exploraturi "

say, then, that mad I grant, , two distinct conditions mental existence -- the condition of lucid reason, not disputed, and belonging memory of events forming the first epoch life -- and condition of shadow and doubt, appertaining present, and recollection of what constitutes the second great era being Therefore, what tell earlier period, believe; and to what relate later time, give only such credit as may seem due, or doubt it altogether, or, if doubt it ye cannot, then play unto its riddle the Oedipus

She whom I loved in youth, and of whom I now pen calmly and distinctly these remembrances, sole daughter only sister mother long departed Eleonora name cousin We had always dwelled together, beneath tropical sun, Valley Many-Colored Grass No unguided footstep ever came upon that vale; lay away up among range of giant hills that hung beetling around , shutting out the sunlight from its sweetest recesses No path was trodden in its vicinity; and, to reach our happy home, need of putting back, with force, the foliage of many thousands of forest trees, and of crushing to death the glories of many millions of fragrant flowers Thus it we lived all alone, knowing nothing world without the valley -- I, and my cousin, and her mother

dim regions beyond the mountains upper end encircled domain, there crept out narrow and deep river, brighter than all save the eyes of Eleonora; and, winding stealthily about in mazy courses, it passed away, , through shadowy gorge, among hills still dimmer than those whence it had issued We called it the "River of Silence"; for there seemed hushing influence in its flow No murmur arose from its bed, and so gently it wandered along, pearly pebbles we loved to gaze, far down within its bosom, stirred not at all, but lay in motionless content, each in its own old station, shining on gloriously forever

The margin river, and many dazzling rivulets that glided through devious ways into its channel, spaces that extended margins away down depths streams until they reached the bed of pebbles bottom, -- these spots, not whole surface valley, river mountains that girdled it in, were carpeted all by soft green grass, thick, short, perfectly even, and vanilla-perfumed, but so besprinkled throughout yellow buttercup, the white daisy, the purple violet, ruby-red asphodel, that its exceeding beauty spoke to our hearts in loud tones, love and glory of God

And, here and there, in groves grass, like wildernesses of dreams, sprang up fantastic trees, whose tall slender stems stood not upright, but slanted gracefully toward the light that peered at noon-day centre valley Their mark was speckled vivid alternate splendor of ebony and silver, and was smoother than all save the cheeks of Eleonora; , but brilliant green huge leaves that spread from their summits in long, tremulous lines, dallying Zephyrs, one fancied them giant serpents of Syria doing homage sovereign the Sun

Hand in hand valley, for fifteen years, roamed I with Eleonora before Love entered within our hearts one evening close third lustrum of her life, and fourth own, that we sat, locked in 's embrace, beneath the serpent-like trees, and looked down water River of Silence at our images therein We spoke no words during the rest sweet day, words even morrow were tremulous and few We had drawn the God Eros wave, and now that he had enkindled within us the fiery souls forefathers The passions which had for centuries distinguished our race, came thronging fancies they equally noted, and together breathed delirious bliss over the Valley Many-Colored Grass change fell upon all things Strange, brilliant flowers, star-shaped, burn out trees where no flowers known before The tints green carpet deepened; and when, one by one, the white daisies shrank away, there sprang up in place , ten by ten ruby-red asphodel And life arose paths; tall flamingo, hitherto unseen, with all gay glowing birds, flaunted his scarlet plumage The golden and silver fish haunted the river, bosom issued, little by little, murmur that swelled, , into lulling melody more divine than that harp of Aeolus-sweeter than all save the voice of Eleonora And now, too, voluminous cloud, which we had long watched regions of Hesper, floated out thence, all gorgeous in crimson and gold, and settling in peace above us, sank, day by day, lower and lower, until its edges rested tops mountains, turning all their dimness into magnificence, and shutting us up, forever, within magic prison-house of grandeur and of glory

The loveliness of Eleonora Seraphim; but she was maiden artless and innocent brief life she had led flowers No guile disguised the fervor of love which animated her heart, and she examined with me its inmost recesses walked together Valley Many-Colored Grass, and discoursed mighty changes which had lately taken place therein

, having spoken one day, in tears, last sad change befall Humanity, she thenceforward dwelt only one sorrowful theme, interweaving it into all our converse, as, songs bard of Schiraz, the same images are found occurring, again and again, in every impressive variation of phrase

She had seen finger of Death was upon her bosom -- that, like the ephemeron, she made perfect in loveliness only to die; but the terrors grave to her lay solely in consideration which she revealed , one evening at twilight, banks River of Silence She grieved that, having entombed her Valley Many-Colored Grass, quit forever its happy recesses, transferring the love which now was so passionately her own to some maiden outer and everyday world And, then and there, I threw myself hurriedly feet of Eleonora, and offered up vow, to herself and to Heaven, that never bind myself in marriage to any daughter of Earth -- that in no manner prove recreant to her dear memory, or memory devout affection she had blessed me And I called the Mighty Ruler Universe to witness the pious solemnity vow curse which I invoked of Him and of her, saint in Helusion should I prove traitorous promise, involved penalty the exceeding great horror will not permit me record of it here bright eyes of Eleonora grew brighter at my words; and she sighed deadly burthen taken from her breast; and she trembled and very bitterly wept; but she made acceptance vow, (for she but child ? ) and it made easy to her the bed of her death And she said , not many days afterward, tranquilly dying, that, because of what I had done comfort of her spirit watch over me spirit when departed, and, it were permitted her return visibly watches night; but, thing were, indeed, beyond the power souls in Paradise, that , , frequent indications of her presence, sighing upon me evening winds, or filling the air which I breathed with perfume censers angels And, words upon her lips, she yielded up her innocent life, putting an end first epoch own

Thus far faithfully said But as I pass the barrier in Times path, formed death beloved, and proceed second era existence, that shadow gathers over my brain, and I mistrust the perfect sanity record But let me on -- Years dragged themselves along heavily, and still I dwelled Valley Many-Colored Grass; but second change had come upon all things The star-shaped flowers shrank stems trees, and appeared no more The tints green carpet faded; and, one by one, the ruby-red asphodels withered away; and there sprang up, in place , ten by ten, dark, eye-like violets, that writhed uneasily and were ever encumbered with dew And Life departed paths; tall flamingo flaunted no longer his scarlet plumage , but flew sadly vale hills, with all the gay glowing birds that had arrived company golden and silver fish swam down gorge lower end domain and bedecked the sweet river never again lulling melody that softer wind-harp of Aeolus, and more divine than all save the voice of Eleonora, it died little by little away, in murmurs growing lower and lower, until the stream returned, , utterly, solemnity original silence And then, lastly, the voluminous cloud uprose, and, abandoning the tops mountains dimness of old, fell back regions of Hesper, and took away all its manifold golden and gorgeous glories Valley Many-Colored Grass

Yet the promises of Eleonora forgotten; for I heard the sounds swinging censers angels; and streams of holy perfume floated ever and ever valley; and at lone hours, when my heart beat heavily, the winds that bathed my brow came unto me laden with soft sighs; and indistinct murmurs filled often the night air, and once -- oh, but once only ! awakened from slumber, like the slumber of death, pressing of spiritual lips upon my own

But the void within my heart refused, even thus, filled I longed love which had before filled it to overflowing the valley pained me memories of Eleonora, and I left it for ever vanities turbulent triumphs world

myself within strange city, where all things served to blot from recollection the sweet dreams I had dreamed Valley Many-Colored Grass The pomps and pageantries of stately court, mad clangor of arms, radiant loveliness of women, bewildered and intoxicated my brain But my soul had proved true to its vows, indications presence of Eleonora were still given me silent hours night Suddenly these manifestations they ceased, world grew dark before mine eyes, and I stood aghast burning thoughts which possessed, terrible temptations which beset me; for there came from some far, far distant and unknown land, gay court king I served, maiden to whose beauty my whole recreant heart yielded at once -- at whose footstool I bowed down without struggle, most ardent, most abject worship of love What, indeed, was my passion young girl valley in comparison fervor, delirium, spirit-lifting ecstasy of adoration I poured out my whole soul in tears feet ethereal Ermengarde ? -- Oh, bright seraph Ermengarde ! and knowledge I had room for none other -- Oh, divine angel Ermengarde ! and as I looked down depths of her memorial eyes, only -- and of her

I wedded; -- nor dreaded the curse I had invoked; and its bitterness was not visited upon me And once -- but once again silence night; there came through my lattice the soft sighs which had forsaken me; modelled themselves into familiar and sweet voice, saying:

"Sleep in peace ! -- Spirit of Love reigneth and ruleth, and, in taking to thy passionate heart her Ermengarde, thou art absolved, for reasons which shall be made known to thee in Heaven, of thy vows unto Eleonora "