by Edgar Allan Poe

Son cur est un luth suspendu ; Sitt qu'on le touche il rsonne .

De Branger

DURING the whole of dull, dark, and soundless day autumn year, clouds hung oppressively low heavens, I passing alone, on horseback, through singularly dreary tract of country ; and found myself, shades evening drew on, within view melancholy House of Usher not how - but, first glimpse building, sense of insufferable gloom pervaded my spirit insufferable ; feeling was unrelieved by any half-pleasurable, because poetic, sentiment, the mind usually receives even the sternest natural images desolate or terrible I looked scene before me - mere house, simple landscape features domain - bleak walls - vacant eye-like windows - upon few rank sedges - and upon few white trunks of decayed trees - with an utter depression of soul which compare to no earthly sensation more properly than after-dream reveller upon opium - the bitter lapse into everyday life - the hideous dropping off veil an iciness, sinking, sickening heart - an unredeemed dreariness of thought which no goading imagination could torture into aught sublime it - I paused - it that so unnerved me contemplation House of Usher ? mystery all insoluble ; nor could I grapple shadowy fancies that crowded upon me as I pondered forced back unsatisfactory conclusion, that while, beyond doubt, combinations of very simple natural objects the power of thus affecting us, still the analysis power lies among considerations beyond our depth possible, I reflected, that mere different arrangement particulars scene, details picture, sufficient to modify, or perhaps to annihilate its capacity for sorrowful impression ; and, acting idea, I reined my horse precipitous brink of black and lurid tarn that lay in unruffled lustre dwelling, and gazed down - but with shudder even more thrilling than before - remodelled and inverted images gray sedge, ghastly tree-stems, vacant and eye-like windows

Nevertheless, mansion of gloom I now proposed to myself sojourn of some weeks Its proprietor, Roderick Usher, one boon companions in boyhood ; but many years had elapsed since our last meeting letter, however, had lately reached me in distant part country - letter - which, in its wildly importunate nature, had admitted of no personal reply The MS gave evidence of nervous agitation The writer spoke of acute bodily illness - of mental disorder which oppressed him - and of an earnest desire me, as his best, and indeed his only personal friend, with view of attempting, cheerfulness society, some alleviation malady It manner all this, and much more, was said - it apparent heart_ that went request - which allowed me no room for hesitation; and I accordingly obeyed forthwith what I still considered very singular summons

Although, as boys, we even intimate associates, yet I really knew little friend His reserve always excessive and habitual aware, however, that his very ancient family noted, time out of mind, for peculiar sensibility of temperament, displaying itself, through long ages, in many works of exalted art, and manifested, of late, in repeated deeds of munificent yet unobtrusive charity, as in passionate devotion intricacies, perhaps even more than orthodox and easily recognisable beauties, of musical science I had learned, too, the very remarkable fact, stem Usher race, all time-honored as , had put forth, at no period, any enduring branch ; in other words, entire family lay direct line of descent, and had always, with very trifling and very temporary variation, so lain It deficiency, I considered, while running over in thought the perfect keeping character premises accredited character people, and while speculating possible influence which the one, long lapse of centuries, exercised other - it deficiency, perhaps, of collateral issue, consequent undeviating transmission, from sire to son, patrimony name, which had, , so identified the two merge the original title estate quaint and equivocal appellation "House of Usher" - an appellation which seemed to include, minds peasantry who used it, both the family family mansion

said sole effect somewhat childish experiment - that of looking down tarn - to deepen the first singular impression There consciousness rapid increase superstition - for why should I not so term it ? - served mainly to accelerate the increase itself Such, long known, paradoxical law of all sentiments having terror as basis And it reason only, that, when I again uplifted my eyes house itself, from its image pool, there grew in my mind strange fancy - fancy so ridiculous, indeed, that I but mention it to show the vivid force sensations which oppressed me I had so worked upon my imagination as really that whole mansion and domain there hung an atmosphere peculiar to themselves and their immediate vicinity - an atmosphere which had no affinity air of heaven, but which had reeked up decayed trees, gray wall, silent tarn - pestilent and mystic vapor, dull, sluggish, faintly discernible, and leaden-hued

Shaking off from my spirit what must dream, I scanned more narrowly the real aspect building Its principal feature seemed that of an excessive antiquity The discoloration of ages great Minute fungi overspread the whole exterior, hanging in fine tangled web-work eaves Yet all apart from any extraordinary dilapidation No portion masonry had fallen ; and there appeared wild inconsistency between its still perfect adaptation of parts, crumbling condition individual stones much that reminded me specious totality of old wood-work rotted for long years in some neglected vault, with no disturbance breath external air Beyond this indication of extensive decay, however, the fabric gave little token of instability Perhaps the eye of scrutinizing observer discovered barely perceptible fissure, which, extending roof building in front, made its way down the wall in zigzag direction, until it became lost sullen waters tarn

Noticing these things, I rode over short causeway house servant in waiting took my horse, and I entered the Gothic archway hall valet, of stealthy step, thence conducted me, in silence, through many dark and intricate passages in my progress studio master Much that I encountered way contributed, not how, to heighten the vague sentiments already spoken While the objects around me - while the carvings ceilings, the sombre tapestries walls, the ebon blackness floors, phantasmagoric armorial trophies which rattled as I strode, were but matters , or to such as which, I accustomed from my infancy - while I hesitated not to acknowledge how familiar was all this - I still wondered how unfamiliar were the fancies which ordinary images were stirring up On staircases, I met the physician family His countenance, , wore mingled expression of low cunning and perplexity He accosted me with trepidation and passed on The valet now threw open door and ushered me presence master

The room myself was very large and lofty The windows were long, narrow, and pointed, and at so vast distance black oaken floor be altogether inaccessible from within Feeble gleams of encrimsoned light made their way trellissed panes, and served to render sufficiently distinct the more prominent objects around ; the eye, however, struggled in vain to reach the remoter angles chamber, or the recesses vaulted and fretted ceiling Dark draperies hung walls The general furniture was profuse, comfortless, antique, and tattered Many books and musical instruments lay scattered about, but failed any vitality scene that I breathed an atmosphere of sorrow An air of stern, deep, and irredeemable gloom hung over and pervaded all