[厄舍古厦的倒塌].The.Fall.of.the.House.of.Usher.(美)爱伦·坡.英文文字版

TheFalloftheHouseofUsher1TheFalloftheHouseofUsherEdgarAllenPoeTheFalloftheHouseofUsher2Duringthewholeofadull,dark,andsoundlessdayintheautumnoftheyear,whenthecloudshungoppressivelylowintheheavens,Ihadbeenpassingalone,onhorseback,throughasingularlydrearytractofcountry;andatlengthfoundmyself,astheshadesoftheeveningdrewon,withinviewofthemelancholyHouseofUsher.Iknownothowitwas--but,withthefirstglimpseofthebuilding,asenseofinsufferablegloompervadedmyspirit.Isayinsufferable;forthefeelingwasunrelievedbyanyofthathalf-pleasureable,becausepoetic,sentiment,withwhichthemindusuallyreceiveseventhesternestnaturalimagesofthedesolateorterrible.Ilookeduponthescenebeforeme--uponthemerehouse,andthesimplelandscapefeaturesofthedomain--uponthebleakwalls--uponthevacanteye-likewindows--uponafewranksedges--anduponafewwhitetrunksofdecayedtrees--withanutterdepressionofsoulwhichIcancomparetonoearthlysensationmoreproperlythantotheafter-dreamoftherevelleruponopium--thebitterlapseintoeverydaylife--thehideousdroppingoffoftheveil.Therewasaniciness,asinking,asickeningoftheheart--anunredeemeddrearinessofthoughtwhichnogoadingoftheimaginationcouldtortureintoaughtofthesublime.Whatwasit--Ipausedtothink--whatwasitthatsounnervedmeinthecontemplationoftheHouseofUsher?Itwasamysteryallinsoluble;norcouldIgrapplewiththeshadowyfanciesthatcrowdeduponmeasIpondered.Iwasforcedtofallbackupontheunsatisfactoryconclusion,thatwhile,beyonddoubt,therearecombinationsofverysimplenaturalobjectswhichhavethepowerofthusaffectingus,stilltheanalysisofthispowerliesamongconsiderationsbeyondourdepth.Itwaspossible,Ireflected,thatameredifferentarrangementoftheparticularsofthescene,ofthedetailsofthepicture,wouldbesufficienttomodify,orperhapstoannihilateitscapacityforsorrowfulimpression;and,actinguponthisidea,Ireinedmyhorsetotheprecipitousbrinkofablackandluridtarnthatlayinunruffledlustrebythedwelling,andgazeddown--butwithashudderevenmorethrillingthanbefore--upontheremodelledandinvertedimagesofthegreysedge,andtheghastlytree-stems,andthevacantandeye-likewindows.Nevertheless,inthismansionofgloomInowproposedtomyselfasojournofsomeweeks.Itsproprietor,RoderickUsher,hadbeenoneofTheFalloftheHouseofUsher3mybooncompanionsinboyhood;butmanyyearshadelapsedsinceourlastmeeting.Aletter,however,hadlatelyreachedmeinadistantpartofthecountry--aletterfromhim--which,initswildlyimportunatenature,hadadmittedofnootherthanapersonalreply.TheMSgaveevidenceofnervousagitation.Thewriterspokeofacutebodilyillness--ofamentaldisorderwhichoppressedhim--andofanearnestdesiretoseeme,ashisbest,andindeedhisonlypersonalfriend,withaviewofattempting,bythecheerfulnessofmysociety,somealleviationofhismalady.Itwasthemannerinwhichallthis,andmuchmore,wassaid--itwastheapparentheartthatwentwithhisrequest--whichallowedmenoroomforhesitation;andIaccordinglyobeyedforthwithwhatIstillconsideredaverysingularsummons.Although,asboys,wehadbeenevenintimateassociates,yetIreallyknewlittleofmyfriend.Hisreservehadbeenalwaysexcessiveandhabitual.Iwasaware,however,thathisveryancientfamilyhadbeennoted,timeoutofmind,forapeculiarsensibilityoftemperament,displayingitself,throughlongages,inmanyworksofexaltedart,andmanifested,oflate,inrepeateddeedsofmunificentyetunobtrusivecharity,aswellasinapassionatedevotiontotheintricacies,perhapsevenmorethantotheorthodoxandeasilyrecognisablebeautiesofmusicalscience.Ihadlearned,too,theveryremarkablefact,thatthestemoftheUsherrace,alltime-honouredasitwas,hadputforth,atnoperiod,anyenduringbranch;inotherwords,thattheentirefamilylayinthedirectlineofdescent,andhadalways,withverytriflingandverytemporaryvariation,solain.Itwasthisdeficiency,Iconsidered,whilerunningoverinthoughttheperfectkeepingofthecharacterofthepremiseswiththeaccreditedcharacterofthepeople,andwhilespeculatinguponthepossibleinfluencewhichtheone,inthelonglapseofcenturies,mighthaveexercisedupontheother--itwasthisdeficiency,perhaps,ofcollateralissue,andtheconsequentundeviatingtransmission,fromsiretoson,ofthepatrimonywiththename,whichhad,atlength,soidentifiedthetwoastomergetheoriginaltitleoftheestateinthequaintandequivocalappellationofthe"HouseofUsher"--anappellationwhichseemedtoinclude,inthemindsofthepeasantrywhousedit,boththefamilyandthefamilymansion.TheFalloftheHouseofUsher4Ihavesaidthatthesoleeffectofmysomewhatchildishexperiment--thatoflookingdownwithinthetarn--hadbeentodeepenthefirstsingularimpression.Therecanbenodoubtthattheconsciousnessoftherapidincreaseofmysupersition--forwhyshouldInotsotermit?--servedmainlytoacceleratetheincreaseitself.Such,Ihavelongknown,istheparadoxicallawofallsentimentshavingterrorasabasis.Anditmighthavebeenforthisreasononly,that,whenIagainupliftedmyeyestothehouseitself,fromitsimageinthepool,theregrewinmymindastrangefancy--afancysoridiculous,indeed,thatIbutmentionittoshowthevividforceofthesensationswhichoppressedme.Ihadsoworkeduponmyimaginationasreallytobelievethataboutthewholemansionanddomaintherehunganatmospherepeculiartothemselvesandtheirimmediatevicinity--anatmospherewhichhadnoaffinitywiththeairofheaven,butwhichhadreekedupfromthedecayedtrees,andthegreywall,andthesilenttarn--apestilentandmysticvapour,dull,sluggish,faintlydiscernible,andleaden-hued.Shakingofffrommyspiritwhatmusthavebeenadream,Iscannedmorenarrowlytherealaspectofthebuilding.Itsprincipalfeatureseemedtobethatofanexcessiveantiquity.Thediscolorationofageshadbeengreat.Minutefungioverspreadthewholeexterior,hanginginafinetangledweb-workfromtheeaves.Yetallthiswasapartfromanyextraordinarydilapidation.Noportionofthemasonryhadfallen;andthereappearedtobeawildinconsistencybetweenitsstillperfectadaptationofparts,andthecrumblingconditionoftheindividualstones.Inthistherewasmuchthatremindedmeofthespecioustotalityofoldwood-workwhichhasrottedforlongyearsinsomeneglectedvault,withnodisturbancefromthebreathoftheexternalair.Beyondthisindicationofextensivedecay,however,thefabricgavelittletokenofinstability.Perhapstheeyeofascrutinizingobservermighthavediscoveredabarelyperceptiblefissure,which,extendingfromtheroofofthebuildinginfront,madeitswaydownthewallinazigzagdirection,untilitbecamelostinthesullenwatersofthetarn.Noticingthesethings,Irodeoverashortcausewaytothehouse.Aservantinwaitingtookmyhorse,andIenteredtheGothicarchwayoftheTheFalloftheHouseofUsher5hall.Avalet,ofstealthystep,thenceconductedme,insilence,throughmanydarkandintricatepassagesinmyprogresstothestudioofhismaster.MuchthatIencounteredonthewaycontributed,Iknownothow,toheightenthevaguesentimentsofwhichIhavealreadyspoken.Whiletheobjectsaroundme--whilethecarvingsoftheceilings,thesombretapestriesofthewalls,theebonblacknessofthefloors,andthephantasmagoricarmorialtrophieswhichrattledasIstrode,werebutmatterstowhich,ortosuchaswhich,Ihadbeenaccustomedfrommyinfancy--whileIhesitatednottoacknowledgehowfamiliarwasallthis--Istillwonderedtofindhowunfamiliarwerethefancieswhichordinaryimageswerestirringup.Ononeofthestaircases,Imetthephysicianofthefamily.Hiscountenance,Ithought,woreamingledexpressionoflowcunningandperplexity.Heaccostedmewithtrepidationandpassedon.Thevaletnowthrewopenadoorandusheredmeintothepresenceofhismaster.TheroominwhichIfoundmyselfwasverylargeandlofty.Thewindowswerelong,narrow,andpointed,andatsovastadis-tancefromtheblackoakenfloorastobealtogetherinaccessiblefromwithin.Feeblegleamsofencrimsonedlightmadetheirwaythroughthetrellisedpanes,andservedtorendersufficientlydistinctthemoreprominentobjectsaround;theeye,however,struggledinvaintoreachtheremoteranglesofthechamber,ortherecessesofthevaultedandfrettedceiling.Darkdraperieshunguponthewalls.Thegeneralfurniturewasprofuse,comfortless,antique,andtattered.Manybooksandmusicalinstrumentslayscatteredabout,butfailedtogiveanyvitalitytothescene.IfeltthatIbreathedanatmosphereofsorrow.Anairofstern,deep,andirredeemablegloomhungoverandpervadedall.Uponmyentrance,Usherrosefromasofaonwhichhehadbeenlyingatfulllength,andgreetedmewithavivaciouswarmthwhichhadmuchinit,Iatfirstthought,ofanoverdonecordiality--oftheconstrainedeffortoftheennuyemanoftheworld.Aglance,however,athiscountenance,convincedmeofhisperfectsincerity.Wesatdown;andforsomemoments,whilehespokenot,Igazeduponhimwithafeelinghalfofpity,halfofawe.Surely,manhadneverbeforesoterriblyaltered,insobriefaTheFalloftheHouseofUsher6period,ashadRoderickUsher!ItwaswithdifficultythatIcouldbringmyselftoadmittheidentityofthewanbeingbeforemewiththecompanionofmyearlyboyhood.Yetthecharacterofhisfacehadbeenatalltimesremarkable.Acadaverousnessofcomplexion;aneyelarge,liquid,andluminousbeyondcomparison;lipssomewhatthinandverypallid,butofasurpassinglybeautifulcurve;anoseofadelicateHebrewmodel,butwithabreadthofnostrilunusualinsimilarformations;afinely-mouldedchin,speaking,initswantofprominence,ofawantofmoralenergy;hairofamorethanweb-likesoftnessandtenuity;thesefeatures,withaninordinateexpansionabovetheregionsofthetemple,madeupaltogetheracountenancenoteasilytobeforgotten.Andnowinthemereexaggerationoftheprevailingcharacterofthesefeatures,andoftheexpressiontheywerewonttoconvey,laysomuchofchangethatIdoubtedtowhomIspoke.Thenowghastlypalloroftheskin,andthenowmiraculouslustreoftheeye,aboveallthingsstartledandevenawedme.Thesilkenhair,too,hadbeensufferedtogrowallunheeded,andas,initswildgossamertexture,itfloatedratherthanfellabouttheface,Icouldnot,evenwitheffort,connectitsArabesqueexpressionwithanyideaofsimplehumanity.InthemannerofmyfriendIwasatoncestruckwithanincoherence--aninconsistency;andIsoonfoundthistoarisefromaseriesoffeebleandfutilestrugglestoovercomeanhabitualtrepidancy--anexcessivenervousagitation.ForsomethingofthisnatureIhadindeedbeenprepared,nolessbyhisletter,thanbyreminiscencesofcertainboyishtraits,andbyconclusionsdeducedfromhispeculiarphysicalconformationandtemperament.Hisactionwasalternatelyvivaciousandsullen.Hisvoicevariedrapidlyfromatremulousindecision(whentheanimalspiritsseemedutterlyinabeyance)tothatspeciesofenergeticconcision--thatabrupt,weighty,unhurried,andhollow-soundingenunciation--thatleaden,self-balancedandperfectlymodulatedgutturalutterance,whichmaybeobservedinthelostdrunkard,ortheirreclaimableeaterofopium,duringtheperiodsofhismostintenseexcitement.Itwasthusthathespokeoftheobjectofmyvisit,ofhisearnestdesiretoseeme,andofthesolaceheexpectedmetoaffordhim.Heentered,atTheFalloftheHouseofUsher7somelength,intowhatheconceivedtobethenatureofhismalady.Itwas,hesaid,aconstitutionalandafamilyevil,andoneforwhichhedespairedtofindaremedy--amerenervousaffection,heimmediatelyadded,whichwouldundoubtedlysoonpassoff.Itdisplayeditselfinahostofunnaturalsensations.Someofthese,ashedetailedthem,interestedandbewilderedme;although,perhaps,theterms,andthegeneralmannerofthenarrationhadtheirweight.Hesufferedmuchfromamorbidacutenessofthesenses;themostinsipidfoodwasaloneendurable;hecouldwearonlygarmentsofcertaintexture;theodoursofallflowerswereoppressive;hiseyesweretorturedbyevenafaintlight;andtherewerebutpeculiarsounds,andthesefromstringedinstruments,whichdidnotinspirehimwithhorror.ToananomalousspeciesofterrorIfoundhimaboundenslave."Ishallperish,"saidhe,"Imustperishinthisdeplorablefolly.Thus,thus,andnototherwise,shallIbelost.Idreadtheeventsofthefuture,notinthemselves,butintheirresults.Ishudderatthethoughtofany,eventhemosttrivial,incident,whichmayoperateuponthisintolerableagitationofsoul.Ihave,indeed,noabhorrenceofdanger,exceptinitsabsoluteeffect--interror.Inthisunnerved--inthispitiablecondition--IfeelthattheperiodwillsoonerorlaterarrivewhenImustabandonlifeandreasontogether,insomestrugglewiththegrimphantasm,FEAR."Ilearned,moreover,atintervals,andthroughbrokenandequivocalhints,anothersingularfeatureofhismentalcondition.Hewasenchainedbycertainsuperstitiousimpressionsinregardtothedwellingwhichhetenanted,andwhence,formanyyears,hehadneverventuredforth--inregardtoaninfluencewhosesupposititiousforcewasconveyedintermstooshadowyheretobere-stated--aninfluencewhichsomepeculiaritiesinthemereformandsubstanceofhisfamilymansion,had,bydintoflongsufferance,hesaid,obtainedoverhisspirit--aneffectwhichthephysiqueofthegreywallsandturrets,andofthedimtarnintowhichtheyalllookeddown,had,atlength,broughtaboutuponthemoraleofhisexistence.Headmitted,however,althoughwithhesitation,thatmuchofthepeculiargloomwhichthusafflictedhimcouldbetracedtoamorenaturalandfarmorepalpableorigin--tothesevereandlong-continuedillness--indeedtotheevidentlyapproachingdis-solution--ofatenderlybelovedTheFalloftheHouseofUsher8sister--hissolecompanionforlongyears--hislastandonlyrelativeonearth."Herdecease,"hesaid,withabitternesswhichIcanneverforget,"wouldleavehim(himthehopelessandthefrail)thelastoftheancientraceoftheUshers."Whilehespoke,theladyMadeline(forsowasshecalled)passedslowlythrougharemoteportionoftheapartment,and,withouthavingnoticedmypresence,disappeared.Iregardedherwithanutterastonishmentnotunmingledwithdread--andyetIfounditimpossibletoaccountforsuchfeelings.Asensationofstuporoppressedme,asmyeyesfollowedherretreatingsteps.Whenadoor,atlength,closeduponher,myglancesoughtinstinctivelyandeagerlythecountenanceofthebrother--buthehadburiedhisfaceinhishands,andIcouldonlyperceivethatafarmorethanordinarywannesshadoverspreadtheemaciatedfingersthroughwhichtrickledmanypassionatetears.ThediseaseoftheladyMadelinehadlongbaffledtheskillofherphysicians.Asettledapathy,agradualwastingawayoftheperson,andfrequentalthoughtransientaffectionsofapartiallycatalepticalcharacter,weretheunusualdiagnosis.Hithertoshehadsteadilyborneupagainstthepressureofhermalady,andhadnotbetakenherselffinallytobed;but,ontheclosinginoftheeveningofmyarrivalatthehouse,shesuccumbed(asherbrothertoldmeatnightwithinexpressibleagitation)totheprostratingpowerofthedestroyer;andIlearnedthattheglimpseIhadobtainedofherpersonwouldthusprobablybethelastIshouldobtain--thatthelady,atleastwhileliving,wouldbeseenbymenomore.Forseveraldaysensuing,hernamewasunmentionedbyeitherUsherormyself:andduringthisperiodIwasbusiedinearnestendeavourstoalleviatethemelancholyofmyfriend.Wepaintedandreadtogether;orIlistened,asifinadream,tothewildimprovisationsofhisspeakingguitar.Andthus,asacloserandstillcloserintimacyadmittedmemoreunreservedlyintotherecessesofhisspirit,themorebitterlydidIperceivethefutilityofallattemptatcheeringamindfromwhichdarkness,asifaninherentpositivequality,pouredforthuponallobjectsofthemoralandphysicaluniverse,inoneunceasingradiationofgloom.IshalleverbearaboutmeamemoryofthemanysolemnhoursIthusspentalonewiththemasteroftheHouseofUsher.YetIshouldfailinanyTheFalloftheHouseofUsher9attempttoconveyanideaoftheexactcharacterofthestudies,oroftheoccupations,inwhichheinvolvedme,orledmetheway.Anexcitedandhighlydistemperedidealitythrewasulphureouslustreoverall.Hislongimproviseddirgeswillringforeverinmyears.Amongotherthings,IholdpainfullyinmindacertainsingularperversionandamplificationofthewildairofthelastwaltzofVonWeber.Fromthepaintingsoverwhichhiselaboratefancybrooded,andwhichgrew,touchbytouch,intovaguenessatwhichIshudderedthemorethrillingly,becauseIshudderedknowingnotwhy;--fromthesepaintings(vividastheirimagesnowarebeforeme)Iwouldinvainendeavourtoeducemorethanasmallportionwhichshouldliewithinthecompassofmerelywrittenwords.Bytheuttersimplicity,bythenakednessofhisdesigns,hearrestedandoverawedattention.Ifevermortalpaintedanidea,thatmortalwasRoderickUsher.Formeatleast--inthecircumstancesthensurroundingme--therearoseoutofthepureabstractionswhichthehypochondriaccontrivedtothrowuponhiscanvas,anintensityofintolerableawe,noshadowofwhichfeltIeveryetinthecontemplationofthecertainlyglowingyettooconcretereveriesofFuseli.Oneofthephantasmagoricconceptionsofmyfriend,partakingnotsorigidlyofthespiritofabstraction,maybeshadowedforth,althoughfeebly,inwords.Asmallpicturepresentedtheinteriorofanimmenselylongandrectangularvaultortunnel,withlowwalls,smooth,white,andwithoutinterruptionordevice.Certainaccessorypointsofthedesignservedwelltoconveytheideathatthisexcavationlayatanexceedingdepthbelowthesurfaceoftheearth.Nooutletwasobservedinanyportionofitsvastextent,andnotorch,orotherartificialsourceoflightwasdiscernible;yetafloodofintenseraysrolledthroughout,andbathedthewholeinaghastlyandinappropriatesplendour.Ihavejustspokenofthatmorbidconditionoftheauditorynervewhichrenderedallmusicintolerabletothesufferer,withtheexceptionofcertaineffectsofstringedinstruments.Itwas,perhaps,thenarrowlimitstowhichhethusconfinedhimselfupontheguitar,whichgavebirth,ingreatmeasure,tothefantasticcharacteroftheperformances.Butthefervidfacilityofhisimpromptuscouldnotbesoaccountedfor.Theymusthavebeen,andwere,inthenotes,aswellasinthewordsofhiswildfantasiasTheFalloftheHouseofUsher10(forhenotunfrequentlyaccompaniedhimselfwithrhymedverbalimprovisations),theresultofthatintensementalcollectednessandconcentrationtowhichIhavepreviouslyalludedasobservableonlyinparticularmomentsofthehighestartificialexcitement.ThewordsofoneoftheserhapsodiesIhaveeasilyremembered.Iwas,perhaps,themoreforciblyimpressedwithit,ashegaveit,because,intheunderormysticcurrentofitsmeaning,IfanciedthatIperceived,andforthefirsttime,afullconsciousnessonthepartofUsher,ofthetotteringofhisloftyreasonuponherthrone.Theverses,whichwereentitled"TheHauntedPalace,"ranverynearly,ifnotaccurately,thus:I.Inthegreenestofourvalleys,Bygoodangelstenanted,Onceafairandstatelypalace--Radiantpalace--reareditshead.InthemonarchThought'sdominion--Itstoodthere!NeverseraphspreadapinionOverfabrichalfsofair.II.Bannersyellow,glorious,golden,Onitsroofdidfloatandflow;(This--allthis--wasintheoldenTimelongago)Andeverygentleairthatdallied,Inthatsweetday,Alongtherampartsplumedandpallid,Awingedodourwentaway.III.WanderersinthathappyvalleyThroughtwoluminouswindowssawSpiritsmovingmusicallyToalute'swelltunedlaw,Roundaboutathrone,wheresittingTheFalloftheHouseofUsher11(Porphyrogene!)Instatehisglorywellbefitting,Theruleroftherealmwasseen.IV.AndallwithpearlandrubyglowingWasthefairpalacedoor,Throughwhichcameflowing,flowing,flowingAndsparklingevermore,AtroopofEchoeswhosesweetdutyWasbuttosing,Invoicesofsurpassingbeauty,Thewitandwisdomoftheirking.V.Butevilthings,inrobesofsorrow,Assailedthemonarch'shighestate;(Ah,letusmourn,fornevermorrowShalldawnuponhim,desolate!)And,roundabouthishome,thegloryThatblushedandbloomedIsbutadim-rememberedstory,Oftheoldtimeentombed.VI.Andtravellersnowwithinthatvalley,Throughthered-littenwindows,seeVastformsthatmovefantasticallyToadiscordantmelody;While,likearapidghastlyriver,Throughthepaledoor,Ahideousthrongrushoutforever,Andlaugh--butsmilenomore.Iwellrememberthatsuggestionsarisingfromthisballad,ledusintoatrainofthoughtwhereintherebecamemanifestanopinionofUsher'swhichImentionnotsomuchonaccountofitsnovelty(forothermen*havethoughtthus,)asonaccountofthepertinacitywithwhichheTheFalloftheHouseofUsher12maintainedit.Thisopinion,initsgeneralform,wasthatofthesentienceofallvegetablethings.But,inhisdisorderedfancy,theideahadassumedamoredaringcharacter,andtrespassed,undercertainconditions,uponthekingdomofinorganization.Ilackwordstoexpressthefullextent,ortheearnestabandonofhispersuasion.Thebelief,however,wasconnected(asIhavepreviouslyhinted)withthegraystonesofthehomeofhisforefathers.Theconditionsofthesentiencehadbeenhere,heimagined,fulfilledinthemethodofcollocationofthesestones--intheorderoftheirarrangement,aswellasinthatofthemanyfungiwhichoverspreadthem,andofthedecayedtreeswhichstoodaround--aboveall,inthelongundisturbedenduranceofthisarrangement,andinitsreduplicationinthestillwatersofthetarn.Itsevidence--theevidenceofthesentience--wastobeseen,hesaid,(andIherestartedashespoke,)inthegradualyetcertaincondensationofanatmosphereoftheirownaboutthewatersandthewalls.Theresultwasdiscoverable,headded,inthatsilent,yetimportunateandterribleinfluencewhichforcenturieshadmouldedthedestiniesofhisfamily,andwhichmadehimwhatInowsawhim--whathewas.Suchopinionsneednocomment,andIwillmakenone.Ourbooks--thebookswhich,foryears,hadformednosmallportionofthementalexistenceoftheinvalid--were,asmightbesupposed,instrictkeepingwiththischaracterofphantasm.WeporedtogetheroversuchworksastheVervertetChartreuseofGresset;theBelphegorofMachiavelli;theHeavenandHellofSwedenborg;theSubterraneanVoyageofNicholasKlimmbyHolberg;theChiromancyofRobertFlud,ofJeanD'Indagine,andofDelaChambre;theJourneyintotheBlueD