第1章

ItookawalkonSpaulding\'sFarmtheotherafternoon。Isawthesettingsunlightinguptheoppositesideofastatelypinewood。

Itsgoldenraysstraggledintotheaislesofthewoodasintosomenoblehall。IwasimpressedasifsomeancientandaltogetheradmirableandshiningfamilyhadsettledthereinthatpartofthelandcalledConcord,unknowntome,——towhomthesunwasservant,——

whohadnotgoneintosocietyinthevillage,——whohadnotbeencalledon。Isawtheirpark,theirpleasure—ground,beyondthroughthewood,inSpaulding\'scranberry—meadow。Thepinesfurnishedthemwithgablesastheygrew。Theirhousewasnotobvioustovision;

theirtreesgrewthroughit。IdonotknowwhetherIheardthesoundsofasuppressedhilarityornot。Theyseemedtoreclineonthesunbeams。Theyhavesonsanddaughters。Theyarequitewell。Thefarmer\'scart—path,whichleadsdirectlythroughtheirhall,doesnotintheleastputthemout,——asthemuddybottomofapoolissometimesseenthroughthereflectedskies。TheyneverheardofSpaulding,anddonotknowthatheistheirneighbor,——notwithstandingIheardhimwhistleashedrovehisteamthroughthehouse。Nothingcanequaltheserenityoftheirlives。Theircoatofarmsissimplyalichen。

Isawitpaintedonthepinesandoaks。Theiratticswereinthetopsofthetrees。Theyareofnopolitics。Therewasnonoiseoflabor。

Ididnotperceivethattheywereweavingorspinning。YetIdiddetect,whenthewindlulledandhearingwasdoneaway,thefinestimaginablesweetmusicalhum,——asofadistanthiveinMay,whichperchancewasthesoundoftheirthinking。Theyhadnoidlethoughts,andnoonewithoutcouldseetheirwork,fortheirindustrywasnotasinknotsandexcrescencesembayed。

ButIfinditdifficulttorememberthem。TheyfadeirrevocablyoutofmymindevennowwhileIspeakandendeavortorecallthem,andrecollectmyself。ItisonlyafteralongandseriousefforttorecollectmybestthoughtsthatIbecomeagainawareoftheircohabitancy。Ifitwerenotforsuchfamiliesasthis,IthinkI

shouldmoveoutofConcord。

Thoreau:"WALKING。"

CHAPTERI

THELIBRARY

IhadjustfinishedmystudiesatOxford,andwastakingabriefholidayfromworkbeforeassumingdefinitelythemanagementoftheestate。MyfatherdiedwhenIwasyetachild;mymotherfollowedhimwithinayear;andIwasnearlyasmuchaloneintheworldasamanmightfindhimself。

Ihadmadelittleacquaintancewiththehistoryofmyancestors。

AlmosttheonlythingIknewconcerningthemwas,thatanotablenumberofthemhadbeengiventostudy。Ihadmyselfsofarinheritedthetendencyastodevoteagooddealofmytime,though,Iconfess,afterasomewhatdesultoryfashion,tothephysicalsciences。Itwaschieflythewondertheywokethatdrewme。Iwasconstantlyseeing,andontheoutlooktosee,strangeanalogies,notonlybetweenthefactsofdifferentsciencesofthesameorder,orbetweenphysicalandmetaphysicalfacts,butbetweenphysicalhypothesesandsuggestionsglimmeringoutofthemetaphysicaldreamsintowhichIwasinthehabitoffalling。Iwasatthesametimemuchgiventoaprematureindulgenceoftheimpulsetoturnhypothesisintotheory。Ofmymentalpeculiaritiesthereisnooccasiontosaymore。

Thehouseaswellasthefamilywasofsomeantiquity,butnodescriptionofitisnecessarytotheunderstandingofmynarrative。

Itcontainedafinelibrary,whosegrowthbeganbeforetheinventionofprinting,andhadcontinuedtomyowntime,greatlyinfluenced,ofcourse,bychangesoftasteandpursuit。Nothingsurelycanmoreimpressuponamanthetransitorynatureofpossessionthanhissucceedingtoanancientproperty！Likeamovingpanoramaminehaspassedfrombeforemanyeyes,andisnowslowlyflittingfrombeforemyown。

Thelibrary,althoughdulyconsideredinmanyalterationsofthehouseandadditionstoit,hadnevertheless,likeanencroachingstate,absorbedoneroomafteranotheruntilitoccupiedthegreaterpartofthegroundfloor。Itschiefroomwaslarge,andthewallsofitwerecoveredwithbooksalmosttotheceiling;theroomsintowhichitoverflowedwereofvarioussizesandshapes,andcommunicatedinmodesasvarious——bydoors,byopenarches,byshortpassages,bystepsupandstepsdown。

InthegreatroomImainlyspentmytime,readingbooksofscience,oldaswellasnew;forthehistoryofthehumanmindinrelationtosupposedknowledgewaswhatmostofallinterestedme。Ptolemy,Dante,thetwoBacons,andBoylewereevenmoretomethanDarwinorMaxwell,assomuchnearerthevanishedvanbreakingintothedarkofignorance。

IntheeveningofagloomydayofAugustIwassittinginmyusualplace,mybacktooneofthewindows,reading。Ithadrainedthegreaterpartofthemorningandafternoon,butjustasthesunwassetting,thecloudspartedinfrontofhim,andheshoneintotheroom。Iroseandlookedoutofthewindow。Inthecentreofthegreatlawnthefeatheringtopofthefountaincolumnwasfilledwithhisredglory。Iturnedtoresumemyseat,whenmyeyewascaughtbythesamegloryontheonepictureintheroom——aportrait,inasortofnicheorlittleshrinesunkforitintheexpanseofbook—filledshelves。Iknewitasthelikenessofoneofmyancestors,buthadneverevenwonderedwhyithungtherealone,andnotinthegallery,oroneofthegreatrooms,amongtheotherfamilyportraits。Thedirectsunlightbroughtoutthepaintingwonderfully;forthefirsttimeIseemedtoseeit,andforthefirsttimeitseemedtorespondtomylook。Withmyeyesfullofthelightreflectedfromit,something,Icannottellwhat,mademeturnandcastaglancetothefartherendoftheroom,whenIsaw,orseemedtosee,atallfigurereachingupahandtoabookshelf。

Thenextinstant,myvisionapparentlyrectifiedbythecomparativedusk,Isawnoone,andconcludedthatmyopticnerveshadbeenmomentarilyaffectedfromwithin。

Iresumedmyreading,andwoulddoubtlesshaveforgottenthevague,evanescentimpression,haditnotbeenthat,havingoccasionamomentaftertoconsultacertainvolume,Ifoundbutagapintherowwhereitoughttohavestood,andthesameinstantrememberedthatjustthereIhadseen,orfanciedIsaw,theoldmaninsearchofabook。Ilookedallaboutthespotbutinvain。Thenextmorning,however,thereitwas,justwhereIhadthoughttofindit！

Iknewofnooneinthehouselikelytobeinterestedinsuchabook。

Threedaysafter,anotherandyetodderthingtookplace。

Inoneofthewallswasthelow,narrowdoorofacloset,containingsomeoftheoldestandrarestofthebooks。Itwasaverythickdoor,withaprojectingframe,andithadbeenthefancyofsomeancestortocrossitwithshallowshelves,filledwithbook—backsonly。Theharmlesstrickmaybeexcusedbythefactthatthetitlesontheshambackswereeitherhumorouslyoriginal,orthoseofbookslostbeyondhopeofrecovery。Ihadagreatlikingforthemaskeddoor。

Tocompletetheillusionofit,someinventiveworkmanapparentlyhadshovedin,onthetopofoneoftherows,apartofavolumethinenoughtoliebetweenitandthebottomofthenextshelf:

hehadcutawaydiagonallyaconsiderableportion,andfixedtheremnantwithoneofitsopencornersprojectingbeyondthebook—backs。Thebindingofthemutilatedvolumewaslimpvellum,andonecouldopenthecornerfarenoughtoseethatitwasmanuscriptuponparchment。

Happening,asIsatreading,toraisemyeyesfromthepage,myglancefelluponthisdoor,andatonceIsawthatthebookdescribed,ifbookitmaybecalled,wasgone。AngrierthananyworthIknewinitjustified,Irangthebell,andthebutlerappeared。WhenIaskedhimifheknewwhathadbefallenit,heturnedpale,andassuredmehedidnot。Icouldlesseasilydoubthiswordthanmyowneyes,forhehadbeenallhislifeinthefamily,andamorefaithfulservantneverlived。Heleftonmetheimpression,nevertheless,thathecouldhavesaidsomethingmore。

IntheafternoonIwasagainreadinginthelibrary,andcomingtoapointwhichdemandedreflection,Iloweredthebookandletmyeyesgowandering。ThesamemomentIsawthebackofaslenderoldman,inalong,darkcoat,shinyasfrommuchwear,intheactofdisappearingthroughthemaskeddoorintotheclosetbeyond。I

dartedacrosstheroom,foundthedoorshut,pulleditopen,lookedintothecloset,whichhadnootherissue,and,seeingnobody,concluded,notwithoutuneasiness,thatIhadhadarecurrenceofmyformerillusion,andsatdownagaintomyreading。

Naturally,however,Icouldnothelpfeelingalittlenervous,andpresentlyglancinguptoassuremyselfthatIwasindeedalone,startedagaintomyfeet,andrantothemaskeddoor——fortherewasthemutilatedvolumeinitsplace！Ilaidholdofitandpulled:itwasfirmlyfixedasusual！

Iwasnowutterlybewildered。Irangthebell;thebutlercame;

ItoldhimallIhadseen,andhetoldmeallheknew。

Hehadhoped,hesaid,thattheoldgentlemanwasgoingtobeforgotten;itwaswellnoonebutmyselfhadseenhim。Hehadheardagooddealabouthimwhenfirstheservedinthehouse,butbydegreeshehadceasedtobementioned,andhehadbeenverycarefulnottoalludetohim。

"Theplacewashauntedbyanoldgentleman,wasit？"Isaid。

Heansweredthatatonetimeeverybodybelievedit,butthefactthatIhadneverheardofitseemedtoimplythatthethinghadcometoanendandwasforgotten。

Iquestionedhimastowhathehadseenoftheoldgentleman。

Hehadneverseenhim,hesaid,althoughhehadbeeninthehousefromthedaymyfatherwaseightyearsold。Mygrandfatherwouldneverhearawordonthematter,declaringthatwhoeveralludedtoitshouldbedismissedwithoutamoment\'swarning:itwasnothingbutapretextofthemaids,hesaid,forrunningintothearmsofthemen！butoldSirRalphbelievedinnothinghecouldnotseeorlayholdof。Notoneofthemaidseversaidshehadseentheapparition,butafootmanhadlefttheplacebecauseofit。

AnancientwomaninthevillagehadtoldhimalegendconcerningaMr。Raven,longtimelibrarianto"thatSirUpwardwhoseportraithangsthereamongthebooks。"SirUpwardwasagreatreader,shesaid——notofsuchbooksonlyaswerewholesomeformentoread,butofstrange,forbidden,andevilbooks;andinsodoing,Mr。Raven,whowasprobablythedevilhimself,encouragedhim。Suddenlytheybothdisappeared,andSirUpwardwasneverafterseenorheardof,butMr。Ravencontinuedtoshowhimselfatuncertainintervalsinthelibrary。Thereweresomewhobelievedhewasnotdead;butbothheandtheoldwomanhelditeasiertobelievethatadeadmanmightrevisittheworldhehadleft,thanthatonewhowentonlivingforhundredsofyearsshouldbeamanatall。

HehadneverheardthatMr。Ravenmeddledwithanythinginthehouse,buthemightperhapsconsiderhimselfprivilegedinregardtothebooks。Howtheoldwomanhadlearnedsomuchabouthimhecouldnottell;butthedescriptionshegaveofhimcorrespondedexactlywiththefigureIhadjustseen。

"Ihopeitwasbutafriendlycallonthepartoftheoldgentleman！"

heconcluded,withatroubledsmile。

ItoldhimIhadnoobjectiontoanynumberofvisitsfromMr。Raven,butitwouldbewellheshouldkeeptohisresolutionofsayingnothingabouthimtotheservants。ThenIaskedhimifhehadeverseenthemutilatedvolumeoutofitsplace;heansweredthatheneverhad,andhadalwaysthoughtitafixture。Withthathewenttoit,andgaveitapull:itseemedimmovable。

CHAPTERII

THEMIRROR

Nothingmorehappenedforsomedays。Ithinkitwasaboutaweekafter,whenwhatIhavenowtotelltookplace。

Ihadoftenthoughtofthemanuscriptfragment,andrepeatedlytriedtodiscoversomewayofreleasingit,butinvain:Icouldnotfindoutwhathelditfast。

ButIhadforsometimeintendedathoroughoverhaulingofthebooksinthecloset,itsatmospherecausingmeuneasinessastotheircondition。Onedaytheintentionsuddenlybecamearesolve,andIwasintheactofrisingfrommychairtomakeabeginning,whenIsawtheoldlibrarianmovingfromthedooroftheclosettowardthefartherendoftheroom。IoughtrathertosayonlythatIcaughtsightofsomethingshadowyfromwhichIreceivedtheimpressionofaslight,stoopingman,inashabbydress—coatreachingalmosttohisheels,thetailsofwhich,dispartingalittleashewalked,revealedthinlegsinblackstockings,andlargefeetinwide,slipper—likeshoes。

AtonceIfollowedhim:Imightbefollowingashadow,butI

neverdoubtedIwasfollowingsomething。Hewentoutofthelibraryintothehall,andacrosstothefootofthegreatstaircase,thenupthestairstothefirstfloor,wherelaythechiefrooms。Pasttheserooms,Ifollowingclose,hecontinuedhisway,throughawidecorridor,tothefootofanarrowerstairleadingtothesecondfloor。Upthathewentalso,andwhenI

reachedthetop,strangeasitmayseem,Ifoundmyselfinaregionalmostunknowntome。Ineverhadbrotherorsistertoincitetosuchrompsasmakechildrenfamiliarwithnookandcranny;Iwasamerechildwhenmyguardiantookmeaway;andIhadneverseenthehouseagainuntil,aboutamonthbefore,Ireturnedtotakepossession。

Throughpassageafterpassagewecametoadooratthebottomofawindingwoodenstair,whichweascended。Everystepcreakedundermyfoot,butIheardnosoundfromthatofmyguide。SomewhereinthemiddleofthestairIlostsightofhim,andfromthetopofittheshadowyshapewasnowherevisible。IcouldnotevenimagineI

sawhim。Theplacewasfullofshadows,buthewasnotoneofthem。

Iwasinthemaingarret,withhugebeamsandraftersovermyhead,greatspacesaroundme,adoorhereandthereinsight,andlongvistaswhosegloomwasthinnedbyafewlurkingcobwebbedwindowsandsmallduskyskylights。Igazedwithastrangeminglingofaweandpleasure:thewideexpanseofgarretwasmyown,andunexplored！

Inthemiddleofitstoodanunpaintedinclosureofroughplanks,thedoorofwhichwasajar。ThinkingMr。Ravenmightbethere,I

pushedthedoor,andentered。

Thesmallchamberwasfulloflight,butsuchasdwellsinplacesdeserted:ithadadull,disconsolatelook,asifitfounditselfofnouse,andregrettedhavingcome。Afewratherdimsunrays,markingtheirtrackthroughthecloudofmotesthathadjustbeenstirredup,felluponatallmirrorwithadustyface,old—fashionedandrathernarrow——inappearanceanordinaryglass。Ithadanebonyframe,onthetopofwhichstoodablackeagle,withoutstretchedwings,inhisbeakagoldenchain,fromwhoseendhungablackball。

Ihadbeenlookingatratherthanintothemirror,whensuddenlyIbecameawarethatitreflectedneitherthechambernormyownperson。Ihaveanimpressionofhavingseenthewallmeltaway,butwhatfollowedisenoughtoaccountforanyuncertainty:——couldIhavemistakenforamirrortheglassthatprotectedawonderfulpicture？

Isawbeforemeawildcountry,brokenandheathy。Desolatehillsofnogreatheight,butsomehowofstrangeappearance,occupiedthemiddledistance;alongthehorizonstretchedthetopsofafar—offmountainrange;nearestmelayatractofmoorland,flatandmelancholy。

Beingshort—sighted,Isteppedclosertoexaminethetextureofastoneintheimmediateforeground,andintheactespied,hoppingtowardmewithsolemnity,alargeandancientraven,whosepurplyblackwashereandtheresoftenedwithgray。Heseemedlookingforwormsashecame。Nowiseastonishedattheappearanceofalivecreatureinapicture,Itookanotherstepforwardtoseehimbetter,stumbledoversomething——doubtlesstheframeofthemirror——

andstoodnosetobeakwiththebird:Iwasintheopenair,onahouselessheath！

CHAPTERIII

THERAVEN

Iturnedandlookedbehindme:allwasvagueanduncertain,aswhenonecannotdistinguishbetweenfogandfield,betweencloudandmountain—side。Onefactonlywasplain——thatIsawnothingIknew。

Imaginingmyselfinvolvedinavisualillusion,andthattouchwouldcorrectsight,Istretchedmyarmsandfeltaboutme,walkinginthisdirectionandthat,ifhaply,whereIcouldseenothing,I

mightyetcomeincontactwithsomething;butmysearchwasvain。

Instinctivelythen,astotheonlylivingthingnearme,Iturnedtotheraven,whichstoodalittlewayoff,regardingmewithanexpressionatoncerespectfulandquizzical。Thentheabsurdityofseekingcounselfromsuchaonestruckme,andIturnedagain,overwhelmedwithbewilderment,notunmingledwithfear。HadI

wanderedintoaregionwhereboththematerialandpsychicalrelationsofourworldhadceasedtohold？Mightamanatanymomentstepbeyondtherealmoforder,andbecomethesportofthelawless？YetIsawtheraven,feltthegroundundermyfeet,andheardasoundasofwindinthelowlyplantsaroundme！

"HowDIDIgethere？"Isaid——apparentlyaloud,forthequestionwasimmediatelyanswered。

"Youcamethroughthedoor,"repliedanodd,ratherharshvoice。

Ilookedbehind,thenallaboutme,butsawnohumanshape。Theterrorthatmadnessmightbeathandlaidholduponme:mustIhenceforthplacenoconfidenceeitherinmysensesormyconsciousness？ThesameinstantIknewitwastheraventhathadspoken,forhestoodlookingupatmewithanairofwaiting。Thesunwasnotshining,yetthebirdseemedtocastashadow,andtheshadowseemedpartofhimself。

Ibegmyreadertoaidmeintheendeavourtomakemyselfintelligible——ifhereunderstandingbeindeedpossiblebetweenus。

Iwasinaworld,orcallitastateofthings,aneconomyofconditions,anideaofexistence,solittlecorrespondentwiththewaysandmodesofthisworld——whichweareapttothinktheonlyworld,thatthebestchoiceIcanmakeofwordorphraseisbutanadumbrationofwhatIwouldconvey。IbeginindeedtofearthatIhaveundertakenanimpossibility,undertakentotellwhatI

cannottellbecausenospeechatmycommandwillfittheformsinmymind。AlreadyIhavesetdownstatementsIwouldgladlychangedidIknowhowtosubstituteatruerutterance;butasoftenasI

trytofittherealitywithnearerwords,Ifindmyselfindangeroflosingthethingsthemselves,andfeellikeoneinprocessofawakingfromadream,withthethingthatseemedfamiliargraduallyyetswiftlychangingthroughasuccessionofformsuntilitsverynatureisnolongerrecognisable。

Ibethoughtmethatabirdcapableofaddressingamanmusthavetherightofamantoacivilanswer;perhaps,asabird,evenagreaterclaim。

Atendencytocroakcausedacertainroughnessinhisspeech,buthisvoicewasnotdisagreeable,andwhathesaid,althoughconveyinglittleenlightenment,didnotsoundrude。

"Ididnotcomethroughanydoor,"Irejoined。

"Isawyoucomethroughit！——sawyouwithmyownancienteyes！"

assertedtheraven,positivelybutnotdisrespectfully。

"Ineversawanydoor！"Ipersisted。

"Ofcoursenot！"hereturned;"allthedoorsyouhadyetseen——andyouhaven\'tseenmany——weredoorsin;hereyoucameuponadoorout！

Thestrangethingtoyou,"hewentonthoughtfully,"willbe,thatthemoredoorsyougooutof,thefartheryougetin！"

"ObligemebytellingmewhereIam。"

"Thatisimpossible。Youknownothingaboutwhereness。Theonlywaytocometoknowwhereyouareistobegintomakeyourselfathome。"

"HowamItobeginthatwhereeverythingissostrange？"

"Bydoingsomething。"

"What？"

"Anything;andthesooneryoubeginthebetter！foruntilyouareathome,youwillfinditasdifficulttogetoutasitistogetin。"

"Ihave,unfortunately,foundittooeasytogetin;onceoutI

shallnottryagain！"

"Youhavestumbledin,andmay,possibly,stumbleoutagain。WhetheryouhavegotinUNFORTUNATELYremainstobeseen。"

"Doyounevergoout,sir？"

"WhenIpleaseIdo,butnotoften,orforlong。Yourworldissuchahalf—bakedsortofplace,itisatoncesochildishandsoself—satisfied——infact,itisnotsufficientlydevelopedforanoldraven——atyourservice！"

"AmIwrong,then,inpresumingthatamanissuperiortoabird？"

"Thatisasitmaybe。Wedonotwasteourintellectsingeneralising,buttakemanorbirdaswefindhim。——Ithinkitisnowmyturntoaskyouaquestion！"

"Youhavethebestofrights,"Ireplied,"inthefactthatyouCANdoso！"

"Wellanswered！"herejoined。"Tellme,then,whoyouare——ifyouhappentoknow。"

"HowshouldIhelpknowing？Iammyself,andmustknow！"

"Ifyouknowyouareyourself,youknowthatyouarenotsomebodyelse;butdoyouknowthatyouareyourself？Areyousureyouarenotyourownfather？——or,excuseme,yourownfool？——Whoareyou,pray？"

IbecameatonceawarethatIcouldgivehimnonotionofwhoIwas。Indeed,whowasI？ItwouldbenoanswertosayIwaswho！

ThenIunderstoodthatIdidnotknowmyself,didnotknowwhatI

was,hadnogroundsonwhichtodeterminethatIwasoneandnotanother。AsforthenameIwentbyinmyownworld,Ihadforgottenit,anddidnotcaretorecallit,foritmeantnothing,andwhatitmightbewasplainlyofnoconsequencehere。Ihadindeedalmostforgottenthatthereitwasacustomforeverybodytohaveaname！

SoIheldmypeace,anditwasmywisdom;forwhatshouldIsaytoacreaturesuchasthisraven,whosawthroughaccidentintoentity？

"Lookatme,"hesaid,"andtellmewhoIam。"

Ashespoke,heturnedhisback,andinstantlyIknewhim。Hewasnolongeraraven,butamanabovethemiddleheightwithastoop,verythin,andwearingalongblacktail—coat。Againheturned,andIsawhimaraven。

"Ihaveseenyoubefore,sir,"Isaid,feelingfoolishratherthansurprised。

"Howcanyousaysofromseeingmebehind？"herejoined。"Didyoueverseeyourselfbehind？Youhaveneverseenyourselfatall！

——Tellmenow,then,whoIam。"

"Ihumblybegyourpardon,"Ianswered:"Ibelieveyouwereoncethelibrarianofourhouse,butmoreWHOIdonotknow。"

"Whydoyoubegmypardon？"

"BecauseItookyouforaraven,"Isaid——seeinghimbeforemeasplainlyaravenasbirdormancouldlook。

"Youdidmenowrong,"hereturned。"Callingmearaven,orthinkingmeone,youallowedmeexistence,whichisthesumofwhatonecandemandofhisfellow—beings。Therefore,inreturn,Iwillgiveyoualesson:——Noonecansayheishimself,untilfirstheknowsthatheIS,andthenwhatHIMSELFis。Infact,nobodyishimself,andhimselfisnobody。Thereismoreinitthanyoucanseenow,butnotmorethanyouneedtosee。Youhave,Ifear,gotintothisregiontoosoon,butnonethelessyoumustgettobeathomeinit;forhome,asyoumayormaynotknow,istheonlyplacewhereyoucangooutandin。Thereareplacesyoucangointo,andplacesyoucangooutof;buttheoneplace,ifyoudobutfindit,whereyoumaygooutandinboth,ishome。"

Heturnedtowalkaway,andagainIsawthelibrarian。Hedidnotappeartohavechanged,onlytohavetakenuphisshadow。Iknowthisseemsnonsense,butIcannothelpit。

IgazedafterhimuntilIsawhimnomore;butwhetherdistancehidhim,orhedisappearedamongtheheather,Icannottell。

CoulditbethatIwasdead,Ithought,anddidnotknowit？WasIinwhatweusedtocalltheworldbeyondthegrave？andmustI

wanderaboutseekingmyplaceinit？HowwasItofindmyselfathome？TheravensaidImustdosomething:whatcouldIdohere？——

Andwouldthatmakemesomebody？fornow,alas,Iwasnobody！

ItookthewayMr。Ravenhadgone,andwentslowlyafterhim。

PresentlyIsawawoodoftallslenderpine—trees,andturnedtowardit。Theodourofitmetmeonmyway,andImadehastetoburymyselfinit。

Plungedatlengthinitstwilightglooms,Ispiedbeforemesomethingwithashine,standingbetweentwoofthestems。Ithadnocolour,butwaslikethetranslucenttremblingofthehotairthatrises,inaradiantsummernoon,fromthesun—bakedground,vibrantlikethesmittenchordsofamusicalinstrument。WhatitwasgrewnoplainerasIwentnearer,andwhenIcamecloseup,I

ceasedtoseeit,onlytheformandcolourofthetreesbeyondseemedstrangelyuncertain。Iwouldhavepassedbetweenthestems,butreceivedaslightshock,stumbled,andfell。WhenIrose,I

sawbeforemethewoodenwallofthegarretchamber。Iturned,andtherewasthemirror,onwhosetoptheblackeagleseemedbutthatmomenttohaveperched。

Terrorseizedme,andIfled。OutsidethechamberthewidegarretspaceshadanUNCANNYlook。Theyseemedtohavelongbeenwaitingforsomething;ithadcome,andtheywerewaitingagain！Ashudderwentthroughmeonthewindingstair:thehousehadgrownstrangetome！somethingwasabouttoleapuponmefrombehind！Idarteddownthespiral,struckagainstthewallandfell,roseandran。OnthenextfloorIlostmyway,andhadgonethroughseveralpassagesasecondtimeereIfoundtheheadofthestair。AtthetopofthegreatstairIhadcometomyselfalittle,andinafewmomentsI

satrecoveringmybreathinthelibrary。

Nothingshouldeveragainmakemegoupthatlastterriblestair！

Thegarretatthetopofitpervadedthewholehouse！Itsatuponit,threateningtocrushmeoutofit！Thebroodingbrainofthebuilding,itwasfullofmysteriousdwellers,oneorotherofwhommightanymomentappearinthelibrarywhereIsat！Iwasnowheresafe！Iwouldlet,Iwouldsellthedreadfulplace,inwhichana雛ialportalstoodeveropentocreatureswhoselifewasotherthanhuman！IwouldpurchaseacraginSwitzerland,andthereonbuildawoodennestofonestorywithneveragarretaboveit,guardedbysomegrandoldpeakthatwouldsenddownnothingworsethanafewtonsofwhelmingrock！

Iknewallthetimethatmythinkingwasfoolish,andwasevenawareofacertainundertoneofcontemptuoushumourinit;butsuddenlyitwaschecked,andIseemedagaintohearthecroakoftheraven。

"IfIknownothingofmyowngarret,"Ithought,"whatistheretosecuremeagainstmyownbrain？CanItellwhatitisevennowgenerating？——whatthoughtitmaypresentmethenextmoment,thenextmonth,orayearaway？Whatisattheheartofmybrain？WhatisbehindmyTHINK？AmIthereatall？——Who,whatamI？"

Icouldnomoreanswerthequestionnowthanwhentheravenputittomein——at——"Wherein？——whereat？"Isaid,andgavemyselfupasknowinganythingofmyselfortheuniverse。

Istartedtomyfeet,hurriedacrosstheroomtothemaskeddoor,wherethemutilatedvolume,stickingoutfromtheflatofsoulless,bodiless,non—existentbooks,appearedtobeckonme,wentdownonmyknees,andopeneditasfarasitspositionwouldpermit,butcouldseenothing。Igotupagain,lightedataper,andpeepingasintoapairofreluctantjaws,perceivedthatthemanuscriptwasverse。FurtherIcouldnotcarrydiscovery。Beginningsoflineswerevisibleontheleft—handpage,andendsoflinesontheother;