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from some invisible spring in the atmosphere of the room； three or
four large drops of a brilliant and ruby colored fluid。 If this I saw
not so Rowena。 She swallowed the wine unhesitatingly； and I
forbore to speak to her of a circumstance which must； after all； I
considered； have been but the suggestion of a vivid imagination；
rendered morbidly active by the terror of the lady； by the opium； and
by the hour。
Yet I cannot conceal it from my own perception that； immediately
subsequent to the fall of the ruby…drops； a rapid change for the
worse took place in the disorder of my wife； so that； on the third
subsequent night； the hands of her menials prepared her for the tomb；
and on the fourth； I sat alone； with her shrouded body； in that
fantastic chamber which had received her as my bride。 Wild
visions； opium…engendered； flitted； shadow…like； before me。 I gazed
with unquiet eye upon the sarcophagi in the angles of the room； upon
the varying figures of the drapery； and upon the writhing of the
parti…colored fires in the censer overhead。 My eyes then fell； as I
called to mind the circumstances of a former night； to the spot
beneath the glare of the censer where I had seen the faint traces of
the shadow。 It was there； however； no longer； and breathing with
greater freedom； I turned my glances to the pallid and rigid figure
upon the bed。 Then rushed upon me a thousand memories of Ligeia
and then came back upon my heart； with the turbulent violence of a
flood； the whole of that unutterable wo with which I had regarded her
thus enshrouded。 The night waned； and still； with a bosom full of
bitter thoughts of the one only and supremely beloved； I remained
gazing upon the body of Rowena。
It might have been midnight； or perhaps earlier； or later； for I had
taken no note of time； when a sob； low； gentle； but very distinct；
startled me from my revery。 I felt that it came from the bed of
ebony the bed of death。 I listened in an agony of superstitious
terror but there was no repetition of the sound。 I strained my
vision to detect any motion in the corpse but there was not the
slightest perceptible。 Yet I could not have been deceived。 I had
heard the noise； however faint； and my soul was awakened within me。 I
resolutely and perseveringly kept my attention riveted upon the body。
Many minutes elapsed before any circumstance occurred tending to
throw light upon the mystery。 At length it became evident that a
slight； a very feeble； and barely noticeable tinge of color had
flushed up within the cheeks； and along the sunken small veins of the
eyelids。 Through a species of unutterable horror and awe； for which
the language of mortality has no sufficiently energetic expression； I
felt my heart cease to beat； my limbs grow rigid where I sat。 Yet a
sense of duty finally operated to restore my self…possession。 I could
no longer doubt that we had been precipitate in our preparations
that Rowena still lived。 It was necessary that some immediate
exertion be made； yet turret was altogether apart from the portion of
the abbey tenanted by the servants there were none within call
I had no means of summoning them to my aid without leaving the room
for many minutes and this I could not venture to do。 I therefore
struggled alone in my endeavors to call back the spirit ill hovering。
In a short period it was certain； however； that a relapse had taken
place； the color disappeared from both eyelid and cheek； leaving a
wanness even more than that of marble； the lips became doubly
shrivelled and pinched up in the ghastly expression of death； a
repulsive clamminess and coldness overspread rapidly the surface of
the body； and all the usual rigorous illness immediately supervened。
I fell back with a shudder upon the couch from which I had been so
startlingly aroused； and again gave myself up to passionate waking
visions of Ligeia。
An hour thus elapsed when （could it be possible？） I was a second time
aware of some vague sound issuing from the region of the bed。 I
listened in extremity of horror。 The sound came again it was a
sigh。 Rushing to the corpse； I saw distinctly saw a tremor upon
the lips。 In a minute afterward they relaxed； disclosing a bright
line of the pearly teeth。 Amazement now struggled in my bosom with
the profound awe which had hitherto reigned there alone。 I felt that
my vision grew dim； that my reason wandered； and it was only by a
violent effort that I at length succeeded in nerving myself to the
task which duty thus once more had pointed out。 There was now a
partial glow upon the forehead and upon the cheek and throat； a
perceptible warmth pervaded the whole frame； there was even a slight
pulsation at the heart。 The lady lived； and with redoubled ardor I
betook myself to the task of restoration。 I chafed and bathed the
temples and the hands； and used every exertion which experience； and
no little。 medical reading； could suggest。 But in vain。 Suddenly； the
color fled； the pulsation ceased； the lips resumed the expression of
the dead； and； in an instant afterward； the whole body took upon
itself the icy chilliness； the livid hue； the intense rigidity； the
sunken outline； and all the loathsome peculiarities of that which has
been； for many days； a tenant of the tomb。
And again I sunk into visions of Ligeia and again； （what marvel
that I shudder while I write；） again there reached my ears a low sob
from the region of the ebony bed。 But why shall I minutely detail the
unspeakable horrors of that night？ Why shall I pause to relate how；
time after time； until near the period of the gray dawn； this hideous
drama of revivification was repeated； how each terrific relapse was
only into a sterner and apparently more irredeemable death； how each
agony wore the aspect of a struggle with some invisible foe； and how
each struggle was succeeded by I know not what of wild change in the
personal appearance of the corpse？ Let me hurry to a conclusion。
The greater part of the fearful night had worn away； and she who had
been dead； once again stirred and now more vigorously than
hitherto； although arousing from a dissolution more appalling in its
utter hopelessness than any。 I had long ceased to struggle or to
move； and remained sitting rigidly upon the ottoman； a helpless prey
to a whirl of violent emotions； of which extreme awe was perhaps the
least terrible； the least consuming。 The corpse； I repeat； stirred；
and now more vigorously than before。 The hues of life flushed up with
unwonted energy into the countenance the limbs relaxed and；
save that the eyelids were yet pressed heavily together； and that the
bandages and draperies of the grave still imparted their charnel
character to the figure； I might have dreamed that Rowena had indeed
shaken off； utterly； the fetters of Death。 But if this idea was not；
even then； altogether adopted； I could at least doubt no longer；
when； arising from the bed； tottering； with feeble steps； with closed
eyes； and with the manner of one bewildered in a dream； the thing
that was enshrouded advanced boldly and palpably into the middle of
the apartment。
I trembled not I stirred not for a crowd of unutterable f