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小说: the masque of the red death 字数: 每页4000字

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And thus too; it happened; perhaps; that before the last echoes of

the last chime had utterly sunk into silence; there were many

individuals in the crowd who had found leisure to become aware of

the presence of a masked figure which had arrested the  

attention of no single individual before。  And the rumour of this

new presence having spread itself whisperingly around; there arose

at length from the whole company a buzz; or murmur; expressive of

disapprobation and surprisethen; finally; of terror; of horror;

and of disgust。



In an assembly of phantasms such as I have painted; it may

well be supposed that no ordinary appearance could have excited

such sensation。  In truth the masquerade licence of the night was

nearly unlimited; but the figure in question had out…Heroded Herod;

and gone beyond the bounds of even the prince's indefinite decorum。 

There are chords in the hearts of the most reckless which cannot be

touched without emotion。  Even with the utterly lost; to whom life

and death are equally jests; there are matters of which no jest can

be made。  The whole company; indeed; seemed now deeply to feel that

in the costume and bearing of the stranger neither wit nor

propriety existed。  The figure was tall and gaunt; and shrouded

from head to foot in the habiliments of the grave。  The mask which

concealed the visage was made so nearly to resemble the countenance

of a stiffened corpse that the closest scrutiny must have had

difficulty in detecting the cheat。  And yet all this might have

been endured; if not approved; by the mad revellers around。  But

the mummer had gone so far as to assume the type of the Red Death。 

His vesture was dabbled in  bloodand his broad brow; with all

the features of the face; was besprinkled with the scarlet horror。



When the eyes of the Prince Prospero fell upon this spectral

image (which; with a slow and solemn movement; as if more fully to

sustain its  role; stalked to and fro among the waltzers) he was

seen to be convulsed; in the first moment with a strong shudder

either of terror or distaste; but; in the next; his brow reddened

with rage。



〃Who dares;〃he demanded hoarsely of the courtiers who stood

near him〃who dares insult us with this blasphemous mockery? 

Seize him and unmask himthat we may know whom we have to hang; at

sunrise; from the battlements!〃



It was in the eastern or blue chamber in which stood the

Prince Prospero as he uttered these words。  They rang throughout

the seven rooms loudly and clearly; for the prince was a bold and

robust man; and the music had become hushed at the waving of his

hand。



It was in the blue room where stood the prince; with a group

of  pale courtiers by his side。  At first; as he spoke;

there was a slight rushing movement of this group in the direction

of the intruder; who at the moment was also near at hand; and now;

with deliberate and stately step; made closer approach to the

speaker。  But from a certain nameless awe with which the mad

assumptions of the mummer had inspired the whole party; there were

found none who put forth hand to seize him; so that; unimpeded; he

passed within a yard of the prince's person; and; while the vast

assembly; as if with one impulse; shrank from the centres of the

rooms to the walls; he made his way uninterruptedly; but with the

same solemn and measured step which had distinguished him from the

first; through the blue chamber to the purplethrough the purple

to the greenthrough the green to the orangethrough this again

to the whiteand even thence to the violet; ere a decided movement

had been made to arrest him。  It was then; however; that the Prince

Prospero; maddening with rage and the shame of his own momentary

cowardice; rushed hurriedly through the six chambers; while none

followed him on account of a deadly terror that had seized upon

all。  He bore aloft a drawn dagger; and had approached; in rapid

impetuosity; to within three or four feet of the retreating figure;

when the latter; having attained the extremity of the velvet

apartment; turned suddenly and confronted his pursuer。  There was

a sharp cryand the dagger dropped gleaming upon the sable carpet;

upon which; instantly afterwards; fell prostrate in death the

Prince Prospero。  Then; summoning the wild courage of despair; a

throng of the revellers at once threw themselves into the black

apartment; and; seizing the mummer; whose tall figure stood erect

and motionless within the shadow of the ebony clock; gasped in

unutterable horror at finding the grave cerements and corpse…like

mask; which they handled with so violent a rudeness; untenanted by

any tangible form。



And now was acknowledged the presence of the Red Death。  He

had come like a thief in the night。  And one by one dropped the

revellers in the blood…bedewed halls of their revel; and died each

in the despairing posture of his fall。  And the life of the ebony

clock went out with that of the last of the gay。  And the flames of

the tripods expired。  And Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held

illimitable dominion over all。









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