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the works of edgar allan poe-3-第51部分
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consideration of a liberal annual allowance; had consented to devote
his time and medical experience exclusively to the care of the
invalid。
Doctor Templeton had been a traveller in his younger days; and at
Paris had become a convert; in great measure; to the doctrines of
Mesmer。 It was altogether by means of magnetic remedies that he had
succeeded in alleviating the acute pains of his patient; and this
success had very naturally inspired the latter with a certain degree
of confidence in the opinions from which the remedies had been
educed。 The Doctor; however; like all enthusiasts; had struggled hard
to make a thorough convert of his pupil; and finally so far gained
his point as to induce the sufferer to submit to numerous
experiments。 By a frequent repetition of these; a result had arisen;
which of late days has become so common as to attract little or no
attention; but which; at the period of which I write; had very rarely
been known in America。 I mean to say; that between Doctor Templeton
and Bedloe there had grown up; little by little; a very distinct and
strongly marked rapport; or magnetic relation。 I am not prepared to
assert; however; that this rapport extended beyond the limits of the
simple sleep…producing power; but this power itself had attained
great intensity。 At the first attempt to induce the magnetic
somnolency; the mesmerist entirely failed。 In the fifth or sixth he
succeeded very partially; and after long continued effort。 Only at
the twelfth was the triumph complete。 After this the will of the
patient succumbed rapidly to that of the physician; so that; when I
first became acquainted with the two; sleep was brought about almost
instantaneously by the mere volition of the operator; even when the
invalid was unaware of his presence。 It is only now; in the year
1845; when similar miracles are witnessed daily by thousands; that I
dare venture to record this apparent impossibility as a matter of
serious fact。
The temperature of Bedloe was; in the highest degree sensitive;
excitable; enthusiastic。 His imagination was singularly vigorous and
creative; and no doubt it derived additional force from the habitual
use of morphine; which he swallowed in great quantity; and without
which he would have found it impossible to exist。 It was his practice
to take a very large dose of it immediately after breakfast each
morning or; rather; immediately after a cup of strong coffee; for
he ate nothing in the forenoon and then set forth alone; or
attended only by a dog; upon a long ramble among the chain of wild
and dreary hills that lie westward and southward of Charlottesville;
and are there dignified by the title of the Ragged Mountains。
Upon a dim; warm; misty day; toward the close of November; and during
the strange interregnum of the seasons which in America is termed the
Indian Summer; Mr。 Bedloe departed as usual for the hills。 The day
passed; and still he did not return。
About eight o'clock at night; having become seriously alarmed at his
protracted absence; we were about setting out in search of him; when
he unexpectedly made his appearance; in health no worse than usual;
and in rather more than ordinary spirits。 The account which he gave
of his expedition; and of the events which had detained him; was a
singular one indeed。
〃You will remember;〃 said he; 〃that it was about nine in the morning
when I left Charlottesville。 I bent my steps immediately to the
mountains; and; about ten; entered a gorge which was entirely new to
me。 I followed the windings of this pass with much interest。 The
scenery which presented itself on all sides; although scarcely
entitled to be called grand; had about it an indescribable and to me
a delicious aspect of dreary desolation。 The solitude seemed
absolutely virgin。 I could not help believing that the green sods and
the gray rocks upon which I trod had been trodden never before by the
foot of a human being。 So entirely secluded; and in fact
inaccessible; except through a series of accidents; is the entrance
of the ravine; that it is by no means impossible that I was indeed
the first adventurer the very first and sole adventurer who had
ever penetrated its recesses。
〃The thick and peculiar mist; or smoke; which distinguishes the
Indian Summer; and which now hung heavily over all objects; served;
no doubt; to deepen the vague impressions which these objects
created。 So dense was this pleasant fog that I could at no time see
more than a dozen yards of the path before me。 This path was
excessively sinuous; and as the sun could not be seen; I soon lost
all idea of the direction in which I journeyed。 In the meantime the
morphine had its customary effect that of enduing all the external
world with an intensity of interest。 In the quivering of a leaf in
the hue of a blade of grass in the shape of a trefoil in the
humming of a bee in the gleaming of a dew…drop in the breathing
of the wind in the faint odors that came from the forest there
came a whole universe of suggestion a gay and motley train of
rhapsodical and immethodical thought。
〃Busied in this; I walked on for several hours; during which the mist
deepened around me to so great an extent that at length I was reduced
to an absolute groping of the way。 And now an indescribable
uneasiness possessed me a species of nervous hesitation and
tremor。 I feared to tread; lest I should be precipitated into some
abyss。 I remembered; too; strange stories told about these Ragged
Hills; and of the uncouth and fierce races of men who tenanted their
groves and caverns。 A thousand vague fancies oppressed and
disconcerted me… fancies the more distressing because vague。 Very
suddenly my attention was arrested by the loud beating of a drum。
〃My amazement was; of course; extreme。 A drum in these hills was a
thing unknown。 I could not have been more surprised at the sound of
the trump of the Archangel。 But a new and still more astounding
source of interest and perplexity arose。 There came a wild rattling
or jingling sound; as if of a bunch of large keys; and upon the
instant a dusky…visaged and half…naked man rushed past me with a
shriek。 He came so close to my person that I felt his hot breath upon
my face。 He bore in one hand an instrument composed of an assemblage
of steel rings; and shook them vigorously as he ran。 Scarcely had he
disappeared in the mist before; panting after him; with open mouth
and glaring eyes; there darted a huge beast。 I could not be mistaken
in its character。 It was a hyena。
〃The sight of this monster rather relieved than heightened my terrors
for I now made sure that I dreamed; and endeavored to arouse
myself to waking consciousness。 I stepped boldly and briskly forward。
I rubbed my eyes。 I called aloud。 I pinched my limbs。 A small spring
of water presented itself to my view; and here; stooping; I bathed my
hands and my head and neck。 This seemed to dissipate the equivocal
sensations which had hitherto annoyed me。 I arose; as I thought; a
new man; and proceeded steadily and complacently on my unknown way。
〃At length; quite overcome by exertion; and by a certain oppressive
closeness of the atmosphere; I seated myself beneath a tree。
Presently there came a feeble gleam of sunshine; and the shadow of
the leaves of the tree fell faintly but definitely upon the grass。 At
this shadow I gazed wonderingly for many minutes。 Its character
stupefied me with astonishment。 I looked upward。 The tree was a palm。
〃I now arose hurriedly; and in a state of fearful agitation for
the fancy that I dreamed would serve me no longer。 I saw I felt
that I had perfect command of my senses and these senses now
brought to my soul a world of novel and singular sensation。 The heat
became all at once intolerable。 A strange odor loaded the breeze。 A
low; continuous murmur; like that arising from a full; but gently
flowing river; came to my ears; intermingled with the peculiar hum of
multitudinous human voices。
〃While I listened in an extremity of astonishment which I need not
attempt to describe; a strong and brief gust of wind bore off the
incumbent fog as if by the wand of an enchanter。
〃I found myself at the foot of a high mountain; and looking down into
a vast plain; through which wound a majestic river。 On the margin of
this river stood an Eastern…looking city; such as we read of in the
Arabian Tales; but of a character even more singular than any there
described。 From my position; which was far above the level of the
town; I could perceive its every nook and corner; as if delineated on
a map。 The streets seemed innumerable; and crossed each other
irregularly in all directions; but were rather long winding alleys
than streets; and absolutely swarmed with inhabitants。 The houses
were wildly picturesque。 On every hand was a wilderness of balconies;
of verandas; of minarets; of shrines; and fantastically carved
oriels。 Bazaars abounded; and in these were displayed rich wares in
infinite variety and profusion silks; muslins; the most dazzling
cutlery; the most magnificent jewels and gems。 Besides these things;
were seen; on all sides; banners and palanquins; litters with stately
dames close veiled;
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