It had been long known that the air which encircled
us was a compound of oxygen and nitrogen gases, in
the proportion of twenty-one measures of oxygen,
and seventy-nine of nitrogen in every one hundred
of the atmosphere. Oxygen, which was the principle
of combustion, and the vehicle of heat, was absolutely
necessary to the support of animal life, and was the
most powerful and energetic agent in nature.
Nitrogen, on the contrary, was incapable of supporting
either animal life or flame. An unnatural excess
of oxygen would result, it had been ascertained in
just such an elevation of the animal spirits as we
had latterly experienced. It was the pursuit,
the extension of the idea, which had engendered awe.
What would be the result of a total extraction of
the nitrogen? A combustion irresistible, all-devouring,
omni-prevalent, immediate; — the entire fulfilment,
in all their minute and terrible details, of the fiery
and horror-inspiring denunciations of the prophecies
of the Holy Book.
Why need I paint, Charmion, the now disenchained
frenzy of mankind? That tenuity in the comet
which had previously inspired us with hope, was now
the source of the bitterness of despair. In its
impalpable gaseous character we clearly perceived the
consummation of Fate. Meantime a day again passed
— bearing away with it the last shadow of Hope.
We gasped in the rapid modification of the air.
The red blood bounded tumultuously through its strict
channels. A furious delirium possessed all men;
and, with arms rigidly outstretched towards the threatening
heavens, they trembled and shrieked aloud. But
the nucleus of the destroyer was now upon us; —
even here in Aidenn, I shudder while I speak.
Let me be brief — brief as the ruin that overwhelmed.
For a moment there was a wild lurid light alone, visiting
and penetrating all things. Then — let us
bow down Charmion, before the excessive majesty of
the great God! — then, there came a shouting
and pervading sound, as if from the mouth itself of
HIM; while the whole incumbent mass of ether in which
we existed, burst at once into a species of intense
flame, for whose surpassing brilliancy and all-fervid
heat even the angels in the high Heaven of pure knowledge
have no name. Thus ended all.
~~~ End of Text ~~~
======
SHADOW — A PARABLE
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the Shadow:
—Psalm of David.
YE who read are still among the living; but I who
write shall have long since gone my way into the region
of shadows. For indeed strange things shall happen,
and secret things be known, and many centuries shall
pass away, ere these memorials be seen of men.
And, when seen, there will be some to disbelieve,
and some to doubt, and yet a few who will find much
to ponder upon in the characters here graven with
a stylus of iron.
Copyrights
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe — Volume 4 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.
