remained，untilthecrisisofthediseaserestoredme，suddenly，toperfectsensation。AtothertimesIwasquicklyandimpetuouslysmitten。Igrewsick，andnumb，andchilly，anddizzy，andsofellprostrateatonce。Then，forweeks，allwasvoid，andblack，andsilent，andNothingbecametheuniverse。Totalannihilationcouldbenomore。FromtheselatterattacksIawoke，however，withagradationslowinproportiontothesuddennessoftheseizure。JustasthedaydawnstothefriendlessandhouselessbeggarwhoroamsthestreetsthroughoutthelongdesolatewinternightjustsotardilyjustsowearilyjustsocheerilycamebackthelightoftheSoultome。
Apartfromthetendencytotrance，however，mygeneralhealthappearedtobegood；norcouldIperceivethatitwasatallaffectedbytheoneprevalentmaladyunless，indeed，anidiosyncrasyinmyordinarysleepmaybelookeduponassuperinduced。Uponawakingfromslumber，Icouldnevergain，atonce，thoroughpossessionofmysenses，andalwaysremained，formanyminutes，inmuchbewildermentandperplexity；thementalfacultiesingeneral，butthememoryinespecial，beinginaconditionofabsoluteabeyance。
InallthatIenduredtherewasnophysicalsufferingbutofmoraldistressaninfinitude。Myfancygrewcharnel，Italked“ofworms，oftombs，andepitaphs。”Iwaslostinreveriesofdeath，andtheideaofprematureburialheldcontinualpossessionofmybrain。TheghastlyDangertowhichIwassubjectedhauntedmedayandnight。Intheformer，thetortureofmeditationwasexcessiveinthelatter，supreme。WhenthegrimDarknessoverspreadtheEarth，then，witheveryhorrorofthought，Ishookshookasthequiveringplumesuponthehearse。WhenNaturecouldendurewakefulnessnolonger，itwaswithastrugglethatIconsentedtosleepforIshudderedtoreflectthat，uponawaking，Imightfindmyselfthetenantofagrave。Andwhen，finally，Isankintoslumber，itwasonlytorushatonceintoaworldofphantasms，abovewhich，withvast，sable，overshadowingwing，hovered，predominant，theonesepulchralIdea。
Fromtheinnumerableimagesofgloomwhichthusoppressedmeindreams，Iselectforrecordbutasolitaryvision。MethoughtIwasimmersedinacataleptictranceofmorethanusualdurationandprofundity。Suddenlytherecameanicyhanduponmyforehead，andanimpatient，gibberingvoicewhisperedtheword“Arise！”withinmyear。
Isaterect。Thedarknesswastotal。Icouldnotseethefigureofhimwhohadarousedme。IcouldcalltomindneithertheperiodatwhichIhadfallenintothetrance，northelocalityinwhichIthenlay。WhileIremainedmotionless，andbusiedinendeavorstocollectmythought，thecoldhandgraspedmefiercelybythewrist，shakingitpetulantly，whilethegibberingvoicesaidagain：