“A mind not to be chang’d by place or time.
The mind is its own place, and in itself
Can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.”
* * * * * * * * * *
A thick mist of delirium seemed to gather in the darkness, and nameless Horrors danced around and leered at him.
“Oh, for sleep! Come, oh, come, oblivion, and blot me out! Why was I ever born? Have I a demon within me? Am I myself or It? No! Away! I dare and defy thee! O God of Israel! I serve thee, and nothing shall shake me!”
Finally, from sheer exhaustion, and in a cold sweat, he fell into a troubled sleep. But phantoms in kaleidoscopic array peopled his dreams. At length three loud raps at the door aroused him, and froze the blood in his veins. There It stood!
“O heaven! mercy! There! there! It points its [pg 225]bony finger at me! Guilty? No! no! I am righteous—righteous!”
He leaped from his couch, and ran to his comrade and shook him.
“Look! look! dost thou not see It?”