the works of edgar allan poe-3-第44章

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contrary；　I　believe　that　I　am　well　made；　and　possess　what　nine　tenths
of　the　world　would　call　a　handsome　face。　In　height　I　am　five　feet
eleven。　My　hair　is　black　and　curling。　My　nose　is　sufficiently　good。
My　eyes　are　large　and　gray；　and　although；　in　fact　they　are　weak　a
very　inconvenient　degree；　still　no　defect　in　this　regard　would　be
suspected　from　their　appearance。　The　weakness　itself；　however；　has
always　much　annoyed　me；　and　I　have　resorted　to　every　remedy　　short
of　wearing　glasses。　Being　youthful　and　good…looking；　I　naturally
dislike　these；　and　have　resolutely　refused　to　employ　them。　I　know
nothing；　indeed；　which　so　disfigures　the　countenance　of　a　young
person；　or　so　impresses　every　feature　with　an　air　of　demureness；　if
not　altogether　of　sanctimoniousness　and　of　age。　An　eyeglass；　on　the
other　hand；　has　a　savor　of　downright　foppery　and　affectation。　I　have
hitherto　managed　as　well　as　I　could　without　either。　But　something　too
much　of　these　merely　personal　details；　which；　after　all；　are　of
little　importance。　I　will　content　myself　with　saying；　in　addition；
that　my　temperament　is　sanguine；　rash；　ardent；　enthusiastic　　and
that　all　my　life　I　have　been　a　devoted　admirer　of　the　women。

One　night　last　winter　I　entered　a　box　at　the　P…　　Theatre；　in
company　with　a　friend；　Mr。　Talbot。　It　was　an　opera　night；　and　the
bills　presented　a　very　rare　attraction；　so　that　the　house　was
excessively　crowded。　We　were　in　time；　however；　to　obtain　the　front
seats　which　had　been　reserved　for　us；　and　into　which；　with　some
little　difficulty；　we　elbowed　our　way。

For　two　hours　my　companion；　who　was　a　musical　fanatico；　gave　his
undivided　attention　to　the　stage；　and；　in　the　meantime；　I　amused
myself　by　observing　the　audience；　which　consisted；　in　chief　part；　of
the　very　elite　of　the　city。　Having　satisfied　myself　upon　this　point；
I　was　about　turning　my　eyes　to　the　prima　donna；　when　they　were
arrested　and　riveted　by　a　figure　in　one　of　the　private　boxes　which
had　escaped　my　observation。

If　I　live　a　thousand　years；　I　can　never　forget　the　intense　emotion
with　which　I　regarded　this　figure。　It　was　that　of　a　female；　the　most
exquisite　I　had　ever　beheld。　The　face　was　so　far　turned　toward　the
stage　that；　for　some　minutes；　I　could　not　obtain　a　view　of　it　　but
the　form　was　divine；　no　other　word　can　sufficiently　express　its
magnificent　proportion　　and　even　the　term　〃divine〃　seems
ridiculously　feeble　as　I　write　it。

The　magic　of　a　lovely　form　in　woman　　the　necromancy　of　female
gracefulness　　was　always　a　power　which　I　had　found　it　impossible　to
resist；　but　here　was　grace　personified；　incarnate；　the　beau　ideal　of
my　wildest　and　most　enthusiastic　visions。　The　figure；　almost　all　of
which　the　construction　of　the　box　permitted　to　be　seen；　was　somewhat
above　the　medium　height；　and　nearly　approached；　without　positively
reaching；　the　majestic。　Its　perfect　fullness　and　tournure　were
delicious。　The　head　of　which　only　the　back　was　visible；　rivalled　in
outline　that　of　the　Greek　Psyche；　and　was　rather　displayed　than
concealed　by　an　elegant　cap　of　gaze　aerienne；　which　put　me　in　mind　of
the　ventum　textilem　of　Apuleius。　The　right　arm　hung　over　the
balustrade　of　the　box；　and　thrilled　every　nerve　of　my　frame　with　its
exquisite　symmetry。　Its　upper　portion　was　draperied　by　one　of　the
loose　open　sleeves　now　in　fashion。　This　extended　but　little　below　the
elbow。　Beneath　it　was　worn　an　under　one　of　some　frail　material；
close…fitting；　and　terminated　by　a　cuff　of　rich　lace；　which　fell
gracefully　over　the　top　of　the　hand；　revealing　only　the　delicate
fingers；　upon　one　of　which　sparkled　a　diamond　ring；　which　I　at　once
saw　was　of　extraordinary　value。　The　admirable　roundness　of　the　wrist
was　well　set　off　by　a　bracelet　which　encircled　it；　and　which　also　was
ornamented　and　clasped　by　a　magnificent　aigrette　of　jewels…telling；
in　words　that　could　not　be　mistaken；　at　once　of　the　wealth　and
fastidious　taste　of　the　wearer。

I　gazed　at　this　queenly　apparition　for　at　least　half　an　hour；　as　if　I
had　been　suddenly　converted　to　stone；　and；　during　this　period；　I　felt
the　full　force　and　truth　of　all　that　has　been　said　or　sung　concerning
〃love　at　first　sight。〃　My　feelings　were　totally　different　from　any
which　I　had　hitherto　experienced；　in　the　presence　of　even　the　most
celebrated　specimens　of　female　loveliness。　An　unaccountable；　and　what
I　am　compelled　to　consider　a　magnetic；　sympathy　of　soul　for　soul；
seemed　to　rivet；　not　only　my　vision；　but　my　whole　powers　of　thought
and　feeling；　upon　the　admirable　object　before　me。　I　saw　　I　felt　
I　knew　that　I　was　deeply；　madly；　irrevocably　in　love　　and　this　even
before　seeing　the　face　of　the　person　beloved。　So　intense；　indeed；　was
the　passion　that　consumed　me；　that　I　really　believe　it　would　have
received　little　if　any　abatement　had　the　features；　yet　unseen；　proved
of　merely　ordinary　character；　so　anomalous　is　the　nature　of　the　only
true　love　　of　the　love　at　first　sight　　and　so　little　really
dependent　is　it　upon　the　external　conditions　which　only　seem　to
create　and　control　it。

While　I　was　thus　wrapped　in　admiration　of　this　lovely　vision；　a
sudden　disturbance　among　the　audience　caused　her　to　turn　her　head
partially　toward　me；　so　that　I　beheld　the　entire　profile　of　the　face。
Its　beauty　even　exceeded　my　anticipations　　and　yet　there　was
something　about　it　which　disappointed　me　without　my　being　able　to
tell　exactly　what　it　was。　I　said　〃disappointed；〃　but　this　is　not
altogether　the　word。　My　sentiments　were　at　once　quieted　and　exalted。
They　partook　less　of　transport　and　more　of　calm　enthusiasm　of
enthusiastic　repose。　This　state　of　feeling　arose；　perhaps；　from　the
Madonna…like　and　matronly　air　of　the　face；　and　yet　I　at　once
understood　that　it　could　not　have　arisen　entirely　from　this。　There
was　something　else…　some　mystery　which　I　could　not　develope　　some
expression　about　the　countenance　which　slightly　disturbed　me　while　it
greatly　heightened　my　interest。　In　fact；　I　was　just　in　that　condition
of　mind　which　prepares　a　young　and　susceptible　man　for　any　act　of
extravagance。　Had　the　lady　been　alone；　I　should　undoubtedly　have
entered　her　box　and　accosted　her　at　all　hazards；　but；　fortunately；
she　was　attended　by　two　companions　　a　gentleman；　and　a　strikingly
beautiful　woman；　to　all　appearance　a　few　years　younger　than　herself。

I　revolved　in　my　mind　a　thousand　schemes　by　which　I　might　obtain；
hereafter；　an　introduction　to　the　elder　lady；　or；　for　the　present；　at
all　events；　a　more　distinct　view　of　her　beauty。　I　would　have　removed
my　position　to　one　nearer　her　own；　but　the　crowded　state　of　the
theatre　rendered　this　impossible；　and　the　stern　decrees　of　Fashion
had；　of　late；　imperatively　prohibited　the　use　of　the　opera…glass　in　a
case　such　as　this；　even　had　I　been　so　fortunate　as　to　have　one　with
me　　but　I　had　not　　and　was　thus　in　despair。

At　length　I　bethought　me　of　applying　to　my　companion。

〃Talbot；〃　I　said；　〃you　have　an　opera…glass。　Let　me　have　it。〃

〃An　opera　　glass！　　no！　　what　do　you　suppose　I　would　be　doing
with　an　opera…glass？〃　Here　he　turned　impatiently　toward　the　stage。

〃But；　Talbot；〃　I　continued；　pulling　him　by　the　shoulder；　〃listen　to
me　will　you？　Do　you　see　the　stage　　box？　　there！　　no；　the　next。
　did　you　ever　behold　as　lovely　a　woman？〃

〃She　is　very　beautiful；　no　doubt；〃　he　said。

〃I　wonder　who　she　can　be？〃

〃Why；　in　the　name　of　all　that　is　angelic；　don't　you　know　who　she　is？
'Not　to　know　her　argues　yourself　unknown。'　She　is　the　celebrated
Madame　Lalande　　the　beauty　of　the　day　par　excellence；　and　the　talk
of　the　whole　town。　Immensely　wealthy　too　　a　widow；　and　a　great
match　　has　just　arrived　from　Paris。〃

〃Do　you　know　her？〃

〃Yes；　I　have　the　honor。〃

〃Will　you　introduce　me？〃

〃Assuredly；　with　the　greatest　pleasure；　when　shall　it　be？〃

〃To…morrow；　at　one；　I　will　call　upon　you　at　B's。

〃Very　good；　and　now　do　hold　your　tongue；　if　you　can。〃

In　this　latter　respect　I　was　forced　to　take　Talbot's　advice；　for　he
remained　obstinately　deaf　to　every　further　question　or　suggestion；
and　occupied　himself　exclusively　for　the　rest　of　the　evening　with
what　was　transacting　upon　the　stage。

In　the　meantime　I　kept　my　eyes　riveted　on　Madame　Lalande；　and　at
length　had　the　good　fortune　to　obtain　a　full　front　view　of　her　face。
It　was　exquisitely　lovely　　this；　of　course；　my　heart　had　told　me
before；　even　had　not　Talbot　fully　satisfied　me　upon　the　point　　but
still　the　unintelligible　something　disturbed　me。　I　finally　concluded
that　my　senses　were　impressed　by　a　certain　air　of　gravity；　sadness；
or；　still　more　properly；　of　weariness；　which　took　something　from　the
youth　and　freshness　of　the　countenance；　only　to　endow　it　with　a
seraphic　tenderness　and　majesty；　and　thus；　of　course；　to　my
enthusiastic　and　romantic　temperment；　with　an　interest　tenfold。

While　I　thus　feasted　my　eyes；　I　perceived；　at　last；　to　my　great
trepidation；　by　an　almost　imperceptible　start　on　the　part　of　the
lady；　that　she　had　become　suddenly　aware　of　the　intensity　of　my　gaze。
Still；　I　was　absolutely　fascinated；　and　could　not　withdraw　it；　even
for　an　instant。　She　turned　aside　her　face；　and　again　I　saw　only　the
chiselled　contour　of　the　back　portion　of　the　head。　After　some
minutes；　as　if　urged　by　curiosity　to　see　if　I　was　still　looking；　she
gradually　brought　her　face　again　around　and　again　encountered　my
burning　gaze。　Her　large　dark　eyes　fell　instantly；　and　a　deep　blush
mantled　her　cheek。　But　what　was　my　astonishment　at　perceiving　that
she　not　only　did　not　a　second　time　avert　her　head；　but　that　she
actually　took　from　her　girdle　a　double　eyeglass　　elevated　it　
adjusted　it　　and　then　regarded　me　through　it；　intently　and
deliberately；　for　the　space　of　several　minutes。

Had　a　thunderbolt　fallen　at　my　feet　I　could　not　have　been　more
thoroughly　astounded　　astounded　only　　not　offended　or　disgusted
in　the　slightest　degree；　although　an　action　so　bold　in　any　other
woman　would　have　been　likely　to　offend　or　disgust。　But　the　whole
thing　was　done　with　so　much　quietude　　so　much　nonchalance　　so
much　repose…　with　so　evident　an　air　of　the　highest　breeding；　in　short
　that　nothing　of　mere　effrontery　was　perceptible；　and　my　sole
sentiments　were　those　of　admiration　and　surprise。

I　observed　that；　upon　her　first　elevation　of　the　glass；　she　had
seemed　satisfied　with　a　momentary　inspection　of　my　person；　and　was
withdrawing　the　instrument；　when；　as　if　struck　by　a　second　thought；
she　resumed　it；　and　so　continued　to　regard　me　with　fixed　attention
for　the　space　of　several　minutes　　for　five　minutes；　at　the　very
least；　I　am　sure。

This　action；　so　remarkable　in　an　American　theatre；　attracted　very
general　observation；　and　gave　rise　to　an　indefinite　movement；　or
buzz；　among　the　audience；　which　for　a　moment　filled　me　with
confusion；　but　produced　no　visible　effect　upon　the　countenance　of
Madame　Lalande。

Having　satisfied　her　curiosity　　if　such　it　was　　she　dropped　the
glass；　and　quietly　gave　her　attention　again　to　the　stage；　her　profile
now　being　turned　toward　myself；　as　before。　I　continued　to　watch　her
unremittingly；　although　I　was　fully　conscious　of　my　rudeness　in　so
doing。　Presently　I　saw　the　head　slowly　and　slightly　change　its
position；　and　soon　I　became　convinced　that　the　lady；　while　pretending
to　look　a