Inhaltsverzeichnis

1. TITELBLATT

2. IMPRESSUM

3. THE CASK OF AMONTILLADO

4. THE CASK OF AMONTILLADO (ENGLISCH)

Edgar Allan Poe
The Cask of Amontillado / Das Faß Amontillado
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THE thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge.

Alle die tausend kränkenden Reden Fortunatos ertrug ich, so gut ich konnte, als er aber Beleidigungen und Beschimpfungen wagte, schwor ich ihm Rache.

You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that I gave utterance to a threat.

Ihr werdet doch nicht annehmen – ihr, die ihr so gut das Wesen meiner Seele kennt –, daß ich eine Drohung laut werden ließ.

At length I would be avenged; this was a point definitely settled

Einmal würde ich gerächt sein, das stand fest.

— but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved, precluded the idea of risk. I must not only punish, but punish with impunity.

Aber die Bestimmtheit, mit der ich meinen Entschluß faßte, verbot mir alles, was mein Vorhaben gefährden konnte. Ich wollte nicht nur strafen, sondern ungestraft strafen.

A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser.

Ein Unrecht ist nicht bestraft, wenn den Rächer Vergeltung trifft für seine Rachetat;

It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong.

es ist auch nicht bestraft, wenn es dem Rächer nicht gelingt, sich als solcher seinem Opfer zu zeigen.

It must be understood that neither by word nor deed had I given Fortunato cause to doubt my good will.

Es muß vorausgeschickt werden, daß ich Fortunato weder mit Wort noch Tat Grund gegeben, meine gute Gesinnung anzuzweifeln.

I continued, as was my wont, to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my smile now was at the thought of his immolation.

Ich war weiter liebenswürdig zu ihm, und er gewahrte nicht, daß mein Lächeln jetzt dem Gedanken seiner Vernichtung galt.

He had a weak point — this Fortunato — although in other regards he was a man to be respected and even feared.

Er hatte eine Schwäche, dieser Fortunato – obschon er in anderer Hinsicht ein geachteter und sogar gefürchteter Mann war.

He prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine. Few Italians have the true virtuoso spirit.

Er brüstete sich damit, daß er ein Weinkenner sei. Nur wenige Italiener besitzen den wahren Kunstverstand.

For the most part their enthusiasm is adopted to suit the time and opportunity — to practise imposture upon the British and Austrian millionaires.

Sie begeistern sich meist nur für eine einzige Sache: für betrügerische Manipulationen gegenüber britischen und österreichischen Millionären.

In painting and gemmary, Fortunato, like his countrymen, was a quack — but in the matter of old wines he was sincere.

In der Beurteilung von Bildern und Edelsteinen war Fortunato, gleich seinen Landsleuten, ein unwissender Prahlhans, in bezug auf alte Weine aber hatte er ein ehrliches und sicheres Urteil.

In this respect I did not differ from him materially: I was skillful in the Italian vintages myself, and bought largely whenever I could.

Hierin stand ich selbst ihm kaum nach; ich kannte die italienischen Weine gut und kaufte viel, sooft sich mir günstige Gelegenheit bot.

It was about dusk, one evening during the supreme madness of the carnival season, that I encountered my friend.

Es war in der tollen Karnevalszeit, als ich an einem dämmerigen Abend meinem Freunde begegnete.

He accosted me with excessive warmth, for he had been drinking much. The man wore motley.

Er begrüßte mich mit übertriebener Wärme, denn er hatte viel getrunken. Der Mann war maskiert.

He had on a tight-fitting parti-striped dress, and his head was surmounted by the conical cap and bells.

Er trug ein enganliegendes, zur Hälfte gestreiftes Gewand, und auf seinem Kopfe erhob sich die konisch geformte Narrenkappe.

I was so pleased to see him, that I thought I should never have done wringing his hand.

Ich freute mich so sehr, ihn zu sehen, daß ich gar kein Ende finden konnte, ihm die Hand zu schütteln.

I said to him — “My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met.

Ich sagte zu ihm: »Mein lieber Fortunato, es freut mich, dich zu treffen.

How remarkably well you are looking to-day! But I have received a pipe of what passes for Amontillado, and I have my doubts.”

Wie prächtig du heute aussiehst – außerordentlich wohl! Doch höre: ich habe ein Faß Wein bekommen, das für Amontillado gilt, und ich habe meine Zweifel.«

“How?” said he. “Amontillado? A pipe? Impossible! And in the middle of the carnival!”

»Wie?« sagte er, »Amontillado? Ein Faß? Unmöglich! Und mitten im Karneval?«

“I have my doubts,” I replied; “and I was silly enough to pay the full Amontillado price without consulting you in the matter.

»Ich habe meine Zweifel«, erwiderte ich. »Und ich war töricht genug, den vollen Amontillado-Preis zu zahlen, ohne dich erst zu Rate zu ziehen.

You were not to be found, and I was fearful of losing a bargain.”

Du warst nicht zu finden, und ich fürchtete, durch eine Verzögerung den ganzen Handel zu verlieren.«

“Amontillado!”

“I have my doubts.”

»Ich habe meine Zweifel.«

“Amontillado!”

“And I must satisfy them.”

»Und ich muß sie zum Schweigen bringen.«

“Amontillado!”

“As you are engaged, I am on my way to Luchesi. If any one has a critical turn, it is he. He will tell me —”

»Da du beschäftigt bist, werde ich Luchesi aufsuchen. Wenn einer ein kritisches Urteil hat, ist er es. Er wird mir sagen –«

“Luchesi cannot tell Amontillado from Sherry.”

»Luchesi kann Amontillado nicht von Sherry unterscheiden!«

“And yet some fools will have it that his taste is a match for your own.”

»Und doch behaupten so ein paar Narren, daß sein Weinverstand dem deinigen gleichkomme.«

“Come, let us go.”

»Komm, laß uns gehen.«

“Whither?”

»Wohin?«

“To your vaults.”

»In deine Kellereien.«

“My friend, no; I will not impose upon your good nature. I perceive you have an engagement. Luchesi —”

»Nein, mein Freund; ich will nicht deine Gutmütigkeit ausnützen. Ich sehe, du bist beschäftigt. Luchesi –«

“I have no engagement; — come.”

»Ich bin nicht beschäftigt, komm!«

“My friend, no. It is not the engagement, but the severe cold with which I perceive you are afflicted.

»Lieber Freund, nein! Es ist ja nicht nur das, daß du etwas anderes vorhattest; du bist ernstlich erkältet.

The vaults are insufferably damp. They are encrusted with nitre.”

Die Kellergewölbe sind unerträglich feucht. Sie haben eine Salpeterkruste angesetzt.«

“Let us go, nevertheless. The cold is merely nothing.

»Laß uns trotzdem gehen! Die Erkältung ist nicht der Rede wert.

Amontillado! You have been imposed upon. And as for Luchesi, he cannot distinguish Sherry from Amontillado.”

Amontillado! Man hat dich betrogen; und Luchesi – der kann Sherry von Amontillado nicht unterscheiden.«

Thus speaking, Fortunato possessed himself of my arm.

Mit diesen Worten zog Fortunato mich fort.

Putting on a mask of black silk, and drawing a roquelaire closely about my person, I suffered him to hurry me to my palazzo.

Ich nahm eine schwarze Seidenmaske vors Gesicht, hüllte mich dicht in meinen Mantel und duldete, daß er mich eilends zu meinem Palazzo geleitete.

There were no attendants at home; they had absconded to make merry in honour of the time.

Die Dienerschaft war nicht zu Hause; der Karneval hatte sie hinausgelockt.

I had told them that I should not return until the morning, and had given them explicit orders not to stir from the house.

Ich hatte den Leuten gesagt, daß ich nicht vor dem nächsten Morgen heimkommen würde, und ihnen streng verboten, sich aus dem Hause zu rühren.

These orders were sufficient, I well knew, to insure their immediate disappearance, one and all, as soon as my back was turned.

Ich wußte, daß dies genügte, damit alle zusammen, sobald ich ihnen den Rücken wandte, davonliefen.

I took from their sconces two flambeaux, and giving one to Fortunato,

Ich nahm aus den Ringen an der Wand zwei Fackeln, gab Fortunato eine davon

bowed him through several suites of rooms to the archway that led into the vaults.

und komplimentierte ihn durch mehrere Zimmerreihen in den Bogengang, der zu den Gewölben führte.

I passed down a long and winding staircase, requesting him to be cautious as he followed.

Ich schritt eine lange gewundene Treppe hinab und bat ihn, mir vorsichtig zu folgen.

We came at length to the foot of the descent, and stood together on the damp ground of the catacombs of the Montresors.

Endlich kamen wir unten an und standen zusammen in der feuchten Tiefe der Katakomben der Montresors.

The gait of my friend was unsteady, and the bells upon his cap jingled as he strode.

Der Gang meines Freundes war unsicher, und die Schellen an seiner Kappe klingelten bei jedem Schritt.

“The pipe,” said he.

»Das Faß!« sagte er.

“It is farther on,” said I; “but observe the white web-work which gleams from these cavern walls.”

»Das ist weiter hinten«, antwortete ich. »Siehst du das weiße Gewebe, das da ringsum von den Kellermauern leuchtet?«

He turned towards me, and looked into my eyes with two filmy orbs that distilled the rheum of intoxication.

Er wandte sich mir zu und sah mir in die Augen. Seine Blicke waren feucht von Schnupfen und Trunkenheit.

“Nitre?” he asked, at length.

»Salpeter?« fragte er schließlich.

“Nitre,” I replied. “How long have you had that cough?”

»Salpeter«, erwiderte ich. »Wie lange hast du schon diesen Husten?«

“Ugh! ugh! ugh! — ugh! ugh! ugh! — ugh! ugh! ugh! — ugh! ugh! ugh! — ugh! ugh! ugh!”

Er hustete, hustete, hustete.

My poor friend found it impossible to reply for many minutes.

Mein armer Freund konnte minutenlang keine Antwort geben.

“It is nothing,” he said, at last.

»Es ist nichts«, erwiderte er dann.

“Come,” I said, with decision, “we will go back; your health is precious.

»Komm«, sagte ich sehr bestimmt, »wir wollen umkehren; deine Gesundheit ist kostbar.

You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy, as once I was. You are a man to be missed.

Du bist reich, geachtet, bewundert, geliebt; du bist glücklich, wie ich einst war. Du würdest eine Lücke hinterlassen.

For me it is no matter. We will go back; you will be ill, and I cannot be responsible. Besides, there is Luchesi —”

Um mich ist es nicht schade. Wir wollen umkehren! Du wirst krank werden, und ich kann das nicht verantworten. Übrigens kann ja Luchesi –«

“Enough,” he said; “the cough is a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough.”

»Genug!« sagte er. »Der Husten ist ganz belanglos; er wird mich nicht umbringen. Ich werde nicht daran zugrunde gehen.«

“True — true,” I replied; “and, indeed, I had no intention of alarming you unnecessarily — but you should use all proper caution.

»Wahr – wahr«, erwiderte ich. »Wirklich, ich hatte nicht die Absicht, dich unnötig zu beunruhigen – aber du solltest die Vorsicht nicht außer acht lassen.

A draught of this Medoc will defend us from the damps.”

Ein Schluck Médoc wird uns vor der Einwirkung der Dünste schützen.«

Here I knocked off the neck of a bottle which I drew from a long row of its fellows that lay upon the mould.

Bei diesen Worten zog ich aus einer langen Flaschenreihe, die längs der Mauer auf der Erde lag, eine Flasche hervor und schlug ihr den Hals ab.

“Drink,” I said, presenting him the wine.

»Trink«, sagte ich und bot ihm den Wein.

He raised it to his lips with a leer. He paused and nodded to me familiarly, while his bells jingled.

Er setzte ihn an die Lippen. Er hielt inne und nickte mir vertraulich zu; seine Glöckchen klingelten.

“I drink,” he said, “to the buried that repose around us.”

»Ich trinke«, sagte er, »auf die Toten, die hier unten ruhen.«

“And I to your long life.”

»Und ich auf dein langes Leben!«

He again took my arm, and we proceeded.

Er nahm von neuem meinen Arm, und wir gingen weiter.

“These vaults,” he said, “are extensive.”

»Diese Gewölbe«, sagte er, »sind weitläufig.«

“The Montresors,” I replied, “were a great and numerous family.”

»Die Montresors«, erwiderte ich, »waren eine große und zahlreiche Familie.«

“I forget your arms.”

»Ich vergaß dein Wappenzeichen.«

“A huge human foot d’or, in a field azure; the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are imbedded in the heel.”

»Ein riesiger goldener Fuß in blauem Felde; der Fuß zertritt eine sich bäumende Schlange, deren Zähne ihm in der Ferse sitzen.«

“And the motto?”

»Und das Motto?«

“Nemo me impune lacessit.”

“Good!” he said.

»Gut!« sagte er.

The wine sparkled in his eyes and the bells jingled. My own fancy grew warm with the Medoc.

Der Wein flackerte aus seinen Augen, und die Glöckchen klingelten. Auch mir stieg der Médoc zu Kopfe.

We had passed through walls of piled bones, with casks and puncheons intermingling, into the inmost recesses of catacombs.

Wir waren an einer ganzen Reihe aufgestapelter Skelette und Fässer vorbei bis in den entferntesten Teil der Katakomben gelangt.

I paused again, and this time I made bold to seize Fortunato by an arm above the elbow.

Ich blieb wieder stehen, und diesmal wagte ich es, Fortunato am Arm zu rütteln.

“The nitre!” I said; “see, it increases. It hangs like moss upon the vaults. We are below the river’s bed.

»Der Salpeter!« sagte ich. »Sieh, wie es immer mehr wird. Er hängt an den Wölbungen wie Moos. Wir sind unter dem Flußbett.

The drops of moisture trickle among the bones. Come, we will go back ere it is too late. Your cough —”

Die Nässe tropft durch die Skelette. Komm, wir wollen umkehren, ehe es zu spät ist. Dein Husten –«

“It is nothing,” he said; “let us go on. But first, another draught of the Medoc.”

»Nicht der Rede wert«, sagte er; »laß uns weitergehen. Vorher aber … noch einen Schluck Médoc.«

I broke and reached him a flagon of De Grave. He emptied it at a breath. His eyes flashed with a fierce light.

Ich schlug einer Flasche de Grave den Hals ab und reichte sie ihm. Er leerte sie mit einem Zug. In seinen Augen flackerte ein wildes Licht.

He laughed and threw the bottle upwards with a gesticulation I did not understand.

Er lachte und warf die Flasche mit einer seltsamen Bewegung zur Decke – eine Geste, die ich nicht verstand.

I looked at him in surprise. He repeated the movement — a grotesque one.

Ich sah ihn verwundert an. Er wiederholte die absonderliche Geste.

“You do not comprehend?” he said.

»Du verstehst nicht?« fragte er.

“Not I,” I replied.

»Nicht im geringsten«, antwortete ich.

“Then you are not of the brotherhood.”

»Du gehörst nicht zur Bruderschaft!«

“How?”

»Wie?«

“You are not of the masons.”

»Du bist kein Maurer.«

“Yes, yes,” I said; “yes, yes.”

»Ja, ja«, sagte ich. »Jawohl, ja.«

“You? Impossible! A mason?”

»Du? Unmöglich! Ein Maurer?«

“A mason,” I replied.

»Ein Maurer«, antwortete ich.

“A sign,” he said, “a sign.”

»Ein Zeichen!« sagte er.

“It is this,” I answered, producing a trowel from beneath the folds of my roquelaire.

»Hier ist es«, erwiderte ich, aus den Falten meines Überwurfs eine Maurerkelle hervorziehend.

“You jest,” he exclaimed, recoiling a few paces. “But let us proceed to the Amontillado.”

»Du spaßest«, rief er aus und wich vor mir zurück. »Aber komm weiter zum Amontillado!«

“Be it so,” I said, replacing the tool beneath the cloak and again offering him my arm.

»Gut also«, sagte ich, nahm die Kelle wieder unten den Mantel und bot ihm den Arm.

He leaned upon it heavily. We continued our route in search of the Amontillado.

Er lehnte sich schwer darauf. Wir setzten unseren Weg fort.

We passed through a range of low arches, descended, passed on, and descending again, arrived at a deep crypt,

Wir gingen durch mehrere niedere Bogengänge, gingen hinab, hinauf und wieder hinab, und betraten nun eine tiefe Gruft,

in which the foulness of the air caused our flambeaux rather to glow than flame.

wo die Luft so modrig war, daß unsere Fackeln nicht mehr flammten, sondern nur noch schwelten.

At the most remote end of the crypt there appeared another less spacious.

Am entlegensten Ende der Gruft kam eine andere, kleinere zum Vorschein.

Its walls had been lined with human remains, piled to the vault overhead, in the fashion of the great catacombs of Paris.

An ihren Wänden waren bis zur Decke hinauf Menschenknochen aufgestapelt gewesen, ähnlich wie in den großen Katakomben von Paris.

Three sides of this interior crypt were still ornamented in this manner.

Drei Seiten dieser innersten Gruftkammer waren noch jetzt so geschmückt.

From the fourth side the bones had been thrown down, and lay promiscuously upon the earth, forming at one point a mound of some size.

Von der vierten waren die Knochen weggeräumt; sie lagen auf dem Boden herum und waren an einer Stelle zu einem Haufen aufgetürmt.

Within the wall thus exposed by the displacing of the bones, we perceived a still interior recess,

Inmitten der so bloßgelegten Mauer bemerkten wir noch eine letzte Höhlung.

in depth about four feet in width three, in height six or seven.

Sie war etwa vier Fuß tief, drei Fuß breit und sechs bis sieben Fuß hoch.

It seemed to have been constructed for no especial use within itself,

Sie schien nicht zu irgendeinem besonderen Zwecke gemacht worden zu sein,

but formed merely the interval between two of the colossal supports of the roof of the catacombs,

sondern bildete lediglich den Zwischenraum zwischen drei der mächtigen Stützpfeiler, die die Deckenwölbung der Katakomben trugen;

and was backed by one of their circumscribing walls of solid granite.

ihre Rückwand wurde von einer der massiven Granitmauern gebildet.

It was in vain that Fortunato, uplifting his dull torch, endeavoured to pry into the depth of the recess.

Vergeblich hob Fortunato seine trübe Fackel, um in die Tiefe der Höhlung zu spähen.

Its termination the feeble light did not enable us to see.

Das schwache Licht gestattete nicht, die Rückwand zu erblicken.

“Proceed,” I said; “herein is the Amontillado. As for Luchesi —”

»Geh weiter«, sagte ich. »Hier drin ist der Amontillado. Übrigens könnte Luchesi –«

“He is an ignoramus,” interrupted my friend, as he stepped unsteadily forward, while I followed immediately at his heels.

»Er ist ein Dummkopf«, fiel mir mein Freund ins Wort, während er unsicher vorwärts schritt; ich folgte ihm auf den Fersen.

In an instant he had reached the extremity of the niche, and finding his progress arrested by the rock, stood stupidly bewildered.

Einen Augenblick später hatte er das Ende der Höhlung erreicht; verdutzt stand er vor der Mauer, die ihm Halt gebot.

A moment more and I had fettered him to the granite.

Und noch einen Augenblick später hatte ich ihn an den Granit gefesselt.

In its surface were two iron staples, distant from each other about two feet, horizontally.

In der Mauer befanden sich auf gleicher Höhe und in zwei Fuß Entfernung voneinander zwei Schließhaken;

From one of these depended a short chain, from the other a padlock.

an einem derselben hing eine kurze Kette, am andern ein Vorlegeschloß.

Throwing the links about his waist, it was but the work of a few seconds to secure it.

Ich warf die Kette um Fortunatos Leib und befestigte sie im Schloß. Das Ganze war das Werk weniger Sekunden.

He was too much astounded to resist. Withdrawing the key I stepped back from the recess.

Er war zu verblüfft, um Widerstand entgegenzusetzen. Ich zog den Schlüssel ab und trat aus der Nische zurück.

“Pass your hand,” I said, “over the wall; you cannot help feeling the nitre. Indeed, it is very damp.

»Streich mit der Hand über die Mauer«, sagte ich. »Du wirst den Salpeter fühlen. Wahrhaftig, es ist bedenklich feucht darin.

Once more let me implore you to return. No? Then I must positively leave you.

Noch einmal: laß dich beschwören, umzukehren! Nein? Dann muß ich dich wirklich verlassen.

But I must first render you all the little attentions in my power.”

Aber zuerst muß ich dir noch alle die kleinen Aufmerksamkeiten erweisen, die in meiner Macht stehen.«

“The Amontillado!” ejaculated my friend, not yet recovered from his astonishment.

»Der Amontillado!« rief mein Freund, der sich von seinem Erstaunen noch nicht erholt hatte.

“True,” I replied; “the Amontillado.”

»Wahr«, erwiderte ich; »der Amontillado.«

As I said these words I busied myself among the pile of bones of which I have before spoken.

Bei diesen Worten machte ich mir am Knochenhaufen zu schaffen, von dem ich vorhin gesprochen habe.

Throwing them aside, I soon uncovered a quantity of building stone and mortar.

Ich warf die Knochen beiseite und legte bald eine Anzahl Bausteine und ein Häufchen Mörtel bloß.

With these materials and with the aid of my trowel, I began vigorously to wall up the entrance of the niche.

Mit diesen Materialien und mit Hilfe der Maurerkelle begann ich, eilig den Eingang der Nische zuzumauern.

I had scarcely laid the first tier of the masonry when I discovered that the intoxication of Fortunato had in a great measure worn off.

Ich hatte kaum die erste Reihe des Mauerwerks errichtet, als ich entdeckte, daß Fortunatos Betrunkenheit sehr nachgelassen hatte.

The earliest indication I had of this was a low moaning cry from the depth of the recess.

Das erste Anzeichen dafür gab mir ein leiser klagender Schrei, der aus der Tiefe der Höhlung kam.

It was not the cry of a drunken man. There was then a long and obstinate silence.

Es war nicht der Schrei eines Betrunkenen. Dann folgte ein langes eigensinniges Schweigen.

I laid the second tier, and the third, and the fourth; and then I heard the furious vibrations of the chain.

Ich mauerte eine zweite Reihe – und eine dritte und vierte; und dann hörte ich das wütende Stoßen und Schwingen der festgespannten Kette.

The noise lasted for several minutes, during which, that I might hearken to it with the more satisfaction, I ceased my labours and sat down upon the bones.

Das Geräusch dauerte mehrere Minuten, während welcher ich, um besser lauschen zu können, meine Arbeit einstellte und mich auf den Knochenhaufen setzte.

When at last the clanking subsided, I resumed the trowel,

Als das hastige Klirren endlich aufhörte, ergriff ich von neuem die Kelle

and finished without interruption the fifth, the sixth, and the seventh tier.

und vollendete ohne Unterbrechung die fünfte, die sechste und die siebente Reihe.

The wall was now nearly upon a level with my breast.

Der Wall war nun fast in gleicher Höhe mit meiner Brust.

I again paused, and holding the flambeaux over the mason-work, threw a few feeble rays upon the figure within.

Ich hielt von neuem inne, hob die Fackel über das Mauerwerk und warf damit ein paar schwache Strahlen auf die Gestalt da drinnen.

A succession of loud and shrill screams, bursting suddenly from the throat of the chained form, seemed to thrust me violently back. For a brief moment I hesitated — I trembled.

Da stieß der Gefesselte plötzlich wilde Schreie aus – viele laute gellende Schreie, die mich zurücktaumeln machten. Einen Augenblick zögerte ich – zitterte ich.

Unsheathing my rapier, I began to grope with it about the recess; but the thought of an instant reassured me.

Ich zog den Degen und stach damit in das Dunkel der Nische hinein. Doch nach kurzer Überlegung beruhigte ich mich wieder.

I placed my hand upon the solid fabric of the catacombs, and felt satisfied.

Ich legte die Hand auf das massige Gemäuer der Katakomben und war befriedigt.

I reapproached the wall; I replied to the yells of him who clamoured.

Ich trat wieder an meine Mauer. Ich antwortete auf das Geheul des Rufenden.

I re-echoed — I aided — I surpassed them in volume and in strength. I did this, and the clamourer grew still.

Ich ahmte es nach – verstärkte es – übertönte es. Das tat ich eine Weile, und der Schreier wurde still.

It was now midnight, and my task was drawing to a close. I had completed the eighth, the ninth, and the tenth tier.

Es war jetzt Mitternacht, und meine Arbeit nahte sich ihrem Ende. Ich hatte die achte, die neunte und die zehnte Reihe vollendet.

I had finished a portion of the last and the eleventh; there remained but a single stone to be fitted and plastered in.

Ich hatte einen Teil der elften und letzten Reihe beendet; es blieb nur noch ein einziger Stein einzusetzen und festzumauern.

I struggled with its weight; I placed it partially in its destined position.

Ich rang mit seinem Gewicht. Ich hob ihn an seinen Platz, konnte ihm jedoch nicht sogleich eine richtige Lage geben.

But now there came from out the niche a low laugh that erected the hairs upon my head.

Jetzt kam aus der Nische ein leises Lachen, das mir die Haare auf dem Kopf zu Berge stehen machte.

It was succeeded by a sad voice, which I had difficulty in recognizing as that of the noble Fortunato. The voice said —

Dann sprach eine traurige Stimme, die ich nur schwer als die Stimme des edlen Fortunato erkennen konnte. Die Stimme sagte:

“Ha! ha! ha! — he! he! he! — a very good joke indeed — an excellent jest. We shall have many a rich laugh about it at the palazzo — he! he! he! — over our wine — he! he! he!”

»Ha ha ha – he he – wahrhaftig ein guter Spaß, wir werden im Palazzo noch oft darüber lachen – he he he – über unsern Wein – he he he!«

“The Amontillado!” I said.

»Den Amontillado!« sagte ich.

“He! he! he! — he! he! he! — yes, the Amontillado.

»He he he – he he he – ja, den Amontillado.

But is it not getting late? Will not they be awaiting us at the palazzo, the Lady Fortunato and the rest? Let us be gone.”

Aber ist es nicht schon spät? Werden sie uns nicht im Palazzo erwarten? Die Lady Fortunato und die andern? Laß uns gehen.«

“Yes,” I said, “let us be gone.”

»Ja«, sagte ich, »laß uns gehen.«

“For the love of God, Montresor!”

»Bei der Liebe Gottes, Montresor!«

“Yes,” I said, “for the love of God!”

»Ja«, sagte ich, »bei der Liebe Gottes!«

But to these words I hearkened in vain for a reply. I grew impatient. I called aloud —

Aber auf diese Worte erwartete ich vergeblich eine Antwort. Ich wurde ungeduldig, ich rief laut:

“Fortunato!”

No answer.

Keine Antwort.

I called again —

Ich rief wieder:

“Fortunato —”

No answer still.

Noch keine Antwort.

I thrust a torch through the remaining aperture and let it fall within. There came forth in reply only a jingling of the bells.

Ich nahm seine Fackel, stieß sie durch die Öffnung und ließ sie drinnen zu Boden fallen. Als Antwort kam nur ein Klingeln der Schellen.

My heart grew sick on account of the dampness of the catacombs. I hastened to make an end of my labour.

Mein Herz wurde schwer – infolge der Moderluft in den Katakomben. Ich beeilte mich, meine Arbeit zu beenden.

I forced the last stone into its position; I plastered it up. Against the new masonry I re-erected the old rampart of bones.

Ich zwang den letzten Stein in seine richtige Lage. Ich mauerte ihn ein. Gegen das neue Mauerwerk türmte ich den alten Knochenwall auf.

For the half of a century no mortal has disturbed them. In pace requiescat!

Seit einem halben Jahrhundert hat kein Sterblicher ihn angerührt. In pace requiescat!

THE thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge. You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that I gave utterance to a threat. At length I would be avenged; this was a point definitely settled — but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved, precluded the idea of risk. I must not only punish, but punish with impunity. A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong.

It must be understood that neither by word nor deed had I given Fortunato cause to doubt my good will. I continued, as was my wont, to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my smile now was at the thought of his immolation.

He had a weak point — this Fortunato — although in other regards he was a man to be respected and even feared. He prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine. Few Italians have the true virtuoso spirit. For the most part their enthusiasm is adopted to suit the time and opportunity — to practise imposture upon the British and Austrian millionaires. In painting and gemmary, Fortunato, like his countrymen, was a quack — but in the matter of old wines he was sincere. In this respect I did not differ from him materially: I was skillful in the Italian vintages myself, and bought largely whenever I could.

It was about dusk, one evening during the supreme madness of the carnival season, that I encountered my friend. He accosted me with excessive warmth, for he had been drinking much. The man wore motley. He had on a tight-fitting parti-striped dress, and his head was surmounted by the conical cap and bells. I was so pleased to see him, that I thought I should never have done wringing his hand.

I said to him — “My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met. How remarkably well you are looking to-day! But I have received a pipe of what passes for Amontillado, and I have my doubts.”

“How?” said he. “Amontillado? A pipe? Impossible! And in the middle of the carnival!”

“I have my doubts,” I replied; “and I was silly enough to pay the full Amontillado price without consulting you in the matter. You were not to be found, and I was fearful of losing a bargain.”

“Amontillado!”

“I have my doubts.”

“Amontillado!”

“And I must satisfy them.”

“Amontillado!”

“As you are engaged, I am on my way to Luchesi. If any one has a critical turn, it is he. He will tell me —”

“Luchesi cannot tell Amontillado from Sherry.”

“And yet some fools will have it that his taste is a match for your own.”

“Come, let us go.”

“Whither?”

“To your vaults.”

“My friend, no; I will not impose upon your good nature. I perceive you have an engagement. Luchesi —”

“I have no engagement; — come.”

“My friend, no. It is not the engagement, but the severe cold with which I perceive you are afflicted. The vaults are insufferably damp. They are encrusted with nitre.”

“Let us go, nevertheless. The cold is merely nothing. Amontillado! You have been imposed upon. And as for Luchesi, he cannot distinguish Sherry from Amontillado.”

Thus speaking, Fortunato possessed himself of my arm. Putting on a mask of black silk, and drawing a roquelaire closely about my person, I suffered him to hurry me to my palazzo.

There were no attendants at home; they had absconded to make merry in honour of the time. I had told them that I should not return until the morning, and had given them explicit orders not to stir from the house. These orders were sufficient, I well knew, to insure their immediate disappearance, one and all, as soon as my back was turned.

I took from their sconces two flambeaux, and giving one to Fortunato, bowed him through several suites of rooms to the archway that led into the vaults. I passed down a long and winding staircase, requesting him to be cautious as he followed. We came at length to the foot of the descent, and stood together on the damp ground of the catacombs of the Montresors.

The gait of my friend was unsteady, and the bells upon his cap jingled as he strode.

“The pipe,” said he.

“It is farther on,” said I; “but observe the white web-work which gleams from these cavern walls.”

He turned towards me, and looked into my eyes with two filmy orbs that distilled the rheum of intoxication.

“Nitre?” he asked, at length.

“Nitre,” I replied. “How long have you had that cough?”

“Ugh! ugh! ugh! — ugh! ugh! ugh! — ugh! ugh! ugh! — ugh! ugh! ugh! — ugh! ugh! ugh!”

My poor friend found it impossible to reply for many minutes.

“It is nothing,” he said, at last.

“Come,” I said, with decision, “we will go back; your health is precious. You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy, as once I was. You are a man to be missed. For me it is no matter. We will go back; you will be ill, and I cannot be responsible. Besides, there is Luchesi —”

“Enough,” he said; “the cough is a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough.”

“True — true,” I replied; “and, indeed, I had no intention of alarming you unnecessarily — but you should use all proper caution. A draught of this Medoc will defend us from the damps.”

Here I knocked off the neck of a bottle which I drew from a long row of its fellows that lay upon the mould.

“Drink,” I said, presenting him the wine.

He raised it to his lips with a leer. He paused and nodded to me familiarly, while his bells jingled.

“I drink,” he said, “to the buried that repose around us.”

“And I to your long life.”

He again took my arm, and we proceeded.

“These vaults,” he said, “are extensive.”

“The Montresors,” I replied, “were a great and numerous family.”

“I forget your arms.”

“A huge human foot d’or, in a field azure; the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are imbedded in the heel.”

“And the motto?”

“Nemo me impune lacessit.”

“Good!” he said.

The wine sparkled in his eyes and the bells jingled. My own fancy grew warm with the Medoc. We had passed through walls of piled bones, with casks and puncheons intermingling, into the inmost recesses of catacombs. I paused again, and this time I made bold to seize Fortunato by an arm above the elbow.

“The nitre!” I said; “see, it increases. It hangs like moss upon the vaults. We are below the river’s bed. The drops of moisture trickle among the bones. Come, we will go back ere it is too late. Your cough —”

“It is nothing,” he said; “let us go on. But first, another draught of the Medoc.”

I broke and reached him a flagon of De Grave. He emptied it at a breath. His eyes flashed with a fierce light. He laughed and threw the bottle upwards with a gesticulation I did not understand.

I looked at him in surprise. He repeated the movement — a grotesque one.

“You do not comprehend?” he said.

“Not I,” I replied.

“Then you are not of the brotherhood.”

“How?”

“You are not of the masons.”

“Yes, yes,” I said; “yes, yes.”

“You? Impossible! A mason?”

“A mason,” I replied.

“A sign,” he said, “a sign.”

“It is this,” I answered, producing a trowel from beneath the folds of my roquelaire.

“You jest,” he exclaimed, recoiling a few paces. “But let us proceed to the Amontillado.”

“Be it so,” I said, replacing the tool beneath the cloak and again offering him my arm. He leaned upon it heavily. We continued our route in search of the Amontillado. We passed through a range of low arches, descended, passed on, and descending again, arrived at a deep crypt, in which the foulness of the air caused our flambeaux rather to glow than flame.

At the most remote end of the crypt there appeared another less spacious. Its walls had been lined with human remains, piled to the vault overhead, in the fashion of the great catacombs of Paris. Three sides of this interior crypt were still ornamented in this manner. From the fourth side the bones had been thrown down, and lay promiscuously upon the earth, forming at one point a mound of some size. Within the wall thus exposed by the displacing of the bones, we perceived a still interior recess, in depth about four feet in width three, in height six or seven. It seemed to have been constructed for no especial use within itself, but formed merely the interval between two of the colossal supports of the roof of the catacombs, and was backed by one of their circumscribing walls of solid granite.

It was in vain that Fortunato, uplifting his dull torch, endeavoured to pry into the depth of the recess. Its termination the feeble light did not enable us to see.

“Proceed,” I said; “herein is the Amontillado. As for Luchesi —”

“He is an ignoramus,” interrupted my friend, as he stepped unsteadily forward, while I followed immediately at his heels. In an instant he had reached the extremity of the niche, and finding his progress arrested by the rock, stood stupidly bewildered. A moment more and I had fettered him to the granite. In its surface were two iron staples, distant from each other about two feet, horizontally. From one of these depended a short chain, from the other a padlock. Throwing the links about his waist, it was but the work of a few seconds to secure it. He was too much astounded to resist. Withdrawing the key I stepped back from the recess.

“Pass your hand,” I said, “over the wall; you cannot help feeling the nitre. Indeed, it is very damp. Once more let me implore you to return. No? Then I must positively leave you. But I must first render you all the little attentions in my power.”

“The Amontillado!” ejaculated my friend, not yet recovered from his astonishment.

“True,” I replied; “the Amontillado.”

As I said these words I busied myself among the pile of bones of which I have before spoken. Throwing them aside, I soon uncovered a quantity of building stone and mortar. With these materials and with the aid of my trowel, I began vigorously to wall up the entrance of the niche.

I had scarcely laid the first tier of the masonry when I discovered that the intoxication of Fortunato had in a great measure worn off. The earliest indication I had of this was a low moaning cry from the depth of the recess. It was not the cry of a drunken man. There was then a long and obstinate silence. I laid the second tier, and the third, and the fourth; and then I heard the furious vibrations of the chain. The noise lasted for several minutes, during which, that I might hearken to it with the more satisfaction, I ceased my labours and sat down upon the bones. When at last the clanking subsided, I resumed the trowel, and finished without interruption the fifth, the sixth, and the seventh tier. The wall was now nearly upon a level with my breast. I again paused, and holding the flambeaux over the mason-work, threw a few feeble rays upon the figure within.

A succession of loud and shrill screams, bursting suddenly from the throat of the chained form, seemed to thrust me violently back. For a brief moment I hesitated — I trembled. Unsheathing my rapier, I began to grope with it about the recess; but the thought of an instant reassured me. I placed my hand upon the solid fabric of the catacombs, and felt satisfied. I reapproached the wall; I replied to the yells of him who clamoured. I re-echoed — I aided — I surpassed them in volume and in strength. I did this, and the clamourer grew still.

It was now midnight, and my task was drawing to a close. I had completed the eighth, the ninth, and the tenth tier. I had finished a portion of the last and the eleventh; there remained but a single stone to be fitted and plastered in. I struggled with its weight; I placed it partially in its destined position. But now there came from out the niche a low laugh that erected the hairs upon my head. It was succeeded by a sad voice, which I had difficulty in recognizing as that of the noble Fortunato. The voice said —

“Ha! ha! ha! — he! he! he! — a very good joke indeed — an excellent jest. We shall have many a rich laugh about it at the palazzo — he! he! he! — over our wine — he! he! he!”

“The Amontillado!” I said.

“He! he! he! — he! he! he! — yes, the Amontillado. But is it not getting late? Will not they be awaiting us at the palazzo, the Lady Fortunato and the rest? Let us be gone.”

“Yes,” I said, “let us be gone.”

“For the love of God, Montresor!”

“Yes,” I said, “for the love of God!”

But to these words I hearkened in vain for a reply. I grew impatient. I called aloud —

“Fortunato!”

No answer. I called again —

“Fortunato —”

No answer still. I thrust a torch through the remaining aperture and let it fall within. There came forth in reply only a jingling of the bells. My heart grew sick on account of the dampness of the catacombs. I hastened to make an end of my labour. I forced the last stone into its position; I plastered it up. Against the new masonry I re-erected the old rampart of bones. For the half of a century no mortal has disturbed them. In pace requiescat!