The black cat Edgar allan poe FOR the most wild, yet most homely narrative which I am about to pen, I neither expect nor solicit belief. Mad indeed would I be to expect it, in a case where my very senses reject their own evidence. Yet, mad am I not-and very surely do I not dream. But to-morrow I die, and to-day I would unburthen my soul. My immediate purpose is to place before the world, plainly, succinctly, and without comment, a series of mere household events. In their consequences, these events have terrified- have tortured- have destroyed me. Yet I will not attempt to expound them. To me, they have presented little but Horror-to many they will seem less terrible than barroque. Hereafter perhaps, some intellect may be found which will reduce my phantasm to the common-place some intellect more calm, more logical, and far less excitable than my own, which will perceive, in the circumstances I detail with awe, nothing more than an ordinary succession of very natural causes and effects From my infancy I was noted for the docility and humanity of my disposition. My tenderness of heart was even so conspicuous as to make me the jest of my companions. I was especially fond of animals, and was indulged by my parents with a great variety of pets. With these I spent most of my time, and never was so happy as when feeding and caressing them. This peculiarity of character grew with my growth, and in my manhood, I derived from it one of my principal sources of pleasure. To those who have cherished an affection for a faithful and sagacious. dog I need hardly be at the trouble of explaining the nature or the intensity of the gratification thus derivable There is something in the unselfish and self-sacrificing love of a brute, which goes directly to the heart of him who has had frequent occasion to test the paltry friendship and gossamer fidelity of mere Man I married early, and was happy to find in my wife a disposition not uncongenial with my own. Observing my partiality for domestic pets, she lost no opportunity of procuring those of the most agreeable kind. We had birds, gold-fish, a fine dog, rabbits, a small monkey, and a ca This latter was a remarkably large and beautiful animal, entirely black, and sagacious to an astonishing degree. In speaking of his intelligence, my wife, who at heart was not a little tinctured with superstition, made frequent allusion to the ancient popular notion, which regarded all black cats as witches in disguise. Not that she was ever serious upon this point- and I mention the matter at all for no better reason than that it happens, just now, to be remembered Pluto-this was the cat's name- was my favorite pet and playmate. I alone fed him, and he attended me wherever I went about the house. It was even with difficulty that I could prevent him from following me through the streets Our friendship lasted, in this manner, for several years, during which my general expound:详述 2 baroques:奇谈 3 My tenderness of heart was even so conspicuous as to make me the jest of my companions.我心肠软得出奇 曾经是同伴中的笑 sagacious:有灵性的 There is something in the unselfish and self-sacrificing love of a brute, which goes directly to the heart of him ho has had frequent occasion to test the paltry friendship and gossamer fidelity of mere Man.你若经常尝到 人情冷暖、世态炎凉的滋味,便会觉得动物自我牺牲的无私之爱,直入人心扉 6 I mention the matter at all for no better reason than that it happens, Just now, to be remembered.我这里提到这 件事,只是顺便想到了而己The Black Cat Edgar Allan Poe FOR the most wild, yet most homely narrative which I am about to pen, I neither expect nor solicit belief. Mad indeed would I be to expect it, in a case where my very senses reject their own evidence. Yet, mad am I not - and very surely do I not dream. But to-morrow I die, and to-day I would unburthen my soul. My immediate purpose is to place before the world, plainly, succinctly, and without comment, a series of mere household events. In their consequences, these events have terrified - have tortured - have destroyed me. Yet I will not attempt to expound1 them. To me, they have presented little but Horror - to many they will seem less terrible than _barroques2_. Hereafter, perhaps, some intellect may be found which will reduce my phantasm to the common-place - some intellect more calm, more logical, and far less excitable than my own, which will perceive, in the circumstances I detail with awe, nothing more than an ordinary succession of very natural causes and effects. From my infancy I was noted for the docility and humanity of my disposition. My tenderness of heart was even so conspicuous as to make me the jest of my companions3 . I was especially fond of animals, and was indulged by my parents with a great variety of pets. With these I spent most of my time, and never was so happy as when feeding and caressing them. This peculiarity of character grew with my growth, and in my manhood, I derived from it one of my principal sources of pleasure. To those who have cherished an affection for a faithful and sagacious4 dog, I need hardly be at the trouble of explaining the nature or the intensity of the gratification thus derivable. There is something in the unselfish and self-sacrificing love of a brute, which goes directly to the heart of him who has had frequent occasion to test the paltry friendship and gossamer fidelity of mere _Man_.5 I married early, and was happy to find in my wife a disposition not uncongenial with my own. Observing my partiality for domestic pets, she lost no opportunity of procuring those of the most agreeable kind. We had birds, gold-fish, a fine dog, rabbits, a small monkey, and _a cat_. This latter was a remarkably large and beautiful animal, entirely black, and sagacious to an astonishing degree. In speaking of his intelligence, my wife, who at heart was not a little tinctured with superstition, made frequent allusion to the ancient popular notion, which regarded all black cats as witches in disguise. Not that she was ever _serious_ upon this point - and I mention the matter at all for no better reason than that it happens, just now, to be remembered6 . Pluto - this was the cat's name - was my favorite pet and playmate. I alone fed him, and he attended me wherever I went about the house. It was even with difficulty that I could prevent him from following me through the streets. Our friendship lasted, in this manner, for several years, during which my general 1 expound: 详述 2 baroques: 奇谈 3 My tenderness of heart was even so conspicuous as to make me the jest of my companions. 我心肠软得出奇， 曾经是同伴中的笑柄。 4 sagacious: 有灵性的 5 There is something in the unselfish and self-sacrificing love of a brute, which goes directly to the heart of him who has had frequent occasion to test the paltry friendship and gossamer fidelity of mere _Man_. 你若经常尝到 人情冷暖、世态炎凉的滋味，便会觉得动物自我牺牲的无私之爱，直入人心扉。 6 I mention the matter at all for no better reason than that it happens, just now, to be remembered. 我这里提到这 件事，只是顺便想到了而已