ShortlyafterElliston’sseparationfromhiswife-nownearly
　　fouryearsago-hisassociateshadobservedasingulargloomspreading
　　overhisdailylife，likethosechill，graymiststhatsometimessteal
　　awaythesunshinefromasummer’smorning。Thesymptomscausedthem
　　endlessperplexity。Theyknewnotwhetherillhealthwererobbing
　　hisspiritsofelasticity；orwhetheracankerofthemindwas
　　graduallyeating，assuchcankersdo，fromhismoralsystemintothe
　　physicalframe，whichisbuttheshadowoftheformer。Theylookedfor
　　therootofthistroubleinhisshatteredschemesofdomesticbliss-
　　wilfullyshatteredbyhimself-butcouldnotbesatisfiedofits
　　existencethere。Somethoughtthattheironcebrilliantfriendwas
　　inanincipientstageofinsanity，ofwhichhispassionateimpulses
　　hadperhapsbeentheforerunners；othersprognosticatedageneral
　　blightandgradualdecline。FromRoderick’sownlips，theycouldlearn
　　nothing。Morethanonce，itistrue，hehadbeenheardtosay，
　　clutchinghishandsconvulsivelyuponhisbreast-“Itgnawsme！It
　　gnawsme！”-but，bydifferentauditors，agreatdiversityof
　　explanationwasassignedtothisominousexpression。Whatcoulditbe，
　　thatgnawedthebreastofRoderickElliston？Wasitsorrow？Wasit
　　merelythetoothofphysicaldisease？Or，inhisrecklesscourse，
　　oftenverginguponprofligacy，ifnotplungingintoitsdepths，hadhe
　　beenguiltyofsomedeed，whichmadehisbosomapreytothe
　　deadlierfangsofremorse？Therewasplausiblegroundforeachof
　　theseconjectures；butitmustnotbeconcealedthatmorethanone
　　elderlygentleman，thevictimofgoodcheerandslothfulhabits，
　　magisteriallypronouncedthesecretofthewholemattertobe
　　Dyspepsia！
　　Meanwhile，Roderickseemedawarehowgenerallyhehadbecomethe
　　subjectofcuriosityandconjecture，and，withamorbidrepugnance
　　tosuchnotice，ortoanynoticewhatsoever，estrangedhimselffrom
　　allcompanionship。Notmerelytheeyeofmanwasahorrortohim；
　　notmerelythelightofafriend’scountenance；buteventheblessed
　　sunshine，likewise，which，initsuniversalbeneficence，typifies
　　theradianceoftheCreator’sface，expressinghisloveforallthe
　　creaturesofhishand。Theduskytwilightwasnowtootransparent
　　forRoderickElliston；theblackestmidnightwashischosenhourto
　　stealabroad；andifeverhewereseen，itwaswhenthewatchman’s
　　lanterngleameduponhisfigure，glidingalongthestreetwithhis
　　handsclutcheduponhisbosom，stillmuttering：“Itgnawsme！Itgnaws
　　me！”Whatcoulditbethatgnawedhim？
　　Afteratime，itbecameknownthatEllistonwasinthehabitof
　　resortingtoallthenotedquacksthatinfestedthecity，orwhom
　　moneywouldtempttojourneythitherfromadistance。Byoneof
　　thesepersons，intheexultationofasupposedcure，itwasproclaimed
　　farandwide，bydintofhand-billsandlittlepamphletsondingy
　　paper，thatadistinguishedgentleman，RoderickElliston，Esq。，had
　　beenrelievedofaSNAKEinhisstomach！Soherewasthemonstrous
　　secret，ejectedfromitslurking-placeintopublicview，inallits
　　horribledeformity。Themysterywasout；butnotsothebosomserpent。
　　He，ifitwereanythingbutadelusion，stilllaycoiledinhisliving
　　den。Theempiric’scurehadbeenasham，theeffectitwassupposed，
　　ofsomestupefyingdrug，whichmorenearlycausedthedeathofthe
　　patientthanoftheodiousreptilethatpossessedhim。WhenRoderick
　　Ellistonregainedentiresensibility，itwastofindhismisfortune
　　thetowntalk-themorethanninedays’wonderandhorror-while，at
　　hisbosom，hefeltthesickeningmotionofathingalive，andthe
　　gnawingofthatrestlessfang，whichseemedtogratifyatoncea
　　physicalappetiteandafiendishspite。
　　Hesummonedtheoldblackservant，whohadbeenbredupinhis
　　father’shouse，andwasamiddle-agedmanwhileRodericklayinhis
　　cradle。
　　“Scipio！”hebegan；andthenpaused，withhisarmsfoldedover
　　hisheart。“Whatdopeoplesayofme，Scipio？”
　　“Sir！mypoormaster！thatyouhadaserpentinyourbosom。”
　　answeredtheservant，withhesitation。
　　“Andwhatelse？”askedRoderick，withaghastlylookattheman。
　　“Nothingelse，dearmaster。”repliedScipio；“onlythatthe
　　Doctorgaveyouapowder，andthatthesnakeleaptoutuponthe
　　floor。”
　　“No，no！”mutteredRodericktohimself，asheshookhishead，and
　　pressedhishandswithamoreconvulsiveforceuponhisbreast-“I
　　feelhimstill。Itgnawsme！Itgnawsme！”
　　Fromthistime，themiserablesuffererceasedtoshuntheworld，
　　butrathersolicitedandforcedhimselfuponthenoticeof
　　acquaintancesandstrangers。Itwaspartlytheresultof
　　desperation，onfindingthatthecavernofhisownbosomhadnot
　　proveddeepanddarkenoughtohidethesecret，evenwhileitwasso
　　secureafortressfortheloathsomefiendthathadcreptintoit。
　　Butstillmore，thiscravingfornotorietywasasymptomofthe
　　intensemorbidnesswhichnowpervadedhisnature。Allpersons，
　　chronicallydiseased，areegotists，whetherthediseasebeofthemind
　　orbody；whethersin，sorrow，ormerelythemoretolerablecalamityof
　　someendlesspain，ormischiefamongthecordsofmortallife。Such
　　individualsaremadeacutelyconsciousofaself，bythetorturein
　　whichitdwells。Self，therefore，growstobesoprominentanobject
　　withthem，thattheycannotbutpresentittothefaceofeverycasual
　　passer-by。Thereisapleasure-perhapsthegreatestofwhichthe
　　suffererissusceptible-indisplayingthewastedorulceratedlimb，
　　orthecancerinthebreast；andthefoulerthecrime，withsomuch
　　themoredifficultydoestheperpetratorpreventitfromthrusting
　　upitssnake-likeheadtofrightentheworld；foritisthatcancer，
　　orthatcrime，whichconstitutestheirrespectiveindividuality。
　　RoderickElliston，who，alittlewhilebeforehadheldhimselfso
　　scornfullyabovethecommonlotofmen，nowpaidfullallegianceto
　　thishumiliatinglaw。Thesnakeinhisbosomseemedthesymbolofa
　　monstrousegotism，towhicheverythingwasreferred，andwhichhe
　　pampered，nightandday，withacontinualandexclusivesacrificeof
　　devil-worship。
　　Hesoonexhibitedwhatmostpeopleconsideredindubitabletokensof
　　insanity。Insomeofhismoods，strangetosay，hepridedand
　　gloriedhimselfonbeingmarkedoutfromtheordinaryexperienceof
　　mankind，bythepossessionofadoublenature，andalifewithina
　　life。Heappearedtoimaginethatthesnakewasadivinity-not
　　celestial，itistrue，butdarklyinfernal-andthathethencederived
　　aneminenceandasanctity，horrid，indeed，yetmoredesirablethan
　　whateverambitionaimsat。Thushedrewhismiseryaroundhimlikea
　　regalmantle，andlookeddowntriumphantlyuponthosewhosevitals
　　nourishednodeadlymonster。Oftener，however，hishumannature
　　asserteditsempireoverhim，intheshapeofayearningfor
　　fellowship。Itgrewtobehiscustomtospendthewholedayin
　　wanderingaboutthestreets，aimlessly，unlessitmightbecalledan
　　aimtoestablishaspeciesofbrotherhoodbetweenhimselfandthe
　　world。Withcankeredingenuity，hesoughtouthisowndiseaseinevery
　　breast。Whetherinsaneornot，heshowedsokeenaperceptionof
　　frailty，error，andvice，thatmanypersonsgavehimcreditfor
　　beingpossessednotmerelywithaserpent，butwithanactualfiend，
　　whoimpartedthisevilfacultyofrecognizingwhateverwasugliest
　　inman’sheart。
　　Forinstance，hemetanindividual，who，forthirtyyears，had
　　cherishedahatredagainsthisownbrother。Roderick，amidstthe
　　throngofthestreet，laidhishandonthisman’schest，andlooking
　　fullintohisforbiddingface，
　　“Howisthesnaketoday？”-heinquired，withamockexpressionof
　　sympathy。
　　“Thesnake！”exclaimedthebrother-hater-“Whatdoyoumean？”
　　“Thesnake！Thesnake！Doeshegnawyou？”persistedRoderick。
　　“Didyoutakecounselwithhimthismorning，whenyoushouldhavebeen
　　sayingyourprayers？Didhesting，whenyouthoughtofyour
　　brother’shealth，wealth，andgoodrepute？Didhecaperforjoy，
　　whenyourememberedtheprofligacyofhisonlyson？Andwhetherhe
　　stung，orwhetherhefrolicked，didyoufeelhispoisonthroughout
　　yourbodyandsoul，convertingeverythingtosournessand
　　bitterness？Thatisthewayofsuchserpents。Ihavelearnedthewhole
　　natureofthemfrommyown！”
　　“Whereisthepolice？”roaredtheobjectofRoderick’spersecution，
　　atthesametimegivinganinstinctiveclutchtohisbreast。“Whyis
　　thislunaticallowedtogoatlarge？”
　　“Ha，ha！”chuckledRoderick，releasinghisgraspoftheman。“His
　　bosomserpenthasstunghimthen！”
　　Often，itpleasedtheunfortunateyoungmantovexpeoplewitha
　　lightersatire，yetstillcharacterizedbysomewhatofsnake-like
　　virulence。Onedayheencounteredanambitiousstatesman，and
　　gravelyinquiredafterthewelfareofhisboa-constrictor；forofthat
　　species，Roderickaffirmed，thisgentleman’sserpentmustneedsbe，
　　sinceitsappetitewasenormousenoughtodevourthewholecountryand
　　constitution。Atanothertime，hestoppedaclose-fistedoldfellow，
　　ofgreatwealth，butwhoskulkedaboutthecityintheguiseofa
　　scare-crow，withapatchedbluesurtout，brownhat，andmouldy
　　boots，scrapingpencetogether，andpickinguprustynails。Pretending
　　tolookearnestlyatthisrespectableperson’sstomach，Roderick
　　assuredhimthathissnakewasacopper-head，andhadbeengenerated
　　bytheimmensequantitiesofthatbasemetal，withwhichhedaily
　　defiledhisfingers。Again，heassaultedamanofrubicundvisage，and
　　toldhimthatfewbosomserpentshadmoreofthedevilinthem，than
　　thosethatbreedinthevatsofadistillery。ThenextwhomRoderick
　　honoredwithhisattentionwasadistinguishedclergyman，whohappened
　　justthentobeengagedinatheologicalcontroversy，wherehuman
　　wrathwasmoreperceptiblethandivineinspiration。
　　“Youhaveswallowedasnake，inacupofsacramentalwine。”quoth
　　he。
　　“Profanewretch！”exclaimedthedivine；but，nevertheless，hishand
　　stoletohisbreast。
　　Hemetapersonofsicklysensibility，who，onsomeearly
　　disappointment，hadretiredfromtheworld，andthereafterheldno
　　intercoursewithhisfellow-men，butbroodedsullenlyor
　　passionatelyovertheirrevocablepast。Thisman’sveryheart，if
　　Roderickmightbebelieved，hadbeenchangedintoaserpent，which
　　wouldfinallytormentbothhimanditselftodeath。Observinga
　　marriedcouple，whosedomestictroubleswerematterofnotoriety，he
　　condoledwithbothonhavingmutuallytakenahouse-addertotheir
　　bosoms。Toanenviousauthor，whodeprecatedworkswhichhecould
　　neverequal，hesaidthathissnakewastheslimiestandfilthiest
　　ofallthereptiletribe，butwasfortunatelywithoutasting。Aman
　　ofimpurelife，andabrazenface，askingRoderickiftherewereany
　　serpentinhisbreast，hetoldhimthattherewas，andofthesame
　　speciesthatoncetorturedDonRodrigo，theGoth。Hetookafairyoung
　　girlbythehand，andgazingsadlyintohereyes，warnedherthat
　　shecherishedaserpentofthedeadliestkindwithinhergentle
　　breast；andtheworldfoundthetruthofthoseominouswords，when，
　　afewmonthsafterwards，thepoorgirldiedofloveandshame。Two
　　ladies，rivalsinfashionablelife，whotormentedoneanotherwitha
　　thousandlittlestingsofwomanishspite，weregiventounderstand，
　　thateachoftheirheartswasanestofdiminutivesnakes，whichdid
　　quiteasmuchmischiefasonegreatone。
　　ButnothingseemedtopleaseRoderickbetterthantolayholdof
　　apersoninfectedwithjealousy，whichherepresentedasanenormous
　　greenreptile，withanice-coldlengthofbody，andthesharpeststing
　　ofanysnakesaveone。