But the fervid facility of his impromptus could not be so accounted for. They must have been, and were, in the notes, as well as in the words of his wild fantasias (for he not unfrequently accompanied himself with rhymed verbal improvisations), the result of that intense mental collectedness and concentration to which I have previously alluded as observable only in particular moments of the highest artificial excitement.

The words of one of these rhapsodies I have easily remembered (слова одной из этих рапсодий я легко запомнил). I was, perhaps, the more forcibly impressed with it, as he gave it (я был, возможно, тем более сильно впечатлен ею, когда он исполнил ее: «дал»), because, in the under or mystic current of its meaning (потому что в скрытом: «нижнем» или мистическом течении его значения), I fancied that I perceived, and for the first time (мне почудилось, что я увидел, к тому же в первый раз; to fancy – воображать; to perceive – воспринимать), a full consciousness on the part of Usher, of the tottering of his lofty reason upon his throne (полное осознание Ашером: «со стороны Ашера» колебаний его высокого рассудка на своем троне; part – часть; зд.: сторона). The verses, which were entitled “The Haunted Palace,” ran very nearly, if not accurately, thus (стихи, которые были названы «Дворец с привидениями», бежали = звучали почти, если и не точно, так; to run – бежать; гласить, звучать; nearly – почти):

The words of one of these rhapsodies I have easily remembered. I was, perhaps, the more forcibly impressed with it, as he gave it, because, in the under or mystic current of its meaning, I fancied that I perceived, and for the first time, a full consciousness on the part of Usher, of the tottering of his lofty reason upon his throne. The verses, which were entitled “The Haunted Palace,” ran very nearly, if not accurately, thus:

In the greenest of our valleys, By good angels tenanted, Once fair and stately palace — Radiant palace – reared its head. In the monarch Thought’s dominion — It stood there! Never seraph spread a pinion Over fabric half so fair.

Banners yellow, glorious, golden, On its roof did float and flow; (This – all this – was in the olden Time long ago) And every gentle air that dallied, In that sweet day, Along the ramparts plumed and pallid, A winged odour went away.

Wanderers in that happy valley Through two luminous windows saw Spirits moving musically To a lute’s well-tuned law, Round about a throne, where sitting (Porphyrogene!) In state his glory well befitting, The ruler of the realm was seen.

And all with pearl and ruby glowing Was the fair palace door, Through which came flowing, flowing, flowing And sparkling evermore, A troop of Echoes whose sweet duty Was but to sing, In voices of surpassing beauty, The wit and wisdom of their king.