Act Six
CHORUS Three endless days of bitter grief passed
and Montresor abandoned any attempt to cheer his friend.
Then came a sudden change in Usher's
demeanour, whose significance he was soon to comprehend.
Now Usher stands for hour on hour
with head inclined and eyes half-closed,
as if beneath the deep and sullen silence
a sound exists for which he listens; a sound without end.
Now Usher walks for hour on hour.
With ashen face and trembling step, he climbs each stair,
He climbs each tower; still hears it there.
CHORUS AND No. It's only the
THE VOICES beating of the heart,
OF THE HOUSE heart of the House of Usher,
beating of the heart
heart of the House of Usher.
USHER MONTRESOR
Roderick is that you?
I could not sleep
Nor I.
Listen to the storm!
Did you ever hear
such a dreadful sound?
Indeed.
Indeed I have!
But this sound you can hear;
the tempest beats upon the House
as it would beat upon a drum,
that is no sound to fear.
For the sound to fear
It beats upon the house.
walk softly when they come
The thunder seems so near
But it's only the But it's only the
beating of the heart, beating of the heart,
heart of the House of Usher. heart of the House of Usher.
USHER MONTRESOR VOICES OF THE HOUSE
Oh the lake is Beating of the heart,
in frenzy, I heart of the House
can feel the waves of Usher
beat on the walls Beating of the heart
The breaking of the heart! heart of the House
These giant stones of Usher.
are trembling Beating of the heart
the savage lashing heart of the House
of the storm of Usher.
The breaking of the heart! Beating of the heart
heart of the House
of Usher
Why is that other sound The House
echoes of the storm? shall stand.
The House
But understand we only of Usher
hear the House shall stand
Speaking of a storm The House
This is the storm itself! of Usher
shall stand.
The House of Usher
The House of Usher
MONTRESOR We've seen enough, I'll close the window.
The gale is chill and grows yet stronger.
These walls are shaking!
You shall play something for me;
you shall play and I shall listen.
So we will pass away this dreadful night.
USHER Yes I shall play,
yes, I shall play!
(The Haunted In the greenest of our valleys
Palace) by good angels tenanted
once a fair and stately palace -
radiant palace - reared its head.
In the monarch, Thought's dominion
like a jewel it stood there.
Never seraph spread a pinion