,,twice ,,told ,,tales                  
,,fancy',s ,,%[-,,box                   
,a ,,morality                        ,by
 ,na?aniel ,haw?orne    ,:at is ,guilt8 
,a /a9 ^u ! s\l4  ,& x is a po9t ( va/  
int]e/1 :e!r ! s\l may contract su*     
/a9s1 9 all _! dep? & flagrancy1 f de$s 
:i* may h be5 plott$ & resolv$ ^u1 b    
:i*1 physically1 h nev] _h exi/5ce4     
,mu/ ! fle%ly h& & visible frame ( man  
set its seal to ! evil designs ( ! s\l1 
9 ord] to give !m _! entire validity    
aga9/ ! s9n]8  ,or1 :ile none b crimes  
p]petrat$ are cognizable be=e an e>?ly  
tribunal1 w guilty ?\ghts1--( :i* guilty
 de$s are no m ?an %ad[s1--w ^! draw d[n
 ! full weight ( a condemn+ s5t5ce1 9 ! 
supreme c\rt ( et]nity8  ,9 ! solitude (
 a midnight *amb]1 or 9 a des]t1 af> f  
m51 or 9 a *ur*1 :ile ! body is kneel+1 
! s\l may pollute itself ev5 ) ^?       
crimes1 :i* we are accu/om$ to deem     
altoge!r c>nal4  ,if ?is be true1 x is a
 fe>ful tru?4  ,let u illu/rate !       
subject by an imag9>y example4  ,a      

v5]able g5tleman1 "o ,mr4 ,smi?1 :o _h  
long be5 reg>d$ z a patt]n ( moral      
excell5ce1 0 w>m+ 8 ag$ blood ) a glass 
or two ( g5]\s w9e4  ,8 *ildr5 be+ gone 
=? ab\t _! worldly bus9ess1 & 8         
gr&*ildr5 at s*ool1 he sat alone1 9 a   
deep1 luxuri\s arm-*air1 ) 8 feet b5ea? 
a ri*ly c>v$ mahogany table4  ,"s old p 
h a dread ( solitude1 & :5 bett] company
 may n be _h1 rejoice ev5 to he> ! quiet
 brea?+ ( a babe1 asleep ^u ! c>pet4  ,b
 ,mr4 ,smi?1 ^: silv] hair 0 ! bright   
symbol ( a life un/a9$1 except by su*   
spots z are insep>able f human nature1  
he _h no ne$ ( a babe to protect him by 
its purity1 nor ( a gr[n p]son to /&    
betwe5 him & 8 own s\l4  ,nev]!less1    
ei!r ,manhood mu/ conv]se ) ,age1 or    
,womanhood mu/ soo! him ) g5tle c>es1 or
 ,infancy mu/ sport ar\nd 8 *air1 or 8  
?\ghts w /ray into ! mi/y region ( !    
pa/1 & ! old man be *ill & sad4  ,w9e w 
n always *e] him4  ,su* might h be5 !   
case ) ,mr4 ,smi?1 :51 ?r\gh ! brilliant
 m$ium ( 8 glass ( old ,madeira1 he     

beheld ?ree figures ent]+ ! room4  ,^! 7
 ,fancy1 :o _h assum$ ! g>b & aspect (  
an it9]ant %[man1 ) a box ( pictures on 
h] back2 & ,memory1 9 ! lik5ess ( a     
cl]k1 ) a p5 beh9d h] e>1 an inkhorn at 
h] buttonhole1 & a huge manuscript      
volume b5ea? h] arm2 & la/ly1 beh9d !   
o!r two1 a p]son %r\d$ 9 a dusky mantle1
 :i* conceal$ bo? face & =m4  ,b ,mr4   
,smi? _h a %rewd idea t x 0 ,consci5ce4 
,h[ k9d ( ,fancy1 ,memory1 & ,consci5ce 
to visit ! old g5tleman1 j z he 0 beg9n+
 to imag9e t ! w9e _h nei!r s bright a  
sp>kle nor s excell5t a flavor z :5     
himself & ! liquor 7 less ag$6  ,?r\gh !
 dim l5g? ( ! ap>tm5t1 :]e crimson      
curta9s muffl$ ! gl>e ( sun%9e1 & creat$
 a ri* obscurity1 ! ?ree gue/s drew ne> 
! silv]-hair$ old mail4  ,memory1 ) a   
f+] betwe5 ! leaves ( h] huge volume1   
plac$ h]self at 8 "r h&4 ,consci5ce1 )  
h] face /ill hidd5 9 ! dusky mantle1    
took h] /ation on ! left1 s z to be next
 8 he>t2 :ile ,fancy set d[n h]         
picture-box ^u ! table1 ) !             

magnify+-glass conv5i5t to 8 eye4  ,we c
 sket* m]ely ! outl9es ( two or ?ree out
 ( ! _m pictures :i*1 at ! pull+ ( a    
/r+1 successively peopl$ ! box ) !      
semblances ( liv+ sc5es4  ,"o 0 a       
moonlight picture2 9 ! backgr\nd1 a l[ly
 dwell+2 & 9 front1 p>tly %ad[$ by a    
tree1 yet bespr9kl$ ) flakes ( radiance1
 two y\?ful figures1 male & female4  ,! 
"y man /ood ) fold$ arms1 a haughty     
smile ^u 8 lip1 & a gleam ( triumph 9 8 
eye1 z he glanc$ d[nw>d at ! kneel+     
girl4  ,%e 0 almo/ pro/rate at 8 feet1  
evid5tly s9k+ "u a weight ( %ame &      
angui%1 :i* h>dly all[$ h] to lift h]   
clasp$ h&s 9 supplication4  ,h] eyes %e 
c\ld n lift4  ,b nei!r h] agony1 nor !  
lovely features on :i* x 0 depict$1 nor 
! sl5d] grace ( ! =m :i* x convuls$1    
appe>$ to s(t5 ! obduracy ( ! "y man4   
,he 0 ! p]sonification ( triumphant     
scorn4  ,n[1 /range to say1 z old ,mr4  
,smi? peep$ ?r\gh ! magnify+-glass1 :i* 
made ! objects />t out f ! canvas )     
magical deception1 he began to recognize

 ! f>m-h\se1 ! tree1 & bo? ! figures ( !
 picture4 ,! "y man1 9 times long pa/1  
_h (t5 met 8 gaze )9 ! look+-glass2 !   
girl 0 ! v image ( 8 fir/ love1--8      
cottage love1--8 ,m>?a ,burr\ghs6  ,mr4 
,smi? 0 sc&aliz$4  ,o1 vile & sl&]\s    
picture6 he exclaims4  ,:5 h ,i triumph$
 ov] ru9$ innoc5ce8  ,0 n ,m>?a w$d$1 9 
h] te5s1 to ,david ,tomkius1 :o won h]  
girli% love1 & long enjoy$ h] affection 
z a wife8  ,& ev] s9ce 8 dea?1 %e has   
liv$ a reputable wid[6  ,meantime1      
,memory 0 turn+ ov] ! leaves ( h]       
volume1 ru/l+ !m to & fro ) unc]ta9     
f+]s1 until1 among ! e>li] pages1 %e    
f\nd "o :i* _h ref]5ce to ?is picture4  
,%e reads x1 close to ! old g5tleman's  
e>2 x is a record m]ely ( s9ful ?\ght1  
:i* nev] 0 embodi$ 9 an act2 b1 :ile    
,memory is read+1 ,consci5ce unveils h] 
face1 & /rikes a dagg] to ! he>t ( ,mr4 
,smi?4  ,?\gh n a dea?-bl[1 ! torture 0 
extreme4  ,! exhibition proce$$4  ,"o   
aft] ano!r1 ,fancy display$ h] pictures1
 all ( :i* appe>$ to h be5 pa9t$ by "s  

malici\s arti/1 on purpose to vex ,mr4  
,smi?4  ,n a %ad[ ( pro( c\ld h be5     
adduc$1 9 any e>?ly c\rt1 t he 0 guilty 
( ! slighte/ ( ^? s9s :i* 7 ?us made to 
/>e him 9 ! face4  ,9 "o sc5e1 !re 0 a  
table set out1 ) sev]al bottles1 &      
glasses half fill$ ) w9e1 :i* ?rew back 
! dull ray ( an expir+ lamp4 ,!re _h be5
 mir? & revelry1 until ! h& ( ! clock   
/ood j at midnight1 :5 murd] /epp$      
betwe5 ! boon companions4  ,a "y man _h 
fall5 on ! floor1 & lay /one dead1 ) a  
gha/ly w\nd cru%$ into 8 temple1 :ile   
ov] him1 ) a delirium ( m+l$ rage &     
horror 9 8 c\nt5ance1 /ood ! y\?ful     
lik5ess ( ,mr4 ,smi?4 ,! murd]$ y\? wore
 ! features ( ,edw>d ,sp5c]6  ,:at does 
?is rascal ( a pa9t] mean8 cries ,mr4   
,smi?1 provok$ beyond all pati5ce4      
,edw>d ,sp5c] 0 my e>lie/ & de>e/ fri5d1
 true to me z ,i to him1 ?r\gh m ?an    
half a c5tury4  ,nei!r ,i1 nor any o!r1 
ev] murd]$ him4  ,0 he n alive )9 five  
ye>s1 & did he n1 9 tok5 ( our long     
fri5d%ip1 bequea? me 8 gold-head$ cane &

 a m\rn+ r+8  ,aga9 _h ,memory be5 turn+
 ov] h] volume1 & fix$ at l5g? ^u s     
confus$ a page1 t %e surely mu/ h       
scribbl$ x :5 %e 0 tipsy4  ,! purport 01
 h[ev]1 t1 :ile ,mr4 ,smi? & ,edw>d     
,sp5c] 7 heat+ _! "y blood ) w9e1 a     
qu>rel _h fla%$ up betwe5 !m1 & ,mr4    
,smi?1 9 deadly wra?1 _h flung a bottle 
at ,sp5c]'s head4  ,true1 x miss$ its   
aim1 & m]ely sma%$ a look+-glass2 & !   
next morn+1 :5 ! incid5t 0 imp]fectly   
rememb]$1 !y _h %ak5 h&s ) a he>ty      
laugh4  ,yet1 aga91 :ile ,memory 0      
read+1 ,consci5ce unveil$ h] face1 /ruck
 a dagg] to ! he>t ( ,mr4 ,smi?1 &      
quell$ 8 remon/rance ) h] iron fr[n4  ,!
 pa9 0 q excruciat+4  ,"s ( ! pictures  
_h be5 pa9t$ ) s d\btful a t\*1 & 9     
colors s fa9t & pale1 t ! subjects c\ld 
b>ely be conjectur$4 ,a dull1           
semitransp>5t mi/ _h be5 ?r[n ov] !     
surface ( ! canvas1 into :i* ! figures  
seem$ to vani%1 :ile ! eye s\ght mo/    
e>ne/ly to fix !m4  ,b1 9 e sc5e1 h[ev] 
dubi\sly portray$1 ,mr4 ,smi? 0         

inv>iably haunt$ by 8 own l9eam5ts1 at  
v>i\s ages1 z 9 a du/y mirror4  ,aft]   
por+ sev]al m9utes ov] "o ( ^! blurr$ & 
almo/ indi/+ui%able pictures1 he began  
to see t ! pa9t] _h int5d$ to repres5t  
him1 n[ 9 ! decl9e ( life1 z /ripp+ !   
clo!s f ! backs ( ?ree half-/>v$ *ildr54
  ,really1 ?is puzzles me6 quo? ,mr4    
,smi?1 ) ! irony ( consci\s rectitude4  
,ask+ p>don ( ! pa9t]1 ,i pron\nce him a
 fool1 z well z a sc&al\s knave4  ,a man
 ( my /&+ 9 ! _w1 to be robb+ little    
*ildr5 ( _! clo!s6  ,ridicul\s6  ,b :ile
 he spoke1 ,memory _h se>*$ h] fatal    
volume1 & f\nd a page1 :i*1 ) h] sad1   
calm voice1 %e p\r$ into 8 e>4  ,x 0 n  
altoge!r inapplicable to ! mi/y sc5e4   
,x told h[ ,mr4 ,smi? _h be5 griev\sly  
tempt$1 by _m devili% sophi/ries1 on !  
gr\nd ( a legal quibble1 to comm5ce a   
lawsuit aga9/ ?ree orphan *ildr51 jo9t  
heirs to a consid]able e/ate4           
,=tunately1 be=e he 0 q decid$1 8 claims
 _h turn$ out ne>ly z devoid ( law z    
ju/ice4 ,z ,memory ceas$ to read1       

,consci5ce aga9 ?ru/ aside h] mantle1 & 
w\ld h /ruck h] victim ) ! env5om$      
dagg]1 only t he /ruggl$1 & clasp$ 8 h&s
 be=e 8 he>t4  ,ev5 !n1 h[ev]1 he su/a9$
 an ugly ga%4  ,:y %\ld we foll[ ,fancy 
?r\gh ! :ole s]ies ( ^? awful pictures8 
,pa9t$ by an arti/ ( wondr\s p[]1 &     
t]rible acqua9tance ) ! secret s\l1 !y  
embodi$ ! gho/s ( all ! nev] p]petrat$  
s9s t _h glid$ ?r\gh ! lifetime ( ,mr4  
,smi?4 ,& c\ld su* be+s ( cl\dy fantasy1
 s ne> ak9 to no?+ness1 give valid      
evid5ce aga9/ him1 at ! day ( judgm5t8  
,be t ! case or n1 !re is reason to     
believe t "o truly p5it5tial te> w\ld h 
wa%$ away ea* hateful picture1 & left ! 
canvas :ite z sn[4  ,b ,mr4 ,smi?1 at a 
prick ( ,consci5ce too ke5 to be endur$1
 bell[$ al\d1 ) impati5t agony1 &       
sudd5ly discov]$ t 8 ?ree gue/s 7 gone4 
,!re he sat alone1 a silv]-hair$ &      
highly v5]at$ old man1 9 ! ri* gloom ( !
 crimson-curta9$ room1 ) no box (       
pictures on ! table1 b only a decant] ( 
mo/ excell5t ,madeira4  ,yet 8 he>t /ill

 seem$ to fe/] ) ! v5om ( ! dagg]4      
,nev]!less1 ! un=tunate old g5tleman    
might h argu$ ! matt] ) ,consci5ce1 &   
alleg$ _m reasons :]e=e %e %\ld n smite 
him s pitilessly4  ,7 we to take up 8   
cause1 x %\ld be some:at 9 ! foll[+     
fa%ion3 ,a s*eme ( guilt1 till x be put 
9 execution1 greatly resembles a tra9 ( 
incid5ts 9 a project$ tale4  ,! latt]1 9
 ord] to produce a s5se ( reality 9 !   
read]'s m9d1 mu/ be conceiv$ ) su*      
proportionate /r5g? by ! au?or z to     
seem1 9 ! gl[ ( fancy1 m l tru?1 pa/1   
pres5t1 or to come1 ?an purely fiction4 
,! prospective s9n]1 on ! o!r h&1 weaves
 8 plot ( crime1 b seldom or nev] feels 
a p]fect c]ta9ty t x w be execut$4  ,!re
 is a dream9ess diffus$ ab\t 8 ?\ghts2 9
 a dream1 z x 71 he /rikes ! dea?-bl[   
into 8 victim's he>t1 & />ts to f9d an  
indelible blood-/a9 on 8 h&4  ,?us a    
novel-writ]1 or a dramati/1 9 creat+ a  
villa9 ( romance1 & fitt+ him ) evil    
de$s1 & ! villa9 ( actual life1 9       
project+ crimes t w be p]petrat$1 may   

almo/ meet ea* o!r1 half-way betwe5     
reality & fancy4  ,x is n until ! crime 
is accompli%$1 t guilt cl9*es its gripe 
^u ! guilty he>t1 & claims x = its own4 
,!n1 & n be=e1 s9 is actually felt &    
ackn[l$g$1 &1 if unaccompani$ by        
rep5tance1 gr[s a ?\s&-fold m virul5t by
 its self-consci\sness4  ,be x consid]$1
 also1 t m5 (t5 ov]e/imate _! capacity =
 evil4  ,at a di/ance1 :ile its att5dant
 circum/ances d n press ^u _! notice1 & 
its results are dimly se51 !y c be> to  
contemplate x4  ,!y may take ! /eps :i* 
lead to crime1 impell$ by ! same sort ( 
m5tal action z 9 work+ out a ma!matical 
problem1 yet be p[]less ) compunction1  
at ! f9al mom5t4  ,!y knew n :at de$ x 0
 t !y deem$ !mselves resolv$ to d4  ,9  
tru?1 !re is no su* ?+ 9 man's nature z 
a settl$ & full resolve1 ei!r = good or 
evil1 except at ! v mom5t ( execution4  
,let u hope1 !re=e1 t all ! dreadful    
consequ5ces ( s9 w n be incurr$1 unless 
! act h set its seal ^u ! ?\ght4  ,yet1 
) ! slight fancy-"w :i* we h fram$1 "s  

sad & awful tru?s are int]wov54  ,man   
mu/ n disclaim 8 bro!rhood1 ev5 ) !     
guiltie/1 s9ce1 ?\gh 8 h& be clean1 8   
he>t has surely be5 pollut$ by ! flitt+ 
phantoms ( iniquity4  ,he mu/ feel1 t1  
:5 he %all knock at ! gate ( heav51 no  
semblance ( an unspott$ life c entitle  
him to entrance !re4  ,p5it5ce mu/      
kneel1 & ,m]cy come f ! foot/ool ( !    
?rone1 or t gold5 gate w nev] op56