38 Earth: worms (Graham's, B.J.). After this line Graham's repeats the first six lines of the poem, with the following changes: journeyed home for "reached these lands" in line 5, and this for "an" in line 6.

42 'Tis-oh, 'tis: O! it is (Examiner).

46 unclosed: enclosed (B.J.).

47 its the (Graham's, B.J.).

:

Where an Eidolon, named NIGHT,
On a black throne reigns upright,
I have wandered home but newly
From this ultimate dim Thule.

55

(1844)

THE RAVEN

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore —
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
"'T is some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door — 5
Only this and nothing more."

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December;
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow sorrow for the lost

Lenore

IO

For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore — Nameless here for evermore.

And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating, 15
"'T is some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door;

This it is and nothing more."

9 sought tried (all other texts :

and 1850).

11 name: named (S. L. M. [1848]).

save 1845, Sat. C., S.L.M. [1848],

18 This That (S. L.M. [1845], L. E., Sat. C.); This it is: Only this (S.L. M. [1848]).

20

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer, "Sir," said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore; But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping, And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door, That I scarce was sure I heard you" - here I opened wide the door;

Darkness there and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,

25

Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before ; But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token, And the only word there spoken was the whispered word,

"Lenore?"

This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, "Lenore ! "

Merely this and nothing more.

30

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning, Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before. "Surely," said I, "surely that is something at my window lattice; Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; 'Tis the wind and nothing more!"

35

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter, In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore;

26 mortal: mortals (1850).

27 stillness: darkness (all other texts except Lorimer Graham copy of 1845 and 1850).

31 Back: Then (all other texts except 1845, Sat. C., 1845 [Lorimer Graham copy] and 1850).

32 again I heard: I heard again (all others except 1845 [Lorimer Graham copy] and 1850; somewhat: something (1850).

Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;

But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber

door

Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

40

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling, By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore, "Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I said, "art sure

no craven,

45

Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore

Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore !" Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly, Though its answer little meaning — little relevancy bore;

For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door -
Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
Nevermore."

With such name as

50

55

But the Raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing farther then he uttered not a feather then he fluttered
Till I scarcely more than muttered, "Other friends have flown
before

On the morrow he will leave me, as my Hopes have flown before." Then the bird said, "Nevermore." 60

39 a minute: an instant (all others save Lorimer Graham copy of 1845, 1850, and Graham's [which substitutes a moment]).

43 ebony ebon (S. L.M. [1848]).

51 living human: sublunary (A. W. R., S. L.M. [1845], Tribune).

55 the placid: that placid (Graham's, 1850).

60 Then the bird said: Quoth the raven (E. M., A. W. R., S. L. M. [1845]).

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
"Doubtless," said I, "what it utters is its only stock and store
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore—
Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore

Of Never nevermore.'"

But the Raven still beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,

65

Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and

door;

Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking

70

Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking "Nevermore."

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er,
But whose velvet-violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!

75

Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen

censer

Swung by seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.

61 Startled: Wondering (A. W. R., S. L. M. [1845]).

79

64 till his songs one burden bore: so, when Hope he would adjure (E. M., A. W. R., S. L.M. [1845]); songs: song (Critic).

65 Stern Despair returned, instead of the sweet Hope he dared adjure (E.M., A. W.R., S. L.M. [1845]); that: the (B.J., Tribune, Critic, P.P.A.). 66 That sad answer, 'Nevermore' (E. M., A. W.R., S.L.M. [1845]); of 'Nevermore' — of 'Nevermore' (B.J., Critic, L. E., P.P.A., S. L.M. [1848]); Nevermore-ah, nevermore (Tribune).

67 my sad fancy: all my sad soul (all other texts save the Lorimer Graham copy of 1845, which substitutes "all my fancy ").

73 This: Thus (Critic).

80 seraphim whose: angels whose faint (all others except 1845 [Lorimer Graham copy] and 1850).