The Raven

Front 1

Once upon a midnight dreary,

Back 1

while I pondered weak and weary,

Front 2

Over many a quaint and curious

Back 2

volume of forgotten lore,

Front 3

While I nodded, nearly napping,

Back 3

suddenly there came a tapping,

Front 4

As of some one gently rapping,

Back 4

rapping at my chamber door.

Front 5

`'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, (2)

Back 5

`tapping at my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more.'

Front 6

Ah, distinctly I remember

Back 6

it was in the bleak December,

Front 7

And each separate dying ember

Back 7

wrought its ghost upon the floor.

Front 8

Eagerly I wished the morrow;

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- vainly I had sought to borrow

Front 9

From my books surcease of sorrow -

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sorrow for the lost Lenore -

Front 10

For the rare and radiant maiden (2)

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whom the angels named Lenore -
Nameless here for evermore.

Front 11

And the silken sad uncertain

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rustling of each purple curtain

Front 12

Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic

Back 12

terrors never felt before;

Front 13

So that now, to still the beating

Back 13

of my heart, I stood repeating

Front 14

`'Tis some visitor entreating

Back 14

entrance at my chamber door -

Front 15

Some late visitor entreating (2)

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entrance at my chamber door; -
This it is, and nothing more,'

Front 16

Presently my soul grew stronger;

Back 16

hesitating then no longer,

Front 17

`Sir,' said I, `or Madam, truly

Back 17

your forgiveness I implore;

Front 18

But the fact is I was napping,

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and so gently you came rapping,

Front 19

And so faintly you came tapping,

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tapping at my chamber door,

Front 20

That I scarce was sure I heard you' (2)

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- here I opened wide the door; -
Darkness there, and nothing more.

Front 21

Deep into that darkness peering,

Back 21

long I stood there wondering, fearing,

Front 22

Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal

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ever dared to dream before;

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But the silence was unbroken,

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and the darkness gave no token,

Front 24

And the only word there spoken

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was the whispered word, `Lenore!'

Front 25

This I whispered, and an echo (2)

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murmured back the word, `Lenore!'
Merely this and nothing more.

Front 26

Back into the chamber turning,

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all my soul within me burning,

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Soon again I heard a tapping

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somewhat louder than before.

Front 28

`Surely,' said I, `surely that is

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something at my window lattice;

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Let me see then, what thereat is,

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and this mystery explore -

Front 30

Let my heart be still a moment (2)

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and this mystery explore; -
'Tis the wind and nothing more!'

Front 31

Open here I flung the shutter,

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when, with many a flirt and flutter,

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In there stepped a stately raven

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of the saintly days of yore.

Front 33

Not the least obeisance made he;

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not a minute stopped or stayed he;

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But, with mien of lord or lady,

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perched above my chamber door -

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Perched upon a bust of Pallas (2)

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just above my chamber door -
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Front 36

Then this ebony bird beguiling

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my sad fancy into smiling,

Front 37

By the grave and stern decorum

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of the countenance it wore,

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`Though thy crest be shorn and shaven,

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thou,' I said, `art sure no craven.

Front 39

Ghastly grim and ancient raven

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wandering from the nightly shore -

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Tell me what thy lordly name is (2)

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on the Night's Plutonian shore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

Front 41

Much I marvelled this ungainly

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fowl to hear discourse so plainly,

Front 42

Though its answer little meaning

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- little relevancy bore;

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For we cannot help agreeing

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that no living human being

Front 44

Ever yet was blessed with seeing

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bird above his chamber door -

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Bird or beast above the sculptured (2)

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bust above his chamber door,
With such name as `Nevermore.'

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But the raven, sitting lonely

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on the placid bust, spoke only,

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That one word, as if his soul

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in that one word he did outpour.

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Nothing further then he uttered -

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not a feather then he fluttered -

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Till I scarcely more than muttered

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`Other friends have flown before -

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On the morrow he will leave me, (2)

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as my hopes have flown before.'
Then the bird said, `Nevermore.'

Front 51

Startled at the stillness broken

Back 51

by reply so aptly spoken,

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`Doubtless,' said I, `what it utters

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is its only stock and store,

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Caught from some unhappy master

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whom unmerciful disaster

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Followed fast and followed faster

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till his songs one burden bore -

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Till the dirges of his hope (2)

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that melancholy burden bore
Of "Never-nevermore."'

Front 56

But the raven still beguiling

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all my sad soul into smiling,

Front 57

Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat

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in front of bird and bust and door;

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Then, upon the velvet sinking,

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I betook myself to linking

Front 59

Fancy unto fancy, thinking

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what this ominous bird of yore -

Front 60

What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, (2)

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gaunt, and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking `Nevermore.'

Front 61

This I sat engaged in guessing,

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but no syllable expressing

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To the fowl whose fiery eyes

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now burned into my bosom's core;

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This and more I sat divining,

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with my head at ease reclining

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On the cushion's velvet lining

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that the lamp-light gloated o'er,

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But whose velvet violet lining (2)

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with the lamp-light gloating o'er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!

Front 66

Then, methought, the air grew denser,

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perfumed from an unseen censer

Front 67

Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls

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tinkled on the tufted floor.

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`Wretch,' I cried, `thy God hath lent thee -

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by these angels he has sent thee

Front 69

Respite - respite and nepenthe

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from thy memories of Lenore!

Front 70

Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe, (2)

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and forget this lost Lenore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

Front 71

`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! -

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prophet still, if bird or devil! -

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Whether tempter sent, or whether

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tempest tossed thee here ashore,

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Desolate yet all undaunted,

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on this desert land enchanted -

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On this home by horror haunted -

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tell me truly, I implore -

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Is there - is there balm in Gilead? - (2)

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tell me - tell me, I implore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

Front 76

`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! -

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prophet still, if bird or devil!

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By that Heaven that bends above us -

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by that God we both adore -

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Tell this soul with sorrow laden

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if, within the distant Aidenn,

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It shall clasp a sainted maiden

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whom the angels named Lenore -

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Clasp a rare and radiant maiden, (2)

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whom the angels named Lenore?'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

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`Be that word our sign of parting,

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bird or fiend!' I shrieked upstarting -

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`Get thee back into the tempest

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and the Night's Plutonian shore!

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Leave no black plume as a token

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of that lie thy soul hath spoken!

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Leave my loneliness unbroken! -

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quit the bust above my door!

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Take thy beak from out my heart, (2)

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and take thy form from off my door!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

Front 86

And the raven, never flitting,

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still is sitting, still is sitting

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On the pallid bust of Pallas

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just above my chamber door;

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And his eyes have all the seeming

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of a demon's that is dreaming,

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And the lamp-light o'er him streaming

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throws his shadow on the floor;

Front 90

And my soul from out that shadow (2)

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that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted - nevermore!