The Raven and Other Poems — 1845 volume text

The Raven and Other Poems — 1845 volume text Local reading text of the 1845 edition, including its title-page wording and all 32 distinct historical text sections linked from the source table of contents. The dedication, preface, poems, Politian scenes and both parts of Al Aaraaf with author notes are included. This preserves the specified lifetime-edition readings, distinct from later collected editions already held. It is an electronic historical transcription, not a photographic facsimile. Modern source commentary and double-bracketed correction glosses are excluded; historical author notes are retained. Typography, contents layout and page breaks are simplified. No independent word-by-word proofreading is claimed. CONTENTS Dedication Preface The Raven The Valley of Unrest Bridal Ballad The Sleeper The Coliseum Lenore Catholic Hymn Israfel Dream-Land Sonnet — to Zante The City in the Sea To One in Paradise Eulalie — A Song To F——s S. O——d To F—— Sonnet — Silence The Conqueror Worm The Haunted Palace Scenes from “Politian” Sonnet — to Science Al Aaraaf Tamerlane A Dream Romance Fairy-land To —— To the River —— The Lake — To Song To Helen THE RAVEN AND OTHER POEMS. BY EDGAR A. POE. ———————————— NEW YORK: WILEY AND PUTNAM, 161 BROADWAY. ——— 1845. Dedication TO THE NOBLEST OF HER SEX — TO THE AUTHOR OF “THE DRAMA OF EXILE” — TO MISS ELIZABETH BARRETT BARRETT, OF ENGLAND, I DEDICATE THIS VOLUME, WITH THE MOST ENTHUSIASTIC ADMIRATION AND WITH THE MOST SINCERE ESTEEM. E. A. P. Preface PREFACE. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THESE trifles are collected and republished chiefly with a view to their redemption from the many improvements to which they have been subjected while going at random “the rounds of the press.” If what I have written is to circulate at all, I am naturally anxious that it should circulate as I wrote it. In defence of my own taste, nevertheless, it is incumbent upon me to say, that I think nothing in this volume of much value to the public, or very creditable to myself. Events not to be controlled have prevented me from making, at any time, any serious effort in what, under happier circumstances, would have been the field of my choice. With me poetry has been not a purpose, but a passion; and the passions should be held in reverence; they must not — they cannot at will be excited with an eye to the paltry compensations, or the more paltry commendations, of mankind. E. A. P The Raven THE RAVEN AND OTHER POEMS. —————————————— 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. “ 'Tis some visiter,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door — 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 — 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 “ ’Tis some visiter entreating entrance at my chamber door — Some late visiter entreating entrance at my chamber door; — This it is, and nothing more.” 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, Doubting, dreaming dreams no m