Produced by David Widger from page images generously provided by the Internet Archive THE RAVEN By Edgar Allan Poe Illustrated New York E. P. Dutton And Company 39 West Twenty Third Street 1884 Copyright, 1883 Illustrated By W. L. Taylor Drawn and engraved under the supervision of George T. Andrew. [Illustration: 0013] 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 visitor,” 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 tried 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 visitor entreating Entrance at my chamber door-- Some late visitor entreating Entrance at my chamber door; This it is and nothing more.” [Illustration: 9015] 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 mortals Ever dared to dream before; But the silence was unbroken, And the darkness 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. [Illustration: 0017] Then into the chamber turning,