All my soul within me burning, Soon I heard again a tapping Something louder than before. “Surely,” said I, “surely that is Something at my window lattice; [Illustration: 0019] 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.” [Illustration: 0020] Open here I flung the shutter, When, with many a flirt and flutter, In there stepped a stately Raven [Illustration: 8020] Of the saintly days of yore. Not the least obeisance made he; Not an instant stopped or stayed he; But, with mien of lord or lady, [Illustration: 8021] Perched above my chamber door-- Perched upon a bust of Pallas Just above my chamber door-- Perched, and sat, and nothing more. [Illustration: 0022] 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, 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 sublunary being Ever yet was blessed with seeing Bird above his chamber door-- Bird or beast upon the sculptured Bust above his chamber door, With such name as “Nevermore.” [Illustration: 0024] But the Raven, sitting lonely On that 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.” Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.” Wondering 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, So when hope he would adjure, Stern despair returned,