Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken, But the Raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling, Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and door; Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yoreWhat this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore Meant in croaking "Nevermore." This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer Swung by angels whose faint footfalls tinkled on the tufted floor. Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee-by these angels he hath sent thee Respite-respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore! Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!" Quoth the Raven "Nevermore." “ Prophet !” said I, “thing of evil :-prophet still, if bird or devil! Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore, Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted- "Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil-prophet still, if bird or devil! By that Heaven that bends above us-by that God we both adore Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn, It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name LenoreClasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore." Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore." Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!" I shrieked, upstarting "Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore ! Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken! Leave my loneliness unbroken!-quit the bust above my door! Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off iny door!" Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore." And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door; And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming, And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor; And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor Shall be lifted-nevermore! DO YOU EVER THINK OF ME? Do you ever think of me, love, When sailing on the billow, Do you think I must forget; No; I fancy thou art near me, When the gales are murmuring by, OH! TURN THOSE DEAR, DEAR EYES AWAY. OH! turn those dear, dear eyes away, Oh! look not in mine eyes, love, TOO WELL I LOVE THEE. Go, lover, false! go man, unkind! My heart may break, but can't forget thee; Go, wily fiend! with serpent tongue, And tell how well that tongue deceived me; Go. perjured man! with manless heart, FAREWELL! in despair I escape from thy wiles, Now vain were thy favour, But the heart you have broken Can trust it no more. IT IS NOT FOR THINE EYE OF BLUE, Ir is not for thine eye of blue, Nor for thy dark and glossy hair,. Nor for thy cheek of rosy hue, Nor for thy lovely bosom fair That I do love thee! for to me, There are far brighter charms in thee! But it is for thy gentle mind, Thy placid and expansive brow, Imagination, mild and kind, Which burns with clear, and fervid glow, That I do love thee; and I see,. A thousand matchless charms in thee ! I SHALL NEVER SEE HER MORE. AND has she then fail'd in her truth Ah, Selima, cruel you prove! Yet sure my hard lot you'll bewail; And since hatred alone I inspire, Life henceforth is not worth my care, Death now is my only desire, I give myself up to despair. SHE THINKS OF THE PROMISE SHE MADE HIM SHE thinks of the promise she made him at parting, She sighs not for title, for riches or spendour, Her hand she bestows where her heart can go with it, 'Tis this that must shine in a season of sorrow, TIME CANNOT CHANGE MY LOVE. TIME cannot change my love for thee; And when, at last, we're doomed to lay |