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"Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore." |
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"Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December, And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor." |
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"Eagerly I wished the morrow;—vainly I had sought to borrow From my books surcease of sorrow—sorrow for the lost Lenore." |
| "Sorrow for the lost Lenore." |
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"For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore— Nameless here for evermore." |
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"'T is some visiter entreating entrance at my chamber door— Some late visiter entreating entrance at my chamber door." |
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"Here I opened wide the door;— Darkness there, and nothing more." |
| "Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before." |
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"'Surely,' said I, 'surely that is something at my window lattice; Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore.'" |
| "Open here I flung the shutter." |
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. . . . . . . . "A stately Raven of the saintly days of yore. Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he." |
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"Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door— Perched, and sat, and nothing more." |
| "Wandering from the Nightly shore." |
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"Till I scarcely more than muttered, 'Other friends have flown before— On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before.'" |
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"Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking Fancy unto fancy." |
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"But whose velvet violet lining with the lamplight gloating o'er She shall press, ah, nevermore!" |
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"'Wretch,' I cried, 'thy God hath lent thee—by these angels he hath sent thee Respite—respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore!'" |
| "On this home by Horror haunted." |
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. . . . . . . . . "Tell me truly, I implore— Is there—is there balm in Gilead?—tell me—tell me, I implore!" |
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"Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn, It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore." |
| "'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!'" |
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"And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor Shall be lifted—nevermore!" |