But the Raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling, 67
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 yore
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore Meant in croaking "Nevermore".
XIII.
This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing 73
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamplight gloated o'er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamplight gloating o'er, She shall press, ah, nevermore.
XIV.
Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer 79
Swung by seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.
"Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee—by these angels he hath sent thee
Respite—respite and nepenthé from thy memories of Lenore!
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthé and forget this lost Lenore!" Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."
