The Raven Quotes

“Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before.”

“Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.”

“Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore...”

“Leave my loneliness unbroken”

“Thrilled me—filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;”

Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn, It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore –

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning

To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom’s core;

“Be that word our sign in parting, bird or fiend!” I shrieked, upstarting

And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor Shall be lifted – nevermore

From my books surcease of sorrow – sorrow for the lost Lenore – For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore –

In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore;

“Doubtless,” said I, “what it utters is its only stock and store Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster

“Prophet!” said I, “thing of evil! – prophet still, if bird or devil! – Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,

“Get thee back into the tempest and the Night’s Plutonian shore!

Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.

And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling, By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,