The Works of Edgar Allan Poe, Raven Edition, Volume 5 by Edgar Allan Poe

1 01 - Philosophy of Furniture 17:31

Philosophy of Furniture by Edgar Allan Poe In the internal decoration, if not in the external architecture of their residences, the English are supreme. The Italians have but little sentiment beyond marbles and colors. In France, Meliora probant de Tiriora secuntur, the people are too much a race of gadabouts to maintain those household priorities of which, indeed, they have a delicate appreciation, or at least the elements of a proper sense. The Chinese and most of the Eastern races have a warm but inappropriate frenzy. The Scotch are poor decorists. The Dutch have, perhaps, an indeterminate idea that a curtain is not a cabbage. In Spain they are all curtains, a nation of hangmen. The Russians do not furnish.

The Hottentots and Kickapoos are very well in their way. The Yankees alone are preposterous. How this happens it is not difficult to see. We have no aristocracy of blood, and having therefore as a natural and indeed as an inevitable thing fashioned for ourselves an aristocracy of dollars, the display of wealth has here to take the place and perform the office of the heraldic display in monarchical countries, by a transition readily understood, and which might have been as readily foreseen, We have been brought to merge, in simple show, our notions of taste itself. To speak less abstractly. In England, for example, no mere parade of costly appurtenances would be so likely, as with us, to create an impression of the beautiful in respect to the appurtenances themselves, or of taste as regards the proprietor.

This, for the reason First, that wealth is not in England the loftiest object of ambition as constituting a nobility, and secondly, that there the true nobility of blood, confining itself within the strict limits of legitimate taste, rather avoids than affects that mere costliness in which a parvenu rivalry may at any time be successfully attempted. The people will imitate the nobles, and the result is a thorough diffusion of the proper feeling. But in America, the coins current being the sole arms of the aristocracy, their display may be said, in general, to be the sole means of the aristocratic distinction, and the populace, looking always upward for models, are insensibly led to confound the two entirely separate ideas of magnificence and beauty.

In short, the cost of an article of furniture has at length come to be, with us, Nearly the sole test of its merit in a decorative point of view, and this test, once established, has led the way to many analogous errors, readily traceable to the one primitive folly. There can be nothing more directly offensive to the eye of an artist than the interior of what is termed in the United States, that is to say, in Appalachia, a well-furnished apartment. Its most usual defect is a want of keeping. We speak of the keeping of a room as we would of the keeping of a picture, for both the picture and the room are amenable to those undeviating principles which regulate all varieties of art, and very nearly the same laws by which we decide on the higher merits of a painting suffice for decision on the adjustment of a chamber.

A want of keeping is observable sometimes in the character of the several pieces of furniture. But generally in their colors or modes of adaptation to use, very often the eye is offended by their inartistic arrangement. Straight lines are too prevalent, too uninterruptedly continued, or clumsily interrupted at right angles. If curved lines occur, they are repeated into unpleasant uniformity. By undue precision, the appearance of many a fine apartment is utterly spoiled. Curtains are rarely well disposed, or well chosen in respect to other decorations. With formal furniture, curtains are out of place, and an extensive volume of drapery of any kind is, under any circumstance, irreconcilable with good taste.

The proper quantum, as well as the proper adjustment, depending upon the character of the general effect. Carpets are better understood of late than of ancient days. But we still very frequently err in their patterns and colors. The sole of the apartment is the carpet. From it are deduced not only the hues, but the forms of all objects incumbent. A judge at common law may be an ordinary man. A good judge of a carpet must be a genius. Yet we have heard discussing of carpets with the air d'un mouton qui rêve, Fellows who should not and who could not be entrusted with the management of their own moustaches. Every one knows that a large floor may have a covering of large figures, and that a small one must have a covering of small.

Yet this is not all the knowledge in the world. As regards texture, the Saxony is alone admissible. Brussels is the prater pluperfect tense of fashion, and Turkey is taste in its dying agonies. Touching pattern, a carpet should not be bedizened out like a reekery Indian, all red chalk, yellow ochre, and cocks feathers. In brief, distinct grounds and vivid circular or cycloid figures of no meaning are here median laws. The abomination of flowers, or representations of well-known objects of any kind, should not be endured within the limits of Christendom. Indeed, whether on carpets, or curtains, or tapestry, or ottoman coverings, all upholstery of this nature should be rigidly arabesque. As for those antique floor-cloths, still occasionally seen in the dwellings of the rabble, cloths of huge, sprawling, irradiating devices, stripe interspersed, and glorious with all hues, among which no ground is intelligible, these are but the wicked invention of a race of time-servers and money-lovers, Children of Bale and worshippers of Mammon, Benthams, who, to spare thought and economize fancy, first cruelly invented the kaleidoscope, and then established joint-stock companies to twirl it by steam.

Glare is a leading error in the philosophy of American household decoration, an error easily recognized as deduced from the perversion of tastes just specified. We are violently enamored of gas and of glass. The former is totally inadmissible within doors. Its harsh and unsteady light offends. No one having both brains and eyes will use it. A mild, or what artists term a cool light, with its consequent warm shadows, will do wonders for even an ill-furnished apartment. Never was a more lovely thought than that of the astral lamp. We mean, of course, the astral lamp proper, the lamp of Argonne, with its original plain ground-glass shade and its tempered and uniform moonlight rays. The cot-glass shade is a weak invention of the enemy.

The eagerness with which we have adopted it, partly on account of its flashiness, but principally on account of its greater rest, is a good commentary on the proposition with which we began. It is not too much to say that the deliberate employer of a cut-glass shade is either radically deficient in taste or blindly subservient to the caprices of fashion. The light proceeding from one of these gaudy abominations is unequaled, broken, and painful. It alone is sufficient to mar a world of good effect in the furniture subjected to its influence. Female loveliness, in especial, is more than one-half disenchanted beneath its evil eye. In the matter of glass, generally, we proceed upon false principles.

Its leading feature is glitter, and in that one word how much of all that is detestable do we express. Flickering, unquiet lights are sometimes pleasing, to children and idiots always so. But in the establishment of a room they should be scrupulously avoided. In truth, even strong, steady lights are inadmissible. The huge and unmeaning glass chandeliers, prism cut, glass lighted, and without shade, which dangle on our most fashionable drawing rooms, may be cited as the quintessence of all that is false in taste or preposterous in folly. The rage for glitter, Because its idea has become, as we before observed, confounded with that of magnificence in the abstract, has led us also to the exaggerated employment of mirrors.

We line our dwellings with great British plates, and then imagine we have done a fine thing. Now, the slightest thought will be sufficient to convince anyone who has an eye at all of the ill effect of numerous looking-glasses, and especially of large ones. Regarded apart from its reflection, the mirror represents a continuous, flat, colorless, unrelieved surface, a thing always and obviously unpleasant. Considered as a reflector, it is potent in producing a monstrous and odious uniformity, and the evil is here aggravated, not in a merely direct proportion with the augmentation of its sources, but in a ratio constantly increasing. In fact, a room with four or five mirrors arranged at random is, for all purposes of artistic show, a room of no shape at all.

If we add to this evil, the attendant glitter upon glitter, we have a perfect farrago of discordant and displeasing effects. The veriest bumpkin on entering an apartment so bedizant would be instantly aware of something wrong, although he might be altogether unable to assign a cause for his dissatisfaction. But let the same person be led into a room tastefully furnished, and he would be startled into an exclamation of pleasure and surprise. It is an evil growing out of our Republican institutions that here a man of large purse has usually a very little soul which he keeps in it. The corruption of taste is a portion or a pendant of the dollar manufacture. As we grow rich, our ideas grow rusty.

It is, therefore, not among our aristocracy that we must look, if at all in Appalachia, for the spirituality of a British boudoir. But we have seen apartments in the tenure of Americans of modern, possibly modest or moderate means, which, in negative merit at least, might vie with any of the ormalade cabinets of our friends across the water. Even now there is present to our mind's eye a small and not ostentatious chamber with whose decorations no fault can be found. The proprietor lies asleep on a sofa. The weather is cool. The time is near midnight. We will make a sketch of the room during his slumber. It is oblong, some thirty feet in length and twenty-five in breadth, a shape affording the best ordinary opportunities for the adjustment of furniture.

It has but one door, by no means a wide one, which is at one end of the parallelogram, and but two windows, which are at the other. These latter are large, reaching down to the floor, have deep recesses, and open on an Italian verandah. Their panes are of a crimson-tinted glass, set in rosewood framings, more massive than usual. They are curtained within the recess by a thick silver tissue adapted to the shape of the window and hanging loosely in small volumes. Without the recess are curtains of an exceedingly rich crimson silk, fringed with a deep network of gold and lined with silver tissue, which is the material of the exterior blind. There are no cornices, But the folds of the whole fabric, which are sharp rather than massive and have an airy appearance, issue from beneath a broad entablature of rich giltwork, which encircles the room at the junction of the ceiling and walls.

The drapery is thrown open, also, or closed, by means of a thick rope of gold loosely enveloping it, and resolving itself readily into a knot. No pins or other such devices are apparent. The colors of the curtains and their fringe, the tints of crimson and gold, appear everywhere in profusion and determine the character of the room. The carpet, of Saxony material, is quite half an inch thick, and is of the same crimson ground, relieved simply by the appearance of a gold cord, like that festooning the curtains, slightly relieved above the surface of the ground. and thrown upon it in such a manner as to form a succession of short, irregular curves, one occasionally overlaying the other. The walls are prepared with a glossy paper of a silver-grey tint, spotted with small arabesque devices of a fainter hue of the prevalent crimson.

Many paintings relieve the expanse of paper. These are chiefly landscapes of an imaginative cast, Such as the fairy grottoes of Stanfield, or the lake of the dismal swamp of Chapman. There are, nevertheless, three or four female heads of an ethereal beauty, portraits in the manner of Sully. The tone of each picture is warm, but dark. There are no brilliant effects. Repose speaks in all. Not one is of a small size. Diminutive paintings give that spotty look to a room, which is the blemish of so many a fine work of art overtouched. The frames are broad, but not deep, and richly carved, without being dulled or filigreed. They have the whole lustre of burnished gold. They lie flat on the walls and do not hang off the cords.

The designs themselves are often seen to better advantage in this latter position. But the general appearance of the chamber is injured. But one mirror, and this not a very large one, is visible. In shape it is nearly circular, and it is hung so that a reflection of the person can be obtained from it in none of the ordinary sitting-places of the room. Two large, low sofas of rosewood and crimson silk, gold-flowered, form the only seats, With the exception of two light conversation chairs, also of rosewood. There is a pianoforte, rosewood also, without cover and thrown open. An octagonal table, formed altogether of the richest gold-threaded marble, is placed near one of the sofas. This is also without cover.

The drapery of the curtains have been thought sufficient. Four large and gorgeous svres vases, in which bloom a profusion of sweet and vivid flowers occupy the slightly rounded angles of the room. A tall cantilabrum, bearing a small antique lamp with highly perfumed oil, is standing near the head of my sleeping friend. Some light and graceful hanging shelves, with golden edges and crimson-silk cords with gold tassels, Sustained two or three hundred magnificently bound books. Beyond these things there is no furniture, if we except an argon lamp, with a plain crimson-tinted ground-glass shade, which hangs from the lofty vaulted ceiling by a single slender gold chain, and throws a tranquil but magical radiance over all.

2 02 - A Tale of Jerusalem 11:04

A Tale of Jerusalem by Edgar Allan Poe.

Intensos regedarn in frontern ascendere canos passus erat. Lucan de Catone.

A Bristley Bore.

Lotus, hurry to the walls, said Abel Pittam to Buzzy Ben Levy and Simeon the Pharisee on the tenth day of the month, Tammuz, in the year of the world, three thousand nine hundred and forty-one. Let us hasten to the ramparts adjoining the gate of Benjamin, which is the city of David, and overlooking the camp of the uncircumcised. For it is the last hour of the fourth watch being sunrise, and the idolaters, in fulfillment of the promise of Pompeii, should be awaiting us with the lambs for the sacrifices. Simeon, Abel Pitim, and Duzi ben Livi, Were they gisbarim, or sub-collectors, of the offering in the holy city of Jerusalem? Verily, replied the Pharisee, let us hasten, for this generosity in the heathen is unwanted, and fickle-mindedness has ever been an attribute of the worshippers of Baal.

That they are fickle-minded and treacherous is as true as the Pentateuch, said Buzzy Ben Levy. But that is only toward the people of Adonai. When was it ever known that the Ammonites proved wanting in their own interests? Methinks it is no great stretch of generosity to allow us lambs for the altar of the Lord, receiving in lieu thereof thirty silver shekels per head." Thou forgettest, however, Ben-Levi, replied Abel Pittam. That the Roman Pompey, who is now impiously besieging the city of the Most High, has no assurity that we apply not the lambs thus purchased for the altar to the sustenance of the body rather than of the spirit. Now by the five corners of my beard, shouted the Pharisee, who belonged to the sect called the Dashers, that little knot of saints whose manner of dashing and lacerating the feet against the pavement was long a thorn and a reproach to less zealous devotees, a stumbling block to less gifted perambulators.

By the five corners of that beard which, as a priest, I am forbidden to shave, "'Have we lived to see the day when a blaspheming and idolatrous upstart of Rome shall accuse us of appropriating to the appetites of the flesh the most holy and consecrated elements? Have we lived to see the day when—' "'Let us not question the motives of the Philistine,' interrupted Abel Pittam. "'For today we profit for the first time by his avarice or—' by his generosity. But rather let us hurry to the ramparts, lest offerings should be wanting for that altar, whose fire the rains of heaven cannot extinguish, and whose pillars of smoke no tempest can turn aside.

That part of the city to which our worthy Gisbarim now hastened, and which bore the name of its architect, King David, was esteemed the most strongly fortified district of Jerusalem. Being situated upon the steep and lofty hill of Zion. Here, a broad, deep, circumvalentory trench hewn from the solid rock was defended by a wall of great strength erected upon its inner edge. This wall was adorned at regular interspaces by square towers of white marble, the lowest 60 and the highest 120 cubits in height. But in the vicinity of the Gate of Benjamin, the wall arose by no means from the margin of the fossa. On the contrary, between the level of the ditch and the basement of the rampart sprang up a perpendicular cliff of 250 cubits, forming part of the precipitous Mount Moriah.

So that when Simeon and his associates arrived on the summit of the tower called Adonai Bezek, The loftiest of all the turrets round about Jerusalem, and the usual place of conference with the besieging army, they looked down upon the camp of the enemy, from an eminence excelling by many feet that of the pyramid of Cheops, and by several that of the temple of Belus. Verily sighed the Pharisee, as he peered dizzily over the precipice, the uncircumcised are as the sands of the seashore. As the locusts in the wilderness, the valley of the king hath become the valley of Adaman. And yet, added Ben-Livy, thou canst not point me out a Philistine? No, not one, from Aleph to Tau, from the wilderness to the battlements, who seemeth any bigger than the letter-jot.

Lower away the basket with the shekels of silver. Here shouted a Roman soldier in a hoarse, rough voice, which appeared to issue from the regions of Pluto, lower away the basket with the accursed coin which it has broken the jaw of a noble Roman to pronounce. It is thus who evince your gratitude to our master Pompeius, who in his condescension has Thought fit to listen to your idolatrous importunities. The god Phoebus, who is a true god, has been charioted for an hour. And were you not to be on the ramparts by sunrise? Adepo, do you think that we, the conquerors of the world, have nothing better to do than stand waiting by the walls of every kennel to traffic with the dogs of the earth? Lower away, I say, and see that your trumpery be bright in color and just in weight.

Elohim, ejaculated the Pharisee as the discordant tones of the centurion rattled up the crags of the precipice and fainted away against the temple. Elohim, who is the god Phoebus? Whom doth the blasphemer invoke? Thou, Buzz Ben Levi. Who art read in the laws of the Gentiles, and has sojourned among them who babble with the Teraphim? Is it Negril, of whom the idolater speaketh? Or Ashima? Or Nibhaz? Or Tartak? Or Adramalek? Or Anamalek? Or Succothbeneth? Or Dagon? Or Belial? Or Belpereth? Or Belpeor? Or Belzebub?

Verily it is neither. But beware how thou lettest the rope slip too rapidly through thy fingers, for should the wicker work chance to hang on the projections of yonder crag, there will be a woeful outpouring of the holy things of the sanctuary. By the assistance of some rudely constructed machinery, The heavily laden basket was now carefully lowered down among the multitude, and from the giddy pinnacle the Romans were seen gathering confusedly round it. But owing to the vast height and the prevalence of a fog, no distinct view of their operations could be obtained. Half an hour had already elapsed. "'We shall be too late,' sighed the Pharisee. As at the expiration of this period, he looked over into the abyss.

We shall be too late. We shall be turned off by the office of Catolem. No more, responded Abel Pittam. No more shall we feast upon the fat of the land. No longer shall our beards be odorous with frankincense, our loins girded up with the fine linen from the temple. Rascal! Swore Ben-Levy. Rascal, do they mean to defraud us of the purchase money? Or holy Moses, are they weighing the shekels of the tabernacle? They have given the signal at last, cried the Pharisee. They have given the signal at last. Pull away, Babel Pitten, and thou, Buzzy Ben-Levy, pull away. For verily the Philistines have either still hold upon the basket, Or the Lord hath softened their hearts to place therein a beast of good weight.

And the Gizberim pulled away, while their burden swung heavily upward through the still-increasing mist.

As at the conclusion of an hour, some object at the extremity of the rope became indistinctly visible, was the exclamation which burst from the lips of Ben Levy. For shame, it is a ram from the thickets of En-Gedi, and as rugged as the valley of Jehoshaphat. It is a firstling of the flock, said Abel Pittam. I know him by the bleating of his lips and the innocent folding of his limbs. His eyes are more beautiful than the jewels of pectoral, and his flesh is like the honey of Hebron.

It is a fatted calf from the pastures of Bashan. Said the Pharisee. The heathen have dealt wonderfully with us. Let us raise up our voices in a psalm. Let us give thanks on the shan and on the psaltery, on the harp and on the hugab and the sithern and the sackbut. It was not until the basket had arrived within a few feet of the gizbarim that a low grunt betrayed to their perception a hog of no common size. Now, El-Imanu, slowly and with upturned eyes ejaculated the trio. As letting go their hold, the emancipated porker tumbled headlong among the Philistines. El-Imanu, God be with us. It is the unutterable flesh.

3 03 - The Sphinx 12:45

Of the Works of Edgar Allan Poe.

Raven Edition. Volume 5. The Sphinx by Edgar Allan Poe During the dread reign of the cholera in New York, I had accepted the invitation of a relative to spend a fortnight with him in the retirement of his cottage ornay on the banks of the Hudson. We had here around us all the ordinary means of summer amusement, and what with rambling in the woods, sketching, boating, fishing, bathing, music, and books, we should have passed the time pleasantly enough, But for the fearful intelligence which reached us every morning from the populous city. Not a day elapsed which did not bring us news of the decease of some acquaintance. Then, as the fatality increased, we learned to expect daily the loss of some friend.

At length we trembled at the approach of every messenger. The very air from the South seemed to us redolent of death. That pausing thought, indeed, took entire possession of my soul. I could neither speak, think, nor dream of anything else. My host was of a less excitable temperament, and, although greatly depressed in spirits, exerted himself to sustain my own. His richly philosophical intellect was not at any time affected by unrealities. To the substances of terror he was sufficiently alive. But of its shadows he had no apprehension. His endeavors to arouse me from the condition of abnormal gloom into which I had fallen were frustrated in great measure by certain volumes which I found in his library.

These were of a character to force into germination whatever seeds of hereditary superstition lay latent in my bosom. I had been reading these books without his knowledge. and thus he was often at a loss to account for the forcible impressions which had been made upon my fancy. A favorite topic with me was the popular belief in omens, a belief which, at this one epoch of my life, I was almost seriously disposed to defend. On this subject we had long and animated discussions. He, maintaining the utter groundlessness of faith in such matters, I contending that a popular sentiment arising with absolute spontaneity, that is to say, without apparent traces of suggestion, had in itself the unmistakable elements of truth, and was entitled to as much respect as that intuition which is the idiosyncrasy of the individual man of genius.

The fact is, that soon after my arrival at the cottage, there had occurred to myself an incident so entirely inexplicable, and which had in it so much of the portentous character, that I might well have been excused for regarding it as an omen. It appalled, and at the same time so confounded and bewildered me, that many days elapsed before I could make up my mind to communicate the circumstances to my friend. Near the close of an exceedingly warm day, I was sitting, book in hand, at an open window, commanding, through a long vista of the river-banks, A view of a distant hill, the face of which, nearest my position, had been denuded, by what is termed a landslide, of the principal portion of its trees.

My thoughts had been long wandering from the volume before me to the gloom and desolation of the neighboring city. Uplifting my eyes from the page, they fell upon the naked face of the hill, and upon an object, upon some living monster of hideous conformation, which very rapidly made its way from the summit to the bottom, disappearing finally in the dense forest below. As this creature first came in sight, I doubted my own sanity, or at least the evidence of my own eyes, and many minutes passed before I succeeded in convincing myself that I was neither mad nor in a dream. Yet when I described the monster, which I distinctly saw and calmly surveyed through the whole period of its progress, my readers, I fear, will feel more difficulty in being convinced of these points than even I did myself.

Estimating the size of the creature by comparison with the diameter of the large trees near which it passed, the few giants of the forest which had escaped the fury of the landslide, I concluded it to be far larger than any ship of the line in existence. I say ship of the line, because the shape of the monster suggested the idea. The hull of one of our seventy-four might convey a very tolerable conception of the general outline. The mouth of the animal was situated at the extremity of a proboscis, and about as thick as the body of an ordinary elephant. Near the root of this trunk was an immense quantity of black shaggy hair, more than could have been supplied by the coats of a score of buffaloes, and projecting from this hair downwardly and laterally sprang two gleaming tusks, not unlike those of the wild boar, but of infinitely greater dimensions.

Extending forward, parallel with the proboscis, And on each side of it was a gigantic staff, thirty or forty feet in length, formed seemingly of pure crystal and in shape of a perfect prism. It reflected in the most gorgeous manner the rays of the declining sun. The trunk was fashioned like a wedge with the apex to the earth. From it there were outspread two pairs of wings, each wing nearly one hundred yards in length, One pair being placed above the other, and all thickly covered with metal scales, each scale apparently some ten or twelve feet in diameter. I observed that the upper and lower tiers of wings were connected by a strong chain. But the chief peculiarity of this horrible thing was the representation of a death's head, which covered nearly the whole surface of its breast, and which was as accurately traced in glaring white upon the dark ground of the body as if it had been there carefully designed by an artist.

While I regarded the terrific animal, and more especially the appearance on its breast, with a feeling of horror and awe, with a sentiment of forthcoming evil which I found it impossible to quell by any effort of the reason, I perceived the huge jaws at the extremity of the proboscis suddenly expand themselves, and from there proceeded a sound so loud and so expressive of woe that it struck upon my nerves like a knell, and as the monster disappeared at the foot of the hill, I fell at once, fainting to the floor. Upon recovering, my first impulse, of course, was to inform my friend of what I had seen and heard, and I can scarcely explain what feeling of repugnance it was, Which, in the end, operated to prevent me.

At length, one evening, some three or four days after the occurrence, we were sitting together in the room in which I had seen the apparition. I occupied the same seat at the same window, and he lounging on a sofa near at hand. The association of the place and time impelled me to give him an account of the phenomenon. He heard me to the end, at first laughed heartily. and then lapsed into an excessively grave demeanour, as if my insanity was a thing beyond suspicion. At this instant I again had a distinct view of the monster, to which, with a shout of absolute terror, I now directed his attention. He looked eagerly, but maintained that he saw nothing, although I designated minutely the course of the creature as it made its way down the naked face of the hill.

I was now immeasurably alarmed, for I considered the vision either as an omen of my death, or worse, as the forerunner of an attack of mania. I threw myself passionately back in my chair, and for some moments buried my face in my hands. When I uncovered my eyes, the apparition was no longer apparent. My host, however, had in some degree resumed the calmness of his demeanour, and questioned me very vigorously in respect to the conformation of the visionary creature. When I had fully satisfied him on this head, he sighed deeply, as if relieved of some intolerable burden, and went on to talk, with what I thought a cruel calmness, of various points of speculative philosophy, which had heretofore formed subject of discussion between us.

I remember his insisting very especially, among other things, upon the idea that the principal source of error in all human investigations lay in the liability of the understanding to underrate or to overrate the importance of an object, through mere misadmeasurement of its propinquity. To estimate properly, for example, he said, The influence to be exercised on mankind at large by the thorough diffusion of democracy, the distance of the epoch at which such diffusion may possibly be accomplished, should not fail to form an item in the estimate. Yet can you tell me one writer on the subject of government who has ever thought this particular branch of the subject worthy of discussion at all? He here paused for a moment, stepped to a bookcase, and brought forth one of the ordinary synopses of natural history.

Requesting me then to exchange seats with him, that he might the better distinguish the fine print of the volume, he took my armchair at the window, and, opening the book, resumed his discourse very much in the same tone as before. But for exceeding minuteness, he said, in describing the monster, I might never have had it in my power to demonstrate to you what it was. In the first place, let me read to you a schoolboy account of the genus Sphinx, of the family of the crepescularia, of the order of Lepidoptera, of the class of Insecta, or Insects. The account runs thus. Four membranous wings, covered with little colored scales of metallic appearance, mouth forming a rolled proboscis, Produced by an elongation of the jaws, upon the sides of which are found the rudiments of mandibles and downy palpy.

The inferior wings retained to the superior by a stiff hair, antennae in the form of an elongated club, prismatic, abdomen pointed. Abdomen pointed! The death-headed sphinx has occasioned much terror among the vulgar, at times, by the melancholy kind of cry which it utters. and the insignia of death which it wears upon its corslet. Here he closed the book, and leaned forward in the chair, placing himself accurately in the position which I had occupied at the moment of beholding the monster. "'Ah, here it is,' he presently exclaimed. "'It is reascending the face of the hill, and a very remarkable-looking creature I admit it to be.' Still, it is by no means so large or so distant as you imagined it, for the fact is that as it wriggles its way up this thread which some spider has wrought along the window-sash, I find it to be about the sixteenth of an inch in its extreme length, and also about sixteenth of an inch distant from the pupil of my eye."

4 04 - Hop-Frog 26:42

Hop Frog by Edgar Allan Poe.

I never knew anyone so keenly alive to a joke as the king was. He seemed to live only for joking. To tell a good story of the joke kind, and to tell it well, was the surest road to his favour. Thus it happened that his seven ministers were all noted for their accomplishments as jokers. They all took after the king, too, in being large, Corpulent, oily men, as well as inimitable jokers. Whether people grow fat by joking, or whether there is something in fat itself which predisposes to a joke, I have never been quite able to determine. But certain it is that a lean joker is a rara avas in Terras. About the refinements, or as he called them, the ghost of wit, the king troubled himself very little.

He had an especial admiration for breadth in a jest, and would often put up with length for the sake of it. Overniceties wearied him. He would have preferred Rabelais' gargantua to the Zedig of Voltaire, and upon the whole practical jokes suited his tastes far better than verbal ones.

At the date of my narrative, professing jesters had not altogether gone out of fashion at court. Several of the great continental powers still retained their fools, who wore motley, with caps and bells, and who were expected to be always ready with sharp witticisms at a moment's notice, in consideration of the crumbs that fell from the royal table. Our king, as a matter of course, retained his fool. The fact is, he required something in the way of folly, if only to counterbalance the heavy wisdom of the seven wise men who were his ministers, not to mention himself. His fool, or professional jester, was not only a fool, however. His value was trebled in the eyes of the king by the fact that his being also a dwarf and a cripple.

Dwarfs were as common in court in those days as fools, and many monarchs would have found it difficult to get through their days, days are rather longer at court than elsewhere, without both a jester to laugh with and a dwarf to laugh at. But, as I have already observed, your jesters, in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, are fat, round, and unwieldy, so that it was no small source of self-congratulation with our king that in Hopfrog This was the fool's name. He possessed a triplicate treasure in one person. I believe the name Hopfrog was not given to the dwarf by his sponsors at baptism, but it was conferred upon him by general consent of the several ministers on account of his inability to walk as other men do.

In fact, Hopfrog could only get along by a sort of interjectional gait, something between a leap and a wriggle. A movement that afforded illimitable amusement, and of course consolation to the king, for notwithstanding the protuberance of his stomach and a constitutional swelling of the head, the king by his whole court was accounted a capital figure. But although Hopfrog, through the distortion of his legs, could move only with great pain and difficulty along a road or floor, the prodigious muscular power which nature seems to have bestowed upon his arms, by way of compensation for deficiency in the lower limbs, enabled him to perform many feats of wonderful dexterity where trees or ropes were in question, or anything else to climb.

At such exercises, he certainly much more resembled a squirrel or a small monkey than a frog. I am not able to say with precision from what country Hopfrog originally came. It was from some barbarous region, however, that no person ever heard of, a vast distance from the court of our king. Hopfrog and a young girl, very little less dwarfish than himself, Although of exquisite proportions and a marvelous dancer, had been forcibly carried off from their respective homes in adjoining provinces, and sent as presents to the king by one of his ever-victorious generals. Under these circumstances, it is not to be wondered at that a close intimacy arose between the two little captives. Indeed, they soon become sworn friends, and Hopfrog, who, although he made a great deal of sport, was by no means popular, had it not in his power to render Trepeta many services.

But she, on account of her grace and exquisite beauty, although a dwarf, was universally admired and petted, so she possessed much influence and never failed to use it whenever she could for the benefit of Hopfrog. On some grand state occasion, I forgot what, the king determined to have a masquerade, and whenever a masquerade or anything of that kind occurred at our court, then the talents both of Hopfrog and Trippetta were sure to be called into play. Hopfrog, in special, was so inventive in the way of getting up pageants, suggesting novel characters, and arranging costumes for masked balls that nothing could be done, it seems, without his assistance.

The night appointed for the fete had arrived. A gorgeous hall had been fitted up under Trepeta's eye with every kind of device which could possibly give Eclat to a masquerade. The whole court was in a fever of expectation. As for costumes and characters, it might well be supposed that everybody had come to a decision on such points. Many had made up their minds as to what roles they should assume a week or even a month in advance. And in fact, there was not a particle of indecision anywhere, except in the case of the king and his seven ministers. Why they hesitated, I never could tell, unless they did it by way of a joke. More probably, they found it difficult, on account of being so fat, to make up their minds.

At all events, time flew, and as a last resort, they sent for Trapetta and Hopfrog. When the two little friends obeyed the summons of the king, they found him sitting at his wine with the seven members of his cabinet council. But the monarch appeared to be in a very ill humor. He knew that Hopfrog was not fond of wine, for it excited the poor cripple almost to madness. And madness is no comfortable feeling. But the king loved his practical jokes and took pleasure in forcing Hopfrog to drink and, as the king called it, to be merry. Come here, Hopfrog, he said as the jester and his friend entered the room. Swallow this bumper to the health of your absent friends. Here Hopfrog sighed. And then let us have the benefit of your invention.

We want characters. Characters, man. Something novel out of the way. We are wearied with this everlasting sameness. Come, drink. The wine will brighten your wits.

Hopfrog endeavored, as usual, to get up a jest and reply to these advances from the king, but the effort was too much. It happened to be the poor dwarf's birthday, and the command to drink to his absent friends forced the tears to his eyes. Many large bitter drops fell into the goblet as he took it humbly from the hand of the tyrant.

Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha, roared the latter as the dwarfs reluctantly drained the beaker. See what a glass of good wine can do. Why, your eyes are shining already.

Poor fellow, his large eyes gleamed rather than shone. For the effect of wine on his excitable brain was not more powerful than instantaneous. He placed the goblet nervously on the table and looked round upon the company with a half-insane stare. They all seemed highly amused at the success of the king's joke.

And now to business, said the prime minister, a very fat man. Yes, said the king. Come, lend us your assistance. Characters, my fine fellow, we stand in need of characters. All of us!

And as this was seriously meant for a joke, his laugh was chorused by the Seven.

Hopfrog also laughed, although feebly and somewhat vacantly. Come, come, said the king impatiently. Have you nothing to suggest? "'I am endeavoring to think of something novel,' replied the dwarf abstractedly, for he was quite bewildered by the wine. "'Endeavoring!' cried the tyrant fiercely. "'What do you mean by that?' "'Ah, I perceive you are sulky and want more wine. Here, drink this.'" And he poured out another goblet full and offered it to the cripple, who merely gazed at it, gasping for breath. "'Drink, I say,' shouted the monster. "'Or by the fiends!' The dwarf hesitated. The king grew purple with rage. The courtier smirked. Trapeta Pell, as a corpse advanced to the monarch's seat, and, falling on her knees before him, implored him to spare her friend.

The tyrant regarded her for some moments, in evident wonder at her audacity. He seemed quite at a loss what to do or say, how most becomingly to express his indignation. At last, without uttering a syllable, he pushed her violently from him and threw the contents of the brimming goblet in her face.

The poor girl got up the best she could, and, not daring even to sigh, resumed her position at the foot of the table.

There was a dead silence for about half a minute, during which the falling of a leaf or of a feather might have been heard.

It was interrupted by a low but harsh and protracted grating sound, which seemed to come at once from every corner of the room. "'What? What? What are you making that noise for?' demanded the king, turning furiously to the dwarf.

The latter seemed to have recovered in a great measure from his intoxication, and looked fixedly but quietly into the tyrant's face, merely ejaculated. "'I? I? How could it have been me?' The sound appeared to come from without, observed one of the courtiers. I fancy it was the parrot at the window wetting his bill upon his cage wires. True, replied the monarch, as if much relieved by the suggestion. But on the honor of a knight, I could have sworn that it was the gritting of this vagabond's teeth.

Hereupon the dwarf laughed. The king was too confirmed a joker to object to anyone's laughing, and displayed a set of large, powerful, and very repulsive teeth. Moreover, he avowed his perfect willingness to swallow as much wine as desired. The monarch was pacified in having drained another bumper with no very perceptible ill effect. Hopfrog entered at once and with spirit into the plans for the masquerade. "'I cannot tell what was the association of idea,' observed he very tranquilly, as if he had never tasted wine in his life. "'But just after your majesty had struck the girl and thrown the wine in her face, just after your majesty had done this,' And while the parrot was making that odd noise outside the window, there came into my mind a capital diversion.

One of my own country frolics often enacted among us at our masquerades, but here it will be new altogether. Unfortunately, however, it requires a company of eight persons and... "'Here we are,' cried the king, laughing at his acute discovery of the coincidence. "'Eight to a fraction, I and my seven ministers. Come, come, what is the diversion?' "'We call it,' replied the cripple, "'the eight chained orangutans, and it really is excellent sport if well enacted.'" "'We will enact it.'" remarked the king, drawing himself up and lowering his eyelids. The beauty of the game, continued Hopfrog, lies in the freight it occasions among the women. Ha ha! Capital roared in course the monarch and his ministry.

I will equip you as orangutans, proceeded the dwarf. Leave all that to me. The resemblance shall be so striking that the company of masqueraders will take you for real beasts, and of course they will be as much terrified as astonished. Oh, this is exquisite, exclaimed the king. Hopfrog, I will make a man of you. The chains... Are for the purpose of increasing the confusion by their jangling. You are supposed to have escaped en masse from your keepers. Your majesty cannot conceive the effect produced at a masquerade by eight chained orangutans imagined to be real ones by most of the company. And rushing in with savage cries among the crowd of delicately and gorgeously habited men and women, the contrast is inimitable.

It must be, said the king. And the council arose hurriedly, as it was growing late, to put in execution the scheme of Hopfrog. His mode of equipping the party as orangutans was very simple, but effective enough for his purposes. The animals in question had, at the epoch of my story, very rarely been seen in any part of the civilized world, and as the imitations made by the dwarf were sufficiently beast-like and more than sufficiently hideous, their truthfulness to nature was thus thought to be secured. The king and his ministers were first encased in tight-fitting stockinette shirts in drawers. They were then saturated with tar. At this stage of the process, some of the party suggested feathers.

But the suggestion was at once overruled by the dwarf, who soon convinced the eight by ocular demonstration that the hair of such a brute as the orangutan was much more efficiently represented by fluke. A thick coating of the latter was Accordingly plastered upon the coating of tar, a long chain was now procured. First it was passed about the waist of the king and tied, then about another of the party, and also tied, then about all successively in the same manner. When this chaining arrangement was complete and the party stood as far apart from each other as possible, they formed a circle. And to make all things appear natural, Hopfrog passed the residue of the chain in two diameters at right angles across the circle after the fashion adopted at the present day by those who capture chimpanzees or other large apes in Borneo.

The grand saloon in which the masquerade was to take place was a circular room, very lofty and receiving the light of the sun only through a single window at top. At night, the season for which the apartment was especially designed, it was illuminated principally by a large chandelier, depending by a chain from the center of the skylight, and lowered or elevated by means of a counterbalance as usual. But, in order not to look unsightly, this ladder passed outside the cupola and over the roof. The arrangements of the room had been left to Trippetta's superintendents. But in some particulars, it seems, she had been guided by the calmer judgment of her friend the dwarf. And his suggestion was that on this occasion the chandelier was removed.

Its waxen drippings, which, in weather so warm it was quite impossible to prevent, would have been seriously detrimental to the rich dresses of the guests, who, on account of the crowded state of the saloon, could not all be expected to keep from out its center. That is to say, from under the chandelier. Additional sconces were set in various parts of the hall, out of the way, and a flambeau emitting sweet odor was placed in the right hand of each of the carides that stood against the wall, some fifty or sixty altogether. The eight orangutans taking Hopfrog's advice waited patiently until midnight, when the room was thoroughly filled with masqueraders before making their appearance. No sooner had the clock ceased striking, however, than they rushed, or rather rolled in altogether, for the impediments of their change caused most of the party to fall and all to stumble as they entered.

The excitement among the masqueraders was prodigious and filled the heart of the king with glee. As had been anticipated, there were not a few of the guests who supposed the ferocious-looking creatures to be beasts of some kind in reality. If not precisely, orangutans. Many of the women swooned with a fright, and had not the king taken the precaution to exclude all weapons from the saloon, his party might soon have expiated their frolic in their blood. As it was, a general rush was made for the doors, but the king had ordered them to be locked immediately upon his entrance, and at the dwarfs' suggestion, the keys had been deposited with him. While the tumult was at its height, and each masquerader attentive only to his own safety, for in fact there was much real danger from the pressure of the excited crowd, the chain by which the chandelier ordinarily hung, and which had been drawn up on its removal, might have been seen very gradually to descend until its hooked extremity came within three feet of the floor.

Soon after this, the king and his seven friends, having reeled about the hall in all directions, found themselves at length in its center, and, of course, in immediate contact with the chain. While they were thus situated, the dwarf, who had followed noiselessly at their heels, inciting them to keep up the commotion, took hold of their own chain at the intersection of the two portions which crossed the circle diametrically and at right angles. Here, with the rapidity of thought, he inserted the hook from which the chandelier had been wont to depend. And in an instant, by some unseen agency, the chandelier chain was drawn so far upward as to take the hook out of reach, and as an inevitable consequence to drag the orangutans together in close connection and face to face.

The masqueraders by this time had recovered in some measure from their alarm. And beginning to regard the whole matter as a well-contrived pleasantry, set up a loud shout of laughter at the predicament of the apes.

"'Leave them to me!' now screamed Hopfrog, his shrill voice making itself easily heard through all the din. "'Leave them to me! I fancy I know them! If I can only get a good look at them, I can tell who they are.'" Here, scrambling over the heads of the crowd, he managed to get to the wall. When, seizing a flambeau from one of the Cariatetes, he returned as he went to the center of the room, leaping with the agility of a monkey upon the king's head, and thence clambered a few feet up the chain, holding down the torch to examine the group of orangutans and still screaming, I shall soon find out who they are. And now, while the whole assembly, the apes included, were convulsed with laughter, the jester suddenly uttered a shrill whistle when the chain flew violently up for about thirty feet, dragging with it the dismayed and struggling orangutans and leaving them suspended in midair between the skylight and the floor.

Hopfrog, clinging to the chain as it rose, still maintained his relative position in respect to the eight maskers, and still, as if nothing were the matter, continued to thrust his torch down toward them, as though endeavoring to discover who they were. So thoroughly astonished was the whole company at this ascent that a dead silence of about a minute's duration ensued.

It was broken by just such a low, harsh, grating sound as had before attracted the attention of the king and his counselors when the former threw the wine in the face of Trippetta. But on the present occasion there could be no question as to whence the sound issued. It came from the fang-like teeth of the dwarf, who ground them and gnashed them as he foamed at the mouth. And glared with an expression of maniacal rage into the upturned countenance of the king and his seven companions. Aha! said at length the infuriated jester. Aha! I begin to see who these people are now. Here, pretending to scrutinize the king more closely, he held the flambeau to the flaxen coat which enveloped him. And which instantly burst into a sheet of vivid flame.

In less than half a minute, the whole eight orangutans were blazing fiercely amid the shrieks of the multitude who gazed at them from below, horror-stricken and without the power to render them the slant. At length, the flame suddenly, increasing in virulence, forced the jester to climb higher up the chain to be out of their reach, and as he made this movement, the crowd again sank for a brief instant. Into silence, the dwarf seized the opportunity, and once more spoke. I see distinctly, he said, what manner of people these maskers are. They are a great king and his seven privy counselors, a king who does not scruple to strike a defenseless girl, and his seven counselors who abet him in the outrage.

As for myself, I am simply Hopfrog the jester, and this is my last jest.

Owing to the high combustibility of both the flax and the tar to which it adhered, the dwarf had scarcely made an end of his brief speech before the work of vengeance was complete. The eight corpses swung in their chains, a fetid, blackened, hideous, and indistinguishable mass. The cripple hurled his torch at them, clambered leisurely to the ceiling, and disappeared through the skylight.

It is supposed that Tripitta, stationed on the roof of the saloon, had been the accomplice of her friend in his fiery revenge, and that together they effected their escape to their own country. For neither was seen again.

5 05 - The Man of the Crowd 21:15

The Man in the Crowd by Edgar Allan Poe.

The great fear of us to see the Brie.

It was well said of a certain German book that it does not permit itself to be read. There are some secrets which do not permit themselves to be told. Men die nightly in their beds, wringing the hands of ghostly confessors and looking them piteously in the eyes, die with despair of heart and convulsion of throat on account of the hideousness of mysteries which will not suffer themselves to be revealed. Now and then, alas, the conscience of man takes up a burthen so heavy in horror that it can be thrown down only into the grave, and thus the essence of all crime is undivulged.

Not long ago, about the closing in of an evening in autumn, I sat at the large bow window of the D. Coffee House in London. For some months I had been ill in health, but was now convalescent, and, with returning strength, found myself in one of those happy moods which are so precisely the converse of ennui, moods of the keenest epitency, when the film from the mental vision departs. And the intellect, electrified, surpasses as greatly its everyday condition, as does the vivid yet candid reason of Leibniz, the mad and flimsy rhetoric of Gorgias. Merely to breathe was enjoyment, and I derived positive pleasure even from many of the legitimate sources of pain. I felt a calm but inquisitive interest in every thing.

With a cigar in my mouth and a newspaper in my lap, I had been amusing myself for the greater part of the afternoon. Now in poring over advertisements, now in observing the promiscuous company in the room, and now in peering through the smoky panes into the street.

This latter is one of the principal thoroughfares of the city, and had been very much crowded during the whole day. But, as the darkness came on, the throng momently increased, and by the time the lamps were well lighted, two dense and continuous tides of population were rushing past the door. At this particular period of the evening, I had never before been in a similar situation, and the tumultuous sea of human heads filled me, therefore, with a delicious novelty of emotion. I gave up at length all care of things within the hotel, and became absorbed in contemplation of the scene without. At first, my observations took an abstract and generalizing turn. I looked at the passengers in masses, and thought of them in their aggregate relations.

Soon, however, I descended to details, and regarded with minute interest the innumerable varieties of figure, dress, air, gait, visage, and expression of countenance. By far the greater number of those who went by had a satisfied businesslike demeanor, and seemed to be thinking only of making their way through the press. Their brows were knit, and their eyes rolled quickly. When pushed against by fellow wayfarers, they evinced no symptom of impatience, but adjusted their clothes and hurried on. Others, still a numerous class, were restless in their movements, had flushed faces, and talked and gesticulated to themselves, as if feeling in solitude on account of the very denseness of the company around.

When impeded in their progress, these people suddenly ceased muttering, but redoubled their gesticulations and awaited. With an absent and overdone smile upon the lips, the course of the persons impeding them. If jostled, they bowed profusely to the jostlers, and appeared overwhelmed with confusion. There was nothing very distinctive about these two large classes beyond what I have noted. Their habiliments belonged to that order which is pointedly termed the decent. They were undoubtedly noblemen, merchants, attorneys, tradesmen, stock-jobbers, The Eupatriads and the commonplaces of society, men of leisure and men actively engaged in affairs of their own, conducting business upon their own responsibility.

They did not greatly excite my attention. The tribe of clerks was an obvious one, and here I discerned two remarkable divisions. There were the junior clerks of flash houses, young gentlemen with tight coats, bright boots, well-oiled hair, and supercilious lips. Setting aside a certain dapperness of carriage, which may be termed deskism for want of a better word, the manner of these persons seemed to me an exact facsimile of what had been the perfection of Bon Ton about twelve or eighteen months before. They wore the cast-off graces of the gentry, and this, I believe, involves the best definition of the class. The division of the upper clerks of staunch firms, or of the steady old fellows, it was not possible to mistake.

These were known by their coats and pantaloons of black or brown, made to sit comfortably, with white cravats and waistcoats, broad, solid-looking shoes, and thick hose or gaiters. They had all slightly bald heads, from which the right ears, long used to pen-holding, had an odd habit of standing off on end. I observed that they always removed or settled their hats with both hands, and wore watches with short gold chains of a substantial and ancient pattern. Theirs was the affectation of respectability, if indeed there be an affectation so honorable. There were many individuals of dashing appearance whom I easily understood as belonging to the race of swell pickpockets, with which all great cities are infested.

I watched these gentry with much inquisitiveness, and found it difficult to imagine how they should ever be mistaken for gentlemen by gentlemen themselves. Their voluminousness of wristband with an air of excessive frankness should betray them at once.

The gamblers, of whom I described not a few, were still more easily recognizable. They wore every variety of dress, from that of the desperate thimble-rig bully, with velvet waistcoast fancy neckerchief, gilt chains, and filigreed buttons, to that of the scrupulously inornate clergyman, than which nothing could be less liable to suspicion. Still all were distinguished by a certain sodden swarthiness of complexion, a filmy dimness of eye, and pallor and compression of lip. There were two other traits, moreover, by which I could always detect them, a guarded lowness of tone in conversation, and a more than ordinary extension of the thumb in a direction at right angles with the fingers. Very often, in company with these sharpers, I observed an order of men somewhat different in habits, but still birds of a kindred feather.

They may be defined as the gentlemen who live by their wits. They seem to prey upon the public in two battalions, that of the dandies and that of the military men. Of the first grade, the leading features are long locks and smiles. Of the second, frogged coats and frowns. Descending in the scale of what is termed gentility, I found darker and deeper themes for speculation. I saw Jew pedlars with hawk eyes flashing from countenances, whose every other feature wore only an expression of abject humility. Sturdy professional street beggars scowling upon mendicants of a better stamp whom despair alone had driven forth into the night for charity. Feeble and ghastly invalids upon whom death had placed a sure hand and who sidled and tottered through the mob, looking everyone beseechingly in the face, as if in search of some chance consolation, some lost hope.

Modest young girls returning from long and late labor to a cheerless home, and shrinking more tearfully than indignantly from the glances of ruffians, whose direct contact even could not be avoided. Women of the town of all kinds and of all ages, the unequivocal beauty in their prime of her womanhood, putting one in mind of the statue in Lucian, with the surface of parian marble, and the interior filled with filth. The loathsome and utterly lost leper in rags, the wrinkled, bejeweled, and paint-begrimed beldam, making a last effort at youth, the mere child of immature form, yet from long association, and adept in the dreadful coquetries of her trade, and burning with a rabid ambition to be ranked the equal of her elders in vice.

Drunkards innumerable and indescribable, some in shreds and patches reeling inarticulate with bruised visage and lackluster eyes, some in whole, although filthy garments with a slightly unsteady swagger, thick sensual lips and hearty-looking rubicund faces, others clothed in materials which had once been good and which even now are scrupulously well-brushed. Men who walked with a more than naturally firm and springy step, but whose countenances were fearfully pale, whose eyes hideously wild and red, and who clutched with quivering fingers as they strode through the crowd at every object which came within their reach, Beside these, pie men, porters, coal, heavers, sweeps, organ grinders, monkey exhibitors, and ballad mongers, those who vended with those who sang, ragged artisans and exhausted laborers of every description, and all full of a noisy and inordinate vivacity which jarred discordantly upon the ear and gave an aching sensation to the eye.

As the night deepened, so deepened to me the interest of the scene. For not only did the general character of the crowd materially alter, its gentler features retiring in the gradual withdrawal of the more orderly portion of the people, and its harsher ones coming out into bolder relief as the late hour brought forth every species of infamy from its den, But the rays of the gas-lamps, feeble at first in their struggle with the dying day, had now at length gained ascendancy, and threw over every thing a fitful and garish luster. All was dark, yet splendid, as that ebony to which has been likened the style of Tartullian. The wild effects of the light enchained me to an examination of individual faces, and although the rapidity with which the world of light flitted before the window prevented me from casting more than a glance upon each visage, still it seemed that, in my then peculiar mental state, I could frequently read, even in that brief interval of a glance, the history of long years.

With my brow to the glass, I was thus occupied in scrutinizing the mob, when suddenly there came into view a countenance, that of a decrepit old man, some sixty-five or seventy years of age. A countenance which at once arrested and absorbed my whole attention, on account of the absolute idiosyncrasy of its expression. Anything even remotely resembling that expression I had never seen before. I well remember that my first thought, upon beholding it, was that Retzk. Had he viewed it, would have greatly preferred it to his own pictural incarnations of the Fiend. As I endeavored, during the brief minute of my original survey, to form some analysis of the meaning conveyed, there arose confusedly and paradoxically within my mind the ideas of vast mental power, of caution, of penuriousness, of avarice, of coolness, of malice, of bloodthirstiness, of triumph, of merriment, of excessive terror, of intense...

Of supreme despair, I felt singularly aroused, startled, fascinated. How wild a history, I said to myself, is written within that bosom. Then came a craving desire to keep the man in view, to know more of him. Hurriedly, putting on an overcoat and seizing my hat and cane, I made my way into the street and pushed through the crowd in the direction which I had seen him take, for he had already disappeared. With some little difficulty, I at length came within sight of him, approached, and followed him closely, yet cautiously, so as not to attract his attention. I had now a good opportunity of examining his person. He was short in stature, very thin, and apparently very feeble. His clothes generally were filthy and ragged, but as he came, now and then within the strong glare of a lamp, I perceived that his linen, although dirty, was of beautiful texture, and my vision deceived me, or, through a rent in a closely buttoned and evidently second-handed roquellaire which enveloped him, I caught a glimpse both of a diamond and of a dagger.

These observations heightened my curiosity, and I resolved to follow the stranger whithersoever he should go. It was now fully nightfall. and a thick, humid fog hung over the city, soon ending in a settled and heavy rain. This change of weather had an odd effect upon the crowd, the whole of which was at once put into new commotion and overshadowed by a world of umbrellas. The waver, the jostle, and the hum increased in a tenfold degree. For my own part, I did not much regard the rain, the lurking of an old fever in my system rendering the moisture somewhat too dangerously pleasant. Tying a handkerchief around my mouth, I kept on. For half an hour the old man held his way with difficulty along the great thoroughfare, and I here walked close at his elbow through fear of losing sight of him.

Never once turning his head to look back, he did not observe me. By and by he passed into a cross street which, although densely filled with people, was not quite so much thronged as the main one he had quitted. Here a change in his demeanor became evident. He walked more slowly and with less object than before, more hesitatingly. He crossed and recrossed the way repeatedly, without apparent aim, and the press was still so thick that at every such moment I was obliged to follow him closely. The street was a narrow and long one, and his course lay within it for nearly an hour. During which the passengers had gradually diminished to about that number which is ordinarily seen at noon in Broadway near the park.

So vast a difference is there between a London populace and that of the most frequented American city. A second turn brought us into a square, brilliantly lighted and overflowing with life. The old manner of the stranger reappeared. His chin fell upon his breast. While his eyes rolled wildly from under his knit brows in every direction upon those who hemmed him in, he urged his way steadily and perseveringly. I was surprised, however, to find upon his having made the circuit of the square that he turned and retraced his steps. Still more was I astonished to see him repeat the same walk several times, once nearly detecting me as he came round with a sudden movement. In this exercise he spent another hour, at the end of which we met with far less interruption from passengers than at first.

The rain fell fast, the air grew cool, and the people were retiring to their homes. With a gesture of impatience the wanderer passed into a by-street comparatively deserted. Down this, some quarter of a mile long, he rushed with an activity I could not have dreamed of seeing in one so aged, and which put me to much trouble in pursuit. A few minutes brought us to a large and busy bazaar, with the localities of which the stranger appeared well acquainted, and where his original demeanor again became apparent as he forced his way to and fro without aim among the host of buyers and sellers.

During the hour and a half, or thereabouts, which we passed in this place, it required much caution on my part to keep him within reach without attracting his observation. Luckily, I wore a pair of cow-chock overshoes and could move about in perfect silence. At no moment did he see that I watched him. He entered shop after shop, priced nothing, spoke no word, and looked at all objects with a wild and vacant stare. I was now utterly amazed at his behavior, and firmly resolved that we should not part until I had satisfied myself in some measure respecting him.

A loud-toned clock struck eleven, and the company were fast deserting the bazaar. A shopkeeper, in putting up a shutter, jostled the old man, and at the instant I saw a strong shutter come over his frame. He hurried into the street, looked anxiously around him for an instant, and then ran with incredible swiftness through many crooked and people-less lanes, until we emerged once more upon the great thoroughfare whence we had started, the street of the D Hotel. It no longer wore, however, the same aspect. It was still brilliant with gas, but the rain fell fiercely, and there were few persons to be seen. The stranger grew pale. He walked moodily some paces up the once populous avenue, then, with a heavy sigh, turned in the direction of the river, and, plunging through a great variety of devious ways, came out at length in view of one of the principal theaters.

It was about being closed, and the audience were thronging from the doors. I saw the old man gasp as if for breath, while he threw himself amid the crowd, but I thought that the intense agony of his countenance had in some measure abated. His head again fell upon his breast. He appeared as I had seen him at first. I observed that he now took the course in which had gone the greater number of the audience, but upon the whole I was at a loss to comprehend the waywardness of his actions.

As he proceeded, the company grew more scattered, and his old uneasiness and vacillation were resumed. For some time he followed closely a party of some ten or twelve roisterers. But from this number one by one dropped off, until three only remained together, in a narrow and gloomy lane little frequented. The stranger paused, and for a moment seemed lost in thought, then, with every mark of agitation, pursued rapidly a route which brought us to the verge of the city. amid regions very different from those we had hitherto traversed. It was the most noisome quarter of London, where everything wore the worst impress of the most deplorable poverty, and of the most desperate crime. By the dim light of an accidental lamp, tall, antique, worm-eaten, wooden tenements were seen tottering to their fall, in directions so many and capricious that scarce the semblance of a passage was discernible between them.

The paving stones lay at random, displaced from their beds by the rankly growing grass. Horrible filth festered in the dammed-up gutters. The whole atmosphere teemed with desolation. Yet, as we proceeded, the sounds of human life revived by sure degrees, and at length large bands of the most abandoned of a London populace were seen reeling to and fro.

The spirits of the old man again flickered up, as a lamp which is near its death hour. Once more he strode onward with elastic tread. Suddenly a corner was turned, a blaze of light burst upon our sight, and we stood before one of the huge suburban temples of Intemperance, one of the palaces of the fiend, Jinn. It was now nearly daybreak, but a number of wretched inebriates still pressed in and out of the flaunting entrance. With a half-shriek of joy the old man, forced a passage within, resumed at once his original bearing, and stalked backward and forward. Without apparent object, among the throng. He had not been thus long occupied, however, before a rush to the doors gave token that the host was closing them for the night.

It was something even more intense than despair that I then observed upon the countenance of the singular being whom I had watched so pertinaciously. Yet he did not hesitate in his career, but with a mad energy retraced his steps at once to the heart of the mighty London. Long and swiftly he fled, while I followed him in the wildest amazement. Resolute not to abandon a scrutiny in which I now felt an interest all-absorbing. The sun arose while we proceeded, and when we had once again reached that most thronged mart of the populous town, the street of the D Hotel, it presented an appearance of human bustle and activity scarcely inferior to what I had seen on the evening before. And here, long, amid the momently increasing confusion, did I persist in my pursuit of the stranger.

But as usual, he walked to and fro, and during the day did not pass from out the turmoil of that street. And as the shades of the second evening came on, I grew wearied unto death, and, stopping fully in front of the wanderer, gazed at him steadfastly in the face. He noticed me not, but resumed his solemn walk, while I, ceasing to follow, remained absorbed in contemplation. This old man, I said at length, is the type and the genius of deep crime. He refuses to be alone. He is the man of the crowd. It will be in vain to follow, for I shall learn no more of him nor of his deeds. The worst heart of the world is a grosser book than the Hortilus Anima, and perhaps it is but one of the great mercies of God that er lacht sich nicht lesen.

6 06 - Never Bet the Devil Your Head 26:35

Never Bet the Devil Your Head, A Tale With A Moral by Edgar Allan Poe. Con tal que las costumbres de un autor, says Don Thomas de las Torres, in the preface to his Amatory Poems. Se impures y castes importo muy poco que no sean igualmente severas sus obras. Meaning, in plain English, that provided the morals of an author are pure personally, it signifies nothing what are the morals of his books. We presume that Don Thomas is now in purgatory for the assertion. It would be a clever thing, too, in the way of poetical justice, to keep him there until his amatory poems get out of print, or are laid definitely upon the shelf through lack of readers. Every fiction should have a moral. And what is more to the purpose, the critics have discovered that every fiction has.

Philip Melanchthon, some time ago, wrote a commentary upon the Petrachomaiamachia, and proved that the poet's object was to excite a distaste for sedition. Pierre Racen, going a step further, shows that the intention was to recommend to young men temperance in eating and drinking. Just so, too, Jacobus Hugo has satisfied him that, by Eunice, Homer meant to insinuate John Calvin, by Antonius Martin Luther. By the Lothophagy, Protestants in general, and by the Harpies, the Dutch. Our more modern scholiastes are equally acute. These fellows demonstrate a hidden meaning in The Antidiluvians, a parable in Powhatan, new views in Cockrobin, and Transcendentalism in Hoppa My Thumb. In short, it has been shown that no man can sit down to write without a very profound design.

Thus, to authors in general, much trouble is spared. A novelist, for example, need have no care of his moral. It is there, that is to say, it is somewhere, and the moral and the critics can take care of themselves. When the proper time arrives, all that the gentleman intended and all that he did not intend will be brought to light in the dial or the downeaster. Together with all that he ought to have intended, and the rest that he clearly meant to intend, so that it will all come very straight in the end. There is no just ground, therefore, for the charge brought against me by certain ignoramuses, that I have never written a moral tale, or in more precise words, a tale with a moral. They are not the critics predestined to bring me out and develop my morals.

That is the secret. By and by, the North American Quarterly humdrum will make them ashamed of their stupidity. In the meantime, by way of staying execution, by way of mitigating the accusations against me, I offer the sad history appended, a history about whose obvious moral there can be no question whatever, since he who runs may read it in the large capitals which form the title of the tale. I should have credit for this arrangement, a far wiser one than that of La Fontaine and others, who reserved the impression to be conveyed until the last moment, and thus sneak it in at the fag end of their fables. Defuncti injuria ne aficionator was the law of the twelve tables, and a mortius nil nisi bonum is an excellent injunction, even if the dead in question be nothing but dead small beer.

It is not my design, therefore, to vituperate my deceased friend, Toby Dammit. He was a sad dog, it is true, and a dog's death it was that he died. But he himself was not to blame for his vices. They grew out of a personal defect in his mother. She did her best in the way of flogging him while an infant, For duties to her well-regulated mind were always pleasures, and babies like tough steaks or the modern Greek olive trees are invariably the better for beating. But poor woman. She had the misfortune to be left-handed, and a child flogged left-handedly had better be left unflogged. The world revolves from right to left. It will not do to whip a baby from left to right. If each blow in the proper direction drives an evil propensity out, it follows that every thump in an opposite one knocks its quota of wickedness in.

I was often present at Toby's chastisements, and even by the way in which he kicked, I could perceive that he was getting worse and worse every day. At last I saw through the tears in my eyes that there was no hope of the villain at all, and one day, when he had been cuffed until he grew so black in the face that one might have mistaken him for a little African, and no effect had been produced beyond that of making him wriggle himself into a fit, I could stand it no longer, but went down upon my knees forthwith, and uplifting my voice made prophecy of his ruin. The fact is that his precocity in vice was awful. At five months of age, he used to get into such passions that he was unable to articulate.

At six months, I caught him gnawing a pack of cards. At seven months, he was in the constant habit of catching and kissing the female babies. At eight months, he preemptorily refused to put his signature to the temperance pledge. Thus he went on increasing in iniquity, month after month, until at the close of the first year he not only insisted upon wearing mustaches, but had contracted a propensity for cursing and swearing, and for backing his assertions by bets. Through this latter most ungentlemanly practice, the ruin which I had predicted to Toby Dammit, overtook him at last. The fashion had grown with his growth and strengthened him with strength, so that when he came to be a man, he could scarcely utter a sentence without interlarding it with a proposition to gamble.

Not that he actually laid wagers, and no. I will do my friend the justice to say that he would as soon have laid eggs. With him the thing was a mere formula, nothing more. His expressions on this head had no meaning attached to them whatever. They were simple, if not altogether innocent, expletives. Imaginative phrases wherewith to round off a sentence. When he said, I'll bet you so-and-so, nobody ever thought of taking him up, but still I could not help thinking it my duty to put him down. The habit was an immoral one, and so I told him. It was a vulgar one. This I begged him to believe. It was discountenanced by society. Here I said nothing but the truth. It was forbidden by act of Congress.

Here I had not the slightest intention of telling a lie. I remonstrated, but to no purpose. I demonstrated in vain. I entreated. He smiled. I implored. He laughed. I preached. He sneered. I threatened. He swore I kicked him. He called for the police. I pulled his nose. He blew it and offered to bet the devil his head that I would not venture to try that experiment again. Poverty was another vice which the peculiar physical deficiency of Dammit's mother had entailed upon her son. He was detestably poor, and this was the reason, no doubt, that his expletive expressions about betting seldom took a pecuniary turn. I will not be bound to say that I ever heard him make use of such a figure of speech as, I'll bet you a dollar.

It was usually, I'll bet you what you please, or, I'll bet you what you dare, or I'll bet you a trifle, or else, most significantly still, I'll bet the devil my head. This latter form seemed to please him best, perhaps because it involved the least risk, for Dammit had become excessively parsimonious. Had anyone taken him up, his head was small, and thus his loss would have been small, too. But these are my own reflections, and I am by no means sure that I am right in attributing them to him. At all events, the phrase in question grew daily in favor, notwithstanding the gross impropriety of a man betting his brains like banknotes. But this was a point which my friend's perversity of disposition would not permit him to comprehend.

In the end, he abandoned all other forms of wager, and gave himself up to, I'll bet the devil my head, with a pertinacity and exclusiveness of devotion that displeased not less than it surprised me. I am always displeased by circumstances for which I cannot account. Mysteries force a man to think, and so injure his health. The truth is, there was something in the air with which Mr. Dammit was wont to give utterance to his offensive expression, something in his manner of enunciation, which at first interested and afterwards made me very uneasy, something which, for want of a more definite term at present, I must be permitted to call queer, but which Mr. Coleridge would have called mystical. Mr.

Kant, pantheistical. Mr. Carlisle, twistical, and Mr. Emerson, hyperquisitistical. I began not to like it at all. Mr. Dammit's soul was in a perilous state. I resolved to bring all my eloquence into play to save it. I vowed to serve him as St. Patrick in the Irish Chronicle is said to have served the toad, that is to say, awaken him to a sense of his situation. I addressed myself to the task forthwith. Once more I betook myself to remonstrance. Again I collected my energies for a final attempt at expostulation. When I had made an end of my lecture, Mr. Dammit indulged himself in some very equivocal behavior. For some moments he remained silent, merely looking me inquisitively in the face. But presently he threw his head to one side and elevated his eyebrows to a great extent.

Then he spread out the palms of his hands and shrugged up his shoulders. Then he winked with the right eye. Then he repeated the operation with the left. Then he shut them both up very tight. Then he opened them both so very wide that I became seriously alarmed for the consequences. Then, applying his thumb to his nose, he thought proper to make an indescribable movement with the rest of his fingers. Finally, setting his arms akimbo, he condescended to reply. I can call to mind only the beads of his discourse. He would be obliged to me if I would hold my tongue. He wished none of my advice. He despised all my insinuations. He was old enough to take care of himself. Did I still think him baby dammit?

Did I mean to say anything against his character? Did I intend to insult him? Was I a fool? Was my maternal parent aware, in a word, of my absence from the domiciliary residence? He would put this latter question to me as a man of veracity, and he would bind himself to abide by my reply. Once more he would demand explicitly if my mother knew that I was out. My confusion, he said, betrayed me, and he would be willing to bet the devil his head that she did not. Mr. Dammit did not pause for my rejoinder. Turning upon his heel, he left my presence with undignified precipitation. It was well for him that he did so. My feelings had been wounded. Even my anger had been aroused. For once I would have taken him up upon his insulting wager.

I would have won for the archenemy of Mr. Dammit's little head, for the fact is my mama was very well aware of my merely temporary absence from home. But Kodesh Yepha met a head. Heaven gives relief. As the Muslims say when you tread upon their toes, it was in pursuance of my duty that I had been insulted, and I bore the insult like a man. It now seemed to me, however, that I had done all that could be required of me in the case of this miserable individual, and I resolved to trouble him no longer with my counsel, but to leave him to his conscience and himself. But although I forbore to intrude with my advice, I could not bring myself to give up his society altogether. I even went so far as to humor some of his less reprehensible propensities, and there were times when I found myself lauding his wicked jokes, as Epicure's dew mustered with tears in my eyes.

So profoundly did it grieve me to hear his evil talk. One fine day, having strolled out together, arm in arm, a route held us in the direction of a river. There was a bridge, and we resolved to cross it. It was roofed over by the way of protection from the weather, and the archway, having but few windows, was thus very uncomfortably dark. As we entered the passage, the contrast between the external glare and the interior gloom struck heavily upon my spirits. Not so upon those of the unhappy dammit, who offered to bet the devil his head that I was hipped. He seemed to be in an unusually good humor. He was excessively lively, so much so that I entertained to know not what of uneasy suspicion. It is not impossible that he was affected with the transcendentals.

I am not well enough versed, however, in the diagnosis of this disease to speak with decision upon the point. And unhappily there were none of my friends of the dial present. I suggest the idea nevertheless because of a certain species of austere Mary Andrewism which seemed to beset my poor friend and caused him to make quite a tomfool of himself. Nothing would serve him but wriggling and skipping about under and over everything that came in his way. Now shouting out, and now lisping out, all manner of odd little and big words, yet preserving the gravest face in the world all the time. I really could not make up my mind whether to kick or to pity him. At length, having passed nearly across the bridge, we approached the termination of the footway, when our progress was impeded by a turnstile of some height.

Through this, I made my way quietly, pushing it around as usual. But this turn would not serve the turn of Mr. Dammit. He insisted upon leaping the stile, and said he could cut a pigeon wing over it in the air. Now this, conscientiously speaking, I did not think he could do. The best pigeon winger over all kinds of stile was my friend Mr. Carlisle, and as I knew he could not do it, I would not believe that it could be done by Toby Dammit. I therefore told him in so many words that he was a braggadocio and could not do what he said. For this I had reason to be sorry afterward, for he straightway offered to bet the devil his head that he could. I was about to reply, notwithstanding my previous resolutions, with some remonstrance against his impiety, when I heard close at my elbow a slight cough.

Which sounded very much like the ejaculation, ahem. I started, and looked about me in surprise. My glance at length fell into a nook of the framework of the bridge, and upon the figure of a little lame old gentleman a venerable aspect. Nothing could be more reverend than his whole appearance, for he not only had on a full suit of black, but his shirt was perfectly clean. And the collar turned very neatly down over a white cravat, while his hair was parted in front like a girl's. His hands were clasped pensively together over his stomach, and his two eyes were carefully rolled up into the top of his head. Upon observing him more closely, I perceived that he wore a black silk apron over his small clothes, and this was a thing which I thought very odd.

Before I had time to make any remark, however, upon so singular a circumstance, he interrupted me with a second, ahem. To this observation, I was not immediately prepared to reply. The fact is, remarks of this laconic nature are nearly unanswerable. I have known a quarterly review, nonplussed by the word fudge. I am not ashamed to say, therefore, that I turned to Mr. Dammit for assistance. "'Damn it,' said I. "'What are you about? Don't you hear? The gentleman says, "'Ahem!' I looked sternly at my friend while I thus addressed him, for, to say the truth, I felt particularly puzzled, and when a man is particularly puzzled, he must knit his brows and look savage, or else he is pretty sure to look like a fool.'"

"'Dammit,' observed I, although this sounded very much like an oath, than which nothing was further from my thoughts. "'Dammit,' I suggested, the gentleman says, "'Ahem!' I do not attempt to defend my remark on the score of profundity. I did not think it profound myself. But I have noticed that the effect of our speeches is not always proportionate with their importance." In our own eyes. And if I had shot Mr. D. through and through with a Paxian bomb, or knocked him in the head with the Poets and Poetry of America, he could hardly have been more discomfited than when I addressed him with those simple words. Dammit, what are you about? Don't you hear? The gentleman says, ahem. You don't say so, gasped he at length after turning more colors than a pirate runs up, one after the other, when chased by a man of war.

Are you quite sure he said that? Well, at all events, I am in for it now, and may as well put a bold face upon the matter. Here goes, then. Ahem! At this the little gentleman seemed pleased. God only knows why. He left his station at the nook of the bridge, limped forward with a gracious air, took Dammit by the hand, and shook it cordially. Looking all the while straight up in his face, with an air of the most unadulterated benignity which it is possible for the mind of man to imagine. "'I am quite sure you will win it, dammit,' said he with the frankest of all smiles. "'But we are obliged to have a trial, you know, for the sake of mere form.' Ahem." replied my friend, taking off his coat with a deep sigh, tying a pocket handkerchief around his waist, and producing an unaccountable alteration in his countenance by twisting up his eyes and bringing down the corners of his mouth.

Ahem, and ahem, said he again after a pause, and not another word more than ahem did I ever know him to say after that. Aha, thought I, without expressing myself aloud. This is quite a remarkable silence on the part of Toby Dammit, and is no doubt a consequence of his verbosity upon a previous occasion. One extreme induces another. I wonder if he has forgotten the many unanswerable questions which he propounded to me so fluently on the day when I gave him my last lecture. At all events he is cured of the transcendentals. Ahem, here replied Toby, just as if he had been reading my thoughts, and looking like a very old sheep in a reverie. The old gentleman now took him by the arm, and led him more into the shade of the bridge, a few paces back from the turnstile.

My good fellow, he said. I make it a point of conscience to allow you this much run. Wait here till I make my place by the style, so that I may see whether you go over it handsomely and transcendentally, and don't omit any flourishes of the pigeon wing. A mere form, you know. I will say one, two, three, and away. Mind you, start at the word away. Here he took his position by the style, paused a moment as in profound reflection, then looked up and I thought smiled very slightly, then tightened the strings of his apron, then took a long look at Dammit, and finally gave the word as agreed upon. One, two, three, and away! Punctually at the word away, my poor friend set off in a strong gallop. The stile was not very high like Mr.

Lord's, nor yet very low like that of Mr. Lord's reviewers. But upon the whole I made sure that he would clear it. And then what if he did not? Ah, that was the question. What if he did not? What right, said I, had the old gentleman to make any other gentleman jump? The little old dot-and-carry one. Who is he? If he asks me to jump, I won't do it. That's flat, and I don't care who the devil he is. The bridge, as I say, was arched and covered in, in a very ridiculous manner, and there was a most uncomfortable echo about it at all times, an echo which I never before so particularly observed as when I uttered the four last words of my remark. But what I said, or what I thought, or what I heard occupied only an instant.

In less than five seconds from his starting, my poor Toby had taken the leap. I saw him run nimbly, and spring grandly from the floor of the bridge, cutting the most awful flourishes with his legs as he went up. I saw him high in the air, pigeon-winging it to admiration, just over the top of the stile. And of course I thought it an unusually singular thing that he did not continue to go over. But the whole leap was the affair of a moment, and before I had a chance to make any profound reflections, down came Mr. Dammit on the flat of his back, on the same side of the stile from which he had started. At the same instant I saw the old gentleman limping off at the top of his speed, having caught and wrapped up in his apron something that fell heavily into it from the darkness of the arch, just over the turnstile.

At all this I was much astonished, but I had no leisure to think, for Dammit lay particularly still, and I concluded that his feelings had been hurt and that he stood in need of my assistance. I hurried up to him and found that he had received what might be termed a serious injury. The truth is, he had been deprived of his head, which after a close search I could not find anywhere. So I determined to take him home and send for the homeopathists. In the meantime, a thought struck me, and I threw open an adjacent window at the bridge when the sad truth flashed upon me at once. About five feet just above the top of the turnstile, and crossing the arch of the footpath so as to constitute a brace, there extended a flat iron bar, lying with its breadth horizontally, and forming one of a series that served to strengthen the structure throughout its extent.

With the edge of this brace it appeared evident that the neck of my unfortunate friend had come precisely in contact. He did not long survive his terrible loss. The homeopathist did not give him little enough physic, and what little they did give him he hesitated to take. So, in the end, he grew worse, and at length died, a lesson to all riotous livers. I bedewed his grave with my tears, worked at a bar sinister on his family escutcheon, and for the general expenses of his funeral sent in my very moderate bill to the transcendentalists. The scoundrels refused to pay it, so I had Mr. Demet dug up at once and sold him for dog's meat.

7 07 - Thou Art the Man 30:05

V. X. I will now play the Oedipus to the Rattleboro Enigma. I will expound to you, as I alone can, The secret of the enginery that affected the Rattleboro miracle. The one, the true, the admitted, the undisputed, the indisputable miracle, which put a definite end to infidelity among the Rattleburgers, and converted to the orthodoxy of the Grand Ames all the carnal-minded who had ventured to be skeptical before. Which I should be sorry to discuss in a tone of unsuitable levity, occurred in the summer of eighteen. Mr. Barnabas Shuttleworthy, one of the wealthiest and most respectable citizens of the borough, had been missing for several days under circumstances which gave rise to suspicion of foul play.

Mr. Shuttleworthy had set out from Rattleboro very early one Saturday morning, on horseback, with the avowed intention of proceeding to the city of about fifteen miles distant, and of returning the night of the same day. Two hours after his departure, however, his horse returned without him, and without the saddle-bags which had been strapped on his back at starting. The animal was wounded, too, and covered with mud. These circumstances naturally gave rise to much alarm among the friends of the missing man, and when it was found on Sunday morning that he had not yet made his appearance, the whole borough arose en masse to go and look for his body. The foremost and most energetic in instituting this search was the bosom friend of Mr.

Shuttleworthy, Mr. Charles Goodfellow, or, as he was universally called, Charlie Goodfellow, or Old Charlie Goodfellow. Now, whether it is a marvelous coincidence, or whether it is that the name itself has an imperceptible effect upon the character, I have never yet been able to ascertain. But the fact is unquestionable, that there never yet was any person named Charles who was not an open, manly, honest, good-natured, and frank-hearted fellow, with a rich, clear voice, that did you good to hear it, and an eye that looked you always straight in the face, as much as to say, I have a clear conscience myself, am afraid of no man. And I'm altogether above doing a mean action. And thus all the hearty, careless, walking gentlemen of the stage are very certain to be called Charles.

Now old Charlie Goodfellow, although they had been in Rattleboro not longer than six months or thereabouts, and although nobody knew anything about him before he came to settle in the neighborhood, had experienced no difficulty in the world in making the acquaintance of all the respectable people in the borough. Not a man of them, but would have taken his bare word for a thousand at any moment. And as for the women, there is no saying what they would not have done to oblige him. And all this came of his having been christened Charles, and of his possessing, in consequence, that ingenuous face, which is proverbial the very best letter of recommendation. I have already said that Mr. Shuttleworthy was one of the most respectable, and undoubtedly he was the most wealthy man in Rattleboro, while old Charlie Goodfellow was upon an intimate terms with him as if he had been his own brother.

The two old gentlemen were next-door neighbors. And although Mr. Shuttleworthy seldom, if ever, visited Old Charlie, and never was known to take a meal in his house, still this did not prevent the two friends from being exceedingly intimate, as I have just observed. For Old Charlie never let a day pass without stepping in three or four times to see how his neighbor came on, and very often he would stay to breakfast or tea, and almost always to dinner, and then the amount of wine that was made way with by the two cronies at a sitting, it would really be a difficult thing to ascertain. Old Charlie's favorite beverage was Chateau Margaux, and it appeared to do Mr. Shuttleworthy's heart good to see the old fellow swallow it, as he did, court after court.

So that one day, when the wine was in and the wit as a natural consequence somewhat out, he said to his crony, as he slapped him upon the back, I tell you what it is, old Charlie. You are, by all odds, the heartiest old fellow I ever came across in all my born days, and since you love to guzzle the wine in that fashion, I'll be darned if I don't have to make thee a present of a big box of the Chateau Margaux. Odd-wrought me. Mr. Shuttleworthy had a sad habit of swearing, although he seldom went beyond, odd-wrought me, or by gosh, or by the jolly-golly. Odd-wrought me, says he. If I don't send an order to town this very afternoon for a double box of the best that can be got, and I'll make ye a present of it, I will.

Ye needn't say a word now. I will, I tell you. And there's an end of it. So look out for it. It will come to hand some of these fine days. Precisely when you are looking for it the least. I mention this little bit of liberality on the part of Mr. Shuttleworthy, just by way of showing you how very intermittent understanding existed between the two friends. Well, on the Sunday morning in question, when it came to be fairly understood that Mr. Shuttleworthy had met with foul play, I never saw anyone so profoundly affected as old Charlie Goodfellow. When he first heard that the horse had come home without his master, and without his master's saddlebags, and all bloody from a pistol shot, That had gone clean through and through the poor animal's chest without quite killing him.

When he heard all this, he turned as pale as if the missing man had been his own dear brother or father, and shivered and shook all over as if he had a fit of the egg. At first he was much too overpowered with grief to be able to do anything at all, or to concert upon any plan of action, so that for a long time he endeavored to dissuade Mr. Shuttleworthy's other friends from making a stir about the matter, thinking it best to wait a while, say for a week or two, or a month, or two. To see if something wouldn't turn up, or if Mr. Shuttleworthy wouldn't come in the natural way, and explain his reasons for sending his horse on before. I daresay you have often observed this disposition to temporize, or to procrastinate, in people who are laboring under any very poignant sorrow.

Their powers of mind seem to be rendered torpid, so that they have a horror of anything like action, and like nothing in the world so well as to lie quietly in bed and nurse their grief, as the old ladies express it. That is to say, ruminate over the trouble. The people of Rattleboro had indeed so high an opinion of the wisdom and discretion of old Charlie that the greater part of them felt disposed to agree with him, and not make a stir in the business until something should turn up, as the honest old gentleman worded it. And I believe that, after all this would have been the general determination, but for the very suspicious interference of Mr. Shuttleworthy's nephew, a young man of very dissipated habits, and otherwise of rather bad character, this nephew, whose name was Pennyfeather, would listen to nothing like reason in the matter of lying quiet, but insisted upon making immediate search for the corpse of the murdered man.

This was the expression he employed, and Mr. Goodfellow acutely remarked at the time that it was a singular expression, to say no more. This remark of old Charlie's, too, had great effect upon the crowd, and one of the party was heard to ask, very impressively, how it happened that young Mr. Pennyfeather was so intimately cognizant of all the circumstances connected with his wealthy uncle's disappearance. as to feel authorized to assert, distinctly and unequivocally, that his uncle was a murdered man. Hereupon some little squibbing and bickering occurred among various members of the crowd, and especially between Old Charlie and Mr. Pennyfeather. Although this latter occurrence was, indeed, by no means a novelty, for no goodwill had subsisted between the parties for the last three or four months, and matters had gone even so far that Mr.

Pennyfeather had actually knocked down his uncle's friend for some alleged excess of liberty that the latter had taken in the uncle's house, of which the nephew was an inmate. Upon this occasion, old Charlie is said to have behaved with exemplary moderation in Christian charity. He rose from the blow, adjusted his clothes, and made no attempt at retaliation at all, merely muttering a few words about taking summary vengeance at the first convenient opportunity. A natural and very justifiable abolition of anger, which meant nothing, however, and beyond doubt was No sooner given vent to than forgotten. However these matters may be, which have no reference to the point now at issue, it is quite certain that the people of Rattleboro, principally through the persuasion of Mr.

Pennyfeather, came at length to the termination of dispersion over the adjacent country in search of the missing Mr. Shuttleworthy. I say they came to this determination in the first instance. After it had been fully resolved that a search should be made, it was considered almost a matter of course that the seekers should disperse. That is to say, Distribute themselves in parties for the more thorough examination of the region round about. I forget, however, by what ingenious train of reasoning it was that Old Charlie finally convinced the assembly that this was the most injudicious plan that could be pursued. Convince them however he did, all except Mr. Pennyfeather, and in the end it was arranged that a search should be instituted, carefully and very thoroughly, by the Burgers en masse, Old Charlie himself leading the way.

As for the matter of that... There could have been no better pioneer than Old Charlie, whom everybody knew to have the eye of a lynx, but although he led them into all manner of out-of-the-way holes and corners, by routes that nobody had ever suspected of existing in the neighborhood, and although the search was incessantly kept up day and night for nearly a week, still no trace of Mr. Shuttleworthy could be discovered. When I say no trace, however, I must not be understood to speak literally, for trace, to some extent, there certainly was. The poor gentleman had been tracked, by this path coming out again into the main road, and cutting off about half a mile of the regular distance. Half hidden by the brambles, to the right of the lane, and opposite this pool all vestige of the track was lost sight of.

It appeared, however, that a struggle of some nature had there taken place, and it seemed as if some large and heavy body, much larger and heavier than a man, had been drawn from the by-path to the pool. This ladder was carefully dragged twice, but nothing was found, and the party was upon the point of going away, in despair of coming to any result, When Providence suggested to Mr. Goodfellow the expediency of draining the water off altogether. This project was received with cheers and many high compliments to Old Charlie upon this sagacity and consideration. As many of the Burgers had brought spades with him, supposing that they might possibly be called upon to dissenter a corpse, the drain was easily and speedily effected, and no sooner was the bottom visible than right in the middle of the mud that remained was discovered a black silk velvet waistcoat.

which nearly everyone present immediately recognized as the property of Mr. Pennyfeather. This waistcoat was much torn and covered with blood, and there were several persons among the party who had a distinct remembrance of its having been worn by its owner on the very morning of Mr. Shuttleworthy's departure for the city. While there were others again, ready to testify upon oath, if required, that Mr. P. did not wear the garment in question at any period during the remainder of that memorable day. Nor could any one be found to say that he had seen it upon Mr. P.'s person at any period at all subsequent to Mr. Shuttleworthy's disappearance. Matters now wore a very serious aspect for Mr. Pennyfeather, and it was observed as an indubitable confirmation of the suspicions which were excited against him, that he grew exceedingly pale, and when asked what he had to say for himself, was utterly incapable of saying a word.

Hereupon the few friends his riotous mode of living had left him deserted him at once to a man, and were even more clamorous than his ancient and avowed enemies for his instantaneous arrest. But, on the other hand, the magnanimity of Mr. Goodfellow shone forth with only the more brilliant lustre through contrast. He made a warm and intensely eloquent defense of Mr. Pennyfeather, in which he alluded more than once to his own sincere forgiveness of that wild young gentleman, the heir of the worthy Mr. Shuttleworthy, for the insult which he, the young gentleman, had no doubt in the heat of passion, thought proper to put upon him, Mr. Goodfellow. He forgave him for it, he said, from the very bottom of his heart, and for himself, Mr.

Goodfellow, so far from pushing the suspicious circumstances to extremity which he was sorry to say really had arisen against Mr. Pennyfeather, he, Mr. Goodfellow, would make every exertion in his power, would employ all the little eloquence in his possession to—to—to soften down, as much as he could conscientiously do so, the worst features of this really exceedingly perplexing piece of business. Mr. Goodfellow went on for some half-hour longer in this strain, very much to the credit both of his head and of his heart, but your warm-hearted people are seldom opposite in their observations. They run into all sorts of blunders, countertempts, and mal-aproposisms, and the hot-headedness of their zeal to serve a friend, thus often with the kindest intentions in the world, doing infinitely more to prejudice his cause than to advance it.

So in the present instance it turned out with all the eloquence of old Charlie. For although he laboured earnestly in behalf of the suspected, yet it so happened, somehow or other, that every syllable he uttered of which the direct but unwitting tendency was not to exalt the speaker in the good opinion of his audience, had the effect to deepen the suspicion already attached to the individual whose cause he pleaded, and to arouse against him the fury of the mob. One of the most unaccountable errors committed by the orator was his allusion to the suspected as the air of the worthy old gentleman, Mr. Shuttleworthy. The people had really never thought of this before. They had only remembered certain threats of disinheritance uttered a year or two previously by the uncle, who had no living relative except the nephew.

And they had, therefore, always looked upon his disinheritance as a matter that was settled. So single-minded a race of beings were the Rattleburgers. But the remark of old Charlie brought them at once to a consideration of this point, and thus gave them to see the possibility of the threats having been nothing more than a threat. And straightway hereupon arose the natural question of, of cui bono, a question that tended even more than the waistcoat to fasten the terrible crime upon the young man. And here, lest I may be misunderstood, permit me to digress for one moment merely to observe that the exceedingly brief and simple Latin phrase which I have employed is invariably mistranslated and misconceived, cui bono, in all the cracked novels and elsewhere, in those of Mrs.

Gore, for example, the author of Cecil. A lady who quotes all tongues from the Chaldean to Chicksaw, and has helped to her learning, as needed, upon a systematic plan by Mr. Beckford. In all the crack novels, I say, from those of Boulware and Dickens to those of Turnipenny and Ainsworth, the two little Latin words qui bono are rendered, to what purpose, or, as if quo bono, to what good. Their true meaning, nevertheless, is, for whose advantage? Qui, to whom, bono, is it for a benefit? It is a purely legal phrase, and applicable precisely in cases such as we have now under consideration, where the probability of the doer of a deed hinges upon the probability of the benefit accruing to this individual or to that from the deed's accomplishment.

Now, in the present instance, the question qui bono very pointedly implicated Mr. Pennyfeather. His uncle had threatened him, after making a will in his favor with disinheritance. But the threat had not been actually kept. The original will, it appeared, had not been altered. Had it been altered, the only supposable motive for murder on the part of the suspected would have been the ordinary one of revenge, and even this would have been counteracted by the hope of reinstation into the good graces of the uncle. But the will being unaltered, while the threat to alter remains suspended over the nephew's head, there appears at once the very strongest possible inducement for the atrocity, and so concluded, very sagaciously, the worthy citizens of the borough of Rattle.

Mr. Pennyfeather was accordingly arrested upon the spot, and the crowd, after some search, proceeded homeward, having him in custody. On the route, however, another circumstance occurred tending to confirm the suspicion entertained. Mr. Goodfellow, whose zeal led him to be always a little in advance of the party, was seen suddenly to run forward a few paces, stoop, and then apparently to pick up some small object from the grass. Having quickly examined it, he was observed too, to make a sort of half attempt at sealing it in his coat pocket. But this action was noticed, as I say, and consequently prevented, when the object picked up was found to be a Spanish knife, which a dozen persons at once recognized as belonging to Mr.

Pennyfeather. Moreover, his initials were engraved upon the handle. The blade of this knife was open and bloody. No doubt now remained of the guilt of the nephew, and immediately upon reaching Rattleboro he was taken before a magistrate for examination. Here matters again took a most unfavorable turn. The prisoner, being questioned as to his whereabouts on the morning of Mr. Shuttleworthy's disappearance, had absolutely the audacity to acknowledge that on that very morning he had been out with his rifle deer-stalking, in the immediate neighborhood of the pool where the blood-stained waistcoat had been discovered through the sagacity of Mr. Goodfellow. This latter now came forward, and with tears in his eyes asked permission to be examined.

He said that a stern sense of the duty he owed his maker, Not less than his fellow men would permit him no longer to remain silent. Hitherto the sincerest affection for the young man, notwithstanding the latter's ill-treatment of himself, Mr. Goodfellow, had induced him to make every hypothesis which imagination could suggest, by the way of endeavoring to account for what appeared suspicious in the circumstances that told so seriously against Mr. Pennyfeather. But these circumstances were now altogether too convincing, too damning. He would hesitate no longer. He would tell all he knew. Although his heart, Mr. Goodfellow's, should absolutely burst asunder in the effort. He then went on to state that, on the afternoon of the day previous to Mr.

Shuttleworthy's departure for the city, that worthy old gentleman had mentioned to his nephew, in his hearing, Mr. Goodfellow's, that his object in going to town on the morrow was to make a deposit of an unusually large sum of money in the Farmers and Mechanics Bank, and that then and there, the said Mr. Shuttleworthy had distinctly avowed to the said nephew, His irrevocable determination of rescinding the will originally made, and of cutting him off with a shilling. He, the witness, now solemnly called upon the accused to state whether what he, the witness, had just stated was or was not the truth in every substantial particular. Much to the astonishment of everyone present, Mr. Pennyfeather frankly admitted that it was.

The magistrate now considered it his duty to send a couple of constables to search the chamber of the accused in the house of his uncle. From this search they almost immediately returned with the well-known steel-bound, russet-leather pocket-book which the old gentleman had been in the habit of carrying for years. Its valuable contents, however, had been abstracted, and the magistrate in vain endeavoured to extort from the prisoner the use which had been made of them, or the place of their concealment. Indeed, he obstinately denied all knowledge of the matter. The constables also discovered, between the bed and sacking of the unhappy man, a shirt and neck-hangerchief both marked with the initials of his name, and both hideously besmeared with the blood of the victim.

At this juncture, it was announced that the horse of the murdered man had just expired in the stable from the effects of the wound he had received, and it was proposed by Mr. Goodfellow that a post-mortem examination of the beast should be immediately made, with a view, if possible, of discovering the ball. This was accordingly done, and as if to demonstrate beyond a question the guilt of the accused, Mr. Goodfellow, after considerable searching in the cavity of the chest, was enabled to detect and to pull forth a bullet of very extraordinary size, which, upon trial, was found to be exactly adapted to the bore of Mr. Pennyfeather's rifle, while it was far too large for that of any other person in the borough or its vicinity.

To render the matter even sure yet, however, this bullet was discovered to have a flaw or seam at right angles to the usual suture, and upon examination, This seam corresponded precisely with an accidental ridge or elevation in a pair of molds acknowledged by the accused himself to be his own property. Upon finding of this bullet, the examining magistrate refused to listen to any farther testimony, and immediately committed the prisoner for trial, declining resolutely to take any bail in the case, although against this severity Mr. Goodfellow very warmly remonstrated and offered to become surety in whatever amount might be required. This generosity on the part of Old Charlie was only in accordance with the whole tenor of his amiable and chivalrous conduct during the entire period of his sojourn in the Borough of Rattle.

In the present instance the worthy man was so entirely carried away by the excessive warmth of his sympathy that he seemed to have quite forgotten, when he offered to go bail for his young friend, that he himself, Mr. Goodfellow, did not possess a single dollar's worth of property upon the face of the earth. The result of the committal may be readily foreseen. Mr. Pennyfeather, amid the loud execrations of all Rattleboro, was brought to trial at the next criminal sessions, when the chain of circumstantial evidence, strengthened as it was by some additional damning facts which Mr. Goodfellow's sensitive conscientiousness forbade him to withhold from the court, was considered so unbroken and so thoroughly conclusive that the jury, without leaving their seats, returned an immediate verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree.

Soon afterward the unhappy wretch received sentence of death and was remanded to the county jail to await the inexorable vengeance of the law. In the meantime, the noble behavior of old Charlie Goodfellow had doubly endeared him to the honest citizens of the borough. He became ten times a greater favorite than ever, and as a natural result of the hospitality with which he was treated, he relaxed, as it were, perforce, the extremely parsimonious habits which his poverty had hitherto impelled him to observe, and very frequently had little reunions at his own house. When wit and jollity reigned supreme, dampened a little, of course, by the occasional remembrance of the untoward and mencolic fate, which impended over the nephew of the late-lamented bosom friend of the generous host.

One fine day, this magnanimous old gentleman was agreeably surprised at the receipt of the following letter. Charles Goodfellow, Esquire, Rattleboro. From H.F.B. & Co. Chateau Margot. A. No. 1. Six Dozen Bottles. Half Gross. Charles Goodfellow, Esquire. Dear Sir, In conformity with an order transmitted to our firm about two months since, By our esteemed correspondent, Mr. Barnabas Shuttleworthy, we have the honor of forwarding this morning, to your address, a double box of Chateau Margot of the Antelope brand, Violet Seal, box numbered and marked as per margin. We remain, sir, your most obedient servants, Hogs, Frogs, Bogs, and Company. City of, June 21st, 18. P.S. The box will reach you by wagon on the day after your receipt of this letter.

Our respects to Mr. Shuttleworthy. H. F. B. Co. The fact is that Mr. Goodfellow had, since the death of Mr. Shuttleworthy, given over all expectation of ever receiving the promised Chateau Margaux, and he therefore looked upon it now as a sort of especial dispensation of providence in his behalf. He was highly delighted, of course, and in the exuberance of his joy invited a large party of friends to a petite supper on the morrow for the purpose of broaching the good old Mr. Shuttleworthy's present. Not that he said anything about the good old Mr. Shuttleworthy when he issued the invitations. The fact is, he thought much and concluded to say nothing at all. He did not mention to anyone, if I remember aright, that he received a present of Chateau Margaux.

He merely asked his friends to come and help him drink some of a remarkable fine quality and rich flavor that he had ordered up from the city a couple of months ago, and of which he would be in the receipt upon the morrow. I have often puzzled myself to imagine why it was that old Charlie came to the conclusion to say nothing about having received the wine from his old friend, but I could never precisely understand his reason for the silence, although he had some excellent and very magnanimous reason, no doubt. The morrow at length arrived, and with it a very large and highly respectable company at Mr. Goodfellow's house. Indeed, half the borough was there, I myself among the number, but much to the vexation of the host, The Chateau Margaux did not arrive until a late hour, and when the suptuous supture supplied by old Charlie had been done very ample justice by the guests.

It came at length, however. A monstrously big box of it there was, too, and as the whole party were in excessively good humor, it was decided, Nem Kahn, that it should be lifted upon the table and its contents disemboweled forthwith. No sooner said than done. I lent a helping hand, and in a trice we had the box upon the table. In the midst of all the bottles and glasses, not a few of which were demolished in the scuffle. Old Charlie, who was pretty much intoxicated and excessively red in the face, now took a seat, with an air of mock dignity, at the head of the board, and thumped furiously upon it with a decanter, calling upon the company to keep order during the ceremony of disinterring the treasure.

After some vociferation, quiet was at length fully restored, and as very often happens in similar cases, a profound and remarkable silence ensued. Being then requested to force open the lid, I complied, of course, with an infinite deal of pleasure. I inserted a chisel, and giving it a slight tap with a hammer, the top of the box flew suddenly off, and at the same instant, there sprang up into a sitting position, directly facing the host, the bruised, bloody, and nearly putrid corpse of the murdered Mr. Shuttleworthy himself. It gazed for a few seconds, fixedly and sorrowfully, with its decaying and lackluster eyes. Full into the countenance of Mr. Goodfellow, uttered slowly but clearly and impressively the words, "'Thou art the man,' and then falling over the side of the chest as if thoroughly satisfied, stretched out its limbs quiveringly upon the table.

The scene that ensued is altogether beyond description. The rush for the doors and windows was terrific, and many of the most robust men in the room fainted outright through sheer horror. But after the first wild, shrieking burst of affright, All eyes were directed to Mr. Goodfellow. If I live a thousand years, I can never forget the more than mortal agony which was depicted in that ghastly face of his, so lately rubicund with triumph and wine. For several minutes he sat rigidly as a statue of marble, his eyes seeming, in the intense vacancy of their gaze, to be turned inward and absorbed in the contemplation of his own miserable, murderous soul. At length their expression turned to flash suddenly out into the external world, when with a quick leap, He sprang from his chair, and falling heavily with his head and shoulders upon the table, and in contact with the corpse, poured out rapidly and vehemently a detailed confession of the hideous crime for which Mr.

Pennyfeather was then imprisoned and doomed to die. What he recounted was in substance this. He followed his victim to the vicinity of the pool, there shot his horse with a pistol, dispatched its rider with the butthand, possessed himself of the pocketbook, and, supposing the horse dead, Dragged it with great labor to the brambles by the pond. Upon his own beast he slung the corpse of Mr. Shuttleworthy, and thus bore it to a secure place of concealment a long distance off through the woods. The waistcoat, the knife, the pocketbook, and bullet had been placed by himself where found, with a view of avenging himself upon Mr. Pennyfeather. He had also contrived the discovery of the stained handkerchief and shirt.

Towards the end of the blood-churning recital the words of the guilty wretch faltered and grew hollow. When the record was finally exhausted he arose, staggered backward from the table, and fell, dead. The means by which this happily timed confession was extorted, although efficient, were simple indeed. Mr. Goodfellow's excess of frankness had disgusted me, and excited my suspicions from the first. I was present when Mr. Pennyfeather had struck him, and the fiendish expression which then arose upon his countenance Although momentary, assured me that this threat of vengeance would, if possible, be rigidly fulfilled. I was thus prepared to view the maneuvering of Old Charlie in a very different light from that in which it was regarded by the good citizens of Rattleboro.

I saw at once that all the criminating discoveries arose, either directly or indirectly, from himself. But the fact which clearly opened my eyes to the true state of the case was the affair of the bullet, found by Mr. G. in the carcass of the horse. I had not forgotten... Although the Rattleburgers had, that there was a hole where the ball had entered the horse, and another where it went out. If it were found in the animal then, after having made its exit, I saw clearly that it must have been deposited by the person who found it. The bloody shirt and handkerchief confirmed the idea suggested by the bullet, for the blood on examination proved to be capital claret, and no more. When I came to think of these things, and also of the late increase of liberality and expenditure on the part of Mr.

Goodfellow, I entertained a suspicion which was nonetheless strong, because I kept it altogether to myself. In the meantime, I instituted a rigorous private search for the corpse of Mr. Shuttleworthy, and for good reasons searched in quarters as divergent as possible from those to which Mr. Goodfellow conducted his party. The result was that, after some days, I came across an old dry well, the mouth of which was nearly hidden by brambles, and here at the bottom I discovered what I sought. Now it so happened that I had overheard the colloquy between the two cronies, where Mr. Goodfellow had contrived to cajole his host into the promise of a box of Chateau Margaux. Upon this hint I acted. I procured a stiff piece of whalebone, thrust it down the throat of the corpse, and deposited the latter in an old wine-box, taking care so to double the body up as to double the whalebone with it.

In this manner I had to press forcibly upon the lid to keep it down while I secured it with nails, and I anticipated, of course, that as soon as these latter were removed, the top would fly off and the body up. Having thus arranged the box, I marked, numbered, and addressed it as already told, and then writing a letter in the name of the wine merchants with whom Mr. Shuttleworthy dealt, I gave instructions to my servant to wheel the box to Mr. Goodfellow's door, in a barrow, at a given signal for myself. For the words which I intended the corpse to speak, I confidently depended upon my ventriloquial abilities. For their effect, I counted upon the conscience of the murderous wretch. I believe there is nothing more to be explained.

Mr. Pennyfeather was released upon the spot, inherited the fortune of his uncle, profited by the lessons of experience, turned over a new leaf, and led happily ever afterward a new life.

8 08 - Why the Little Frenchman Wears his Hand in a Sling 17:50

Why the Little Frenchman Wears His Hand in a Sling by Edgar Allan Poe. It's on my visiting cards, sure enough, and it's them that's all o pink-satin paper, that any gentleman places may behold the interesting words. Sir Patrick O. Grandison, Baronet, 39 Southampton Row, Russell Square, Paris, oh, Bloomspring. And should you be waiting to discover who is the pink of perliteness quite, and the lighter of the hot ton in the whole city of London? Why, it's just myself. And fate that same is no wonder at all at all. So be pleased to stop curling your nose. For every inch of the six wakes that I've been a gentleman And left her with the backthroating to take up with the baronessy. It's Patrick that's been living like a holy emperor, and getting the education and the graces.

And would it be a blessed thing for your spirits if you could lay your two papers just upon Sir Patrick O'Granison, baronet, when he's already dressed for the opera? Or stepping into the brisky for the drive into the Hyde Park. But it's the elegant big figure that I ave, for the ration of which all the ladies fall in love with me. Isn't it my own suede self that'll measure the six foot, and the three inches more nor that, in my stockings, and that I'm exceedingly well proportioned all over to match? And it is rarely more than three foot and a bit that there is, anyhow, of the little old foreigner-fringman that lives just over the way. And that's a ogling and a goggling the whole day, and bad luck to him.

And the party with Mr. Strackel, that's my own next-door neighbor. God bless her, and a most particular friend and acquaintance. You perceive the little spout-been is summat down in the mouth, and wears his left hand in a sling. And it's for that same thing, by your love, that I'm going to give you the good reason. The truth of the whole matter is just simple enough. For the very first day that I come from Connaught, and showed my swayed little sofa in the strait to the wedding, Who was looking through the windy, it was a gone case altogether, with the heart of the pretty mistress' trackle. I preserved it, you see, all at once. And no mistake, and that's God's truth. First of all, it was up with the windy in a jiffy, and then she drew open her two papers to the utmost.

And thin it was a little gould spy-glass that she clapped tight to one of them, and devil mayn't burn me if I didn't spake to me as plain as a peeper could spake. And Ceci drew the spy-glass.

Ouch! The typo to morning to ye, sir, Patrigo Grandison, Baronet Mavornin. And it's an egg, gentlemen, that ye are, sure enough, and it's mesilf that me for the gist that'll be at your service, dear, any time o' day, at all, at all, for the asking. And it's not mesilf ye would have to be bait in the politeness. So I made her a bow that would have broken your heart. All together to behold, and then I pulled af me hat with a flourish, and then I winked at her heart with both eyes. As much as to say, truth for you, you're a sweet little creature, Mrs. Dracul, me darlint, and I wish I may be drowned dead in a bog, if it's not meself, Sir Patrick O' Grandison, Baronet. That'll make a whole bushel o' love to your leadership in the twinkling o' the eye of Londonderry purity.

And it was the next morning sure, just as I was making up me mind whether it wouldn't be the perlite thing to send a bay-o'-riding to the witty by-way of a love-letter, when up come the delivery servant with an elegant card, And he told me that the name on it, for I never could read the copperplate printing on account of being lift-handed, was all about Monsieur the Count, Goose, Lucchese, Major de Downes, and at the whole of the devilish lingo was the spalpini long name of the little old Frenchman as lived over the way. And just with that in come the little William himself, and then he made me a breath of a bow, and then he said he had only taken the liberty of doing me the honor of giving me a call.

And then he went on to palaver at a great rate, and divvelled a bit did I comprehend what he would be after the tilling me at all at all. Exulting and saving that he said, Pulley-whoa, wooley-whoa, and told me among a bushel old eyes. Bad luck to him. That he was mad for the love of my widdy mistress Strackle, and that my widdy Mrs. Strackle had a puncheon for him. At the hearing of this, ye may swear, though, I was as mad as a grasshopper, but I remembered that I was Sir Patrick O'Granison. Barren it, and that it wasn't altogether gentle to lid the anger get the upper hand o the perliteness. So, I made light o the matter, and kept dark, and got quite sociable wid the little chap, and after a while, what did he do but ask me to go wid him to the widdies?

Saying he would give me the fashionable introduction to her ladyship. Is it there ye are? said I then to myself. And it's true for you, Patrick, that's here the fortunateest model in life. We'll soon see now whether it's your sweet self, or whether it's little Monsieur Major de Donne's. That mistress Dracol is head and ears in the law with. With that we went off to the widest next door, and ye may well say it was an elegant place. So it was. There was a carpet all over the floor, and in one corner there was a fortipinny, and a juice-harp, and the devil knows what else, and in another corner was a sophy, the beautifullest thing in all nature, And sitting on the sofa, sure enough, there was the swayed little angel, Mistress Dracol.

"'The tip o' the morning to ye,' says I, Mrs. Dracol, and thin I made such an elegant obeisance, that it would ha quite altogether bewildered the brain o' he. "'Willie-woo, pullie-woo, plump in the mud,' says the little fur on a Frenchman. And sure, Mrs. Strackel, says he, that he did. Isn't this gentleman here just his reverence, Sir Patrick O'Grantison, baronet, and isn't he altogether and entirely the most particular friend and acquaintance that I have in the whole world? And with that the witty, She gets up from the shelf, and makes the sweetest kerchin or ever was seen, and thin down she sits like an angel, and thin by the powers it was that little spalpeen, Monsieur, maitre de Dons, that plumped his sylph right down by the right side of her.

Ouch! I expected the two eyes only would have come out of my head on the spot. I was so disparate mad. However, "'Bait who?' says I, after a while. "'Is it there ye are, monsieur, maître de Donce?' And so down I planned on the lift side of her ladyship, to be even with the villain. Botheration! It would have done your heart good to perceive the elegant double wink that I give her, just thin right in the face. With both eyes?' But the little old Frenchman, he never began to suspect me at all, at all. And dispret-hearted was he made the love to her ladyship. Wooly-woo, says he. Pullly-woo, says he. Plumping the mud, says he. That's all to no use, mon, sir, Frog, Mavornen, thinks I, and I talked as hard and fast as I could all the while, and thought it was meself just that divarded her ladyship completely and entirely, by reason of the elegant conversation that I keep up with her all about the dear box of Conneth.

And by and by she giv'd me such a sweet smile, from one knee of her mouth to the ether, that it made me as bold as a pig, and I just took hold of the end of her little finger in the most delicatest manner in nature, looking at her all the while out o'er the whites of my eyes.

And then only perceived the cuteness of the swate angel, for no sooner did she observe that I was after the squeezing of her flipper, than she up with inner Jiffy and put it away behind her back, just as much as to say. Now, thin Sherpatrick O' Grandison, there's a bitter chance for ye, my vornin', for it's not altogether the gentle thing to be after the squeezing of my flipper rightful in the sides of that little foreign infringement, Monsieur Major de Donce. With that I giv'd her big wing, just to say, Let Sir Patrick alone for the likes of them thrix, and thin I went easy to work, and you'd have died with the devotion to behold how cleverly I slipped my right arm between the back o' the Sophie and the back of her ladyship, and there, sure enough, I found a sweet little flipper all waiting to say, the tip of the morning to ye, Sir Patrick O'Grannison, Baronet.

And wasn't it meself sure that just giv'd it the last little bit of squeeze in the world, all in the way of her commencement, and not to be too rough with her ladyship? And, oh, botheration, wasn't it the gentlest and delicatest of all the little squeezes that I got in return? Blood and thunder, Sir Patrick, my morning, thanks I to myself, fate, it's just the mother's son of you, and nobody else at all at all that's the handsomest and the fortunatest young buckthroader that ever comed out of Cunnet. And with that I giv'd the flipper a big squeeze, and a big squeeze it was by the powers that her ladyship giv'd to me back. But it would ha' split the seven sides of you with the laughing to behold, jist then all at once, the consented behaviour of Monsieur Major de Dons.

The likes o' sitch a' jabbering and smirking and a' parley wooing as he begin'd with her ladyship, niver was long before upon art. And devil may burn me if it wasn't me own very two peepers that quodged him tipping her the wink out of one eye. Achum! If it wasn't me so thin that was mad as a Kilkenny-cat, I should like to be told who it was. Let me inform you, Monsieur Milter de Doms, said I, as pearl-eyed as ever ye see'd. That is not the gentle thing at all, at all, and not for the likes OU, anyhow, to be after the ogling and the gogling at her ladyship in the fashion. And just with that such another squeeze as it was I gived her flipper all as much as to say, isn't Sir Patrick now my jewel that'll be able to the protecting OU, Mard Island?

And then there comes another squeeze back, all by way of the answer. True for you, Sir Patrick. It's said as plain as ever a squeeze said in the world. True for you, Sir Patrick, my warning, and it's a proper nate gentleman ye are. That's God's truth. And with that she opened her two beautiful peepers till a beloved day would ha'comet out of her head altogether and entirely, and she looked first as mad as a cat at Monsieur Frog, and thin as smiling as all out outdoors at meself. Thin—oh, and a woolly-woo, And then, with that, he shoved up his two shoulders till the devil, the bit of his head, was to be discovered. And then he let down the two corners of his purity trap. And then, not to ha'ppord more of the satisfaction, could I get out, old Spalpeen.

Believe me, my jewel, it was Sir Patrick that was unreasonable math then, and the more by token that the Frenchman kept an wit his winking at the witty. And the witty she kept And wit the squeezing of my flipper, as much as to say, at him against Sir Patrick O'Granison, my forenden. So I just ripped out with a big oath, and says I, ye little spalpeeny frock of a back-throading son of a bloody noun! And she's thin. What do you think it was that her ladyship did? Troth, she jumped off from the shelf as if she was bit, and made off to the door, while I turned my head round after her, in a complete bewilderment and motheration, and followed her with me to peepers. You perceive I had a reason of my own for knowing that she couldn't get down the stairs altogether and entirely, for I knew very well that I had hold of her hand, for the devil the bit had I ever let it go.

And says I, isn't it the last little bit of a mistake in the world that you've been after the making of your ladyship? Come back now, that's a darlin', and I'll give you your flipper. But aft she went down the stairs like a shot, and thin I turned round to the little French fern.

If it wasn't his palpeeny little pot that I had hold off in my own, why then, then it wasn't... That's all. And maybe it wasn't myself that just died, then I tried with laughing to behold the little chap when he found out that it wasn't the witty at all at all that he had had hold of all the time, but only Sir Patrick O'Grannison. The old devil himself never beheld such a long face as he pet an. As for Sir Patrick O'Grannison, baronet, It wasn't for the likes of his reverence to be after the minding of a trifle of a mistake. Ye may just say, though, for its godfruith, that afore I left hold of the flipper of this palpeen, which was not till after her lady-ship's footman had kicked us both down the stairs, I give it such a nate little brat of a squeeze as it made it all up into raspberry jam.

Wooly-woo, says he. Pully-woo, says he. Goddamn! And that's just the truth of the reason why he wears his lift hand in a sling.

9 09 - Bon-Bon 44:16

Raven Edition, Volume 5. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Simon Smoak and Kevin Davidson. Bon Bon by Edgar Allan Poe. Bon Bon. Gant un bon vin meubles mon estomac. Je suis plus savant que Balchac, plus sage que Piparaque. Mon bras seul fait sang, l'attaque de la nation Cosséac, la métroite sac. De Charon, je passerois le lac, en dormant dans son bac. Je rois au fier et ac. Sans que mon cœur fit that Pierre Bonbon was a restaurateur of uncommon qualifications. No man who, during the reign of, frequented the little cafe in the Cule de Sac Lefebvre at Rouen, will, I imagine, feel himself at liberty to dispute.

That Pierre Bonbon was, in an equal degree, skilled in the philosophy of that period, is, I presume, still more especially undeniable. His batte à la fois were, beyond doubt, immaculate. But what pen can do justice to his essay sur la nature, his thoughts sur l'âme, his observations sur l'esprit? If his amelettes, if his fricandos were inestimable, what littérateur of that day would not have given twice as much for an idée de bonbon as for all the trash of idée of all the rest of the savants. Bonbon had ransacked libraries which no other man had ransacked, had more than any other would have entertained a notion of reading, had understood more than any other would have conceived the possibility of understanding, and although, while he flourished, there were not wanting some authors at Rouen to assert that his dicta evinced neither the purity of the academy nor the debt of the Lyceum.

Although, mark me, his doctrines were by no means very generally comprehended, still it did not follow that they were difficult of comprehension. It was, I think, on account of their self-evidency that many persons were led to consider them abstuse. It is to Bon-Bon, but let this go no farther. It is to Bon-Bon that Kant himself is mainly indebted for his metaphysics. The former was indeed not a Platonist, nor, strictly speaking, an Aristotelian, nor did he, like the modern Leibniz, waste those precious hours which might be employed in the invention of a fricassee, or fatili cradu, the analysis of a sensation in frivolous attempts at reconciling the obstinate oils and waters of ethical discussion.

Not at all. Bonbon was Ionic. Bonbon was equally Italic. He reasoned a priori. He reasoned also a posteriori. His ideas were innate or otherwise. He believed in George of Trebizond. He believed in Bussarion. Bonbon was emphatically a Bonbonist. I have spoken of the philosopher in his capacity of restaurateur. I would not, however, have any friend of mine imagined that in fulfilling his hereditary duties in that line, our hero wanted a proper estimation of their dignity and importance. Far from it. It was impossible to say in which branch of his profession he took the greater pride. In his opinion, the powers of the intellect held intimate connection with the capabilities of the stomach. I am not sure, indeed, that he greatly disagreed with the Chinese, who held that the soul lies in the abdomen.

The Greeks, at all events, were right, he thought, who employed the same words for the mind and the diaphragm. Note one, M.D., By this I do not mean to insinuate a charge of gluttony, or indeed any other serious charge to the prejudice of the metaphysician. If Pierre Bonbon had his failings, and what great man has not a thousand—if Pierre Bonbon, I say, had his failings, they were failings of very little importance. Faults, indeed which, in other tempers, have often been looked upon rather in the light of virtues. As regards one of these foibles, I should not even have mentioned it in this history, but for the remarkable prominency, the extreme alto-relievo, in which it jutted out from the plane of his general disposition, he could never let slip an opportunity of making a bargain.

Not that he was avaricious, no. It was by no means necessary to the satisfaction of the philosopher that the bargain should be to his own proper advantage, provided a trade could be effected, a trade of any kind, upon any terms, or under any circumstances. A triumphant smile was seen for many days thereafter to enlighten his countenance, and a knowing wink of the eye to give evidence of his sagacity. At any epoch, it would not be very wonderful if a humour so peculiar as the one I have just mentioned should elicit attention and remark. At the epoch of our narrative, had this peculiarity not attract observation, there would have been room for wonder indeed. It was soon reported that, upon all occasions of the kind, the smile of Bon-Bon was wont to differ widely from the downright grin with which he would laugh at his own jokes, or welcome an acquaintance.

Hints were thrown out of an exciting nature, stories were told of perilous bargains made in a hurry, and repented of at leisure. And instances were adduced of unaccountable Countable capacities, vague longings, and unnatural inclinations implanted by the author of all evil for wise purposes of his own. The philosopher had other weaknesses, but they are scarcely worthy our serious examination. For example, there are few men of extraordinary profundity who are found wanting in an inclination for the bottle. Whether this inclination be an exciting cause, or rather a valid proof of such profundity, it is a nice thing to say. Bonbon, as far as I can learn, did not think the subject adapted to minute investigation.

Nor do I. Yet, in the indulgence of a propensity so truly classical, it is not to be supposed that the restaurateur would lose sight of that intuitive discrimination which was wont to characterize, at one and the same time, his essays and his amelettes. In his seclusions, the vin de Bourgogne had its allotted hour, and there were appropriate moments for the Côte-du-Rhône. Which in Sotene was to Medoc what Catillus was to Homer. He would sport with a syllogism in sipping Saint-Perez, but unravel an argument over Claude Vougo, and upset a theory in a torrent of Chambertin. Well, had it been if the same quick sense of propriety had attended him in the peddling propensity to which I have formerly alluded.

But this was by no means the case. Indeed, to say the truth, that trait of mind in the philosophic Bon-Bon did begin at length to assume a character of strange intensity and mysticism, and appeared deeply tinctured with the diablerie of his favorite German studies. To enter the little cafe in the Cule de Sague-le-Febre was at the period of her tale to enter the sanctum of a man of genius. Bonbon was a man of genius. There was not a sous-cousinier in Rouen who could not have told you that Bonbon was a man of genius. His very cat knew it, and forbore to whisk her tail in the presence of the man of genius. His large water-dog was acquainted with the fact, and, upon the approach of his master, betrayed his sense of inferiority by a sanctity of deportment, a debasement of the ears, and a dropping of the lower jaw, not altogether unworthy of a dog.

It is, however, true that much of this habitual respect might have been attributed to the personal appearance of the metaphysician. A distinguished exterior will— I am constrained to say, have its way even with a beast, and I am willing to allow much in the outward manner of the restaurateur calculated to impress the imagination of the quatriped. There is a peculiar majesty about the atmosphere of the little grates, if I may be permitted, so equivocal an expression, which mere physical bulk alone will be found at all times inefficient in creating. If, however, Bon-Bon was barely three feet in height, and if his head was diminutively small, still it was impossible to behold the rotundity of his stomach, without a sense of magnificence nearly bordering upon the sublime.

In its size both dogs and men must have seen a type of his acquirements. In its immensity, A fitting habitation for his immortal soul. I might hear, if it so pleased me, dilate upon the matter of habiliment and other mere circumstances of the external metaphysician. I might hint that the hair of our hero was worn short, combed smoothly over his forehead, and surmounted by a conical-shaped white flannel cap and tassels. That his pea-green jerkin was not after the fashion of those worn by the common class of restaurateurs at that day. That the sleeves were something fuller than the reigning costume permitted. That the cuffs were turned up, not as usual in that barbarous period, with cloth of the same quality and colour as the garment, but faced in a more fanciful manner with the party-coloured velvet of Genoa.

That his slippers were of a bright purple, curiously filigreed, and might have been manufactured in Japan, but for the exquisite pointing of the toes and the brilliant tint of the binding and embroidery. That his breeches were of a yellow satin-like material, called amable. That his sky-blue cloak, resembling in form a dressing wrapper, richly bestudded all over with crimson devices, floated cavalierly upon his shoulders like a mist of the morning. And that his stout ensemble gave rise to the remarkable words of Bene Venuta, the improvisatrice of Florence, that it was difficult to say whether Pierre Bonbon was indeed a bird of paradise, or rather a very paradise of perfection. I might, I say, expatiate upon all these points if I pleased, But I forbear, merely personal details may be left to historical novelists.

They are beneath the moral dignity of matter of fact. I have said that to enter the café in the Coul de Sac-le-Fibre was to enter the Sanctium of a Man of Genius. But then it was only the Man of Genius who could duly estimate the merits of the Sanctium. A sign consisting of a vast folio swung before the entrance. On one side of the volume was painted a bottle, on the reverse a pate. On the back were visible in large letters, oeuvres de bonbon. Thus was delicately shadowed for the twofold occupation of the proprietor. Upon stepping over the threshold, the whole interior of the building presented itself to view. A long, low-pitched room of antique construction was indeed all the accommodation afforded by the cafe.

In a corner of the apartment stood the bed of the metaphysician. An army of curtains, together with a canopy à la Gregg, gave it an air at once classic and comfortable. In the corner, diagonally opposite appeared in direct family communion the properties of the kitchen and the bibliotheque. A dish of polemics stood peacefully upon the dresser. Here lay an ovenful of the latest ethics, there a kettle of duodecimo melanges. Volumes of German morality were hand-and-glove with the gridiron. A toasting fork might be discovered by the side of Eusebius. Plato reclined at his ease in the frying pan, and contemporary manuscripts were filed away upon the spit. In other respects, the Café de Bonbon might be said to differ little from the usual restaurants of the period.

A fireplace yawned opposite the door. On the right of the fireplace, an open cupboard displayed a formidable array of labeled bottles. It was here, about twelve o'clock one night, during the severe winter, the comments of his neighbours upon his singular propensity, that Pierre Bonbon, I say, having turned them all out of his house, locked the door upon them with an oath, and betook himself in no very pacific mood to the comfort of a letter-bottomed armchair and a fire of blazing faggots. It was one of those terrific nights which are only met with once or twice during a century. It snowed fiercely, and the house tottered to its center with the floods of wind that, rushing through the crannies in the wall and pouring impetuously down the chimney, shook awfully to curtains of the philosopher's bed and disorganized the economy of his paid pans and papers.

The huge folio sign that swung without, exposed to the fury of the tempest, creaked ominously, and gave out a moaning sound from its stanchions of solid oak. It was in no placid temper, I say, that the metaphysician drew up his chair to its customary station by the hearth. Many circumstances of a perplexing nature had occurred during the day to disturb the serenity of his meditations. In attempting des oeufs à la princesse, he had unfortunately perpetrated an omelette à la rein. The discovery of a principle in ethics had been frustrated by the overturning of a stew. At last, not least, He had been thwarted in one of those admirable bargains which he at all times took such a special delight in bringing to a successful termination.

But in the chafing of his mind at these unaccountable vicissitudes, there did not fail to be mingled some degree of that nervous anxiety which the fury of a boisterous night is so well calculated to produce. Whistling to his more immediate vicinity the large black water-dog we have spoken of before, and settling himself uneasily in his chair, he could not help casting a wary and unquiet eye toward those distant recesses of the apartment, whose inexorable shadows, not even the red firelight itself, could more than partially succeed in overcoming. Having completed a scrutiny whose exact purpose was perhaps unintelligible to himself, he drew close to his seat a small table covered with books and papers, and soon became absorbed in the task of retouching a voluminous manuscript intended for publication on the morrow.

He had been thus occupied for some minutes when—'I am in no hurry, Monsieur Bonbon.' suddenly whispered a whining voice in the apartment. The devil! ejaculated our hero, starting to his feet, overturning the table at his side, and staring around him in astonishment. Very true, calmly replied the voice. Very true? What is very true? How came you here? vociferated the metaphysician. as his eye fell upon something which lay stretched at full length upon the bed. "'I was saying,' said the intruder, without attending the interrogatives, "'I was saying that I am not at all pushed for time, but the business upon which I took the liberty of calling is of no pressing importance, in short, that I can very well wait until you have finished your exposition.' "'My exposition?' There, now, how do you know?

How came you to understand that I was writing an exposition? Good God! Hush! replied the figure in a shrill undertone, and arising quickly from the bed he made a single step toward our hero, while an iron lamp that depended overhead swung convulsively back from his approach. The philosopher's amazement did not prevent a narrow scrutiny. Of the stranger's dress and appearance. The outlines of his figure, exceedingly lean, but much above the common height, were rendered minutely distinct by means of a faded suit of black cloth, which fitted tight to the skin, but was otherwise cut very much in the style of a century ago. These garments had evidently been intended for a much shorter person than their present owner.

His ankles and wrists were left naked for several inches. In his shoes, however, a pair of very brilliant buckles gave the lie to the extreme poverty implied by the other portions of his dress. His head was bare and entirely bald, with the exception of a hinder part, from which depended a queue of considerable length. A pair of green spectacles with side-glasses protected his eyes from the influence of the light, and at the same time prevented our hero from ascertaining either their color or their conformation. About the entire person there was no evidence of a shirt, but a white cravat of filthy appearance. It was tied with extreme precision around the throat. and the ends hanging down formally side by side gave, although I dare say unintentionally, the idea of an ecclesiastic.

Indeed, many other points, both in his appearance and demeanor, might have very well sustained a conception of that nature. Over his left ear he carried, after the fashion of a modern clerk, An instrument resembling the stylus of the ancients. In a breast pocket of his coat appeared conspicuously a small black volume, fastened with clasps of steel. This book, whether accidentally or not, was so turned outwardly from the person as to discover the words Rituel Catholique in white letters upon the back. Our physiognomy was interestingly saturnine, even cadaverously pale. The forehead was lofty and deeply furrowed with the ridges of contemplation. The corners of the mouth were drawn down into an expression of the most submissive humility.

There was also a clasping of the hands as he stepped toward our hero, a deep sigh and altogether a look The book of such utter sanctity as could not have failed to be unequivocally prepossessing. Every shadow of anger faded from the countenance of the metaphysician, as, having completed a satisfactory survey of his visitor's person, he shook him cordially by the hand. and conducted him to a seat. There would, however, be a radical error In attributing this instantaneous transition of feeling in the philosopher to any one of those causes which might naturally be supposed to have had an influence. Indeed, Pierre Bonbon, from what I have been able to understand of his disposition, was of all men the least likely to be imposed upon by any speciousness of exterior deportment.

It was impossible that so acute an observer of men and things should have failed to discover, upon the moment, the real character of the personage who had thus intruded upon his hospitality. To say no more, the conformation of the visitor's feet was sufficiently remarkable. He maintained lightly upon his head an inordinately tall hat. There was a tremendous swelling about the hinder parts of his breeches, and the vibration of his coat-tail was a palpable fact. Judge, then, with what feelings of satisfaction our hero found himself thrown thus at once into the society of a person for whom he had at all times entertained the most unqualified respect. He was, however, too much of the diplomatist.

to let escape from him any intimation of his suspicions in regard to the true state of affairs. It was not his cue to appear at all conscious of the high honor he thus unexpectedly enjoyed, but by leading his guest into the conversation to elicit some important ethical ideas which might, in obtaining a place in his contemplated publication, enlighten the human race. and at the same time immortalize himself, ideas which, I should have added, his visitor's great age and well-known proficiency in the science of morals might very well have enabled him to afford. Actuated by these enlightened views, our hero bade the gentleman sit down, while he himself took occasion to throw some faggots upon the fire, and place upon the now re-established table some bottles of Mousseau.

Having quickly completed these operations, he drew his chair vis-à-vis to his companions, and waited until the latter should open the conversation. But plans, even the most skilfully matured, are often thwarted in the outset of their application. And the restaurateur found himself nonplussed by the very first words of his visitor's speech. "'I see you know me, Bon-Bon,' said he, "'Ha, ha, ha!' And the devil, dropping at once the sanctity of his demeanor, Opened to its fullest extent a mouth from ear to ear, so as to display a set of jagged and fang-like teeth, and throwing back his head, laughed long, loudly, wickedly, and uproariously, while the black dog, crouching down upon his haunches, joined lustily in the chorus, and the tabby cat, flying off at a tangent, stood up on end, and shrieked in the farthest corner of the apartment.

Not so the philosopher. He was too much a man of the world, either to laugh like the dog, or by shrieks to betray the indecorous trepidation of the cat. It must be confessed he felt a little astonishment to see the white letters, which form the words Rituel Catholique, on the book in his guest's pocket. Momently changing both their color and their import. And in a few seconds, in place of the original title, the words, Regitrez de Condamn, blazed forth in characters of red. This startling circumstance, when Bonbon replied to his visitor's remark, imparted to his manner an air of embarrassment. which probably might not otherwise have been observed. "'Why, sir,' said the philosopher, "'why, sir, to speak sincerely, I imagine I have some faint, some very faint idea of the remarkable honour.' "'Why, yes, very well,' interrupted His Majesty.

"'Say no more. I see how it is.' And hereupon, taking off his green spectacles, he wiped the glasses carefully with the sleeve of his coat, and deposited them in his pocket.

If Bonbon had been astonished by the incident of the book, his amazement was now much increased by the spectacle which here presented itself to view. In raising his eyes with a strong feeling of curiosity to ascertain the color of his guests, he found them by no means black as he had anticipated, nor gray as might have been imagined, nor yet hazel nor blue, nor indeed yellow nor red nor purple nor white nor green, nor any other color in the heavens above or in the earth beneath, In short, Pierre Bonbon not only saw plainly that His Majesty had no eyes whatsoever, but could discover no indications of their having existed at any previous period, for the space where eyes should naturally have been was, I am constrained to say, simply a dead level of flesh.

It was not in the nature of the metaphysician to forbear making some inquiry into the sources of so strange a phenomenon, and the reply of His Majesty was at once prompt, dignified, and satisfactory. "'Eyes! My dear Bonbon, eyes,' did you say. "'Oh, I perceive. The ridiculous prints, eh, which are in circulation, have given you a false idea of my personal appearance. Eyes.' True." "'Eyes, Pierre Bonbon, are very well in their proper place. But you would say, is in the head, right? The head of a worm? To you, likewise, these optics are indispensable. Yet I will convince you that my vision is more penetrating than your own. There is a cat I can see in the corner, a pretty cat. Look at her. Observe her well.

Now, Bonbon, do you behold the thoughts? The thoughts," I say, the ideas, the reflections. which are being engendered in her pericranium. There it is now. You do not. She is thinking we admire the length of her tail, and the profundity of her mind. She has just conceived that I am the most distinguished of ecclesiastics, and that you are the most superficial of metaphysicians. Thus, you see, I am not altogether blind, but to one of my profession the eyes you speak of would be merely an encumbrance. "'Lible at any time to be put out by a toasting-iron or a pitchfork. To you, I allow, these optical affairs are indispensable. Endeavor, Bon-Bon, to use them well. My vision is the soul.' Hereupon the guest helped himself to the wine upon the table, and pouring out a bumper for Bon-Bon, requested him to drink it without scruple, and make himself perfectly at home.

"'A clever book of yours, Pierre.' resumed his majesty, tapping our friend knowingly upon the shoulder, as the latter put down his glass after a thorough compliance with his visitor's injunction. "'A clever book, that of yours, is upon my honour. It's a work after my own heart. Your arrangement of the matter, I think, however, might be improved, and many of your notions remind me of Aristotle. That, philosopher, was one of my most intimate acquaintances.' I liked him as much for his terrible ill-temper as for his happy knack at making a blunder. There is only one solid truth in all that he has written, and for that I gave him the hint, out of pure compassion for his absurdity. I suppose, Pierre Bonbon, you very well know to what divine moral truth I am alluding.

Cannot say that I—indeed, why, it was I who told Aristotle That by sneezing men expelled superfluous ideas through the proboscis?" Which is undoubtedly the case, said the metaphysician, while he poured out for himself another bumper of Mousseau, and offered his snuff-box to the fingers of his visitor. "'There was Plato, too,' continued His Majesty, modestly declining the snuff-box, and the compliment it implied. "'There was Plato, too.' for whom I at one time felt all the affection of a friend. You knew Plato, Bonbon? Ah, no, I beg a thousand pardons. He met me at Athens one day in the Parthenon, and told me he was distressed for an idea. I bade him write down that haut-nou estrain-a-lue. He said he would do so, and went home, while I stepped over to the pyramids.

But my conscience smote me for having uttered a truth, even to aid a friend, and hastened back to Athens. I arrived behind the philosopher's chair as he was indicting the alu, giving the lambda a flip with my finger. I turned it upside down, so the sentence now read, O nu est en augus, that is, you perceive the fundamental doctrines in his metaphysics. "'Were you ever to Rome?' asked the restaurateur, as he finished his second bottle of Mousseau, and drew from the closet a larger supply of Chambortin. "'But once, M. Bonbon, but once—' there was a time,' said the devil, as if reciting some passage from a book. "'There was a time, when occurred an anarchy of five years. During which the Republic, bereft of all its officers, had no magistrate besides the tribunes of the people, and these were not legally vested with any degree of executive power at that time, Monsieur Bonbon, at that time only was I in Rome, and I have no earthly acquaintance, consequently, with any of its philosophies.

Il écrivain sous la philosophie. Cicero, Lucretius, Seneca. But it is the Greek philosophy. Condorcet. What do you think of? What do you think of? Epicurus? What do I think of whom? said the devil, in astonishment. You cannot surely mean to find any fault with Epicurus. What do I think of Epicurus? Do you mean me, sir? I am Epicurus. I am the same philosopher who wrote each of the three hundred treatises commemorated by Diogenes Leertes. "'That's a lie,' said the metaphysician, for the wine had gotten a little into his head. "'Very well, sir, very well, sir, very well, indeed, sir,' said His Majesty, apparently much flattered. "'That's a lie,' repeated the restaurateur dogmatically. "'That's a lie!' "'Well, well, have it your own way,' said the devil pacifically, and Bonbon, having beaten His Majesty at argument, thought it his duty to conclude a second bottle of a Chambertin.

"'As I was saying,' returned the visitor, "'as I was observing a little while ago, "'there are some very autre notions in that book of yours, M. Bonbon. "'What, for instance, do you mean by all that humbug about the soul? "'Pray, sir, what is the soul?' "'The soul,' replied the metaphysician, referring to his manuscripts, "'is undoubtedly—no, sir. Indubitably—no, sir. Indisputably—no, sir.' Evidently, no, sir. Incontrovertibly, no, sir. No, sir. And beyond all question is a—no, sir. The soul is no such thing. Here the philosopher, looking daggers, took occasion to make an end upon the spot of his third bottle of Chambertin. Then—pray, sir—what is it? "'That is neither here nor there, Monsieur Bonbon,' replied His Majesty, musingly.

"'I have tasted—that is to say, I have known—some very bad souls, and some two pretty good ones.' Here he smacked his lips, and, having unconsciously let fall his hand upon the volume in his pocket, was seized with a violent fit of sneezing. He continued, "'There was the soul of Cratinus, passable.'" "'Haristophanes, Racy.' "'Plato, exquisite. Not your Plato, but Plato the comic poet. Your Plato would have turned the stomach of Cerberus. Fah!' Then let me see. There were Navius, and Andronicus, and Plautus, and Terniattius. Then there was Lucillus, and Castulus, and Nassau, and Quintus Flaccus. Oh, Quinti, as I called him when he sung A Seculaire for my amusement." While I toasted him, in pure good humor, on a fork.

But they won't flavor, these Romans. One fat Greek is worth a dozen of them. Besides, we'll keep, which cannot be said of a Quirite. Let us taste your Sauternes. Bourbon had by this time made up his mind to kneel à de Mare, and endeavored to hand down the bottle in question. He was, however, conscious of a strange sound in the room, like the wagging of a tail. Of this, although extremely indecent in his majesty, the philosopher took no notice, simply kicking the dog and requesting him to be quiet. The visitor continued, I found that Horace tasted very much like Aristotle. You know, I am fond of variety. Ternetius I could not have told from Menander. Nassau, to my astonishment, was Nisander in disguise.

Virgilius had a strong twang of Theocritus, Marshall put me much in mind of Archilochus, and Titus Livius was positively Polybius, and none other. Here replied Bonbon, and his majesty proceeded. But if I have a penchant, Monsieur Bonbon, if I have a penchant, it is for a philosopher. Yet let me tell you, sir, it is not every div— I mean, it is not every gentleman who knows how to choose a philosopher. Long ones are not good, and the best, if not carefully shelled, are apt to be a little rancid on account of the gall. Shelled? I mean, taken out of the carcass. What do you think of a—? Physician. Don't mention them.

Here His Majesty retched violently. I never tasted but one. That rascal Hippocrates, smelt of asaphodia, caught me a wretched cold, washing him in the sticks, and after all he gave me the cholera morbus. The wretch ejaculated Bonbon. The absorption of a pill-box. And the philosopher dropped a tear. After all, continued the visitor, after all if a diff— If a gentleman wishes to live, he must have more talents than one or two, and with us a fat face is an evidence of diplomacy. How so? Why, we are sometimes exceedingly pushed for provisions. You must know that in a climate so sultry as mine, it is frequently impossible to keep a spirit alive for more than two or three hours, and after death, unless picked immediately, and a pickled spirit is not good, they will "'Smell, you understand, eh?

Putrefaction is always to be apprehended when the souls are consigned to us in the usual way. "'Vigil! Vigil!' "'Good God! How do you manage?' Here the iron lamp commenced swinging with redoubled vigour, and the devil half-started from his seat. However, with a slight sigh, he recovered his composure, merely saying to our hero in a low tone, "'I tell you what, Pierre Bonbon, we must have no more swearing.' The host swallowed another bumper by the way of denoting thorough comprehension and acquiescence, and the visitor continued. Why, there are several ways of managing. The most of us starve. Some put up with the pickle. For my part, I purchase my spirit's vivente corpore, in which case I find the keep very well.

But the body! The body! The body! The body! Well, what of the body? Oh, I perceive. Why, sir, the body is not at all affected by the transaction. I have made innumerable purchases of the kind in my day, and the parties never experienced any inconvenience. There were Cain, and Nimrod, and Nero, and Caligula, and Dionysus, and Pisistratus, and—and a thousand others, who never knew what it was to have a soul during the latter part of their lives. Yet, sir, these men adorn society. Why possession of his faculties, mental and corporeal? Who writes a keener epigram? Who reasons more wittily? Who—but stay, I have his agreement in my pocket-book. Thus saying, he produced a red-leather wallet, and took from it a number of papers.

Upon some of these, Bonbon caught a glimpse of the letters—Machi, Maza, Robespierre, With the words Caligula, Georges, Elizabeth, His Majesty selected a narrow slip of parchment, and from it read aloud the following words.

In consideration of certain mental endowments, which it is unnecessary to specify, and in further consideration of one thousand Louis d'Or, I being aged one year and one month, Do hereby make over to the bearer of this agreement all my right, title, and appurtenance, in the shadow called my soul. Signed, A. Note IV. Kier Aroeh. Here His Majesty repeated a name which I did not feel justified in indicating more unequivocally. A clever fellow that, resumed he, But like you, Monsieur Bonbon, he was mistaken about the soul. The soul a shadow, truly. The soul a shadow. Ha, ha, ha! Hee, hee, hee, hoo, hoo, hoo! Only think of a fricasseed shadow. Only think of a fricasseed shadow, exclaimed our hero, whose faculties were becoming much illuminated by the profundity of His Majesty's discourse.

Only think of a hickle, fricasseed shadow. Now, damn hickle! "'Humph, if I would have been such a—' "'Nincompoop! My soul, Mr.—' "'Your soul, Monsieur Bonbon?' "'Yes, sir, hiccup, my soul is—' "'What, sir? No shadow, damn? Did you mean to say—' "'Yes, sir, my soul is—' "'Humph, yes, sir.' "'Did you not intend to assert—' "'My soul is—' "'Pecularly qualified for a hiccup—' "'Uh, what, sir?' Stew. Ha! Soufflé. Eh! Fricassee. Indeed. Ragu and fricando. And see here, my good fellow, I let you have it. A bargain." Here the philosopher slapped his majesty upon the back. Couldn't think of any such thing, said the latter calmly, at the same time rising from his seat. The metaphysician stared. "'I'm supplied at present,' said His Majesty.

"'Heek! Eh!' said the philosopher. "'Have no funds on hand.' "'What?' "'Besides very unhandsome in me, sir, to take advantage of—' "'Your present disgusting and ungentlemanly situation.' Here the visitor bowed and withdrew. In what manner could not be precisely ascertained? But in a well-concerted effort to discharge a bottle at the villain, the slender chain was severed that depended from the ceiling, and the metaphysician prostrated by the downfall of the lamp.

10 10 - Some Words with a Mummy 41:29

Some Words with a Mummy by Edgar Allan Poe. The symposium of the preceding evening had been a little too much for my nerves. I had a wretched headache, and was desperately drowsy. Instead of going out, therefore, to spend the evening as I had proposed, it occurred to me that I could not do a wiser thing than just eat a mouthful of supper and go immediately to bed. A light supper, of course. I am exceedingly fond of Welsh Rabbit. More than a pound at once, however, may not at all times be advisable. Still, there can be no material objection to two. And really, between two and three, there is merely a single unit of difference. I ventured, perhaps, upon four. My wife will have five, but clearly she has confounded two very distinct affairs.

The abstract number five I am willing to admit, but concretely it has reference to bottles of brown stout, without which, in the way of condiment, Welsh Rabbit is to be eschewed. Having thus concluded a frugal meal and donned my nightcap with a serene hope of enjoying it till noon the next day, I placed my head upon the pillow and, through the aid of a capital conscience, fell into a profound slumber forthwith. But when were the hopes of humanity fulfilled? I could not have completed my third snore when there came a furious ringing at the street-door bell, and then an impatient thumping at the knocker, which awakened me at once. In a minute afterward, and while I was still rubbing my eyes, my wife thrust in my face a note from my old friend, Dr.

Poniner. It ran thus. "'Come to me by all means, my dear good friend, as soon as you receive this. Come and help us rejoice. At last, by long persevering diplomacy, I have gained the assent of the directors of the City Museum to my examination of the mummy.' You know the one I mean. I have permission to unswath it and open it, if desirable. A few friends only will be present. You, of course. The mummy is now at my house, and we shall begin to enroll it at eleven tonight. Yours ever, Poniner. By the time I had reached the Poniner, it struck me that I was as wide awake as a man need be. I leapt out of bed in an ecstasy, overthrowing all in my way. Dressed myself with a rapidity truly marvelous, and set off at the top of my speed for the doctors.

There I found a very eager company assembled. They had been awaiting me with much impatience. The mummy was extended upon the dining table. And the moment I entered, its examination was commenced. It was one of a pair brought several years previously by Captain Arthur Sabertash, a cousin of Poniners from a tomb near Elathius in the Libyan mountains, a considerable distance above Thebes on the Nile. The grottoes at this point, although less magnificent than the Theban sepulchres, are of higher interest, on account of affording more numerous illustrations of the private life of the Egyptians. The chamber from which our specimen was taken was said to be very rich in such illustrations. The walls being completely covered with fresco paintings and bas-reliefs, while statues, vases, and mosaic work of rich patterns indicated the vast wealth of the deceased.

The treasure had been deposited in the museum precisely in the same condition in which Captain Sabertash had found it. That is to say, the coffin had not been disturbed. For eight years it had thus stood, subject only externally to public inspection. We had now, therefore, the complete mummy at our disposal, and, to those who are aware of how very rarely the unransacked antique reaches our shores, it will be evident at once that we had great reason to congratulate ourselves upon our good fortune. Approaching the table, I saw on it a large box, or case, nearly seven feet long, and perhaps three feet wide, by two feet and a half deep. It was oblong, not coffin-shaped. The material was at first supposed to be the wood of the sycamore, Platanus, but upon cutting into it we found it to be pasteboard, or, more properly, papier-mache, composed of papyrus.

It was thickly ornamented, with paintings representing funeral scenes and other mournful subjects, interspersed among which, in every variety of position, were certain series of hieroglyphical characters, intended, no doubt, for the name of the departed. By good luck, Mr. Glidden formed one of our party, and he had no difficulty in translating the letters, which were simply phonetic and represented the word Alamistachio. We had some difficulty in getting this case open without injury, but having at length accomplished the task, we came to a second, coffin-shaped and very considerably less in size than the exterior one, but resembling it precisely in every other respect. The interval between the two was filled with resin, which had in some degree defaced the colors of the interior box.

Upon opening this latter, which we did quite easily, we arrived at a third case, also coffin-shaped, and varying from the second one in no particular except in that of its material, which was cedar, and still emitted the peculiar and highly aromatic odor of that wood. Between the second and third case, there was no interval, the one fitting accurately within the other. Removing the third case, we discovered and took out the body itself. We had expected to find it, as usual, enveloped in frequent rolls or bandages of linen, but in place of these we found a sort of sheath made of papyrus, and coated with a layer of plaster, thickly gilt and painted. The paintings represented subjects connected with the various supposed duties of the soul, and its presentation to different divinities, with numerous identical human figures intended, very probably, as portraits of the persons embalmed.

Extending from head to foot was a columnar, or perpendicular inscription, in phonetic hieroglyphics giving again his name and titles, and the names and titles of his relations. Around the neck thus ensheathed, was a collar of cylindrical glass beads, diverse in color and so arranged as to form images of deities, of the scarabareus, etc., with the winged globe. Around the small of the waist was a similar collar or belt. Stripping off the papyrus, we found the flesh in excellent preservation, with no perceptible odor. The color was reddish. The skin was hard, smooth, and glossy. The teeth and hair were in good condition. The eyes, it seemed, had been removed and glass ones substituted, which were very beautiful and wonderfully life-like, with the exception of somewhat too determined a stare.

The fingers and the nails were brilliantly gilded. Mr. Glidden was of the opinion, from the redness of the epidermis, that the embalmment had been effected altogether by Asphaltham, but on scraping the surface with a steel instrument, and throwing into the fire some of the powder thus obtained, The flavor of camphor and other sweet-scented gums became apparent. We searched the corpse very carefully for the usual openings through which the entrails are extracted, but, to our surprise, we could discover none. No member of the party was at that period aware that entire or unopened mummies are not infrequently met. The brain, it was customary to withdraw through the nose. The intestines, through an incision in the side.

The body was then shaved, washed, and salted, then laid aside for several weeks, when the operation of embalming, properly so called, began. As no trace of an opening could be found, Dr. Poniner was preparing his instruments for dissection, when I observed that it was past two o'clock. Hereupon it was agreed to postpone the internal examination until the next evening, and we were about to separate for the present. When someone suggested an experiment or two with the voltaic pile. The application of electricity to a mummy three or four thousand years old, at least, was an idea, if not very sage, still sufficiently original, that we all caught it at once. About one-tenth in earnest and nine-tenths in jest, we arranged a battery in the doctor's study and conveyed thither the Egyptian.

It was only after much trouble that we succeeded in laying bare some portions of the temporal muscle which appeared of less stony rigidity than other parts of the frame, but which, as we had anticipated, of course, gave no indication of galvanic susceptibility when brought in contact with the wire. This, the first trial, indeed seemed decisive, and with a hearty laugh at our own absurdity, we were bidding each other good-night, When my eyes, happening to fall upon those of the mummy, were there immediately riveted in amazement. My brief glance, in fact, had sufficed to assure me that the orbs, which we had all supposed to be glass, and which were originally noticeable for a certain wild stare, were now so far covered by the lids that only a small portion of the tunica albuginea remained visible.

With a shout, I called attention to the fact, and it became immediately obvious to all. I cannot say that I was alarmed at the phenomena, because alarmed is, in my case, not exactly the word. It is possible, however, that but for the Brown Stout I might have been a little nervous. As for the rest of the company, they really made no attempt at concealing the downright fright which possessed them. Dr. Poniner was a man to be pitied. Mr. Gridden, By some peculiar process rendered himself invisible. Mr. Silk Buckingham, I fancy, will scarcely be so bold as to deny that he made his way upon all fours under the table. After the first shock of astonishment, however, we resolved as a matter of course upon further experiment forthwith.

Our operations were now directed against the great toe of the right foot. We made an incision over the outside of the exterior os sesamoidium polyces pedis, and thus got at the root of the abductor muscle. Readjusting the battery, we now applied the fluid to the bisected nerves, when, with a moment of exceeding lifelikeness, the mummy first drew up its right knee so as to bring it nearly in contact with the abdomen, and then, Straightening the limb with inconceivable force, bestowed a kick upon Dr. Poniner, which had the effect of discharging that gentleman like an arrow from a catapult, through a window into the street below. We rushed out en masse to bring in the mangled remains of the victim, but had the happiness to meet him upon the staircase.

Coming up in an unaccountable hurry, brimful of the most ardent philosophy, and more than ever impressed with the necessity of prosecuting our experiment with vigor and with zeal. It was by his advice, accordingly, that we made, upon the spot, a profound incision into the tip of the subject's nose, while the doctor himself, laying violent hands upon it, pulled it into vehement contact with the wire. Morally and physically, figuratively and literally, was the effect electric. In the first place, the corpse opened its eyes and winked very rapidly for several minutes, as does Mr. Barnes in the pantomime. In the second place, it sneezed. In the third, it sat upon end. In the fourth, it shook its fist in Dr.

Poniner's face. In the fifth, Turning to Messrs. Glidden and Buckingham, it addressed them, in very capital Egyptian, thus. "'I must say, gentlemen, that I am as much surprised as I am mortified at your behaviour. Of Dr. Poniner, nothing better was to be expected. He is a poor little fat fool who knows no better. I pity and forgive him. But you, Mr. Glidden, and you, Silk, Who have traveled and resided in Egypt until one might imagine you to the manner born? You, I say, who have been so much among us that you speak Egyptian fully as well, I think, as you write your mother tongue. You, whom I have always been led to regard as the firm friend of the mummies, I really did anticipate more gentlemanly conduct from you.

What am I to think of your standing quietly by in seeing me thus unhandsomely used? What am I to suppose by your permitting Tom, Dick, and Harry to strip me of my coffins and my clothes in this wretchedly cold climate? In what light, to come to the point, am I to regard your aiding and abetting that miserable little villain, Dr. Poniner, in pulling me by the nose? It will be taken for granted, no doubt, that upon hearing this speech under the circumstances we all either made for the door or fell into violent hysterics, or went off in a general swoon. One of these three things was, I say, to be expected. Indeed, each and all of these lines of conduct might have been very plausibly pursued, and upon my word, I am at a loss to know how or why it was that we pursued neither the one nor the other.

But perhaps the true reason is to be sought in the spirit of the age, which proceeds by the rule of contraries altogether, and is now usually admitted as the solution of everything in the way of paradox and impossibility. Or, perhaps, after all, it was only the mummy's exceedingly natural and matter-of-course air that divested his words of the terrible. However this may be, the facts are clear, and no member of our party betrayed any very particular trepidation, or seemed to consider that anything had gone very especially wrong. For my part, I was convinced it was all right, and merely stepped aside, out of the range of the mummy's fist. Dr. Poniner thrust his hands into his breeches pockets, looked hard at the mummy, and grew excessively red in the face.

Mr. Glidden stroked his whiskers, and drew up the collar of his shirt. Mr. Buckingham hung down his head, and put his right thumb into the left corner of his mouth. The Egyptian regarded him with a severe countenance for some minutes, and at length with a sneer said, "'Why don't you speak, Mr. Buckingham? Did you hear what I asked you or not? Do take your thumb out of your mouth.' Mr. Buckingham hereupon gave a slight start, took his right thumb out of the left corner of his mouth, and, by way of indemnification, inserted his left thumb in the right corner of the aperture above mentioned. Not being able to get an answer from Mr. B., the figure turned peevishly to Mr. Glidden, and in a peremptory tone demanded in general terms what we all meant.

Mr. Glidden replied at great length in phonetics, and, but for the deficiency of American printing offices in hieroglyphic type, it would afford me much pleasure to record here, in the original, the whole of his very excellent speech. I may as well take this occasion to remark that all the subsequent conversation in which the mummy took part was carried on in primitive Egyptian, through the medium, so far as concerned myself and other untraveled members of the company, through the medium, I say, of Messrs. Glidden and Buckingham as interpreters. These gentlemen spoke the mother tongue of the mummy with inimitable fluency and grace, but I could not help observing that, Owing, no doubt, to the introduction of images entirely modern, and of course entirely novel to the stranger, that the two travelers were reduced occasionally to the employment of sensible forms for the purpose of conveying a particular meaning.

Mr. Glidden at one period, for example, could not make the Egyptian comprehend the term politics, Until he sketched upon the wall, with a bit of charcoal, a little carbuncle-nosed gentleman, out at the elbows, standing upon a stump, with his left leg drawn back, right arm thrown forward, with his fist shut, the eyes rolled up toward heaven, and the mouth open at an angle of ninety degrees. Just in the same way, Mr. Buckingham failed to convey the absolute modern idea of Whig. Until, at Dr. Poniner's suggestion, he grew very pale in the face, and consented to take off his own. It will be readily understood that Mr. Glidden's discourse turned chiefly upon the vast benefits accruing to science from the unrolling and disemboweling of mummies.

Apologizing upon this score for any disturbance that might have been occasioned him, in particular the individual mummy called Alamistachio, and concluding with a mere hint, for it could scarcely be considered more that, as these little manners were now explained, it might be well to proceed with the investigation intended. Here Dr. Poniner made ready his instruments. In regard to the latter suggestion of the orator, it appears that Alamostocchio had certain scruples of conscience, the nature of which I did not distinctly learn, But he expressed himself satisfied with the apologies tendered, and, getting down from the table, shook hands with the company all round. When this ceremony was at an end, we immediately busied ourselves in repairing the damages which our subject had sustained from the scalpel.

We sewed up the wound in his temple, bandaged his foot, and applied a square inch of black plaster to the tip of his nose. It was now observed that the Count, This was the title, it seems, of Alamostocchio, had a slight fit of shivering, no doubt, from the cold. The doctor immediately repaired to his wardrobe, and soon returned with a black dress-coat, made in Jennings's best manner, a pair of sky-blue plaid pantaloons with straps, a pink gingham chemise, a flapped vest of brocade, a white sack overcoat, a walking cane with a hook, a hat with no brim, patent-leather boots, straw-colored kid gloves, an eyeglass, a pair of whiskers, and a waterfall cravat. Owing to the disparity of size between the count and the doctor, the proportion being as two to one, there was some little difficulty in adjusting these habiliments upon the person of the Egyptian.

But when all was arranged, he might have been said to be dressed. Mr. Glidden, therefore, gave him his arm and led him to a comfortable chair by the fire, while the doctor rang the bell upon the spot and ordered a supply of cigars and wine. The conversation soon grew animated. Much curiosity was, of course, expressed in regard to the somewhat remarkable fact of Ala Moustakyo's still remaining alive. "'I should have thought,' observed Mr. Buckingham, "'that it is high time you were dead.' Why, replied the count, very much astonished, I am little more than seven hundred years old. My father lived a thousand, and was by no means in his dotage when he died. Here ensued a brisk series of questions and computations, by means of which it became evident that the antiquity of the mummy had been grossly misjudged.

It had been five thousand and fifty years, and some months, since he had been consigned to the catacombs at Elietheus. But my remark, resumed Mr. Buckingham, had no reference to your age at the period of interment. I am willing to grant, in fact, that you are still a young man, and my allusion was to the immensity of time during which, by your own showing, you must have been done up in Asphaltham. In what? said the Count. In Asphaltham persisted Mr. B. Ah, yes. I have some faint notion of what you mean. It might be made to answer, no doubt, but in my time we employed scarcely anything else than the bichlorite of mercury. But what we are especially at a loss to understand, said Dr. Poniner, is how it happens that having been dead and buried in Egypt five thousand years ago, you are here today all alive and looking so delightfully well.

Had I been, as you say, dead, replied the count, it is more than probable that dead I should still be, for I perceive you are yet in the infancy of Calvinism, and cannot accomplish with it what was a common thing among us in the old days. But the fact is, I fell into catalepsy, and it was considered by my best friends that I was either dead or should be. They accordingly embalmed me at once. I presume you are aware of the chief principle of the embalming process. Why, not altogether. Why, I perceive a deplorable condition of ignorance. Well, I cannot enter into details just now, but it is necessary to explain that to embalm, properly speaking, in Egypt, was to arrest indefinitely all the animal functions subjected to the process.

I use the word animal in its widest sense, as including the physical, not more than a moral and vital being. I repeat that the leading principle of embalmment consisted with us in the immediately arresting and holding in perpetual abeyance all the animal functions subjected to the process. To be brief, in whatever condition the individual was at the period of embalmment, in that condition he remained. Now, As it is my good fortune to be of the blood of the scarabarius, I was embalmed alive, as you see me at present. "'The blood of the scarabarius?' exclaimed Dr. Poniner. "'Yes, the scarabarius was the insignium, or the arms, of a very distinguished and very rare patrician family. To be of the blood of the scarabarius is merely to be one of that family, of which the scarabarius is the insignium.

I speak figuratively. But what has this to do with you being alive? Why, it is the general custom in Egypt to deprive a corpse before embalmment of its bowels and brains. The race of the scarabarii alone did not coincide with the custom. Had I not been a scarabarius, therefore, I should have been without bowels and brains, and without either it is inconvenient to live. "'I perceive that,' said Mr. Buckingham, "'and I presume that all the entire mummies that come to hand are of the race of the Scarabarii.' "'Beyond doubt.' "'I thought,' said Mr. Glidden, very meekly, "'that the Scarabarius was one of the Egyptian gods.' "'One of the Egyptian—what?' exclaimed the mummy, starting to its feet. Gods, repeated the traveller.

Mr. Glidden, I really am astonished to hear you talk in this style, said the Count, resuming his chair. No nation upon the face of the earth has ever acknowledged more than one god. The scarabarius, the ibis, etc., were to us, as similar creatures have been with others, the symbols, or media through which we offered worship to the Creator, too august to be more directly approached. There was here a pause. At length the colloquy was renewed by Dr. Poniner. "'It is not improbable, then, from what you have explained,' said he, "'that among the catacombs near the Nile there may exist other mummies of the Scarabarius tribe, in a condition of vitality?' "'There can be no question of it,' replied the Count.

All the scarabarii, embalmed accidentally while alive, are alive now. Even some of those purposely so embalmed may have been overlooked by their executors and still remain in the tomb. Will you be kind enough to explain, I said, what you mean by purposely so embalmed? With great pleasure, answered the mummy, after surveying me leisurely through his eye-glass. For it was the first time I had ventured to address him a direct question. With great pleasure, he said. The usual duration of a man's life in my time was about eight hundred years. Few men died, unless by most extraordinary accident, before the age of six hundred. Few lived longer than a decade of centuries, but eight were considered the natural term.

After the discovery of the embalming principle, as I have already described it to you, it occurred to our philosophers that a laudable curiosity might be gratified, and, at the same time, the interest of science much advanced by living this natural term in installments. In the case of history, indeed, experience demonstrated that something of this kind was indispensable. An historian, for example, having attained the age of five hundred, would write a book with great labor and then get himself carefully embalmed, leaving instructions to his executors pro tem, that they should cause him to be revivified after the lapse of a certain period, say, five or six hundred years. Resuming existence at the expiration of this time, he would invariably find his great work converted into a species of haphazard notebook, that is to say, into a kind of literary arena for the conflicting guesses, riddles, and personal squabbles of whole herds of exasperated commentators.

These guesses, etc., which passed under the name of annotations or emendations, were found so completely to have enveloped, distorted, and overwhelmed the text, that the author had to go about with a lantern to discover his own book. When discovered, It was never worth the trouble of the search. After re-writing it throughout, it was regarded as the bounden duty of the historian to set himself to work immediately in correcting, from his own private knowledge and experience, the traditions of the day concerning the epoch at which he had originally lived. Now, this process of rescription and personal rectification pursued by various individual sages from time to time, had the effect of preventing our history from degenerating into absolute fable.

"'I beg your pardon,' said Dr. Poniner at this point, laying his hand gently upon the arm of the Egyptian. "'I beg your pardon, sir, but may I presume to interrupt you for one moment?' "'By all means, sir,' replied the Count, drawing up. "'I merely wish to ask you a question,' said the doctor. You mention the historian's personal correction of the traditions respecting his own epoch. Pray, sir, upon an average, what proportion of these cabala were usually found to be right? The cabala, as you properly termed them, sir, were generally discovered to be precisely on a par with the facts recorded in the unrewritten histories themselves. That is to say, Not one individual iota either was ever known, under any circumstances, to not be totally and radically wrong.

But since it is quite clear, resumed the doctor, that at least five thousand years have elapsed since your entombment, I take it for granted that your histories at that period, if not your traditions, were sufficiently explicit on that one topic of universal interest, the creation which took place, as I presume you are aware, Only about ten centuries before. Sir, said the Count Alamistachio. The doctor repeated his remarks, but it was only after much additional explanation that the foreigner could be made to comprehend them. The latter, at length, said hesitatingly, The ideas you have suggested are, to me, I confess, utterly novel. During my time I never knew any one to entertain so singular a fancy, as that the universe, or this world, if you would have it so, ever had a beginning at all.

I remember once, and only once, hearing something remotely hinted by a man of many speculations concerning the origin of the human race, and by this individual the very word atom, or red earth, which you make use of, was employed. He employed it, however, in a generical sense, with reference to the spontaneous germination from rank soil, Just as a thousand of lower genera of creatures are germinated, the spontaneous germination, I say, of five vast hordes of men, simultaneously upspringing in five distinct and nearly equal divisions of the globe. Here, in general, the company shrugged their shoulders, and one or two of us touched our foreheads with a very significant air. Mr. Silk Buckingham, first glancing slightly at the occiput, and then at the sensiput of Alamistachio, spoke as follows.

The long duration of human life in your time, together with the occasional practice of passing it, as you have explained in installments, must have had, indeed, a strong tendency to the general development and conglomeration of knowledge. I presume, therefore, that we are to attribute the marked inferiority of the old Egyptians in all particulars of science, when compared with the moderns, and more especially with the Yankees, altogether to the superior solidity of the Egyptian skull. I confess again, replied the count, with much suavity, that I am somewhat at a loss to comprehend you. Pray, to what particulars of science do you allude? Here are whole party joining voices detailed at great length the assumptions of phrenology and the marvels of animal magnetism.

Having heard us to an end, the Count proceeded to relate a few anecdotes, which rendered it evident that the prototypes of Gaul and Spurzheim had flourished and faded in Egypt so long ago as to have been nearly forgotten, and that the manoeuvres of Mesmer, were really very contemptible tricks when put in collation with the positive miracles of the Theban savants, who created lice and a great many other similar things. I here asked the Count if his people were able to calculate eclipses. He smiled rather contemptuously, and said they were. This put me a little out, but I began to make other inquiries in regard to his astronomical knowledge, when a member of the company, who had never as yet opened his mouth, whispered in my ear that for information on this head I had better consult Ptolemy, whoever Ptolemy is, as well as one Plutarch of De Fascii Lunai.

I then questioned the mummy about burning-glasses and lenses, and in general about the manufacture of glass. But I had not made an end to my queries before the silent member again touched me quietly on the elbow, and begged me, for God's sake, to take a peep at Diodorus Siculus. As for the count, he merely asked me, in the way of reply, if we moderns possessed any such microscopes as would enable us to cut cameos in the style of the Egyptians. While I was thinking how I should answer this question, little Dr. Ponner committed himself in a very extraordinary way. "'Look at our architecture!' he exclaimed, greatly to the indignation of both the travelers, who pinched him black and blue to no purpose.

Look," he cried with enthusiasm, at the Bowling Green Fountain in New York, or, if this be too vast to contemplation, regard for a moment the Capitol at Washington, D.C., and the good little medical man went on to detail very minutely the proportions of the fabric to which he referred. He explained that the portico alone was adorned with no less than four-and-twenty columns, five feet in diameter and ten feet apart. The Count said that he regretted not being able to remember, just at that moment, the precise dimensions of any one of the principal buildings of the city of Asnak, whose foundations were laid in the night of time, but the ruins of which were still standing at the epoch of his entombment, in a vast plain of sand to the westward of Thebes.

He recollected, however, talking of the porticoes, that one affixed to an inferior palace of a kind of suburb called Karnak, consisted of a hundred and forty-four columns, thirty-seven feet in circumference, and twenty-five feet apart. The approach to this portico from the Nile was through an avenue two miles long, composed of sphinxes, statues, and obelisks, twenty, sixty, and a hundred feet in height. The palace itself, as well as he could remember, was in one direction, two miles long, It might have been altogether about seven in circuit. Its walls were richly painted all over, within and without, with hieroglyphics. He would not pretend to assert that even fifty or sixty of the doctor's capitals might have been built within these walls, but he was by no means sure that the two or three hundred of them might not have been squeezed in with some trouble.

The palace at Karnak was an insignificant little building after all. He, the Count, However, could not conscientiously refuse to admit the ingenuity, magnificence, and superiority of the fountain at the Bowling Green, as described by the doctor. Nothing like it, he was forced to allow, had ever been seen in Egypt or elsewhere. I here asked the count what he had to say to our railroads. Nothing, he replied, in particular. They were rather slight, rather ill-conceived and clumsily put together. They could not be compared, of course, with the vast, level, direct, iron-grooved causeways upon which the Egyptians conveyed entire temples and solid obelisks of a hundred and fifty feet in altitude. I spoke of our gigantic mechanical forces.

He agreed that we knew something in that way, but inquired how I should have gone to work in getting up the imposts on the lintels of even the little palace at Karnak. This question I concluded not to hear, and demanded if he had any idea of artesian wells, but he simply raised his eyebrows, while Mr. Glidden winked at me very hard and said in a low tone that one had been recently discovered by the engineers employed to bore for water in the great oasis. I then mentioned our steel. But the foreigner elevated his nose, and asked me if R. Steele could have executed the sharp-carved work seen on the obelisks, and which had been wrought altogether by edged tools of copper. This disconsured us so greatly that we thought it advisable to vary the attack to metaphysics.

We sent for a copy of a book called The Dial, and read out a chapter or two about something that is not very clear, which the Bostonians call the Great Movement of Progress. The Count merely said that the great movements were awfully common things in his day, and as for progress, it was at one time quite a nuisance, but it never progressed. We then spoke of the great beauty and importance of democracy, and were at much trouble in impressing the Count with a due sense of the advantages we enjoyed in living where there was suffrage ad libitum and no king. He listened with market interest, and in fact seemed not a little amused. When we had done, he said that a great while ago there had occurred something of a very similar sort.

Thirteen Egyptian provinces determined all at once to be free, and to set a magnificent example to the rest of mankind. They assembled their wise men, and concocted the most ingenious constitution it was possible to conceive. For a while they managed remarkably well, Only their habit of bragging was prodigious. The thing ended, however, in the consolidation of the thirteen states with some fifteen or twenty others in the most odious and insupportable despotism that was ever heard of upon the face of the earth. I asked what was the name of the usurping tyrant. As well as the count could recollect, it was Mob. Not knowing what to say to this, I raised my voice and deplored the Egyptian ignorance of steam.

The count looked at me with much astonishment, but made no answer. The silent gentleman, however, gave me a violent nudge in the ribs with his elbows, told me I had sufficiently exposed myself for once, and demanded, if I was really such a fool, as not to know that the modern steam-engine is derived from the invention of Hero through Solomon de Caus. We were now in imminent danger of being discomfited, but, as good luck would have it, Dr. Ponner, having rallied, returned to our rescue, and inquired if the people of Egypt would seriously pretend to rival the moderns in the all-important particular of dress. The count at this glanced downward to the straps of his pantaloons, and then taking hold of the end of one of his coat-tails, held it up close to his eyes for some minutes.

Letting it fall, at last his mouth extended itself very gradually from ear to ear, But I do not remember that he said anything in the way of reply. Hereupon we recovered our spirits, and the doctor, approaching the mummy with great dignity, desired to say candidly, upon its honor as a gentleman, if the Egyptians had comprehended at any period the manufacture of either Poniner's lozenges or Brandreth's pills. We looked, with profound anxiety, for an answer, but in vain. It was not forthcoming. The Egyptian blushed, and hung down his head. Never was triumph more consummate. Never was defeat borne with so ill a grace. Indeed, I could not endure the spectacle of the poor mummy's mortification. I reached my hat, bowed to him stiffly, and took leave.

Upon getting home, I found it past four o'clock, and went immediately to bed. It is now ten a m, I have been up since seven, penning these memoranda for the benefit of my family and of mankind. The former I shall behold no more. My wife is a shrew. The truth is, I am hardly sick of this life, and of the nineteenth century in general. I am convinced that everything is going wrong. Besides, I am anxious to know who will be president in 2045. As soon, therefore, as I shave and swallow a cup of coffee, I shall just step over to Poniner's and get embalmed for a couple of hundred years.

11 11 - The Poetic Principle 49:22

In speaking of the Poetic Principle, I have no design to be either thorough or profound. While discussing, very much at random, the essentiality of what we call poetry, my principal purpose will be to cite for consideration some few of those minor English or American poems which best suit my own taste, or which, upon my own fancy, have left the most definite impression. By minor poems, I mean, of course, poems of little length. And here, in the beginning, permit me to say a few words in regard to a somewhat peculiar principle which, whether rightfully or wrongfully, has always had its influence in my own critical estimate of the poem. I hold that a long poem does not exist. I maintain that phrase, a long poem, is simply a flat contradiction in terms.

I need scarcely observe that a poem deserves its title only inasmuch as it excites by elevating the soul. The value of the poem is in the ratio of this elevating excitement. But all excitements are, through a cycle necessity, transient. That degree of excitement, which would entitle a poem to be so called at all, cannot be sustained throughout a composition of any great length. After the lapse of half an hour at the very utmost, it flags, fails, a revulsion ensues, and then the poem is, in effect, and in fact, no longer such. There are, no doubt, many who have found difficulty in reconciling the critical dictum that the Paradise Lost is to be devoutly admired throughout, with the absolute impossibility of maintaining for it, during perusal, the amount of enthusiasm which that critical dictum would demand.

This great work, in fact, is to be regarded as poetical, Only when, losing sight of that vital requisite in all works of art, unity, we view it merely as a series of minor poems. If to preserve its unity, its totality of effect or impression, we read it, as would be necessary, at a single sitting, the result is but a constant alternation of excitement and depression. After a passage of what we feel to be true poetry, there follows inevitably a passage of platitude which no critical prejudgment can force us to admire. But if upon completing the work we read it again, omitting the first book, that is to say, commencing with the second, we shall be surprised at now finding that admirable which we before condemned, that damnable which we had previously so much admired.

It follows from all this that the ultimate aggregate or absolute effect of even the best epic under the sun is nullity, and this is precisely the fact.

In regard to the Iliad, we have, if not positive proof, at least very good reason for believing it intended as a series of lyrics. But granting the epic intention, I can say only that the work is based on an imperfect sense of art. The modern epic is of the suppositious ancient model, but an inconsiderate and blindfold imitation. But the day of these artistic anomalies is over. If at any time any very long poem were popular in reality, which I doubt, it is at least clear that no very long poem will ever be popular again. That the extent of a poetical work is centris paribus, the measure of its merit, seems undoubtedly, when we thus state it, a proposition sufficiently absurd. Yet we are indebted for it to the quarterly reviews.

Surely there can be nothing in mere size, abstractly considered. There can be nothing in mere bulk, so far as volume is concerned, which has so continuously elicited admiration from these Saturnine pamphlets. A mountain, to be sure, by the mere sentiment of physical magnitude which it conveys, does impress us with a sense of the sublime. But no man is impressed after this fashion by the material grandeur of even the Columbiad. Even the Quardley's have not instructed us to be so impressed by it. As yet, they have not insisted on our estimating Lamertine by the cubic foot or Pollock by the pound. But what else are we to infer from their continuing prating about sustained effort? If by sustained effort any little gentleman has accomplished an epic, let us frankly commend him for the effort.

If this is indeed a thing commendable, but let us forbear praising the epic on the efforts account. It is to be hoped that common sense in the time to come will prefer deciding upon a work of art rather by the impression it makes, by the effect it produces, than by the time it took to impress the effect, or the amount of sustained effort which had been found necessary in effecting the impression. The fact is that perseverance is one thing, and genius quite another. Nor can all the quarterlies in Christendom confound them. By and by, this proposition, with many which I have just been urging, will be received as self-evident. In the meantime, by being generally condemned as falsities, they will not be essentially damaged as truths.

On the other hand, it is clear that a poem may be improperly brief. Undue brevity degenerates into mere epigrammatism. A very short poem, while now and then producing a brilliant or vivid, never produces a profound or enduring effect. There must be the steady pressing down of the stamp upon the wax. Béranger has wrought innumerable things, pungent and spirit-stirring, but in general they have been too imponderous to stamp themselves deeply into the public attention. And thus, as so many feathers of fancy have been blown aloft only to be whistled down in the wind. A remarkable instance of the effect of undue brevity in depressing poem, in keeping it out of the popular view, is afforded by the following exquisite little serenade.

I arise from the dream of thee in the first sweet sleep of night, when the winds are breathing low and the stars are shining bright. I arise from dreams of thee, and a spirit in my feet has led me, who knows how, to thy chamber window, sweet. The wandering airs, they faint on the dark, the silent stream. The champak odors fail like sweet thoughts in a dream. The nightingale's complaint, it dies upon the heart, as I must die on thine, O beloved, as thou art. O lift me from the grass, I die, I faint, I fail. Let thy love in kisses rain on my lips and eyelids pale. My cheek is cold and white, alas, my heart beats loud and fast. O press it close to thine again, where it will break at last.

Very few, perhaps, are familiar with these lines, yet no less a poet than Shelley is their author. Their warm yet delicate and ethereal imagination will be appreciated by all, and by none so thoroughly as by him who has himself arisen from sweet dreams of one beloved to bathe in the aromatic air of a southern midsummer night. One of the finest poems by Willis, the very best, in my opinion, which he has ever written, has no doubt through this same defect of undue brevity been kept back from its proper position, not less in the critical than in the popular view.

The shadows lay along Broadway, Twas near the twilight tide, As slowly there a lady fair was walking in her pride. Alone walked she, but viewlessly walked spirits at her side. Peace charmed the street beneath her feet, and honor charmed the air, and all astir looked kind on her, and called her good as fair. For all God ever gave to her she kept with cherry care. She kept with care her beauties rare from lovers warm and true, For heart was cold to all but gold, and the rich came not to woo, but honored well her charms to sell, if priests the selling do. Now walking there was one more fair, a slight girl, lily pale, and she had unseen company to make the spirit quail. Twixt want and scorn she walked forlorn, and nothing could avail.

No mercy now can clear her brow for this world's peace to pray. For as love's wild prayer dissolved in air, her woman's heart gave way. But the sin forgiven by Christ in heaven, by man, is cursed all way.

In this composition, we find it difficult to recognize the Willis who has written so many mere verses of society. The lines are not only richly ideal, but full of energy, while they breathe an earnestness, an evident sincerity of sentiment, for which we look in vain throughout all the other works of this author. While the epic mania, while the idea that to merit Poetry, polexity, is indispensable, has for some years been gradually dying out of the public mind by mere dent of its own absurdity. We find it succeeded by a heresy too palpably false to be long tolerated, but one which, in the brief period it has already endured, may be said to have accomplished more in the corruption of our poetical literature than all its other enemies combined.

I allude to the heresy of the didactic. It has been assumed tacitly and avowedly, directly and indirectly, that the ultimate object of all poetry is truth. Every poem, it is said, should inculcate a moral, and by this moral is the poetical merit of the work to be adjudged. We Americans especially have patronized this happy idea, and we Bostonians very especially have developed it in full. We have taken it into our heads that to write a poem simply for the poem's sake, and to acknowledge such to have been our design, would be to confess ourselves radically wanting in the true poetic dignity and force. But the simple fact is that we would but permit ourselves to look into our own souls, we should immediately there discover that under the sun there neither exists nor can exist, Any work more thoroughly dignified, more supremely noble than this very poem, this poem per se, this poem which is a poem and nothing more, this poem written solely for the poem's sake.

With as deep a reverence for the true as ever inspired the bosom of man, I would nevertheless limit in some measure its modes of inculcation. I would limit to enforce them. I would not enfeeble them by dissipation. The demands of truth are severe. She has no sympathy with the myrtles. All that which is so indispensable in song is precisely all that which she has nothing whatever to do. But it is but making her a flaunting paradox to wreathe her in gems and flowers. In enforcing a truth, we need severity rather than efflorescence of language. We must be simple, precise, terse. We must be cool, calm, unimpassioned. In a word, we must be in that mood which, as nearly as possible, is the exact converse of the poetical.

He must be blind indeed who does not perceive the radical and chastisnal difference between the truthful and the poetical modes of inculcation. He must be theory-mad beyond redemption Who, in spite of these differences, shall still persist in attempting to reconcile the obstinate oils and waters of poetry and truth.

Dividing the world of mine into its three most immediately obvious distinctions, we have the pure intellect, taste, and the moral sense. I place taste in the middle because it is just this position which In the mind, it occupies. It holds intimate relations with either extreme, but from a moral sense is separated by so faint a difference that Aristotle has not hesitated to place some of its operations among the virtues themselves. Nevertheless, we find the offices of the trio marked with a sufficient distinction. Just as the intellect concerns itself with truth, so taste informs us of the beautiful. While the moral sense is regardful of duty. Of this latter, while conscience teaches the obligation and reason the expediency, taste contents herself with displaying the charms, raging war upon vice solely on the ground of her deformity, her disproportion, her animosity to the fitting, to the appropriate, to the harmonious, in a word, to beauty.

An immortal instinct deep within the spirit of man is thus plainly a sense of the beautiful. This it is which administers to his delight in the manifold forms and sounds and odors and sentiments amid which he exists. And just as the lily is repeated in the lake, or the eyes of the amaryllis in the mirror, so is the mere oral or written repetition of these forms and sounds and colors and odors and sentiments A duplicate source of the light. But this mere repetition is not poetry. He who shall simply sing with however glowing enthusiasm, or with however vivid a truth of description of the sights and sounds and odors and colors and sentiments which greet him in common with all mankind, he, I say, has yet failed to prove his divine title.

There is still something in the distance which he has been unable to attain. We have still a thirst unquenchable to a lay which he has not shown us the crystal springs. This thirst belongs to the immortality of man. It is at once a consequence and an indication of his perennial existence. It is the desire of the moth for the star. It is no mere appreciation of the beauty before us, but a wild effort to reach the beauty above. Inspired by an ecstatic prescience to the glories beyond the grave, we struggle by multiform combinations among the things and thoughts of time to attain a portion of that loveliness whose very elements perhaps appertain to eternity alone. And thus, when by poetry or when by music the most entrancing of the poetic moods, We find ourselves melted into tears.

We weep, then, not as the abate gravina supposes, through excess of pleasure, but through a certain petulant, impatient sorrow at our inability to grasp now wholly, here on earth, at once and forever, those divine and rapturous joys which, through the poem or through the music, we attain to but brief and indeterminate glimpses. The struggle to apprehend the supernal loveliness, this struggle on the part of souls fittingly constituted, has given to the world all that which it, the world, has ever been enabled at once to understand and to feel as poetic. The poetic sentiment, of course, may develop itself in various modes, in painting, in sculpture, in architecture, in the dance. Very especially in music, and very peculiarly with a wide field in the composition of the landscape garden.

Our present theme, however, has regard only to its manifestation in words. And here, let me speak briefly on the topic of rhythm. Contenting myself with the certainty that music, in its various modes of meter, rhythm, and rhyme, is of so vast a moment in poetry as never to be wisely rejected, is so vitally important an adjunct that he is simply silly who declines its assistance. I will now pause to maintain its absolute essentiality. It is in music, perhaps, that the soul most nearly attains the great end for which When inspired by the poetic sentiment, it struggles, the creation of supernal beauty. It may be, indeed, that here this sublime end is now and then attained in fact. We are often made to feel with a shivering delight that from an earthly harp are stricken notes which cannot have been unfamiliar to the angels.

And thus, there can be little doubt that in the union of poetry with music in its popular sense, we shall find the widest field for the poetic development. The old bards and men and singers had advantages which we do not possess, and Thomas Moore, singing his own songs, was, in the most legitimate manner, perfecting them as poems. Do we capitulate, then? I would define in brief the poetry of words as the rhythmical creation of beauty. Its sole arbiter is taste. With the intellect or with the conscience, it has only collateral relations, unless incidentally it has no concern whatever with duty or with truth. A few words, however, in explanation. That pleasure, which is at once the most pure, the most elevating, and the most intense, is derived, I maintain, from the contemplation of the beautiful.

In the contemplation of beauty, we alone find it possible to attain that pleasurable elevation or excitement of the soul, which we recognize as the poetic sentiment, and which is so easily distinguished from truth, which is the satisfaction of the reason. Or from passion, which is the excitement of the heart. I make beauty, therefore, using the word as inclusive of the sublime, I make beauty the province of the poem, simply because it is an obvious rule of art that effects should be made to spring directly as possible from their causes. No one as yet having been weak enough to deny that peculiar elevation in question is at least most readily obtainable in the poem. It by no means follows, however, that the incitements of passion or the precepts of duty or even the lessons of truth may not be introduced into a poem and with advantage, for they may subserve incidentally in various ways, The general purposes of the work.

But the true artist will always contrive to tone them down in proper subjection to that beauty which is the atmosphere and the real essence of the poem. I cannot better introduce the few poems which I shall present for your consideration than by the citation of the poem to Longfellow's Waif.

The day is done, and the darkness falls from the wings of night, as a feather is wafted downward from an eagle in his flight. I see the lights of the village gleam through the rain and the mist, and a feeling of sadness comes o'er me that my soul cannot resist. A feeling of sadness and longing that is not akin to pain, and resembles sorrow only as the mist resembles the rain. Come, read to me some poem, some simple heartfelt lay that shall soothe this restless feeling and banish the thoughts of day. Not from the grand old masters, not from the barred sublime, whose distant footsteps echo through the corridors of time. For like strains of martial music, their mighty thought suggests life's endless toil and endeavor, and tonight I long for rest.

Read from some humbler poet, whose songs gush from his heart as showers from the clouds of summer or tears from the eyelids start, who through long days of labor and nights devoid of ease still heard in his soul the music of wonderful melodies. Such songs have power to quiet the restless pulse of care and come like the benediction that follows after prayer. Then read from some treasured volume a poem of thy choice, and lend to the rhyme of the poet the beauty of thy voice. And the night shall be filled with music, and the cares that infest the day shall fold their tents like Arabs, and as silently steal away.

With no great range of imagination, these lines have been justly admired for their delicacy of expression. Some of the images are very effective. Nothing can be better than the barred sublime whose distant footsteps echo down the corridors of time. The idea of the last quatrain is also very effective. The poem on the whole, however, is chiefly to be admired for the graceful insouciance of its meter, so well in accordance with the character of the sentiments, and especially for the ease of the general manner. This ease, or naturalness in literary style, has long been the fashion to regard as ease in appearance alone, as a point of really difficult attainment. But not so. A natural manner is difficult only to him who should never meddle with it, to the unnatural.

It is but the result of writing with the understanding or with the instinct that the tone in composition should always be that which the mass of mankind would adopt, and most perpetually vary, of course, with the occasion. The author who, after the fashion of the North American Review, should be upon all occasions merely Quiet must necessarily upon many occasions be simply silly or stupid, and has no more right to be considered easy or natural than a cockney exquisite or than the sleeping beauty in the waxworks. Among the minor poems of Bryant, Nunn has so much impressed me as one which he entitles June. I quote only a portion of it. There through the long, long summer hours, the golden light should lie, and thick young herbs and groups of flowers stand in their beauty by.

The Oriole should build and tell his love tale closely beside my cell. The idle butterfly should rest him there, and there be heard the housewife be and hummingbird. And what if cheerful shouts at noon come from the village scent, or songs of maids beneath the moon with fairy laughter blent? And what if in the evening light betrothed lovers walk in sight of my low monument? I would the lovely scene around might know no sadder sight or sound. I know, I know I should not see the season's glorious show. Nor would its brightness shine from me, nor its wild music flow. But if around my place of sleep the friends I love should come to weep, they might not haste to go. Soft airs and song and the light and bloom should keep them lingering by my tomb.

These to their softened hearts should bear the thoughts of what has been, and speak of one who cannot share the gladness of the scene. Whose part in all the pomp that fills the circuit of the summer hills is that his grave is green, and deeply would their hearts rejoice to hear again his living voice.

The rhythmical flow here is even voluptuous. Nothing could be more melodious. The poem has always affected me in a remarkable manner. The intense melancholy which seems to well up perforce to the surface of all the poet's cheerful sayings about his grave, we find thrillingness to the soul while there is the truest poetic elevation in the thrill. The impression left is one of a pleasurable sadness. And if in the remaining compositions which I shall introduce to you there be more or less of a similar tone always apparent, let me remind you that, how or why we know not, this certain taint of sadness is inseparably connected with all the higher manifestations of true beauty. It is, nevertheless, A feeling of sadness and longing that is not akin to pain and resembles sorrow only as the mist resembles the rain.

The taint of which I speak is clearly perceptible even in a poem so full of brilliancy and spirit as The Health of Edward Cote Pinckney. I fill this cup to one made up of loveliness alone. A woman of her gentle sex, the seeming paragon. To whom the better elements and kindly stars have given a form so fair that, like the air, tis less of earth than of heaven. Her every tone is music's own, like those of morning birds, and something more than melody dwells ever in her words. The coinage of her heart are they, and from her lips each flows, as one may see the burden be, fourth issue from the rose. Affections are as thoughts to her, the measure of her hours. Her feelings have the flagrancy, the freshness of young flowers, and lovely passions changing off so fill her.

She appears the image of themselves by turns, the idol of past years. Of her bright face, on glance, we'll trace a picture on the brain, and of her voice, in echoing hearts, a sound must long remain. But memory such as mine of her so very much endears when death is nigh. My latest sigh will not be life's, but hers. I filled this cup to one made up of loveliness alone, a woman of her gentle sex, the seeming paragon, her health, and would on earth there stood some more of such a frame, that life might be all poetry and weariness a name.

It was the misfortune of Mr. Pinckney to have been born too far south. Had he been a New Englander, it is probable that he would have been ranked as the first of American lyricists by that magnanimous cabal which has so long controlled the destinies of American letters in conducting the thing called the North American Review. The poem just cited is especially beautiful. But the poetic elevation which it induces, we must refer chiefly to our sympathy in the poet's enthusiasm. We pardon his hyperboles for the evident earnestness with which they are uttered. It was by no means my design, however, to expatiate upon the merits of what I should read you. These will necessarily speak for themselves.

Bocellini, in his advertisements from Parnassus, tells us that Zoilus once He presented Apollo a very caustic criticism upon a very admirable book, whereupon the god asked him for the beauties of the work. He replied that he only busied himself about the errors. On hearing this, Apollo, handing him a sack of unwinnowed wheat, bade him pick out all the chaff for his reward. Now, this fable answers very well as a hit at the critics, but I am by no means sure that the god was in the right. I am by no means certain that the true limits of the critical duty are not grossly misunderstood. Excellence, in a poem especially, may be considered in the light of an axiom which need only be properly put to become self-evident.

It is not excellence if it require to be demonstrated as such. And thus to point out too particularly the merits of a work of art is to admit that they are not merits altogether. Among the melodies of Thomas More is one whose distinguished character as a poem proper seems to have been singularly left out of view. I allude to his lines beginning, Come rest in this bosom. The intense energy of their expression is not surpassed by anything in Byron. There are two of the lines in which a sentiment is conveyed that embodies the all-in-all of the divine passion of love, a sentiment which perhaps has found its echo in more and in more passionate human hearts than in any other single sentiment ever embodied in words.

Hear still in the smile that no cloud can o'ercast, and a heart and a hand all thy own to the last. Oh, what was love made for if tis not the same, through joy and through torment, through glory and shame? I know not, I ask not if guilt's in the heart, I but know that I love thee, whatever thou art. Thou hast called me thy angel in moments of bliss, and thy angel I'll be, mid the horrors of this, through the furnace unshrinking thy steps to pursue, and shield thee and save thee, or perish there too.

It has been the fashion of late to deny Moore imagination while granting him fancy. A distinction originating with Coleridge, than whom no man more fully comprehended the great powers of Moore. The fact is that the fancy of this poet so far predominates over all his other faculties, and over the fancy of all other men, as to have induced, very naturally, the idea that he is fanciful only. But never was there a greater mistake. Never was a grosser wrong done to the fame of a true poet. In the compass of the English language, I can call to mind no poem more profoundly, more weirdly imaginative in the best sense, than the lines commencing, I would I were by that dim lake, which are the composition of Thomas More.

I regret that I am unable to remember them. One of the noblest, and speaking of fancy, one of the most singularly fanciful of modern poets was Thomas Hood. His fair Inez, Had always for me an inexpressible charm.

O saw ye not, fair Ines? She's gone into the West to dazzle when the sun is down, and robbed the world of rest. She took our daylight with her, the smiles that we love best, with morning blushes on her cheek and pearls upon her breast. O turn again, fair Ines, before the fall of night, for fear the moon should shine alone in stars unrivaled bright. And blessed will the lover be that walks beneath their light, and breathes the love against thy cheek, I dare not even write. Would I had been, fair Inez, that gallant cavalier who rode so gaily by thy side, and whispered thee so near. Were there no bonny dames at home, or no true lovers here, that he should cross the seas to win the dearest of the deer?

I saw thee, lovely Inez. Descend along the shore with bands of noble gentlemen and banners waved before, and gentle youth and maidens gay and snowy plumes they wore. It would have been a beauteous dream if it had been no more. Alas, alas, fair Ines, she went away with song, with music waiting on her steps and shooting at the throng, but some were sad and felt no mirth. But only music's wrong in sounds that sang farewell, farewell to her you've loved so long. Farewell, farewell, fair Ines. That vessel never bore so fair a lady on its deck, nor danced so light before. Alas, for pleasure on the sea and sorrow on the shore, the smile that blessed one lover's heart has broken many more. The Haunted House by the same author is one of the truest poems ever written, one of the truest, one of the most unexceptionable, one of the most thoroughly artistic, both in its theme and in its execution.

It is, moreover, powerfully ideal, imaginative. I regret that its length renders it unsuitable for the purposes of this lecture. In place of it, permit me to offer the universally appreciated Bridge of Sighs.

One more unfortunate, weary of breath, rashly importunate, gone to her death. Take her up tenderly, lift her with care, fashioned so slenderly, young and so fair. Look at her garments clinging like cerements, whilst the wave constantly drips from her clothing. Take her up instantly, loving but not loathing. Touch her not scornfully. Think of her mournfully, gently, and humanly, not in the stains of her. All that remains of her now is pure womanly. Make no deep scrutiny into her mutiny, rash and undutiful. Past all dishonor, death has left on her only the beautiful. Where the lamps quiver so far in the river. With many a light from window and casement, from garret to basement she stood with amazement, houseless by night.

The bleak wind of March made her tremble and shiver, but not the dark arch or the black flowing river, mad from life's history, glad to death's mystery, swift to be hurled anywhere, anywhere out of the world. In she plunged boldly, no matter how coldly the rough river ran over the brink of it. Picture it. Think of it. Dissolute man. Live in it. Drink of it. Then, if you can. Still for all slips of hers, one of Eve's family. Wipe those poor lips of hers, oozing so clammily. Loot up her tresses, escaped from the comb. Her fair auburn tresses, whilst wonderment guesses, Where was her home? Who was her father? Who was her mother? Had she a sister? Had she a brother? Or was there a dearer one still, a nearer one yet, than all the other?

Alas for the rarity of Christian charity under the sun! Oh, it was pitiful, near the whole city full, home she had come. Sisterly, brotherly, fatherly, motherly, feeling had changed. Love, by harsh evidence thrown from its eminence, even God's providence seemed estranged. Take her up tenderly, lift her with care, fashion so slenderly, young and so fair, ere her limbs rigidly stiffened too rigidly, decently, kindly, smooth and composed them, and her eyes closed them, staring so blindly. Dreadfully staring through muddy impurity as when the daring last look of despairing fixed on futurity. Perishing gloomily, spurred by contumely, cold inhumanity burning insanity into her rest, cross her hands humbly as if praying dumbly over her breast, owing her weakness, her evil behavior, and leaving with meekness her sins to her Savior.

The vigor of this poem is no less remarkable than its pathos. The versification, although carrying the fanciful to the very verge of the fantastic, is nevertheless admirably adapted to the wild insanity which is the thesis of the poem. Among the minor poems of Lord Byron is one which has never received from the critics the praise which it undoubtedly deserves.

Though the day of my destiny is over, and the star of my fate hath declined, thy soft heart refused to discover the faults which so many could find. Though my soul with my grief was acquainted, it shrunk not to share it with me, and the love which my spirit hath painted, it never hath found but in thee. Then when nature around me is smiling, the last smile which answers to mine, I do not believe it beguiling. Because it reminds me of Thine. And when winds are at war with the ocean, as the breasts I believed in with me, if their billows excite an emotion, it is that they bear me from Thee. Though the rock of my last hope is shivered, and its fragments are sunk in the wave, though I feel that my soul is delivered, to pain it shall not be its slave.

There is many a pang to pursue me. They may crush, but they shall not contemn. They may torture, but they shall not subdue me. Tis of thee that I think, not of them. Though human, thou didst not deceive me. Though woman, thou didst not forsake. Though love, thou forbearest to grieve me. Though slandered, thou never couldst shake. Though trusted, thou didst not disclaim me. Though parted, it was not to fly. Though watchful, t'was not to defame me, nor mute that the world might belie. Yet I blame not the world, nor despise it, nor the war of the many with one. If my soul was not fitted to prize it, t'was folly not sooner to shun. And if dearly that error hath cost me, And more than I once could foresee, I have found that whatever has lost me, I could not deprive me of Thee.

From the wreck of the past which hath perished, thus much I at least may recall. It hath taught me that which I most cherished deserved to be dearest of all. In the desert a fountain is springing. In the wide waste there still is a tree and a bird in the solitude singing which speaks to my spirit of thee.

Although the rhythm here is one of the most difficult, and the versification could scarcely be improved, no nobler theme ever engaged the pen of a poet. It is a soul-elevating idea that no man can consider himself entitled to complain of fate. While in his adversity, he still retains the unwavering love of a woman. From Alfred Lord Tennyson, although in perfect sincerity I regard him as the noblest poet that ever lived, I have left myself time to cite only a very brief specimen. I call him and think him the noblest of poets, not because of the impressions he produces or at all All times the most profound, not because the poetical excitement which he induces is at all times the most intense, but because it is at all times the most ethereal, in other words, the most elevating and most pure.

No poet is so little of the earth, earthy. What I'm about to read is from his last long poem, The Princess.

Tears. Idle tears, I know not what they mean. Tears from the depth of some divine despair rise in the heart and gather to the eyes. In looking on the happy autumn fields and thinking of the days that are no more. Fresh is the first beam glittering on a sail that brings our friends up from the underworld, sad as the last which reddens over me, that sinks with all we love below the verge, so sad, so fresh. The days that are no more. Ah, sad and strange, as in the dark summer dawns, the earliest pipe of half-wakened birds, the dying ears, when unto dying eyes the casement slowly grows a glimmering square. So sad, so strange, the days that are no more.

Dear as remembered kisses after death, And sweet as those by hopeless fancy fade, on lips that are for others, deep as love, deep as first love, and wild with all regret, O death and life, the days that are no more.

Thus, although in a very cursory and imperfect manner, I have endeavored to convey to you my conception of the poetic principle. It has been my purpose to suggest that while this principle itself is strictly and simply the human aspiration for supernal beauty, the manifestation of the principle is always found in an elevating excitement of the soul, quite independent of that passion, which is the intoxication of the heart, or that truth, which is the satisfaction of the reason. For in regard to passion, alas, its tendency is to degrade rather than to elevate the soul. Love, on the contrary, love, the true divine eros, the Uranian as distinguished from the Dionin and Venus, is unquestionably the purest and truest of all poetical themes.

And in regard to truth? If, to be sure, through the attainment of a truth, we are led to perceive harmony where none was apparent before, we experience at once the true poetical effect. But this effect is referable to the harmony alone, and not in the least degree to the truth, which merely served to render the harmony manifest. We shall reach, however, more immediately a distinct conception of what the true poetry is, By mere reference to a few of the simple elements which induce in the poet himself the poetical effect. He recognizes the ambrosia which nourishes his soul in the bright orbs that shine in the heaven, in the volutes of the flower, in the clustering of low shrubberies, in the waving of the grain fields, in the slanting of tall eastern trees.

In the blue distance of mountains, in the grouping of clouds, in the twinkling of half-hidden brooks, in the gleaming of silver rivers, in the repose of sequestered lakes, in the star-mirroring depths of lonely wells. He perceives it in the songs of birds, in the harp of bullis, in the sighing of the night wind, in the repining voice of the forest. In the surf that complains to the shore, in the fresh breath of the woods, in the scent of the violet, in the voluptuous perfume of the hyacinth, in the suggestive odor that comes to him at eventide from far distant, undiscovered islands, over dim oceans, illimitable and unexplored. He owns it in all noble thoughts, in all unworldly motives. In all holy impulses, in all chivalrous, generous, and self-sacrificing deeds, he feels it in the beauty of a woman, in the grace of her step, in the luster of her eye, in the melody of her voice, in her soft laughter, in her sigh, in the harmony of the rustling of her robes.

He deeply feels in her winning endearments, in her burning enthusiasms, in her gentle charities, in her meek and devotional endurances. But above all, ah, far above all, he kneels to it. He worships it in the faith, in the purity, in the strength, in the altogether divine majesty of her love.

Let me conclude by the recitation of yet another brief poem, one very different in character from any that I have before quoted. It is by Motherwell and is called The Song of the Cavalier. With our modern and altogether rational ideas of the absurdity and impiety of warfare, We are not precisely in that frame of mind best adapted to sympathize with the sentiments and thus to appreciate the real excellence of the poem. To do this fully, we must identify ourselves in fancy with the soul of the old cavalier.

Then mount, then mount, brave gallants all, and on your helms amain, death's couriers. Fame and honor call. No shrewish tears shall fill your eye when the sword hilts in your hand. Heart whole will part and know which sigh for the fares of the land. Let piping swain and craven white thus weep the pulling cry. Our business is like men to fight.

12 12 - Old English Poetry 12:48

C. Hall.

It should not be doubted that at least one third of the affection with which we regard the elder poets of Great Britain should be attributed to what is, in itself, a thing apart from poetry. We mean to the simple love of the antique. And that, again, a third of even the proper poetic sentiment inspired by their writings should be ascribed to a fact which, while it has strict connection with poetry in the abstract, and with the old British poems themselves, should not be looked upon as a merit appertaining to the authors of the poems.

Almost every devout admirer of the old bards, if demanded his opinion of their productions, would mention vaguely Yet with perfect sincerity, a sense of dreamy, wild, indefinite, and he would perhaps say indefinable delight. On being required to point out the source of this so shadowy pleasure, he would be apt to speak of the quaint in phraseology and in general handling.

This quaintness is, in fact, a very powerful adjunct to ideality, but in the case in question, It arises independently of the author's will, and is altogether apart from his intention.

Words and their rhythm have varied. Verses which affect us today with a vivid delight, and which delight in many instances may be traced to the one source, quaintness, must have worn in the days of their construction a very commonplace air.

This is, of course, no argument against the poems now. We meanest only as against the poet's thew. There is a growing desire to overrate them. The old English muse was frank, guileless, sincere, and, although very learned, still learned without art. No general error evinces a more thorough confusion of ideas than the error of supposing Dunne and Cowley metaphysical. In the sense wherein Wordsworth and Coleridge are so.

With the two former, ethics were the end, with the two latter, the means. The poet of the creation wished by highly artificial verse to inculcate what he supposed to be moral truth. The poet of the ancient mariner to infuse the poetic sentiment through channels suggested by analysis. The one finished by complete failure what he commenced in the grossest misconception. The other, by a path which could not possibly lead him astray, arrived at a triumph which is not the less glorious because hidden from the profane eyes of the multitude.

But in this view even the metaphysical verse of Cowley is but evidence of the simplicity and single-heartedness of the man. And he was in this but a type of his school, for we may as well designate in this way the entire class of writers whose poems are bound up in the volume before us, and throughout all of whom there runs a very perceptible general character. They used little art in composition. Their writing sprang immediately from the soul, and partook intensely of that soul's nature.

Nor is it difficult to perceive the tendency of this abandon, to elevate immeasurably all the energies of mind, but, again, so to mingle the greatest possible fire, force, delicacy, and all good things with the lowest possible bathos, baldness, and imbecility, as to render it not a matter of doubt that the average results of mind in such a school will be found inferior to those results in one Ceteris Paribus, more artificial.

We cannot bring ourselves to believe that the selections of the Book of Gems are such as will impart to a poetical reader the clearest possible idea of the beauty of the school. But if the intention had been merely to show the school's character, the attempt might have been considered successful in the highest degree. There are long passages now before us of the most despicable trash, with no merit whatever beyond that of their antiquity.

The criticisms of the editor do not particularly please us. His enthusiasm is too general and too vivid not to be false. His opinion, for example, of Sir Henry Wootten's Verses on the Queen of Bohemia, that there are few finer things in our language, In such lines we can perceive not one of those higher attributes of Poesy which belong to her in all circumstances and throughout all time. Here everything is art, nakedly or but awkwardly concealed.

No prepossession for the mere antique, and in this case we can imagine no other prepossession, Should induce us to dignify with the sacred name of poetry a series such as this of elaborate and threadbare complements, stitched, apparently, together without fancy, without plausibility, and without even an attempt at adaptation.

Speaking of poesy, the author says, By the murmur of a spring Or the least boughs rustling, by a daisy whose leaves spread, shut when Titan goes to bed, or a shady bush or tree, she could more infuse in me than all nature's beauties can in some other wiser man. By her help I also now make this churlish place allow, something that may sweeten gladness in the very gall of sadness. The dull loneness The black shade, that these hanging vaults have made, The strange music of the waves beating on these hollow caves, This black den which rocks emboss, overgrown with eldest moss, The rude portals that give light more to terror than delight, This my chamber of neglect, walled about with disrespect, From all these and this dull air.

A fit object for despair. She hath taught me, by her might, to draw comfort and delight.

But these lines, however good, do not bear with them much of the general character of the English antique. Something more of this will be found in Corbett's Farewell to the Fairies.

We copy a portion of Marvell's Maiden Lamenting for Her Fawn, Which we prefer, not only as a specimen of the elder poets, but in itself as a beautiful poem, abounding in pathos, exquisitely delicate imagination, and truthfulness to anything of its species.

It is a wondrous thing how fleet Twas on those little silver feet, With what a pretty skipping grace It oft would challenge me the race. And when't had left me far away, t'would stay, and run again, and stay. For it was nimbler much than hinds, and trod as if on the four winds. I have a garden of my own, but so with roses overgrown, and lilies, that you would it guess to be a little wilderness. And all the springtime of the year it only loved to be there. Among the beds of lilies I have sought it oft where it should lie, yet could not, till itself would rise, find it, although before mine eyes. For in the flaxen lilies shade it like a bank of lilies laid, upon the roses it would feed, until its lips even seemed to bleed.

And then to me, t'would boldly trip, and print those roses on my lip. But all its chief delight Was still with roses thus itself to fill, And its pure virgin limbs to fold In whitest sheets of lilies cold. Had it lived long, it would have been, Lilies without, roses within.

How truthful an air of lamentations hangs here on every syllable! It pervades all. It comes over the sweet melody of the words, over the gentleness and grace which we fancy in the little maiden herself, even over the half-playful, half-petulant air with which she lingers on the beauties and good qualities of her favourite, like the cool shadow of a summer cloud over a bed of lilies and violets, and all sweet flowers.

The whole is redolent with poetry of a very lofty order. Every line is an idea conveying either the beauty and playfulness of the fawn, or the artlessness of the maiden, or her love, or her admiration, or her grief, or the fragrance and warmth and appropriateness of the little nest-like bed of lilies and roses, which the fawn devoured as it lay upon them, and could scarcely be distinguished from them by the once happy little damsel who went to seek her pet, With an arch and rosy smile on her face. Consider the great variety of truthful and delicate thought in the few lines we have quoted. The wonder of the little maiden at the fleetness of her favourite. The little silver feet. The fawn challenging his mistress to a race with a pretty skipping grace, running on before.

And then, with head turned back, awaiting her approach only to fly from it again. Can we not distinctly perceive all these things?

How exceedingly vigorous, too, is the line, And trod as if on the four winds! A vigour apparent only when we keep in mind the artless character of the speaker, And the four feet of the favourite, one for each wind. Then consider the garden of my own, so overgrown, Entangled with roses and lilies, as to be A little wilderness. The fawn loving to be there, and there only. The maiden seeking it where it should lie, and not being able to distinguish it from the flowers until itself would rise. The lying among the lilies, like a bank of lilies. The loving to fill itself with roses.

And its pure virgin limbs to fold in whitest sheets of lilies cold.

And these things being its chief delights, and then the preeminent beauty and naturalness of the concluding lines, whose very hyperbole only renders them more true to nature when we consider the innocence, the artlessness, the enthusiasm, the passionate girl, and more passionate admiration of the bereaved child. Had it lived long, it would have been lilies without, roses within.

13 13 - Poems - Preface 1:41

14 14 - The Raven 10:04

XIV. The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe.

Once, upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, while I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, as of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. "'Tis some visitor," I muttered, tapping at my chamber door. Only this, and nothing more. Ah! distinctly I remember. It was in the bleak December, and each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor. Eagerly I wished the morrow. Vainly I had sought to borrow from my books surcease of sorrow—sorrow for the lost Lenore, for the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore. Nameless here for evermore. And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain thrilled me, filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before, so that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating, "'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber-door, some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber-door.

This it is, and nothing more." Presently my soul grew stronger, hesitating then no longer. "'Sir,' said I, or madam, "'truly your forgiveness I implore. But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,' So faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door, that I scarce was sure I heard you. Here I opened wide the door. Darkness there, and nothing more. Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before. But the silence was unbroken. And the darkness gave no token, and the only word there spoken was the whispered word, Lenore. This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, Lenore. Merely this, and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning, soon I heard again a tapping, somewhat louder than before. Surely, said I, Surely that is something at my window-lattice. 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, nothing more." Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter, In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore. Not the least obeisance made he, not an instant stopped or stayed he, but with mien of lord, old lady, perched above my chamber door, perched upon a bust of palace just above my chamber door, perched and sat, and nothing more. 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 living human 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. But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only that one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour. Nothing farther than 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.

Then the bird said, Nevermore. Startled 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, till his songs one burden bore, till the dirges of his hope that melancholy burden bore of never, nevermore. But the raven still begotting 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 your, What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore meant in croaking nevermore. This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing 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 oppress. Ah! nevermore. 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, on this home by horror haunted, tell me truly, I implore, is there, is there balm in Gilead?

Tell me, tell me, I implore. Quoth the raven, Nevermore. 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 Aden, it shall clasp a sainted maiden, whom the angels name Lenore, clasp a rare and radiant maiden, On the angel's name Lenore. Quote 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 the door, take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door.

Quoth the raven, nevermore.

And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting on the pallid bust of palace just above my chamber door. And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming, and the lamplight 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.

15 15 - The Bells 5:25

Of the Works of Edgar Allan Poe.

Raven Edition. Volume 5. The Bells by Edgar Allan Poe.

Hear the sledges with the bells, silver bells, what a world of merriment their melody foretells! How they tinkle, tinkle, tinkle in the icy air of night, while the stars that over-sprinkle all the heavens seem to twinkle with a crystalline delight! Keeping time, time, time, in a sort of runic rhyme, to the tintinabulation that so musically wells from the bells, Bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, from the jingling and the tingling of the bells. Hear the mellow wedding bells, golden bells, what a world of happiness their harmony foretells. Through the balmy air of night, how they ring out their delight. From the molten golden notes, and all in tune, What a liquid ditty floats to the turtledove that listens, while she gloats at the moon.

Oh, from out the sounding cells what a gush of euphony voluminously wells! How it swells! How it dwells on the future! How it tells of the rapture that impels to the swinging and the ringing of the bells, bells, bells! Of the bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, to the rhyming and the chiming of the bells. Hear the loud alarm bells, brazen bells, what tale of terror now their turbulency tells, in the startled ear of night how they scream out their affright. Too much horrified to speak, they can only shriek. Shriek out of tune in a clamorous appealing to the mercy of the fire, in a mad expostulation with the deaf and frantic fire, leaping higher, higher, higher, with a desperate desire and a resolute endeavor now, now to sit, or never, by the side of the pale-faced moon.

Oh, the bells, bells, bells, what a tale their terror tells of despair! How they clang and clash and roar! What a horror they outpour on the bosom of the palpitating air! Yet the ear, it fully knows, by the twanging and the clanging, how the danger ebbs and flows. Yet the ear distinctly tells, in the jangling and the wrangling, how the danger sinks or swells, by the sinking or the swelling in the anger of the bells. Of the bells, of the bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, and the clamor and the clangor of the bells.

Hear the tolling of the bells, iron bells, what a world of solemn thought their monody compels. In the silence of the night how we shiver with affright at the melancholy meaning of their tone, for every sound that floats from the rust within their throats is a groan, and the people—ah, the people, they that dwell up in the steeple all alone, and who, tolling, tolling, tolling in that muffled monotone, feel a glory in so rolling on the human heart a stone. They are neither man nor woman, they are neither brute nor human, they are ghouls, and their king it is who tolls, and he rolls, rolls, rolls, rolls, rolls, rolls a paean from the bells, and his merry bosom swells with the paean of the bells, and he dances and he yells, keeping time, time, time in a sort of runic rhyme, To the paean of the bells, of the bells, keeping time, time, time, in a sort of runic rhyme to the throbbing of the bells, of the bells, bells, bells, to the sobbing of the bells, keeping time, time, time, as he knells, knells, knells, in a happy runic rhyme to the rolling of the bells.

To the tolling of the bells, of the bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, to the moaning and the groaning of the bells.

16 16 - Ulalume 5:36

Ulalum by Edgar Allan Poe. The skies, they were ashen and sober. The leaves, they were crispid and seer. The leaves. They were withering in seer. It was night in the lonesome October of my most immemorial year. It was hard by the dim lake of Orber, in the misty mid-region of Weir. It was down by the dank tarn of Orber, in the ghoul-haunting woodland of Weir. Here once through an alley titanic of Cyprus I roamed with my soul, of Cyprus with Psyche my soul. These were days when my heart was volcanic, as the scoriac rivers that roll, as the lavas that restlessly roll their sulphurous currents down Yarnach, in the ultimate climes of the Pole, that groan as they roll down Mount Yarnach, in the realms of the boreal Pole.

Our talk had been serious and sober, but our thoughts they were palsied and seer, our memories were treacherous and seer. For we knew not the month was October, and we marked not the night of the year. Ah, night of all nights in the year. We noted not the dim lake of Orber, though once we had journeyed down here, remembered not the dank tarn of Orber, nor the ghoul-haunted woodland of Weir. And now, as the night was senescent and star-dials pointed to morn, As the sun-dials hinted of morn. At the end of our path a liquescent and nebulous lustre was born, Out of which a miraculous crescent arose with a duplicate horn, A Startes' bediamond crescent distinct with its duplicate horn. And I said, She is warmer than Diane.

She rolls through an ether of sighs. She revels in a region of sighs. She has seen that the tears are not dry on these cheeks, where the worm never dies, and has come past the stars of the lion to point us the path to the skies, to the lithium piece of the skies. Come up, in despite of the lion, to shine on us with her bright eyes. Come up through the lair of the lion. With love in her luminous eyes. But Psyche, uplifting her finger, said, Sadly this star I mistrust, her pallor I strangely mistrust. O hasten, O let us not linger, O fly, let us fly, for we must. In terror she spoke, letting sink her wings till they trailed in the dust. In agony sobbed, letting sink her plumes till they trailed.

I replied, this is nothing but dreaming. Let us on by this tremulous light. Let us bathe in this crystalline light. Its sybillic splendor is beaming with hope and in beauty tonight. See, it flickers up the sky through the night.

We safely may trust to its gleaming, and be sure it will lead us aright. We safely may trust to a gleaming that cannot but guide us aright, since it flickers up to heaven through the night. Thus I pacified Psyche and kissed her, and tempted her out of her gloom, and conquered her scruples and gloom, and we passed to the end of a vista, but were stopped. By the door of a tomb, by the door of a legended tomb. And I said, What is written, sweet sister, on the door of this legended tomb? She replied, Ulalum, Ulalum, tis the fault of thy lost Ulalum. Then my heart, it grew ashen and sober, as the leaves that were crisped and seared. As the leaves that were withering in seer, and I cried. It was surely October, on this very night of last year, that I journeyed, I journeyed down here, that I brought a dread burden down here, on this night of all nights in the year.

Ah, what demon has tempted me here? Well, I know now this dim lake of Orbe. This misty mid-region of weir. Well, I know now this dank tarn of Orbe, this ghoul-haunted woodland of weir. End of section 16. Recorded by Joseph Finkberg.

17 17 - To Helen I 4:54

To Helen by Edgar Allan Poe.

I saw thee once, once only, years ago. I must not say how many, but not many. It was a July midnight, and from out a full-oared moon, that like thine own soul soaring, sought a precipitate pathway up through the heaven. There fell a silvery silken veil of light, with quietude and sultriness and slumber, Upon the upturned phases of a thousand roses that grew in an enchanted garden, where no wind dared to stir, unless on tiptoe. Fell on the upturned faces of these roses that gave out, in return for the love-light, their odorous souls in an ecstatic death. Fell on the upturned faces of these roses that smiled and died in this parterre, Enchanted by thee and by the poetry of thy presence. Clad in white upon a violet bank, I saw thee half reclining, while the moon fell on the upturned faces of the roses, and on thine own upturned, alas, in sorrow.

Was it not fate that on this July midnight? Was it not fate whose name is also sorrow? That bade me pause before that garden gate to breathe the incense of those slumbering roses. No footsteps stirred. The hated whirled and slept, save only thee and me. O heaven, O God! How my heart beats in coupling these two words, save only thee and me. I paused. I looked. And in an instant all things disappeared. Ah, bear in mind, this garden was enchanted. The pearly lustre of the moon went out. The mossy banks and the meandering paths, the happy flowers and the repining trees were seen no more. The very roses odors died in the arms of the adoring airs. All, all expired save thee. Save less than thou. Save only the divine light in thine eyes.

Save but the soul in thine uplifted eyes. I saw but them. They were the world to me. I saw but them. Saw only them for hours. Saw only them until the moon went down. What wild-heart history seemed to be in written. Upon those crystalline celestial spheres, how dark a woe, yet how sublime a hope, how silently serene a sea of pride, how daring an ambition, yet how deep, how fathomless a capacity for love. But now at length dear Diane sank from sight into a western couch of thunder-cloud, And thou, a ghost amid the entombing trees, didst glide away. Only thine eyes remained. They would not go. They never yet have gone. Lighting my lonely pathway home at night, they have not left me, as my hopes have since.

They follow me. They lead me through the years. They are my ministers, yet I their slave. Their office is to illumine and enkindle my duty to be saved by their bright light, and purified in their electric fire, and sanctified in their Elysian fire. They fill my soul with beauty, which is hope, and are far up in heaven, the stars I kneel to in the sad, silent watches of my night, while even in the meridian glare of day. I see them still, two sweetly scintillant Venuses, unextinguished by the sun.

18 18 - Annabel Lee 3:01

19 19 - A Valentine 1:38

20 20 - An Enigma 1:24

21 21 - To My Mother 1:31

22 22 - For Annie 3:43

For Annie by Edgar Allan Poe. Thank heaven, the crisis, the danger, is past, and the lingering illness is over at last, and the fever called living is conquered at last. Sadly, I know I'm shorn of my strength, and no muscle I move as I lie at full length, but no matter. I feel I am better at length, and I rest so composedly now in my bed that any beholder might fancy me dead. Might start at beholding me, thinking me dead. The moaning and groaning, the sighing and the sobbing are quieted now. With that horrible throbbing at heart, ah, that horrible, horrible throbbing. The sickness, the nausea, the pitiless pain have ceased with the fever that maddened my brain, with the fever called living that burned in my brain.

And, oh, Of all that torture, the worst has abated, the terrible torture of thirst for the Naphthalene River, of passion accursed. I have drank of a water that quenches all thirst, of a water that flows with a lullaby sound, from a spring but a very few feet underground, from a cavern not very far down underground. And ah, let it never be foolishly said that my room it is gloomy and narrow my bed. For man never slept in a different bed, and to sleep you must slumber in just such a bed. My tantalized spirit here blindly reposes, forgetting or never regretting its roses, its old agitations of myrtles and roses. For now, while so quietly lying, it fancies a holier odor about it of pansies, a rosemary odor Commingled with pansies, with rue and the beautiful Puritan pansies.

And so it lies happily, bathing in many a dream of the truth and the beauty of Annie, drowned in a bath of the tresses of Annie. She tenderly kissed me. She fondly caressed, and then I fell gently to sleep on her breast, deeply to sleep from the heaven.

When the light was extinguished, she covered me warm, and she prayed to the angels to keep me from harm, to the queen of angels to shield me from harm. And I lie so composedly now in my bed, knowing her love, that you fancy me dead, and I rest so contentedly now in my bed with her love at my breast. That you fancy me dead, that you shudder to look at me, thinking me dead. But my heart, it is brighter than all the many stars in the sky, for it sparkles with Annie. It glows with the light of the love of my Annie, with the thought of the light of the eyes of my Annie.

23 23 - To F-- 1:12

24 24 - To Frances S. Osgood 0:53

25 25 - Eldorado 1:05

26 26 - Eulalie 1:23

27 27 - A Dream within a Dream 1:23

28 28 - To Marie Louise (Shew) I 1:47

29 29 - To Marie Louise (Shew) II 2:15

30 30 - The City in the Sea 3:39

31 31 - The Sleeper 3:35

The Sleeper by Edgar Allan Poe. At midnight in the month of June, I stand beneath the mystic moon. An opiate vapor, dewy, dim, exhales from outer golden rim, and, softly dripping, drop by drop, upon the quiet mountain-top, steals drowsily and musically into the universal valley. The rosemary nods upon the grave, the lily lolls upon the wave. Wrapping the fog about its breast, the ruin molders into rest. Looking like Leyte, See the lake. A conscious slumber seems to take, and would not for the world awake. All beauty sleeps, and lo, where lies her easement open to the skies, Irene, with her destinies. O Lady Bright, can it be right, this window open to the night, the wanton airs from the tree-top, laughingly through the lattice-drop?

The bodiless airs a wizard rout. Flit through thy chamber in and out, and wave the curtained canopy so fitfully, so fearfully, above the closed and fringed lid, neath which thy slumbering soul lies hid, that o'er the floor and down the wall, like ghosts the shadows rise and fall. O lady dear, hast thou no fear? Why and what art thou dreaming here? Surely thou art come, her far-off seas. A wonder to these garden-trees! Strange is thy pallor, strange thy dress, Strange above all, thy length of tress, And this all solemn silent mess. The lady sleeps, O may her sleep, Which is enduring, so be deep. Heaven have her in its sacred keep, This chamber changed for one more holy, this bed for one more melancholy.

I pray to God that she may lie, forever with unopened eye, while the dim sheeted ghosts go by. My love, she sleeps, O may her sleep, as it is lasting, so be deep. Soft may the worms about her creep, far in the forest dim and old, For her may some tall vault unfold, some vault that oft hath flung its black and winged panels fluttering back, triumphant o'er the crested palls of her grand family funerals, some sepulchre remote alone, against whose portal she hath thrown in childhood many an idle stone, some tomb from out whose sounding door she ne'er shall force an echo more, Thrilling to think, poor child of sin, it was the dead who groaned within.

32 32 - Bridal Ballad 1:52

33 33 - Lenore 3:11

34 34 - To One in Paradise 1:22

35 35 - The Coliseum 3:08

Raven Edition. Volume 5. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Brett Hirsch. The Colosseum, type of the antique Rome, rich reliquary of lofty contemplation left to time, By buried centuries of pomp and power. At length, at length, after so many days of weary pilgrimage and burning thirst, thirst for the springs of lore that in thee lie, I kneel, an altered and an humble man, amid thy shadows, and so drink within my very soul by grandeur, gloom, and glory. Vastness and age, and memories of eld, silence and desolation, And dim night. I feel ye now, I feel ye in your strength.

O spells more sure than air Juden King taught in the gardens of Gethsemane. O charms more potent than the rapt Chaldee ever drew down from out the quiet stars. Here, where a hero fell, a column falls. Here, where the mimic eagle glared in gold, a midnight vigil holds the swarthy bat. Here, where the dames of Rome their gilded hair wave to the wind, now wave the reed and thistle. Here, where on golden throne the monarch lolled, glides spectre-like unto his marble home, lit by the wan light, wan light of the horned moon, the swift and silent lizard of the stones. But stay, these walls, these ivy-clad arcades, these mouldering plinths, these sad and blackened shafts, these vague Entablatures, this crumbling frieze, these shattered cornices, this wreck, this ruin, these stones, alas, these gray stones.

Are they all? All of the fame and the colossal left by the corrosive hours do fade in me? Not all. The echoes answer me. Not all. Prophetic sounds and loud arise forever from us, and from all ruin unto the wise. As Melody, from Memnon to the sun. We rule the hearts of mightiest men. We rule with a despotic sway all giant minds. We are not impotent, we pallid stones. Not all our power is gone. Not all our fame. Not all the magic of our high renown. Not all the wonder that encircles us. Not all the mysteries that in us lie. Not all the memories that hang upon and cling around about us as a garment. Clothing us in a robe of more than glory.

36 36 - The Haunted Palace 2:24

37 37 - The Conqueror Worm 2:19

38 38 - Silence 1:25

39 39 - Dream-Land 2:52

40 40 - Hymn 1:09

41 41 - To Zante 1:25

42 42 - Scenes from 'Politian' 39:28

SENS FROM POLITIANE.

An unpublished drama by Edgar Allan Poe. Dramatis Personae. Narrator. by Ellen Preckel. Alessandra. by Amanda Fryday. Castiglione. Read by Phil Schempf. De Broglio. Read by Augie Pag. Lalage. Read by Pam Castile. Jacinta. Read by Abai. Monk. Read by Larry Wilson. Baldazar. Read by Trisha Gee. Polition. Read by Alan Rose. Voice. Signed by Francis Brown. Benito. Read by Larry Wilson.

SCENE I. ROME. A HALL IN A PALACE. ALESSANDRA AND CASTIGLIONE. Thou art sad, Castiglione. Sad? Not I. O, I am the happiest, happiest man in Rome. A few days more, thou knowest, my Alessandra, will make thee mine. O, I am very happy. Methinks thou hast a singular way of showing thy happiness. What ails thee, cousin of mine? Why didst thou sigh so deeply? Did I sigh? I was not conscious of it. It is a fashion, a silly, a most silly fashion I have, when I am very happy. Did I sigh? Sighing. Thou didst. Thou art not well. Thou hast indulged too much of late, and I am vexed to see it. Late hours and wine, Castiglione, these will ruin thee. Thou art already altered. Thy looks are haggard. Nothing so wears away the constitution as late hours and wine.

Castiglione. Nothing, fair cousin, nothing. Not even deep sorrow wears it away like evil hours in wine. I will amend. Do it. I would have thee drop thy riotous company too, fellows low-born. Ill suit the like with old de Broglio's heir and Alessandra's husband. I will drop them. Thou wilt, thou must. Attend thou also more to thy dress and equipage. They are over-playing for thy lofty rank and fashion. Much depends upon appearances. I'll see to it. Then see to it. Pay more attention, sir, to a becoming carriage. Much thou wantest in dignity. Much, much, oh, much I want in proper dignity. Alessandra haughtily. Thou mockest me, sir. Castiglione abstractedly. Sweet, gentle Lelage. Heard I aright.

I speak to him. He speaks of Lalage, Sir Count.

What art thou dreaming? He's not well. What ails thee, sir? Castiglione, startling. Cousin, fair cousin. Madame, I crave thy pardon. Indeed, I am not well. Your hand from off my shoulder, if you please. This air is most oppressive. Madame, the Duke. Enter de Broglio. My son, I've news for thee. Hey, what's the matter? Observing Alessandra. He the pouts? Kiss her, Castiglione. Kiss her. You dog, and make it up, I say, this minute. I've news for you both. Polition is expected hourly in Rome. Polition, Earl of Leicester. We'll have him at the wedding. "'Tis his first visit to the Imperial City." What? Politeon of Britain, Earl of Leicester? The same, my love. We'll have him at the wedding. A man quite young in years, but grey in fame.

I have not seen him, but rumour speaks of him as a prodigy, pre-imminent in arts and arms, and wealth, and high descent. We'll have him at the wedding." I have heard much of this Politeon. Gay, volatile, and giddy, is he not, and little given to thinking. Far from it, love. Nor branch, they say, of all philosophy, so deep, abstruse, he has not mastered it. Learned as few are learned. Tis very strange. I have known men have seen Politeon, and sought his company. They speak of him as of one who entered madly into life, drinking the cup of pleasure to the dregs. Ridiculous. No, I have seen Politian, and know him well, nor learned nor mirthful he. He is a dreamer, and a man shut out from common passions.

Children, we disagree. Let us go forth and taste the fragrant air of the garden. Did I dream, or did I hear Politian was a melancholy man? Exeunt. Scene Two. Rome. A lady's apartment with a window open and looking into a garden. Lalage, in deep mourning, reading at a table on which lie some books and a hand-mirror. In the background, Jacinta, a servant-maid, leans carelessly upon a chair. Jacinta, is it thou? Jacinta, pertly. Yes, ma'am. I am here. I did not know, Jacinta, you were in waiting. Sit down, let not my presence trouble you. Sit down, for I am humble, most humble. Jacinta, aside. "'Tis time." Jacinta seats herself in a sidelong manner upon the chair, resting her elbows upon the back, and regarding her mistress with a contemptuous look.

Lallage continues to read. "'It in another climate, so he said, bore a bright golden flower, but not in this soil.' Pauses, turns over some leaves, and resumes. No lingering winters there, nor snow, nor shower, but ocean ever to refresh mankind, breathe the shrill spirit of the western wind. Oh, beautiful, most beautiful! How like to what my fevered soul doth dream of heaven, O happy land!

She died, the maiden died, a still more happy maiden who couldst die, Assenta. Jacinta returns no answer, and Lallage presently resumes. Again, a similar tale, told of a beauteous dame beyond the sea. Thus speaketh one Ferdinand in the words of the play. She died full young. One Bosola answers him. I think not so, her infelicity. Seemed to have years too many. Ah, luckless lady Jacinta. Still no answer. Here's a far sterner story, but like, oh, very like in its despair, of that Egyptian queen winning so easily a thousand hearts, losing at length her own. She died, thus ended the history, and her maids, lean over and weep, two gentle maids with gentle names, Eros and Charmion, Rainbow and Dove, Acenta, Pettishly.

Madam, what is it? Will thou, my good Asenta, be so kind as go down in the library and bring me the holy evangelist? Pshaw. Exit. If there be balm for the wounded spirit in Gilead it is there, due in the night-time of my bitter trouble, will there be found due sweeter far than that which hangs like chains of pearl on Hermon Hill? Re-enter Jacinta and throws a volume on the table. There, ma'am's the book. Indeed, she is very troublesome. Aside. Lalage, astonished. What didst thou say, Ascinta? Have I done aught to grieve thee, or to vex thee? I am sorry, for thou hast served me long, and ever been trustworthy and respectful. I can't believe she has any more jewels. No, no, she gave me all.

What didst thou say, Ascinta? Now I bethink me. Thou hast not spoken lately of thy wedding. How fares good Ugo! And when is it to be? Can I do aught? Is there no farther aid? Thou needest, Ascenta? Is there no farther aid? That's meant for me. Aside. I'm sure, madam, you need not be always throwing those jewels in my teeth. Jewels? Ascenta, now indeed, Ascenta, I thought not of the jewels. Oh! Perhaps not. But then I might have sworn it. After all, there's Hugo who says the ring is only paste, for he's sure the Count Castiglione never would have given a real diamond to such as you. And at the best, I'm certain, madam, you cannot have use for jewels now. But I might have sworn it." Exit. Lalage bursts into tears and leans her head upon the table.

After a short pause, raises it. Poor Lalage! And is it come to this, thy servant-maid? But courage, tis but a viper whom thou hast cherished to sting thee to the soul. Taking up the mirror. Ah! Here at least a friend, too much a friend. In earlier days a friend will not deceive thee. Fair mirror and true, now tell me, for thou canst. A tale, a pretty tale, and heed thou not. Though it be rife with woe, it answers me. It speaks of sunken eyes and wasted cheeks, and beauty long deceased, remembers me, of joy departed, hope the seraph hope. Inurned and entombed, now in a tone. Low, sad, and solemn, but most audible, Whispers of early grave, untimely yawning, for ruined maid. Fair mirror and true, thou liest not, Thou hast no end to gain, no heart to break.

Castiglione lied, who said he loved, Thou true, he false, false, false. While she speaks, a monk enters her apartment, and approaches, unobserved. Refuge thou hast, sweet daughter in heaven. Think of eternal things. Give up thy soul to penitence and pray. Lalage, arising hurriedly. I cannot pray. My soul is at war with God. The frightful sounds of merriment below disturb my senses. Go! I cannot pray. The sweet airs from the garden worry me. Thy presence grieves me. Go! Thy priestly raiment fills me with dread, Thy ebony crucifix with horror and awe. Think of thy precious soul. Think of my early days, think of my father and mother in heaven, think of our quiet home, and the rivulet that ran before the door.

Think of my little sisters, think of them, and think of me, think of my trusting love and confidence, his vows, my ruin. Think, think of my unspeakable misery. Be gone, yet stay, yet stay. What was it thou saidst of prayer and penitence? Didst thou not speak of faith and vows before the throne? I did. Tis well. There is a vow where fitting should be made, a sacred vow, imperative and urgent, a solemn vow. Daughter, this zeal is well. Father, this zeal is anything but well. Hast thou a crucifix fit for this thing, a crucifix whereon to register this sacred vow? He hands her his own. Not that. Oh, no, no, no. Not that, not that. I tell thee, holy man, thy raiments and thy ebony cross affright me.

Stand back. I have a crucifix, myself. I have a crucifix, methinks, chore-feiting the deed, the vow, the symbol of the deed, and the deeds registered should tally farther. Draws a cross-handled dagger, and raises it on high. Behold, the cross wherewith a vow like mine is written in heaven. Thy words are madness, daughter, and speak a purpose unholy. Thy lips are livid, thine eyes are wild. Tempt not the wrath divine. Pause, ere too late. O be not, be not rash. Swear not the oath, O swear it not. Tis sworn.

Scene three. An apartment in a palace. Politean and Balthazar. Arouse thee now, Politean. Thou must not, nay, indeed, indeed, shalt not, give away unto these humours. Be thyself, shake off the idle fancies that beset thee, and live, for now thou diest. Not so, Balthazar. Surely I live. Politean, it doth grieve me to see thee thus. Baldessar doth grieve me to give thee cause for grief, my honoured friend. Command me, sir, what wouldst thou have me do? At thy behest I will shake off that nature which from my forefathers I did inherit, which with my mother's milk I did imbibe, and be no more pollision, but some other. Command me, sir. To the field, then, to the field, to the senate or the field.

Alas! Alas! there is an imp would follow me even there, there is an imp hath followed me even there, there is—what voice was that? I heard it not, I heard not any voice except thine own, and the echo of thine own. Then I but dreamed. Give not thy soul to dreams, the camp, the court befit thee, fame awaits thee, glory calls. And heard the trumpet-tongued, thou wilt not hear in hearkening to imaginary sounds and phantom voices. It is a phantom voice. Didst thou not hear it then? I heard it not. Thou heard'st it not. Baldassar, speak no more to me, pollution of thy camps and courts. Oh, I am sick, sick, sick even unto death of the hollow and high-sounding vanities of the populous earth. Bear with me yet awhile.

We have been boys together, schoolfellows, and now our friends. Yet shall not be so long, for in the eternal city thou shalt do me a kind and gentle office, and a power, a power august, benignant, and supreme, shall then absolve thee of all further duties unto thy friend. Thou speakest a fearful riddle I will not understand. Yet now as fate approaches, and the hours are breathing low, the sands of time are changed to golden grains, and dazzle me, Baldassar. Alas! I cannot die, having within my heart so keen a relish for the beautiful as hath been kindled within it. Methinks the air is balmier now than it was wont to be. Rich melodies are floating in the winds. A rarer loveliness bedecks the earth, and with a holier lustre the quiet moon sitteth in heaven.

Hiss! Hiss! Thou canst not say, Thou hear'st not now, Baltazar. Indeed I hear not. Not hear it? Listen now, listen, the faintest sound, and yet the sweetest that e'er ever heard, a lady's voice, and sorrow in the tone. Baltazar, it oppresses me like a spell again. Again! How solemnly it falls into my heart of hearts, that eloquent voice! Surely I never heard! Yet it were well had I but heard it with its thrilling tones in earlier days. I myself hear it now. Be still. The voice, if I mistake not greatly, proceeds from yonder lattice, which you may see very plainly through the window. It belongs, does it not, unto this palace of the Duke. The singer is undoubtedly beneath the roof of His Excellency, and perhaps is even that Alessandra of whom he spoke as the betrothed of Castiglione, his son and heir.

Be still. It comes again. Voice very faintly. And is thy heart so strong. As for to leave me thus, who hath loveth thee so long, in wealth and woe among? And is thy heart so strong? As for to leave me thus, say nay, say nay. The song is English, and I oft have heard it in merry England, never so plaintively. Hiss, hiss, it comes again! Voice more loudly. Is it so strong as for to leave me thus? Who hath lov'ed ye so long in wealth and woe among? And is thy heart so strong as for to leave me thus? Say nay. Say nay.

Tis hushed, and all is still. All is not still. Let us go down. Go down, Balthazar. Go. The hour is growing late. The duke awaits us. Thy presence is expected in the hall below. What ails thee, Earl Politeon? Who hath lov'd thee so long in wealth and woe among? And is thy heart so strong? Say nay, say nay. Let us descend. Tis time. Politeon, give these fancies to the wind. Remember, pray, your bearing lately savored much of rudeness unto the Duke. Arouse thee, and remember— Remember? I do. Lead on. I do remember. Going. Let us descend. Believe me, I would give—freely would give—the broad lands of my earldom to look upon the face hidden by yon lattice. To gaze upon that veiled face and hear once more that silent tongue.

Let me beg you, sir, descend with me. The Duke may be offended. Let us go down, I pray you. Voice loudly. Say nay, say nay. Politeon aside. Tis strange, tis very strange, methought the voice chimed in with my desires, and bade me stay. Approaching the window. Sweet voice, I heed thee, and will surely stay. Now, be this fancy, by heaven, or be it fate, still I will not descend. Balazar, make apology unto the duke for me. I go not down to-night. Your lordship's pleasure shall be attended to. Good night, Politeon. Good night, my friend. Good night. Scene Four. The Gardens of a Palace. Moonlight, Lalage and Politean. And dost thou speak of love to me, Politean? Dost thou speak of love to Lalage? Ah, woe!

Ah, woe is me! This mockery is most cruel, most cruel indeed. Weep not, O sob not thus, thy bitter tears will madden me. O mourn not, Lalage, be comforted. I know, I know it all, and still I speak of love. Look at me, brightest and beautiful Lalage, turn here thine eyes. Thou askest me if I could speak of love, knowing what I know, and seeing what I have seen. Thou askest me that, and thus I answer thee, Thus, on my bended knee, I answer thee. Kneeling. Sweet Lalage, I love thee, love thee, love thee! Through good and ill, through weal and woe, I love thee. Not mother with her firstborn on her knee thrills with intenser love than I for thee, not on God's altar in any time or clime, burned there a holier fire than burneth now within my spirit for thee.

And do I love? Arising. Even for thy woes, I love thee, even for thy woes, thy beauty and thy woes. Alas, proud Earl! Thou dost forget thyself remembering me. How, in thy father's halls, among the maidens, pure and reproachless of thy princely line, could the dishonoured Lelage abide? Thy wife, and with a tainted memory, my seared and blighted name, how would it tally, with the ancestral honours of thy house, and with thy glory? Speak not to me of glory. I hate, I loathe the name, I do abhor the unsatisfactory and ideal thing. Art thou not Lallage and I pollution? Do I not love? Art thou not beautiful? What need we more? Ah, glory, now speak not of it. By all I hold most sacred and most solemn, by all my wishes now, my fears hereafter, by all I scorn on earth and hope in heaven.

There is no deed I would more glory in than in thy cause to scoff at this same glory and trample it under foot. What matters it? What matters it, my fairest and my best, that we go down, unhonored and forgotten, into the dust, so we descend together? Descend together, and then—and then perchance— Why dost thou pause, Polytheon? And then perchance— Arise together, Alage, and roam the starry and quiet dwellings of the blest, and still— Why dost thou pause, Polytheon? And still together—together! Now, Earl of Leicester, thou lovest me, and in my heart of hearts I feel thou lovest me truly. O Lallage, throwing himself upon his knee. And lovest thou me? Hist, hush, within the gloom of yonder trees methought a figure past, a spectral figure, solemn and slow and noiseless, like the grim shadow conscience.

Solemn and noiseless.

I was mistaken. Twas but a giant bough, stirred by the autumn wind, Politeon. My Lelage, my love, why art thou moved? Why dost thou turn so pale? Not conscience, self, far less a shadow which thou likenest to it, should shake the firm spirit thus. But the night-wind is chilly, and these melancholy boughs throw over all things a gloom. Polydion, thou speakest to me of love, knowest thou the land, with which all tongues are busy, a land new found, miraculously found by one of Genoa, a thousand leagues within the Golden West, a fairyland of flowers and fruit and sunshine, and crystal lakes and overarching forest, and mountains around whose towering summits the winds. Of heaven untrammeled flow, which e'er to breathe, is happiness now, and will be freedom hereafter in days that are to come?

Oh, wilt thou, wilt thou fly to that paradise? My Lelage, wilt thou fly thither with me? There care shall be forgotten, and sorrow shall be no more, and eros be all, and life shall then be mine, for I will live for thee and in thine eyes, and thou shalt be no more a mourner. But the radiant joys shall wait upon thee, and the angel hope attend thee forever, and I will kneel to thee, and worship thee, and call thee my beloved, my own, my beautiful, my love, my wife, my all. O wilt thou, wilt thou, Lalage, fly thither with me? A deed is to be done. Castiglione lives. And he shall die. Exit. Lalage, after a pause. And he shall die. Alas, Castiglione die? Who spoke the words? Where am I? What was it he said?

Thou art not gone, thou art not gone, Polytion. I feel thou art not gone, yet dare not look. Lest I behold thee not, thou couldst not go. With those words upon thy lips, O speak to me, and let me hear thy voice, one word, one word, to say thou art not gone. One little sentence, to say how thou dost scorn, how thou dost hate, my womanly weakness. Ha! Ha! Thou art not gone. Oh, speak to me. I knew thou wouldst not go. I knew thou wouldst not go. Couldnst not, durst not go. Villain, thou art not gone. Thou mockest me, and thus I clutch thee. Thus. He is gone. He is gone. Gone. Gone. Where am I? Tis well, tis very well, so that the blade be keen, the blow be sure. Tis well, tis very well, alas, alas.

This weakness grows upon me. I am faint, and much I fear me ill. It will not do to die ere I have lived. Stay, stay thy hand, O Azrael, yet awhile. Prince of the powers of darkness and the tomb, O pity me, O pity me! Let me not perish now in the budding of my paradisal hope. Give me to live yet, yet a little while. Tis I who pray for life, I who so late demanded but to die. What saith the Count? Enter Balthazar. That knowing no cause of quarrel or of feud between the Earl Palitian and himself, he doth decline your cartel. What didst thou say? What answer was it you brought me, good Balazar? With what excessive fragrance the zephyr comes laden from yonder bowers? A fairer day, or one more worthy Italy, methinks no mortal eyes have seen.

What said the Count? That he, Castiglione, not being aware of any feud existing, or any cause of quarrel between your lordship and himself, cannot accept the challenge. It is most true. All this is very true. When saw you, sir, when saw you now, Baldazar, in the frigid, ungenial Britain which we left so lately, a heaven so calm as this, so utterly free from the evil taint of clouds? And he did say? No more, my lord, than I have told you, sir. The Count Castiglione will not fight, having no cause for quarrel. Now this is true, all very true. Thou art my friend, Baldassar, and I have not forgotten it. Thou do me a piece of service. Wilt thou go back, and say unto this man, that I, the Earl of Leicester, hold him a villain?

Thus much I pray thee say unto the Count. It is exceeding just he should have cause for quarrel. My lord, my friend! Polityon, aside. Tis he. He comes himself. Allowed. Thou reasonest well. I know what thou wouldst say. Not send the message. Well, I will think of it. I will not send it. Now, prithee, leave me. Hither doth come a person with whom affairs of a most private nature I would adjust. I go. To-morrow we meet, do we not, at the Vatican. At the Vatican. Exit Balthazar. Enter Castiglione. The Earl of Leicester here? I am the Earl of Leicester, and thou seest, knowest thou not, that I am here. My lord, some strange, some singular mistake, misunderstanding hath without a doubt arisen. Thou hast been urged thereby, in the heat of anger, to address some words most unaccountable in writing to me, Castiglione, the bearer being Baldassar, Duke of Surrey.

I am aware of nothing which might warrant thee in this thing. Having given thee no offense, ha! Am I right? Twas a mistake, undoubtedly. We all do err at times. Draw, villain, and prate no more. Ha! Draw? And villain? Have at thee then at once, proud earl.

Thus to the expiatory tomb, untimely sepulchre, I do devote thee in the name of Lalage. Of Lalage, hold off thy sacred hand. Avant, I say, avant, I will not fight thee. Indeed, I dare not. Thou wilt not fight with me, didst say, Sir Count? Shall I be baffled thus? Now, this is well. Didst say thou darest not? Ah! I dare not, dare not. Hold off thy hand. With that beloved name so fresh upon my lips, I will not fight thee. I cannot, dare not. Now by my halidome I do believe thee. Coward, I do believe thee. Ha! Coward, this may not be. Clutches his sword and staggers toward Politeon, but his purpose is changed before reaching him, and he falls upon his knee at the feet of the earl. Alas, my lord, it is, it is, most true, in such a cause I am the veriest coward.

O pity me. Politeon greatly softened. Alas, I do. Indeed, I pity thee. And Laloge. Scoundrel! Arise, and die! It needeth not be. Thus, thus! O let me die thus on my bended knee. It were most fitting that in this deep humiliation I perish, for in the fight I will not raise a hand against thee, Earl of Leicester. Strike thou home. Bearing his bosom. Here is no let or hindrance to thy weapon. Strike home. I will not fight thee. Now, death and hell, am I not, am I not sorely, grievously tempted to take thee at thy word? But mark me, sir, think not to fly me thus. Do thou prepare for public insult in the streets before the eyes of the citizens. I'll follow thee like an avenging spirit. I'll follow thee, even unto death, before those whom thou lovest, before all Rome.

I'll taunt thee, villain, I'll taunt thee, dost hear? With cowardice thou wilt not fight. Exit.

Now this indeed is just, most righteous and most just, avenging heaven.

Such portions of Politian, as are known to the public, first saw the light of publicity in the Southern Literary Messenger for December, 1835, and January, 1836, being styled Scenes from Politian, an Unpublished Drama. These scenes were included, unaltered, in the 1845 collection of poems by Poe. The larger portion of the original draft subsequently became the property of the present editor. But it is not considered just to the poet's memory to publish it. The work is a hasty and unrevised production of its author's earlier days of literary labor, and beyond the scenes already known, scarcely calculated to enhance his reputation. As a specimen, however, of the parts unpublished, the following fragment from the first scene of act two may be offered.

The duke, it should be premised, is uncle to Alessandra, and father of Castiglione, her betrothed. Why do you laugh? Indeed, I hardly know myself. Stay. Was it not on yesterday we were speaking of the earl—of the earl Politean? Yes, it was yesterday, Alessandra, you and I. And you must remember, we were walking in the garden. Perfectly. I do remember it. What of it? What then? Oh, nothing. Nothing at all. Nothing at all? It is most singular that you should laugh at nothing at all. Most singular. Singular. Look, you, Castiglione. Be so kind as tell me, sir, at once what did you mean? What are you talking of? Was it not so? We differed in opinion touching him. Him? Whom? Why, sir, the Earl of Politeon.

The Earl of Leicester? Yes. Is it he you mean? We differed indeed. If now I recollect the words you used were that the earl you knew was neither learned nor mirthful. Ha! Now did I. That did you, sir, and well I knew at the time you were wrong, it being not the character of the earl, whom all the world allows to be a most hilarious man. "'Be not, my son, too positive again." "'Tis singular, most singular. I could not think it possible so little time could so much alter one. To say the truth, about an hour ago, as I was walking with the Count San Ozo, all arm in arm we met this very man—the earl, he with his friend Baldassar, having just arrived in Rome. Ha! He is altered! Such an account he gave me of his journey.

"'T'would have made you die with laughter, such tales he told of his caprices and his merry freaks. Along the road, such oddity, such humour, such wit, such whim, such flashes of wild merriment set off too in such full relief by the grave demeanour of his friend, who, to speak the truth, was gravity itself. Did I not tell you?" You did, and yet tis strange. But true is strange. How much I was mistaken. I always thought the Earl a gloomy man. So, so, you see. Be not too positive. Whom have we here? It cannot be the Earl. The Earl? Oh, no. Tis not the Earl, but yet it is, and leaning upon his friend Baldazar. Am welcome, sir. Enter Politeon and Baldazar. My Lord. A second welcome let me give you to Rome.

His Grace, the Duke of Broglio. Father, this is the Earl Politian, Earl of Leicester, in Great Britain. Politian bows haughtily. That, his friend, Baldazar, Duke of Surrey. The Earl has letters, so please you for your grace. Ha! Ha! Most welcome to Rome, and to our palace, Earl Politian. And you, most noble Duke, I am glad to see you. I knew your father well, my lord Perlician. Castiglione, call your cousin hither, and let me make the noble earl acquainted with your betrothed. You come, sir, at a time most seasonable. The wedding— Touching those letters, sir, your son made mention of—your son, is he not? Touching those letters, sir, I wot not of them. If such there be, my friend Baldazar here—Baldazar!

Ah! My friend Baldazar here. We'll hand them to your grace. I would retire. Retire? So soon. What ho! Benito! Rupert! His Lordship's chambers! Show his Lordship to them. His Lordship is unwell. Enter Benito. This way, my lord. Exit, followed by Polydion. Retire? Unwell! So please you, sir. I fear me, tis as you say. His lordship is unwell. The damp air of the evening, the fatigue of a long journey, the—indeed I had better follow his lordship. He must be unwell. I will return anon. Return anon? Now this is very strange. Castiglione, this way, my son, I wish to speak with thee. You surely were mistaken in what you said of the earl. Mr. Brown. Mirthful indeed. Which of us said Polition was a melancholy man?

43 43 - Letter to Mr. B-- 15:28

West Point, 1831.

Dear B, Believing only a portion of my former volume to be worthy a second edition, that small portion I thought it as well to include in the present book as to republish by itself. I have therefore herein combined Al-Araf and Tamerlane with other poems hitherto unprinted. Nor have I hesitated to insert from the minor poems, now omitted, whole lines and even passages, to the end that being placed in a fairer light and the trash shaken from them in which they are embedded, They may have some chance of being seen by posterity.

It has been said that a good critique on a poem may be written by one who is no poet himself. This, according to your idea and mine of poetry, I feel to be false. The less poetical the critic, the less just the critique, and the converse. On this account, and because there are but few bees in the world, I would be as much ashamed of the world's good opinion as proud of your own. Another than yourself might here observe, Shakespeare is in possession of the world's good opinion, and yet Shakespeare is the greatest of poets. It appears, then, that the world judged correctly. Why should you be ashamed of their favorable judgment? The difficulty lies in the interpretation of the word judgment or opinion.

The opinion is the world's, truly, but it may be called theirs as a man would call a book his, having bought it. He did not write the book, but it is his. They did not originate the opinion, but it is theirs. A fool, for example, thinks Shakespeare a great poet. Yet the fool has never read Shakespeare. But the fool's neighbor, who is a step higher on the andes of the mind, whose head, that is to say, his more exalted thought, is too far above the fool to be seen or understood, but whose feet, by which I mean his everyday actions, are sufficiently near to be discerned, and by means of which that superiority is ascertained, which but for them would never have been discovered. This neighbor asserts that Shakespeare is a great poet.

The fool believes him, and it is henceforward his opinion. This neighbor's own opinion has, in like manner, been adopted from one above him, and so ascendingly to a few gifted individuals who kneel around the summit, beholding, face to face, the master spirit who stands upon the pinnacle. You are aware of the great barrier in the path of an American writer. He is read, if at all, in preference to the combined and established wit of the world. I say established, For it is with literature as with law or empire. An established name is an estate in tenure, or a throne in possession. Besides, one might suppose that books, like their authors, improve by travel. Their having crossed the sea is, with us, so great a distinction.

Our antiquaries abandon time for distance. Our very fops glance from the binding to the bottom of the title page, where the mystic characters which spell London, Paris, or Genoa are precisely so many letters of recommendation. I mentioned just now a vulgar error as regards criticism. I think the notion that no poet can form a correct estimate of his own writings is another. I remarked before that in proportion to the poetical talent would be the justice of a critique upon poetry. Therefore, a bad poet would, I grant, make a false critique, and his self-love would infallibly bias his little judgment in his favor. But a poet who is indeed a poet Could not, I think, fail of making a just critique.

Whatever should be deducted on the score of self-love might be replaced on account of his intimate acquaintance with the subject. In short, we have more instances of false criticism than of just where one's own writings are the test, simply because we have more bad poets than good. There are, of course, many objections to what I say. Milton is a great example of the contrary. But his opinion with respect to the Paradise Regained is by no means fairly ascertained. By what trivial circumstances men are often led to assert what they do not really believe? Perhaps an inadvertent word has descended to posterity. But in fact the Paradise Regained is little, if at all, inferior to the Paradise Lost, and is only supposed so to be because men do not like epics.

Whatever they may say to the contrary, in reading those of Milton in their natural order, Are too much wearied with the first to derive any pleasure from the second. I dare say Milton preferred Comus to either. If so, justly. As I am speaking of poetry, it will not be amiss to touch slightly upon the most singular heresy in its modern history. The heresy of what is called, very foolishly, the Lake School. Some years ago I might have been induced, by an occasion like the present, to attempt a formal refutation of their doctrine. Aristotle, with singular assurance, has declared poetry the most philosophical of all writings. But it required a wordsworth to pronounce it the most metaphysical. He seems to think that the end of poetry is, or should be, instruction.

Yet it is a truism that the end of our existence is happiness. If so, the end of every separate part of our existence, everything connected with our existence, should be still happiness. Therefore, the end of instruction should be happiness. And happiness is another name for pleasure. Therefore, the end of instruction should be pleasure. Yet we see the above-mentioned opinion implies precisely the reverse.

To proceed, Ceteris Paribus. He who pleases is of more importance to his fellow men than he who instructs, since utility is happiness, and pleasure is the end already obtained which instruction is merely the means of obtaining. I see no reason, then, why our metaphysical poets should plume themselves so much on the utility of their works, unless indeed they refer to instruction with eternity in view. In which case, sincere respect for their piety would not allow me to express my contempt for their judgment. Contempt which it would be difficult to conceal, since their writings are professedly to be understood by the few, and it is the many who stand in need of salvation. In such case, I should no doubt be tempted to think of the devil in Melmoth, who labors indefatigably through three octavo volumes to accomplish the destruction of one or two souls, while any common devil would have demolished one or two thousand.

Against the subtleties which would make poetry a study, not a passion, it becomes the metaphysician to reason. But the poet to protest. Yet Wordsworth and Coleridge are men in years, the one imbued in contemplation from his childhood, the other a giant in intellect and learning. The diffidence, then, with which I venture to dispute their authority would be overwhelming, did I not feel, from the bottom of my heart, that learning has little to do with the imagination, intellect with the passions, or age with poetry. Trifles, like straws, upon the surface flow. He who would search for pearls Must die below. Are lines which have not done much mischief. As regards the greater truths, men oftener err by seeking them at the bottom than at the top.

Truth lies in the huge abysses where wisdom is sought, not in the palpable palaces where she is found. The ancients were not always right in hiding the goddess in a well. Witness the light which Bacon has thrown upon philosophy. Witness the principles of our divine faith. The moral mechanism by which the simplicity of a child may overbalance the wisdom of a man. We see an instance of Coleridge's liability to err in his Biografia Lideraria, professedly his literary life and opinions. But in fact, a treatise de omnes quibile et quibitum alis. He goes wrong by reason of his very profundity. And of his error we have a natural type in the contemplation of a star. He who regards it directly and intensely sees, it is true, the star.

But it is the star without a ray, while he who surveys it less inquisitively is conscious of all for which the star is useful to us below, its brilliancy and its beauty. As to Wordsworth, I have no faith in him, that he had in youth the feelings of a poet, I believe, for there are glimpses of extreme delicacy in his writings, and delicacy is the poet's own kingdom, his El Dorado. But they have the appearance of a better day recollected. And glimpses, at best, are little evidence of present poetic fire. We know that a few straggling flowers spring up daily in the crevices of the glacier. He was to blame in wearing away his youth in contemplation with the end of poetising in his manhood. With the increase of his judgment, the light which should make it apparent has faded away.

His judgment, consequently, is too correct. This may not be understood, but the old Goths of Germany would have understood it, who used to debate matters of importance to their state twice. Once when drunk, and once when sober. Sober that they might not be deficient in formality, drunk lest they should be destitute of vigor. The long wordy discussions by which he tries to reason us into admiration of his poetry speak very little in his favor. They are full of such assertions as this. I have opened one of his volumes at random. Of genius the only proof is the act of doing well what is worthy to be done, and what was never done before. Indeed! Then it follows that in doing what is unworthy to be done, Or what has been done before, no genius can be evinced.

Yet the picking of pockets is an unworthy act. Pockets have been picked time immemorial, and Barrington, the pickpocket and point of genius, would have thought hard of a comparison with William Wordsworth, the poet. Again, in estimating the merit of certain poems, whether they be Ossians or MacPherson's, can surely be of little consequence. Yet, in order to prove their worthlessness, Mr. W. has expended many pages in the controversy.

Can great minds descend to such absurdity? But worse still, that he may bear down every argument in favor of these poems, he triumphantly drags forward a passage in his abomination with which he expects the reader to sympathize. It is the beginning of the epic poem, Temora. The blue waves of Olin roll in light. The green hills are covered with day. Trees shake their dusty heads in the breeze. And this is gorgeous, yet simple imagery. Where all is alive and panting with immortality. This, William Wordsworth, the author of Peter Bell, has selected for his contempt. We shall see what better he, in his own person, has to offer. Imprimus. And now she's at the pony's tail. And now she's at the pony's head.

On that side now, and now on this. And almost stifled with her bliss. A few sad tears does Betty shed. She pats the pony. Where or when. She knows not. Happy Betty Foy. Oh, Johnny, never mind the doctor. Secondly— The dew was falling fast. The stars began to blink. I heard a voice. It said, Drink, pretty creature, drink. And looking o'er the hedge, before me I espied a snow-white mountain lamb with a maiden at its side. No other sheep was near. The lamb was all alone, and by a slender cord was tethered to a stone. Now, we have no doubt this is all true. We will believe it, indeed we will, Mr. W. Is it sympathy for the sheep you wish to excite? I love a sheep from the bottom of my heart. But there are occasions, dear B., there are occasions when even Wordsworth is reasonable.

Even Stompull, it is said, shall have an end, and the most unlucky blunders must come to a conclusion. Here is an extract from his preface.

Those who have been accustomed to the phraseology of modem writers If they persist in reading this book to a conclusion, impossible. Will, no doubt, have to struggle with feelings of awkwardness. They will look round for poetry, and will be induced to inquire by what species of courtesy these attempts have been permitted to assume that title.

Yet let not Mr. W. despair. He is given immortality to a wagon, and the beast Sophocles is transmitted to eternity a sore toe. Indignified a tragedy with a chorus of turkeys. Of Coleridge, I cannot speak but with reverence. His towering intellect, his gigantic power! To use an author quoted by himself, To employ his own language, he has imprisoned his own conceptions by the barrier he has erected against those of others. It is lamentable to think that such a mind should be buried in metaphysics, and like the Nicontas, waste its perfume upon the night alone. In reading that man's poetry, I tremble like one who stands upon a volcano, conscious from the very darkness bursting from the crater of the fire and the light that are weltering below.

What is poetry? Poetry! That Proteus-like idea, with as many appellations as the nine titled Corsaira. Give me, I demanded of a scholar some time ago, give me a definition of poetry. Très volonté, and he proceeded to his library, brought me a Dr. Johnson, and overwhelmed me with a definition. Shade of the immortal Shakespeare, I imagined of myself the scowl of your spiritual eye upon the profanity of that scurrilous Ursa Major. Think of poetry, dear B. Think of poetry, and then think of Dr. Samuel Johnson. Think of all that is airy and fairy-like. And then of all that is hideous and unwieldy. Think of his huge bulk, the elephant. And then, and then think of the Tempest, the Midsummer Night's Dream, Prospero, Oberon, and Titania.

A poem, in my opinion, is opposed to a work of science by having, for its immediate object, pleasure, not truth, to romance by having, for its object, an indefinite instead of a definite pleasure. Being a poem only so far as this object is attained. Romance presenting perceptible images with definite, poetry with indefinite sensations, to which end music is an essential, since the comprehension of sweet sound is our most indefinite conception. Music, when combined with a pleasurable idea, is poetry. Music, without the idea, is simply music. The idea, without the music, is prose, from its very definitiveness. What was meant by the invective against him who had no music in his soul? To sum up this long rigmarole, I have, dear B., what you no doubt perceive, for the metaphysical poets as poets, the most sovereign contempt.

That they have followers proves nothing. No Indian prince has to his palace more followers than a thief to the gallows.

44 44 - Sonnet - to Science 1:11

45 45 - Al Aaraaf 22:22

Raven Edition, Volume 5. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Algie Pug. Al-Araf by Edgar Allan Poe. O, nothing earthly save the ray, thrown back from flowers, of beauty's eye, as from those gardens where the day springs from the gems of Cherkassy. O, nothing earthly save the thrill of melody in woodland rill, or music of the passion-hearted, joy's voice so peacefully departed, that, like the murmur in the shell, its echo dwelleth, and will dwell. With nothing of the dross of ours, yet all the beauty, all the flowers that list our love, and deck our bowers, adorn yon world afar, afar, the wandering star.

Twas a sweet time for Nisace, for there her world lay lolling on the golden air, near four bright suns, a temporary rest, a garden spot in desert of the blest. Away, away, mid seas of rays that roll, Empyrean splendor o'er the unchained soul, The soul that scarce, the billows are so dense, Can struggle to its destined eminence, To distant spheres, from time to time, she rode, And late to ours, the favored one of God. But now, the ruler of an anchored realm, She throws aside the scepter, Leaves the helm, and amid incense and high spiritual hymns, laves in quadrupled light her angel limbs. Now happiest, loveliest in yon lovely earth, whence sprang the idea of beauty into birth, falling in wreaths through many a startled star, like woman's hair mid pearls, until afar it lit on hills Archean, And there dwelt.

She looked into infinity and knelt. Rich clouds for canopies about her curled fit emblems of the model of her world, seen but in beauty, not impeding sight of other beauty glittering through the night. A wreath that twined each starry form around, and all the opaled air in color bound. All hurriedly she knelt upon a bed of flowers, of lilies such as rear the head on the fair capo doicato, and sprang so eagerly around, about to hang upon the flying footsteps of deep pride of her who loved the mortal, and so died. The cephalica, budding with young bees, upreared its purple stem around her knees, and a jemmy flower Of Trebizond misnamed, inmate of highest stars, where erst it shamed all other loveliness.

Its honeyed dew, the fabled nectar that the heathen knew, deliriously sweet, was dropped from heaven, and fell on gardens of the unforgiven in Trebizond, and on a sunny flower, so like its own above, that to this hour it still remaineth. Torturing the bee with madness and unwonted reverie. In heaven, and all its environs, the leaf and blossom of the fairy plant, in grief disconsolate, linger. Grief that hangs her head, repenting follies that full long have fled, heaving her white breast to the balmy air like guilty beauty, chastened and more fair. Nyctanthus, too, as sacred as the light, she fears to perfume, perfuming the night. And Clytia, pondering between many a sun, while pettish tears adown her petals run, and that aspiring flower that sprang on earth, and died, ere scarce exalted into birth, bursting its odorous heart in spirit to wing its way to heaven from garden of a king.

And Valesnerian Lotus, thither flown from struggling with the waters of the Rhone, and thy most lovely purple perfume, Zante, he saw Lodoro, Fior di Levante, and the Nalumbo bud that floats for ever with Indian Cupid down the holy river. Fair flowers and fairy, to whose care is given to bear the goddess-song in odours up to heaven. Spirit, that dwellest where, in the deep sky, the terrible and fair, in beauty vie, beyond the line of blue, the boundary of the star, which turneth at the view of thy barrier and thy bar, of the barrier overgone, by the comets, who are cast from their pride, and from their throne, to be drudgers till the last, to be carriers of fire, the red fire of their heart, With speed that may not tire, and with pain that shall not part.

Who livest, that we know, in eternity we feel, but the shadow of whose brow what spirit shall reveal? Though the beings whom thy Nasaice, thy messenger hath known, have dreamed for thy infinity a model of their own, thy will is done, O God! The star hath ridden high through many a tempest, but she rode beneath thy burning eye, and here, in thought, to thee, in thought that can alone ascend thy empire, and so be a partner of thy throne, by winged fantasy, my embassy is given, till secrecy shall knowledge be in the environs of heaven. She ceased, and buried then, her burning cheek, abashed, Amid the lilies there, to seek a shelter from the fervour of his eye, for the stars trembled at the deity.

She stirred not, breathed not, for a voice was there, how solemnly pervading the calm air, a sound of silence on the startled ear, which dreamy poets name, the music of the sphere. Ours is a world of words. Quiet, we call silence. Which is the merest word of all. Here nature speaks, and even ideal things flap shadowy sounds from visionary wings. But ah, not so, when thus, in realms on high, the eternal voice of God is passing by, and the red winds are withering in the sky. What, though in worlds which sightless cycles run, Link'd to a little system, And one sun, where all my love is folly, And the crowd still think my terrors but the thunder-cloud, The storm, the earthquake, and the ocean-wroth, Ah!

will they cross me in my angrier path? What, though in worlds which own a single sun, The sands of time grow dimmer as they run, Yet thine is my resplendency, so given to bear my secrets through the upper heaven. Leave tenantless thy crystal home, and fly, with all thy train, athwart the moony sky, apart, like fire-flies in Sicilian night, and wing to other worlds another light. Divulge the secrets of thy embassy to the proud orbs that twinkle. And so be to every heart a barrier and a ban, lest the stars totter in the guilt of man. Up rose the maiden in a yellow night, the single-mooned eve. On earth we plight our faith to one love, and one moon adore. The birthplace of young beauty had no more, as sprang that yellow star from downy hours, Up rose the maiden from her shrine of flowers, and bent Orshini Mountain and dim plain her way, but left not yet her Therasian reign.

El Araf High on a mountain of enameled head, such as the drowsy shepherd on his bed of giant pasturage lying at his ease, Raising his heavy eyelid, starts and sees, with many a muttered, Hope to be forgiven, what time the moon is quadrated in heaven. Of rosy head, the towering far away into the sunlight ether, caught the ray of sunken suns at eve, while the moon danced with the fair stranger light. Upreared upon such height arose a pile of gorgeous columns on the unburdened air. Flashing from Pardian marble, that twin smile far down upon the wave that sparkled there, and nursled the young mountain in its lair. Of molten stars their pavement, such as fall through the ebon air, besilvering the pall of their own dissolution while they die.

Adorning then the dwellings of the sky. A dome by linked light from heaven let down sat gently upon these columns as a crown. A window of one circular diamond there looked out above into the purple air, and rays from God shot down that meteor chain and hallowed all the beauty twice again, save when, between the Empyrean and that ring, some eager spirit flapped his dusky wing. But on the pillars seraph eyes have seen the dimness of this world, that grayish green that nature loves the best for beauty's grave, lurked in each cornice, round each architrave, and every sculptured cherub thereabout that from his marble dwelling ventured out seemed earthly in the shallow of his niche, Archean statues in a world so rich.

Freezes from Thadmor and Persepolis, from Balbeck and the stilly clear abyss of beautiful Gomorrah. Oh, the wave is now upon thee, but too late to save. Sound loves to revel near a summer night. Witness the murmur of the grey twilight that stole upon the ear in Ayraco, of many a wild star-gazer long ago, That stealeth ever on the ear of him, who, musing, gazeth on the distance dim, and sees the darkness coming as a cloud. Is not its form, its voice, most palpable and loud? But what is this? It cometh, and it brings a music with it. Tis the rush of wings. A pause. And then a sweeping, falling strain. And Nisace is in her halls again. From the wild energy of wanton haste her cheek was flushing, and her lips apart.

And zone that clung around her gentle waist had burst beneath the heaving of her heart. Within the centre of that hall to breathe she paused and panted. Xanthi, all beneath, the fairy light that kissed her golden hair and longed to rest, yet could but sparkle there. Young flowers were whispering in melody to happy flowers that night, and tree to tree. Fountains were gushing music as they fell in many a starlit grove or moonlit dell. Yet silence came upon material things—fair flowers, bright waterfalls, and angel wings, and sound alone that from the Spirit sprang bore burden to the charm the maiden sang. Neath bluebell or streamer, or tufted wild spray, that keeps from the dreamer the moonbeam away.

Bright beings that ponder with half-closing eyes on the stars which your wonder hath drawn from the skies, till I glance through the shade and come down to your brow, like, eyes of the maiden, who calls on you now. Arise from your dreaming in violet bowers, to duty beseeming these star-litten hours, and shake from your tresses, encumbered with dew, the breath of those kisses that cumber them too. Oh, how without you, love, could angels be blest? Those kisses of true love that lulled ye to rest. Up, shake from your wing each hindering thing, the dew of the night, It would weigh down your flight, and true love caresses. Oh, leave them apart. They are light on the tresses, but hang on the heart.

Lygia, Lygia, my beautiful one, whose harshest idea will to melody run. Oh, is that they will, on the breezes to toss? Or, capriciously still, like the lone albatross incumbent on night, As she on the air, to keep watch with delight on the harmony there. Lygia, whatever thy image may be, no magic shall sever thy music from thee. Thou hast bound many eyes in a dreamy sleep, but the strains still arise which thy vigilance keep. The sound of the rain which leaps down to the flower and dances again in the rhythm of the shower. The murmur that springs from the growing of grass are the music of things but are modelled, alas. Away then, my dearest! O, hie thee away to springs that lie clearest beneath the moon-ray, to lone lake that smiles in its dream of deep rest at the many star-isles that endure its breast, where wildflowers, creeping, have mingled their shade.

On its margin is sleeping, full many a maid. Some have left the cool glade, and have slept with the bee. Arouse them, my maiden, on moorland and lea. Go, breathe on their slumber, all softly in ear, the musical number they slumbered to hear. For what can awaken an angel so soon, whose sleep hath been taken beneath the cold moon, as the spell which no slumber of witchery can test, the rhythmical number which lulled him to rest? Spirits in wing, and angels to the view, a thousand seraphs burst the Empyrean through, young dreams still hovering on their drowsy flight. Seraphs in all but knowledge, the keen light that fell refracted through thy bounds afar. O death, from eye of God upon that star!

Sweet was that error. Sweeter still, that death. Sweet was that error. Even with us the breath of science dims the mirror of our joy. To them t'were the simoon, and would destroy, for what to them availeth it to know that truth is falsehood, or that bliss is woe? Sweet was their death. With them to die was rife with the last ecstasy of satiate life. Beyond that death no immortality, but sleep that pondereth, and is not to be. And there... O may my weary spirit dwell, apart from heaven's eternity, and yet how far from hell! What guilty spirit, in what shrubbery dim, heard not the stirring summons of that hymn? But, too, they fell, for heaven no grace imparts to those who hear not for their beating hearts.

A maiden angel, and her seraph lover, O where! And ye may seek the wide skies over, was love, the blind, near sober duty known. Unguided love hath fallen, mid tears of perfect moan. He was a goodly spirit, he who fell, a wanderer by mossy mantled well, a gazer on the lights that shine above, a dreamer in the moonbeam by his love. What wonder! For each star is eye-like there, and looked so sweetly down on beauty's hair. And they, and every mossy spring, were holy to his love-haunted heart and melancholy. The knight had found, to him a knight of woe, upon a mountain crag, young Angelo. Beetling it bends athwart the solemn sky, and scowls on starry worlds that down beneath it lie. So sat he with his love, his dark eye bent with eagle gaze along the firmament.

Now turned it upon her, but ever then it trembled to one constant star again. Ianthi, dearest, see, how dim that ray, how lovely tears to look so far away. She seemed not thus upon that autumn eve I left her gorgeous halls, nor mourned to leave. That eve, that eve, I should remember well, that sun-ray dropped in Lemnos with a spell on the arabesque carving of a gilded hall wherein I sat, and on the draperied wall, and on my eyelids. Oh, the heavy light! How drowsily it weighed them into night! On flowers, before, and mist, and love, they ran, with Persian Sadi in Izgulistan. But, oh, that light! I slumbered, death the while, stole all my senses in that lovely isle, so softly that no single silken hair awoke that slept, or knew that it was there.

The last spot of Earth's orb I trod upon was a proud temple called the Parthenon. More beauty clung around her columned wall than even thy glowing bosom beats withal, and when old time my wing did this enthrall, thence sprang I, as the eagle from his tower, and years I left behind me in an hour. What time upon her airy bounds I hung, when half the garden of her globe was flung, unrolling as a chart unto my view, tenantless cities of the desert too. Ianthi, beauty crowded on me then, and half I wished to be again of men. My Angelo, and why of them to be? A brighter dwelling-place is here for thee. And greener fields than in yon world above, A woman's loveliness, and passionate love. But list, Ianthe, when the air so soft failed, As my pennended spirit leapt aloft, Perhaps my brain grew dizzy, But the world I left so late Was into chaos hurled, Sprang from her station On the winds apart, and rolled, Aflame the fiery heaven athwart.

Methought, my sweet one, then I ceased to soar and fell, not swiftly as I rose before, but with a downward tremulous motion, through light, brazen rays, this golden star unto. Nor long the measure of my falling hours, for nearer of all stars was thine to ours. Dread star, that came amid a night of mirth, Arenda Dalion on the timid earth. We came unto thy earth, but not to us be given Our Lady's bidding to discuss. We came, my love, around, above, below, gay firefly of the night, we come and go, nor ask a reason save the angel nod she grants to us, as granted by her God. But Angelo, than thine great time unfurled, never his fairy wing or fairier world. Dim was its little disk, and angel eyes alone could see the phantom in the skies, when first al-Araf knew her course to be headlong thitherward o'er the starry sea.

But when its glory swelled upon the sky, as glowing beauties bust beneath man's eye, we paused before the heritage of men, And thy star trembled, as doth beauty then. Thus in discourse the lovers whiled away the night that waned and waned, and brought no day. They fell, for heaven to them no hope imparts, who hear not for the beating of their hearts.

46 46 - Tamerlane 11:18

Tamerlane by Edgar Allan Poe. Kind soulless in a dying hour, Such, father, is not now my theme. I will not madly deem that power of earth may shrive me of the sin unearthly pride hath reveled in. I have no time to dote or dream. You call it hope, that fire of fire? It is but agony of desire. If I can hope, O God, I can! Its fount is holier, more divine. I would not call thee fool, old man, but such is not a gift of thine. Know thou the secret of a spirit, bowed from its wild pry into shame? O yearning heart, I did inherit thy withering portion with the fame. The searing glory which hath shone amid the jewels of my throne, halo of hell, and with a pain not hell shall make me fear again. O craving heart for the lost flowers and sunshine of my summer hours, the undying voice of that dead time, with its interminable chime rings in the spirit of a spell, upon thy emptiness a knell.

I have not always been as now, the fevered diadem on my brow I claimed and won usurpingly. Hath not the same fierce air-dom given Rome to Caesar? This to me, the heritage of a kingly mind and proud spirit which hath striven triumphantly with humankind. On mountain soil I first drew life. The mists of Taglay have shed nightly their dews upon my head, and I believe the winged strife and tumult of the headlong air have nestled in my very hair. So late from heaven that dew it fell mid dreams of an unholy night upon me, with the touch of hell, while the red flashing of the light from clouds that hung like banners o'er appeared to my half-closed eye the pageantry of monarchy. And the deep trumpet thunder's roar came hurriedly upon me, telling of human battle where my voice, my own voice, silly child, was swelling.

Oh, how my spirit would rejoice and leap within me at the cry, the battle-cry of victory. The rain came down upon my head unsheltered, and the heavy wind was giant-like, so thou, my mind. It was but man, I thought, who shed laurels upon me, and the rush, the torrent of the chilly air gurgled within my ear the crush of empires, with the captive's prayer. The hum of suitors, and the tone of flattery round the sovereign's throne. My passions, from that hapless hour, usurp'd a tyranny which men have deem'd since I have reach'd a power. My innate nature, be it so. But, father, there lived one who then, then in my boyhood, when their fire burn'd with a still intenser glow. For passion must with youth expire.

E'en then who knew this iron heart in woman's weakness had a part? I have no words, alas, to tell the loveliness of loving well. Nor would I now attempt to trace the more than beauty of a face whose lineaments upon my mind are shadows on the unstable wind. Thus I remember having dwelt some page of early lore upon with loitering eye till I felt the letters, With their meaning melt to fantasies, with none. Oh, she was worthy of all love. Love, as in infancy, was mine. "'Twas such as angel minds above might envy. Her young heart the shrine on which my every hope and thought were incense. Then a goodly gift, for they were childish and upright, pure, as her young example taught. Why did I leave it, and adrift?

Trust to the fire within, for light? We grew in age, and love together. Roamed the forest and the wild, my breast her shield in wintry weather. And when the friendly sunshine smiled, she would mark the opening skies. I saw no heaven but in her eyes. Young love's first lesson is the heart. For mid that sunshine and those smiles, when from our little cares apart, And laughing at her girlish wiles, I'd throw me on her throbbing breast, and pour my spirit out in tears. There was no need to speak the rest, no need to quiet any fears of her, who asked no reason why, but turned on me her quiet eye. Yet more than worthy of the love my spirit struggled with, and strove when, on the mountain-peak alone, ambition lent it a new tone.

I had no being but in thee, The world and all it did contain in the earth, the air, the sea, its joy, its little lot of pain that was new pleasure, the ideal, dim vanities of dreams by night, and dimmer nothings which were real, shadows and a more shadowy light, parted upon their misty wings and so confusedly became thine image and a name, a name. Two separate, yet most intimate things. I was ambitious. Have you known the passion, father? You have not. A cottager, I marked a throne on half the world as all my own, and murmured at such lowly lot. But just like any other dream, upon the vapor of the dew, my own had passed. Did not the beam of beauty which did while it through the minute, the hour, the day, Oppress my mind with double loveliness.

We walked together on the crown of a high mountain, which looked down afar from its proud natural towers of rock and forest, on the hills, the dwindled hills, begirt with bowers and shouting with a thousand rills. I spoke to her of power and pride, but mystically, in such guise that she might deem it not beside the moment's converse, In her eyes I read, perhaps too carelessly, a mingled feeling with my own. The flush on her bright cheek to me seemed to become a queenly throne too well that I should let it be light in the wilderness alone. I wrapped myself in grandeur then, and donned a visionary crown. Yet it was not that fantasy had thrown her mantle over me, but that, among the rabble, men, lion, ambition is chained down.

And crouches to a keeper's hand. Not so in deserts, where the grand, the wild, the terrible conspire with their own breath to fan his fire. Look round thee now on Samarkand. Is not she queen of earth, her pride above all cities? In her hand their destinies? In all besides of glory which the world hath known, stands she not nobly and alone? Falling, her various stepping-stone shall form the pedestal of a throne. And who her sovereign? Timur, he whom the astonished people saw, striding o'er empires haughtily, a diadem to outlaw. O human love, thou spirit given, on earth of all we hope in heaven, which falsed into the soul-like rain, upon the Sirach withered plain, And failing in thy power to bless, but leavest the heart a wilderness.

Idea, which bindeth life around with music of so strange a sound, and beauty so wild a birth, farewell, for I have won the earth. When Hope, the eagle that towered, could see no cliff beyond him in the sky, his pinions were bent droopingly, and homeward turned his softened eye. "'Twas sunset, when the sun will part. There comes a sullenness of heart to him who still would look upon the glory of the summer sun. That soul will hate the evening mist. So often lovely, and will list to the sound of the coming darkness, known to those whose spirits hearken as one who, in a dream of night, would fly but cannot from a danger nigh. What though the moon, the white moon shed all the splendor of her noon, Her smile is chilly, and her beam in that time of dreariness will seem, so like you gather in your breath, a portrait taken after death.

And boyhood is a summer sun, whose waning is the dreariest one, for all we live to know is known, and all we seek to keep hath flown. Let life, then, as the day-flower, fall with the noonday beauty, which is all. I reached my home, my home no more, for all had flown who made it so. I passed out its mossy door, and though my tread was soft and low, a voice came from the threshold stone of one whom I had earlier known. Oh, I defy thee, Hell, to show on beds of fire that burn below a humbler heart, a deeper woe. Father, I firmly do believe. I know, For Death, who comes for me from regions of the blest afar, where there is nothing to deceive, hath left his iron gate ajar, and rays of truth you cannot see are flashing through eternity.

I do believe that eblis hath a snare in every human path. Else how, when in the holy grove I wandered of the idle love, Who daily scents his snowy wings with incense of burnt offerings from the most unpolluted things, whose pleasant bowers are yet so riven above with trellised rays from heaven, no mote may shun, no tiniest fly the lightning of his eagle eye. How was it that ambition crept unseen amid the revels there, till growing bold he laughed and leapt in the tangles of love's very hair? 1829.

47 47 - To Helen II 1:15

48 48 - The Valley of Unrest 1:49

49 49 - Israfel 2:36

50 50 - To --- I 0:59

51 51 - To --- II 0:47

52 52 - To the River --- 1:12

53 53 - Song 1:25

54 54 - Spirits of the Dead 1:39

55 55 - A Dream 1:18

56 56 - Romance 1:37

57 57 - Fairy-Land 2:13

58 58 - The Lake --- to --- 1:26

59 59 - Evening Star 1:16

60 60 - 'The Happiest Day' 1:40

61 61 - Imitation 1:10

62 62 - Hymn to Aristogeiton and Harmodius 1:22

63 63 - Dreams 2:22

64 64 - 'In Youth I Have Known One' 2:18

65 65 - A Paean 2:08

66 66 - Alone 1:56

67 67 - To Isadore 2:42

68 68 - The Village Street 3:36

silent maiden walked in beauty at my side, she alone there walked beside me, all in beauty, like a bride. Pallidly the moon was shining on the dewy meadows nigh, on the silvery, silent rivers, on the mountains far and high, on the ocean's starlit waters where the winds a-weary die. Slowly, silently... We wandered from the open cottage door, underneath the elm's long branches, to the pavement bending o'er, underneath the mossy willow and the dying sycamore. With the myriad stars in beauty all bedight, the heavens were seen. Radiant hopes were bright around me like the light of stars serene, like the mellow midnight splendour of the night's irradiate queen. Audibly the elm leaves whispered peaceful, pleasant melodies, like the distant, murmured music of unquiet, lovely seas, while the winds were hushed in slumber in the fragrant flowers and trees.

Wondrous and unwanted beauty still adorning all did seem while I told my love in fables, neath the willows by the stream. Would the heart have kept unspoken love? That was its rarest dream. Instantly away we wandered in the shadowy twilight tide. She, the silent, scornful maiden walking calmly at my side, with a step serene and stately, all in beauty, all in pride. Vacantly I walked beside her, on the earth mine eyes were cast. Swift and keen there came unto me bitter memories of the past. On me, like the rain in autumn, on the dead leaves, cold and fast. Underneath the elms we parted by the lowly cottage door. One brief word alone was uttered, never on our lips before, and away I walked forlornly, broken-hearted evermore.

Slowly, silently I loitered, homeward in the night alone. Sudden anguish bound my spirit that my youth had never known. Wild unrest like that which cometh when the night's first dream hath flown. Now to me the elm leaves whisper mad discordant melodies, and keen melodies like shadows haunt the moaning willow trees, and the sycamores with laughter mock me in the nightly breeze. Sad and pale the autumn moonlight through the sighing foliage streams, and each morning midnight shadow, shadow of my sorrow seems. Strive, O heart, forget thine idol, and O soul, forget thy dreams.

69 69 - 69 - The Forest Reverie 4:15

The Forest Reverie by Edgar Allan Poe. Tis said that when the hands of men tamed this primeval wood, and hoary trees with groans of woe, like warriors by an unknown foe, were in their strength subdued, the virgin earth gave instant birth to springs that ne'er did flow, that in the sun did rivulets run, and all around rare flowers did blow, the wild rose pale perfumed the gale, and the queenly lily adown the dale. Whom the sun and the dew and the winds did woo, with the gourd and the grape luxuriant grew. So, when in tears the love of years is wasted like the snow, and the fine fibbles of its life by the rude wrong of instant strife are broken at a blow, Within the heart do springs upstart, of which it doth now know, and strange sweet dreams like silent streams that from new fountains overflow, with the earlier tide of rivers glide deep in the heart whose hope has died, quenching the fires its ashes hide, its ashes, whence will spring and grow sweet flowers ere long, the rare and radiant flowers of song.

Notes. Of the many verses from time to time ascribed to the pen of Edgar Poe, and not including among his known writings the lines entitled Alone, have the chief claim to our notice. Facsimile copies of this piece have been in possession of the present editor some time previous to its publication in Scribner's Magazine for September 1875, but as proofs of the authorship claimed for it were not forthcoming, he refrained from publishing it as requested. The desired proofs have not yet been adduced, and there is, at present, nothing but internal evidence to guide us. A loan is stated to have been written by Poe in the album of A Baltimore Lady, Mrs. Balderstone, on March 17th, 1829, and the facsimile given in Scrivener's is alleged to be of his handwriting.

If the calligraphy be Poe's, it is different in all essential respects from all the many specimens known to us, and strongly resembles that of the writer of the heading and dating of the manuscript, both of which the contributor of the poem acknowledges to have been recently added. The lines, however, if not by Poe, are the most successful imitation of his early mannerisms yet made public, and, in the opinion of one well qualified to speak, are not unworthy of the whole of the percentage claimed for them. While Edgar Poe was editor of the Broadway Journal, some lines to Isidore appeared therein, and, like several of his known pieces, bore no signature. They were at once ascribed to Poe, and in order to satisfy questioners, an editorial paragraph subsequently appeared saying that they were by A.

Eyde Jr. Two previous poems had appeared in the Broadway Journal over the signature of A. M. Eyde, and whoever wrote them was also the author of the lines to Isidore. In order, doubtless, to give a show of variety, Poe was then publishing some of his known works in his journal over Nom de Plume, and as no other writings whatever can be traced to any person bearing the name of A. M. Eyde, it is not impossible that the poems now republished in this collection may be by the author of The Raven. Having been published without his usual elaborate revision, Poe may have wished to hide his hasty work under an assumed name. The three pieces are included in the present collection, so the reader can judge for himself what pretensions they possess to be by the author of The Raven.

End of the Works of Edgar Allan Poe, Raven Edition, Volume 5, by Edgar Allan Poe.

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