The Raven-Basil Rathbone/Edgar Allan Poe

[ti:The Raven] [ar:Basil Rathbone] [al:Edgar Allan Poe - Tales & Poems] [by:] [offset:0] [00:00.00]The Raven - Basil Rathbone/Edgar Allan Poe [00:00.69]Once upon a midnight dreary [00:02.01] [00:03.47]While I pondered weak and weary [00:06.06]Over many a quaint [00:07.27]And curious volume of forgotten lore [00:09.17] [00:10.04]While I nodded [00:10.77] [00:11.61]Nearly napping [00:12.23] [00:13.31]Suddenly there came a tapping [00:14.96]As of some one gently rapping [00:16.65]Rapping at my chamber door [00:17.69] [00:18.58]"'Tis some visitor " I muttered [00:20.34]"tapping at my chamber door [00:21.59] [00:22.36]Only this and nothing more " [00:23.82] [00:25.50]Ah distinctly I remember [00:27.88] [00:29.20]It was in the bleak December [00:30.68] [00:31.33]And each separate dying ember wrought [00:33.91] [00:34.60]It's ghost upon the floor [00:35.76] [00:36.86]Eagerly I wished the morrow [00:38.25] [00:38.95]Vainly I had sought to borrow [00:40.53]From my books surcease of sorrow [00:43.23] [00:44.54]Sorrow for the lost Lenore [00:46.14] [00:47.63]For the rare and radiant maiden [00:49.00] [00:49.88]Whom the angels name Lenore- [00:51.71] [00:52.64]Nameless here for evermore [00:54.16] [00:55.81]And the silken sad [00:56.74]Uncertain rustling of each purple curtain [00:59.66]Thrilled me filled me [01:01.64]With fantastic terrors never felt before; [01:03.37] [01:04.19]So that now to still the beating of my heart [01:06.31]I stood repeating [01:06.85] [01:07.60]"'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door [01:10.66]Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door [01:13.31] [01:13.86]This it is and nothing more " [01:15.26] [01:16.13]Presently my soul grew stronger [01:17.70] [01:18.37]Hesitating then no longer [01:19.40] [01:19.98]"Sir " said I "or Madam [01:22.10]Truly your forgiveness I implore; [01:23.92]But the fact is I was napping [01:25.32]And so gently you came rapping [01:26.48]And so faintly you came tapping [01:28.08]Tapping at my chamber door [01:29.30]That I scarce was sure I heard you" [01:31.44]Here I opened wide the door [01:32.66] [01:35.23]Darkness there and nothing more [01:37.12] [01:39.37]Deep into that darkness peering [01:40.69] [01:41.98]Long I stood there wondering fearing [01:44.50] [01:45.52]Doubting dreaming dreams no mortal [01:47.71]Ever dared to dream before [01:49.05] [01:49.97]But the silence was unbroken [01:51.51] [01:53.34]And the stillness gave no token [01:55.22] [01:56.72]And the only word [01:57.87]There spoken was the whispered word "Lenore" [02:01.81] [02:03.55]This I whispered [02:04.51] [02:05.49]And an echo murmured back the word "Lenore "- [02:08.84] [02:09.90]Merely this and nothing more [02:11.80] [02:12.76]Back into the chamber turning [02:13.74]All my soul within me burning [02:15.28] [02:15.88]Soon again I heard a tapping [02:17.10]Somewhat louder than before [02:18.27] [02:19.23]"Surely " said I "surely [02:21.28]That is something at my window lattice: [02:23.03]Let me see then [02:23.91]What thereat is and this mystery explore- [02:25.25]Let my heart be still a moment [02:27.06]And this mystery explore;- [02:27.83] [02:28.72]'Tis the wind and nothing more" [02:29.88] [02:30.74]Open here I flung the shutter [02:32.24]When with many a flirt and flutter [02:35.90] [02:36.77]In there stepped a stately Raven of [02:39.09]The saintly days of yore; [02:40.29] [02:41.48]Not the least obeisance made he [02:43.02] [02:43.89]Not a minute stopped or stayed he; [02:45.98]But with mien of lord or lady [02:47.81] [02:48.37]Perched above my chamber door- [02:49.64] [02:51.14]Perched upon a bust of Pallas [02:52.86]Just above my chamber door [02:54.04] [02:55.35]Perched and sat and nothing more [02:59.39] [03:00.31]Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling [03:04.04]By the grave and stern decorum of [03:05.80]The countenance it wore [03:06.91] [03:07.92]"Though thy crest be shorn and shaven [03:10.30]Thou " I said "art sure no craven [03:12.42] [03:13.52]Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering [03:15.78]From the Nightly shore- [03:16.90] [03:17.51]Tell me what thy lordly name is on [03:20.04]The Night's Plutonian shore " [03:21.11] [03:22.12]Quoth the Raven "Nevermore " [03:25.06] [03:27.15]Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl [03:29.04] [03:29.61]To hear discourse so plainly [03:31.44] [03:32.03]Though its answer little meaning [03:33.39]Little relevancy bore; [03:34.16] [03:34.87]For we cannot help agreeing [03:36.14] [03:37.56]That no living human being [03:38.82] [03:39.60]Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird [03:41.76]Above his chamber door- [03:43.04]Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust [03:46.43]Above his chamber door [03:47.51] [03:48.59]With such name as "Nevermore " [03:50.47] [03:51.99]But the Raven [03:52.98]Sitting lonely on the placid bust spoke only [03:55.90]That one word as if his soul in [03:58.33]That one word he did outpour [03:59.94] [04:00.79]Nothing further then he uttered [04:02.32] [04:03.15]Not a feather then he fluttered- [04:04.75] [04:05.35]Till I scarcely more than muttered [04:06.79] [04:07.63]"Other friends have flown before- [04:09.47] [04:10.66]On the morrow he will leave me [04:12.48] [04:13.79]As my hopes have flown before " [04:15.68] [04:16.96]Then the bird said "Nevermore " [04:19.83] [04:21.40]Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken [04:24.59]"Doubtless " said I [04:25.96]"what it utters is its only stock and store [04:28.59] [04:29.83]Caught from some unhappy master [04:31.95] [04:33.81]Whom unmerciful Disaster [04:35.46]Followed fast and followed faster [04:37.77]Till his songs one burden bore- [04:39.50]Till the dirges of his Hope [04:41.27]That melancholy burden bore [04:42.82]Of 'Never- nevermore' " [04:45.11] [04:47.16]But the Raven still beguiling all my fancy into smiling [04:50.19] [04:50.81]Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird [04:53.55]And bust and door; [04:54.69] [04:56.02]Then upon the velvet sinking [04:57.23]I betook myself to linking [04:59.90] [05:00.46]Fancy unto fancy thinking [05:03.91]What this ominous bird of yore [05:05.54] [05:06.68]What this grim ungainly ghastly [05:10.24]Gaunt and ominous bird of yore [05:12.54]Meant in croaking "Nevermore " [05:15.36] [05:17.11]This I sat engaged in guessing [05:18.98]But no syllable expressing [05:19.98]To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned [05:22.96]Into my bosom's core; [05:23.92] [05:24.97]This and more I sat divining [05:26.63] [05:27.91]With my head at ease reclining [05:30.55]On the cushion's velvet lining [05:31.99] [05:32.84]That the lamp-light gloated o'er [05:34.19] [05:34.93]But whose velvet violet lining [05:36.57]With the lamp-light gloating o'er [05:37.89] [05:38.52]She shall press ah nevermore [05:41.67] [05:43.73]Then methought the air grew denser [05:46.64] [05:47.56]Perfumed from an unseen censer [05:49.77]Swung by Seraphim [05:50.84] [05:52.11]Whose footfalls tinkled on the tufted floor [05:54.75] [05:55.80]"Wretch " I cried "thy God hath lent thee [05:59.18] [05:59.69]By these angels he hath sent thee [06:01.95]Respite- respite and nepenthe [06:04.04]From thy memories of Lenore [06:05.51] [06:06.48]Quaff oh quaff this kind nepenthe [06:09.06] [06:10.28]And forget this lost Lenore " [06:12.04] [06:14.07]Quoth the Raven "Nevermore " [06:16.73] [06:18.36]"Prophet " said I "thing of evil [06:20.56]Prophet still if bird or devil [06:22.13] [06:22.65]Whether Tempter sent [06:23.71]Or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore [06:25.50]Desolate yet all undaunted [06:26.82]On this desert land enchanted [06:28.50]On this home by Horror haunted [06:30.17] [06:30.73]Tell me truly I implore [06:32.13]Is there- is there balm in Gilead [06:34.18]Tell me- tell me I implore " [06:35.30] [06:37.11]Quoth the Raven "Nevermore " [06:39.61] [06:40.92]"Prophet " said I "thing of evil [06:43.07]Prophet still if bird or devil [06:44.79]By that Heaven that bends above us [06:46.59]By that God we both adore [06:48.13]Tell this soul with sorrow laden if [06:51.01] [06:51.52]Within the distant Aidenn [06:52.74]It shall clasp a sainted maiden [06:54.28]Whom the angels name Lenore [06:55.67] [06:56.49]Clasp a rare and radiant maiden [06:58.76] [06:59.54]Whom the angels name Lenore " [07:01.12] [07:02.17]Quoth the Raven "Nevermore " [07:04.52] [07:05.93]"Be that word our sign in parting [07:07.92]Bird or fiend " I shrieked upstarting [07:09.90]"Get thee back into the tempest [07:11.39]And the Night's Plutonian shore [07:13.01]Leave no black plume as a token of [07:15.15]That lie thy soul hath spoken [07:16.74] [07:17.25]Leave my loneliness unbroken [07:18.87]Quit the bust above my door [07:20.49] [07:21.00]Take thy beak from out my heart [07:23.57]And take thy form from off my door " [07:25.95] [07:27.56]Quoth the Raven "Nevermore " [07:30.43] [07:33.75]And the Raven never flitting [07:35.28] [07:37.01]Still is sitting still is sitting [07:40.83]On the pallid bust of Pallas [07:42.54]Just above my chamber door [07:44.12] [07:45.34]And his eyes have all the seeming [07:47.40]Of a demon's that is dreaming [07:48.99] [07:49.76]And the lamp-light o'er him streaming [07:52.01]Throws his shadow on the floor; [07:53.96]And my soul from out that shadow [07:57.00]That lies floating on the floor [07:58.64] [08:00.00]Shall be lifted- nevermore