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Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer, "Sir," said I, " or madam, truely your forgiveness I implore; but the fact is, I was napping, and so gently you came rapping, and 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 the darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before; but the silence was unbroken, and the stillness 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 again I heard a tapping, something 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, and 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 a minute stopped or stayed he; but with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door; perched upon a bust of Pallas, just above my chamber door, Perched, and sat, and nothing more. |