The Complete Poetry of Edgar Allan Poe (Illustrated Edition). Эдгар Аллан По

The luckless query from a member's claw!

       Instead of two sides, Job [Bob] has nearly eight,

       Each fit to furnish forth four hours debate.

       What shall be done? I'll lay it on the table,

       And take the matter up when I'm more able,

       And, in the meantime, to prevent all bother,

       I'll neither laugh with one, nor cry with t'other,

       Nor deal in flatt'ry or aspersions foul,

       But, taking one by each hand, merely growl.

       Ah, growl, say you, my friend, and pray at what?

       Why, really, sir, I almost had forgot —

       But, damn it, sir, I deem it a disgrace

       That things should stare us boldly in the face,

       And daily strut the street with bows and scrapes,

       Who would be men by imitating apes.

       I beg your pardon, reader, for the oath

       The monkeys make me swear, though something loth;

       I'm apt to be discursive in my style,

       But pray be patient; yet a little while

       Will change me, and as politicians do,

       I'll mend my manners and my measures too.

       Of all the cities — and I've seen no few;

       For I have travelled, friend, as well as you —

       I don't remember one, upon my soul,

       But take it generally upon the whole,

       (As members say they like their logick [logic] taken,

       Because divided, it may chance be shaken)

       So pat, agreeable and vastly proper

       As this for a neat, frisky counter-hopper;

       Here he may revel to his heart's content,

       Flounce like a fish in his own element,

       Toss back his fine curls from their forehead fair,

       And hop o'er counters with a Vester's air,

       Complete at night what he began A.M.,

       And having cheated ladies, dance with them;

       For, at a ball, what fair one can escape

       The pretty little hand that sold her tape,

       Or who so cold, so callous to refuse

       The youth who cut the ribbon for her shoes!

       One of these fish, par excellence the beau —

       God help me! — it has been my lot to know,

       At least by sight, for I'm a timid man,

       And always keep from laughing, if I can;

       But speak to him, he'll make you such grimace,

       Lord! to be grave exceeds the power of face.

       The hearts of all the ladies are with him,

       Their bright eyes on his Tom and Jerry brim

       And dove-tailed coat, obtained at cost; while then

       Those eyes won't turn on anything like men.

       His very voice is musical delight,

       His form, once seen, becomes a part of sight;

       In short, his shirt collar, his look, his tone is

       The "beau ideal" fancied for Adonis.

       Philosophers have often held dispute

       As to the seat of thought in man and brute;

       For that the power of thought attends the latter

       My friend, the beau, hath made a settled matter,

       And spite of all dogmas, current in all ages,

       One settled fact is better than ten sages.

       For he does think, though I am oft in doubt

       If I can tell exactly what about.

       Ah, yes! his little foot and ankle trim,

       'Tis there the seat of reason lies in him,

       A wise philosopher would shake his head,

       He then, of course, must shake his foot instead.

       At me, in vengeance, shall that foot be shaken —

       Another proof of thought, I'm not mistaken —

       Because to his cat's eyes I hold a glass,

       And let him see himself, a proper ass!

       I think he'll take this likeness to himself,

       But if he won't, he shall, a stupid elf,

       And, lest the guessing throw the fool in fits,

       I close the portrait with the name of PITTS.

      Poetry

       Table of Contents

      Last night, with many cares and toils oppress'd

       Weary, I laid me on a couch to rest —

      Serenade

       Table of Contents

      So sweet the hour, so calm the time,

       I feel it more than half a crime,

       When Nature sleeps and stars are mute,

       To mar the silence ev'n with lute.

       At rest on ocean's brilliant dyes

       An image of Elysium lies:

       Seven Pleiades entranced in Heaven,

       Form in the deep another seven:

       Endymion nodding from above

       Sees in the sea a second love.

       Within the valleys dim and brown,

       And on the spectral mountain's crown,

       The wearied light is dying down,

       And earth, and stars, and sea, and sky

       Are redolent of sleep, as I

       Am redolent of thee and thine

       Enthralling love, my Adeline.

       But list, O list,- so soft and low

       Thy lover's voice tonight shall flow,

       That, scarce awake, thy soul shall deem

       My words the music of a dream.

       Thus, while no single sound too rude

       Upon thy slumber shall intrude,

       Our thoughts, our souls- O God above!

       In every deed shall mingle, love.

      Spiritual Song

       Table of Contents

      Hark, echo! - Hark, echo!

       'Tis the sound

       Of archangels, in happiness wrapt.

      Stanzas

       Table of Contents

      How