The Raven - Geoff Castellucci.mp3

[00:01.884] Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
[00:07.246] Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
[00:11.117] While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
[00:15.777] As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
[00:19.863] `'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door -
[00:23.910] Only this, and nothing more.'
[00:26.708]
[00:27.897] Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
[00:32.017] And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
[00:36.098] Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow
[00:40.563] From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Lenore -
[00:45.762] For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels named Lenore -
[00:49.036]
[00:49.447] And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
[00:54.166] Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
[00:58.907] So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
[01:03.091] `'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door -
[01:06.260] Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; -
[01:09.327] This it is, and nothing more,'
[01:12.478]
[01:14.804] Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
[01:18.088] `Sir,' said I, `or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
[01:23.357] But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
[01:26.848] And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
[01:32.327] That I scarce was sure I heard you' - here I opened wide the door; -
[01:35.829] Darkness there, and nothing more.
[01:38.835]
[01:40.998] Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
[01:45.523] Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;
[01:49.764] But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token,
[01:54.112] And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, `Lenore!'
[01:59.590] This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, `Lenore!'
[02:05.136] Merely this and nothing more.
[02:08.500]
[02:09.646] Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
[02:12.999] Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
[02:16.178] `Surely,' said I, `surely that is something at my window lattice;
[02:20.989] Let me see then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore -
[02:25.510] Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; -
[02:29.272] 'Tis the wind and nothing more!'
[02:32.661]
[02:33.425] Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
[02:38.660] In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore.
[02:42.474] Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
[02:47.410] But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door -
[02:51.822] Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door -
[02:56.298] Perched, and sat, and nothing more.
[02:59.225]
[03:00.899] Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
[03:04.562] By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
[03:08.967] `Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,' I said, `art sure no craven.
[03:13.853] Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the nightly shore -
[03:17.327] Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!'
[03:22.370] Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
[03:25.474]
[03:27.228] Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
[03:31.099] Though its answer little meaning - little relevancy bore;
[03:35.228] For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
[03:38.334] Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door -
[03:42.454] Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
[03:46.213] With such name as `Nevermore.'
[03:49.456]
[03:50.707] But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only,
[03:54.024] That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
[03:58.891] Nothing further then he uttered - not a feather then he fluttered -
[04:02.712] Till I scarcely more than muttered `Other friends have flown before -
[04:07.055] On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before.'
[04:11.047] Then the bird said, `Nevermore.'
[04:14.691]
[04:16.372] Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
[04:19.431] `Doubtless,' said I, `what it utters is its only stock and store,
[04:25.936] Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful disaster
[04:29.026] Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore -
[04:33.586] Till the dirges of his hope that melancholy burden bore
[04:37.355] Of "Never-nevermore."'
[04:39.816]
[04:41.405] But the raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling,
[04:45.232] Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and door;
[04:49.557] Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
[04:54.273] Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore -
[04:58.664] What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore
[05:03.004] Meant in croaking `Nevermore.'
[05:06.327]
[05:07.263] This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
[05:10.972] To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
[05:15.511] This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
[05:20.185] On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er,
[05:24.368] But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er,
[05:28.395] She shall press, ah, nevermore!
[05:32.165]
[05:33.159] Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
[05:38.163] Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.
[05:41.908] `Wretch,' I cried, `thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he has sent thee
[05:48.102] Respite - respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore!
[05:52.624] Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget this lost Lenore!'
[05:57.056] Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
[06:01.144]
[06:02.185] `Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! -
[06:06.673] Whether tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
[06:11.630] Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted -
[06:15.993] On this home by horror haunted - tell me truly, I implore -
[06:20.436] Is there - is there balm in Gilead? - tell me - tell me, I implore!'
[06:25.812] Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
[06:29.722]
[06:31.033] `Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil!
[06:35.364] By that Heaven that bends above us - by that God we both adore -
[06:39.675] Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
[06:43.879] It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels named Lenore -
[06:48.469] Clasp a rare and radiant maiden, whom the angels named Lenore?'
[06:52.812] Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
[06:56.132]
[06:57.845] `Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!' I shrieked upstarting -
[07:02.515] `Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
[07:06.064] Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
[07:11.142] Leave my loneliness unbroken! - quit the bust above my door!
[07:16.038] Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!'
[07:23.308] Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
[07:26.169]
[07:27.486] And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
[07:33.872] On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
[07:37.807] And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
[07:41.267] And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
[07:47.380] And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
[07:51.994] Shall be lifted - nevermore!