Лигейя

           HowhadIdeservedtobesoblessedbysuchconfessions? —howhadIdeservedtobesocursedwiththeremovalofmybelovedinthehourofhermakingthem, ButuponthissubjectIcannotbeartodilate. Letmesayonly,thatinLigeia’smorethanwomanlyabandonmenttoalove,alas! allunmerited,allunworthilybestowed,Iatlengthrecognizedtheprincipleofherlongingwithsowildlyearnestadesireforthelifewhichwasnowfleeingsorapidlyaway. Itisthiswildlonging—itisthiseagervehemenceofdesireforlife—butforlife—thatIhavenopowertoportray—noutterancecapableofexpressing. 

           Athighnoonofthenightinwhichshedeparted,beckoningme,peremptorily,toherside,shebademerepeatcertainversescomposedbyherselfnotmanydaysbefore. Iobeyedher. —Theywerethese: 

           Lo!’tisagalanight 

           Withinthelonesomelatteryears! 

           Anangelthrong,bewinged,bedight 

           Inveils,anddrownedintears, 

           Sitinatheatre,tosee 

           Aplayofhopesandfears, 

           Whiletheorchestrabreathesfitfully 

           Themusicofthespheres.