Text: Edgar Allan Poe (ed. Killis Campbell), “A Valentine,” The Poems of Edgar Allan Poe, Ginn and Company, 1917, pp. 115-116


∞∞∞∞∞∞∞


[page 115:]

A VALENTINE   [[v]]

[[v]]

[[n]]

FOR her this rhyme is penned, whose luminous eyes,

[[v]]

[[n]]

Brightly expressive as the twins of Lœda,

Shall find her own sweet name, that, nestling lies

[[v]]

Upon the page, enwrapped from every reader.

5

[[v]]

Search narrowly the lines! — they hold a treasure

Divine — a talisman — an amulet

That must be worn at heart. Search well the measure —

[[v]]

[[n]]

The words — the syllables! Do not forget

[[v]]

[[n]]

The trivialest point, or you may lose your labor!

10

And yet there is in this no Gordian knot

Which one might not undo without a sabre,

[[v]]

[[n]]

If one could merely comprehend the plot.

[[v]]

Enwritten upon the leaf where now are peering

[[v]]

[[n]]

Eyes scintillating soul, there lie perdus

15

[[v]]

Three eloquent words oft uttered in the hearing

[[v]]

Of poets, by poets — as the name is a poet's, too. [page 116:]

[[v]]

[[n]]

Its letters, although naturally lying

[[v]]

[[n]]

Like the knight Pinto — Mendez Ferdinando —

19

Still form a synonym for Truth. — Cease trying!

[[n]]

You will not read the riddle, though you do the best you can do.

(1846)

 


[[Variants]]

[The following variants appear at the bottom of page 115:]

Title To Her Whose Name is Written Below (E. M.), A Valentine. To — — — (U. M.).

1 these lines are: this rhyme is (U.M., 1850).

2 Brightly: Bright and (E.M.); twins: stars (E. M.).

4 this: the (U.M., 1850).

5 this rhyme, which holds: these words which hold (E.M.), the lines! — they hold (U.M., 1850).

8 letters themselves: syllables (U. M., 1850).

9 trivialest: smallest (E.M.).

12 understand: comprehend (E. M., U. M., 1850).

13 Upon the open page on which are peering (E.M.); Enwritten upon the leaf where now are peering (U.M., 1850).

14 Such sweet eyes now, there lies, I say, perdu (E. M.); Eyes scintillating soul, there lie perdus (U.M., 1850).

15 A well-known name: A musical name (E.M.), Three eloquent words (U. M., 1850).

16 as: for (E.M.).

[The following variants appear at the bottom of page 116:]

17 In common sequence set, the letters lying (E.M.).

18-20 Instead of these lines, E.M. has the following:

Compose a sound delighting all to hear —

Ah, this you’d have no trouble in desaying

Were you not something of a dunce, my dear: —

And now I leave these riddles to their seer.

 


∞∞∞∞∞∞∞


Notes:

None.

 

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

[S:0 - KCP, 1917] - Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore - Works - A Valentine (ed. K. Campbell, 1917)