Text: Edgar Allan Poe, “Tamerlane” (Comparative Text - TAOP and Wilmer-MS)


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Texts Represented:


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[[...]]

Line-01-067: Gurgled in my pleas’d ear the crash

Line-01-068: {{1828-02: [[indented]] }} Of empires, with the captive's prayer {{1827-01: , }}

Line-01-069: The hum of suitors {{1827-01: , the mix’d // 1828-02: & the }} tone

Line-01-070: Of flatt’ry {{1827-01: round //1828-02: ’round }} a sov’reign's throne.

Stanza: {{1827-01: [[blank line, but not numbered as a new stanza]] //1828-02: 6 }}

Line-01-071: {{1827-01: [[indented]] }} The storm had ceas’d {{1827-01: — and //1828-02: & }} I awoke —

Line-01-072: {{1828-02: [[indented]] }} Its spirit cradled me to sleep,

Line-01-073: And as it pass’d me by {{1827-01: , }} there broke

Line-01-074: {{1828-02: [[indented]] }} Strange light upon me, tho’ it were

Line-01-075: {{1828-02: [[indented]] }} My soul in mystery to {{1827-01: sleep [[steep]] //1828-02: steep }} :

Line-01-076: For I was not as I had been {{1827-01: ; //1828-02:}}

Line-01-077: {{1828-02: [[indented]] }} The child of Nature, without care,

Line-01-078: Or thought {{1827-01: , }} save of the passing scene. {{1827-01:}}

Stanza: {{1827-01: V. //1828-02: 7 }}

Line-01-079: {{1827-01: [[indented]] }} My passions, from that hapless hour,

Line-01-080: {{1828-02: [[indented]] }} Usurp’d a tyranny {{1827-01: , }} which men

Line-01-081: Have deem’d {{1827-01: , }} since I have reach’d to power

Line-01-082: {{1828-02: [[indented]] }} My innate nature — be it so:

Line-01-083: {{1828-02: [[indented]] }} But, father, there liv’d one who {{1827-01: , }} then {{1827-01://1828-02: , }}

Line-01-084: Then, in my boyhood, when their fire

Line-01-085: {{1828-02: [[indented]] }} Burn’d with a still intenser glow {{1827-01: ; }}

Line-01-086: (For passion must with youth expire)

Line-01-087: Ev’n then {{1827-01: , }} who deem’d this iron heart

Line-01-088: In woman's weakness had a part.

Stanza: {{1827-01: [[blank line, but not numbered as a new stanza]] //1828-02: 8 }}

Line-01-089: {{1827-01: [[indented]] }} I have no words, alas! to tell

Line-01-090: The lovliness of loving well!

Line-01-091: Nor would I dare attempt to trace

Line-01-092: The {{1827-01: breathing //1828-02: more than }} beauty of a face {{1827-01: , }}

Line-01-093: Which {{1828-02: , }} ev’n to {{1827-01: my //1828-02: this }} impassion’d mind,

Line-01-094: Leaves not its memory behind.

Line-01-095: In spring of life have ye ne’er dwelt

Line-01-096: {{1828-02: [[indented]] }} Some object of delight upon {{1827-01: , }}

Line-01-097: With steadfast eye, till ye have felt

Line-01-098: {{1828-02: [[indented]] }} The earth reel {{1827-01: — and //1828-02: , & }} the vision gone?

Line-01-099: {{1827-01: And I have //1828-02: So have I }} held to {{1827-01: mem’ry's //1828-02: Memory's }} eye

Line-01-100: {{1828-02: [[indented]] }} One object {{1827-01:// 1828-02: , }} and but one {{1827-01://1828-02: , }} until

[[...]]

Stanza: {{1827-01: VIII. //1828-02: 11 }}

Line-01-145: {{1827-01: [[indented]] }} Yes! she was worthy of all love!

Line-01-146: {{1827-01: Ev’n such //1828-02: I taught her }} as from {{1827-01: th’ accursed //1828-02: the }} time

Line-01-147: My spirit with the tempest strove {{1827-01: , }}

Line-01-148: When {{1828-02: , }} on the mountain peak alone,

Line-01-149: Ambition lent it a new tone,

Line-01-150: And bade it first to dream of crime,

{{1827-01:

Line-01-151: My phrenzy [[frenzy]] to her bosom taught:

Line-01-152: We still were young: no purer thought

Line-01-153: Dwell [[Dwelt]] in a seraph's breast than thine; (3)

Line-01-154: For passionate love is still divine:

//1828-02:

Line-02-150: There were no holier thoughts than thine.

}}

Line-01-155: {{1827-01: I //1828-02: I }} lov’d {{1827-01: her //1828-02: thee }} as an angel might {{1828-02: , }}

Line-01-156: With ray of the {{1827-01: all living //1828-02: all-living }} light

Line-01-157: Which blazes upon Edis’ shrine {{1827-01: . (4) //1828-02:}}

Line-01-158: It is not surely sin to name {{1827-01: , }}

Line-01-159: With such as mine {{1827-01:}} that mystic flame,

Line-01-160: I had no being but in thee {{1827-01: ! //1828-02:}}

Line-01-161: The world {{1828-02: , }} with all its train of bright

Line-01-162: And happy beauty {{1828-02:}} (for to me

Line-01-163: All was an undefin’d delight {{1828-02: . }} )

Line-01-164: The world — its joy — its share of pain

Line-01-165: {{1827-01: Which I felt not //1828-02: unheeded then }} — its bodied forms

Line-01-166: Of varied being {{1827-01: , }} which contain

Line-01-167: The bodiless spirits of the storms,

Line-01-168: The sunshine, {{1827-01: and //1828-02: & }} the calm — {{1827-01: the //1828-02: th’ }} ideal

Line-01-169: And fleeting vanities of dreams {{1827-01: , }}

Line-01-170: Fearfully beautiful {{1827-01: ! //1828-02:}} the real

Line-01-171: Nothings of mid-day waking life —

Line-01-172: Of an enchanted life, which seems,

Line-01-173: Now as I look back, the strife

Line-01-174: Of {{1827-01: some //1828-02: an }} ill demon {{1827-01: , }} with a power

Line-01-175: Which left me in an evil hour {{1827-01: , //1828-02:}}

Line-01-176: All that I felt, or saw, or thought,

Line-01-177: {{1828-02: [[indented]] }} Crowding {{1827-01: , }} confused became

Line-01-178: (With thine unearthly beauty fraught {{1828-02:}} )

Line-01-179: {{1828-02: [[indented]] }} Thou — {{1827-01: and // 1828-02: & }} the nothing of a name.

Stanza: {{1827-01: IX. //1828-02: 12 }}

Line-01-130: {{1827-01: [[indented]] }} The passionate spirit which hath known {{1827-01: , }}

Line-01-181: And deeply felt the silent tone

Line-01-182: Of its own {{1827-01: self supremacy, //1828-02: self-supremacy }}

{{1827-01:

Line-01-183: (I speak thus openly to thee,

Line-01-184: ’Twere folly now to veil a thought

Line-01-185: With which this aching, breast is fraught)

Line-01-186: The soul which feels its innate right —

Line-01-187: The mystic empire and high power

Line-01-188: Giv’n by the energetic might

Line-01-189: Of Genius, at its natal hour;

}}

Line-01-190: Which knows (believe {{1827-01: ! me at this time, // 1828-02: for now on me }}

Line-01-191: {{1827-01: When falsehood were a ten-fold crime //1828-02: Truth flashes thro’ Eternity }} ,

Line-01-192: There is a power in the high spirit

Line-01-193: To know the fate it will inherit)

Line-01-194: The soul {{1827-01: , }} which {{1827-01: knows //1828-02: feels }} such power {{1827-01: , }} will still

Line-01-195: Find {{1827-01: Pride //1828-02: Pride }} the ruler of its will.

Stanza: {{1827-01: [[blank line, but not numbered as a new stanza]] //1828-02: 13 }}

Line-01-196: {{1827-01: [[indented]] }} Yes! I was proud {{1827-01: — and //1828-02: & }} ye who know

Line-01-197: {{1828-02: [[indented]] }} The magic of that meaning word {{1827-01: , }}

Line-01-198: So oft perverted, will bestow

Line-01-199: {{1828-02: [[indented]] }} Your scorn {{1827-01: , }} perhaps {{1827-01: , }} when ye have heard

Line-01-200: That the proud spirit had been broken,

Line-01-201: {{1828-02: [[indented]] }} The proud heart burst in agony

Line-01-202: At one upbraiding word or token

Line-01-203: {{1828-02: [[indented]] }} Of her {{1828-02: , }} that heart's idolatry {{1827-01://1828-02: ! }}

Line-01-204: I was ambitious — have ye known

Line-01-205: {{1828-02: [[indented]] }} {{1827-01: Its //1828-02: The }} fiery passion? {{1827-01: — ye //1828-02: Ye }} have not —

Line-01-206: A cottager, I mark’d a throne

Line-01-207: Of half the world {{1827-01: , }} as all my own {{1827-01: , }}

Line-01-208: {{1828-02: [[indented]] }} And murmur’d at such lowly lot {{1827-01: ! //1828-02: ; }}

Line-01-209: But it had pass’d me as a dream

Line-01-210: {{1828-02: [[indented]] }} Which, of light step, flies with the dew {{1827-01: , }}

Line-01-211: {{1828-02: ( }} That kindling thought {{1828-02: ) }} — did not the beam

Line-01-212: {{1828-02: [[indented]] }} Of Beauty, which did guide it {{1827-01: through //1828-02: thro’ }}

Line-01-213: The {{1827-01: livelong //1828-02: live-long }} summer day, oppress

Line-01-214: My mind with double loveliness {{1827-01:// 1828-02: ! }}

  * * * * *  

Stanza: {{1827-01: X. //1828-02: 14 }}

Line-01-215: {{1827-01: [[indented]] }} We walk’d together on the crown

Line-01-216: Of a high mountain {{1827-01: , }} which look’d down

Line-01-217: Afar from its proud natural towers

Line-01-218: Of rock {{1827-01: and //1828-02: & }} forest, on the hills {{1827-01://1828-02: ; }}

Line-01-219: The dwindled hills, whence {{1828-02: , }} amid bowers

Line-01-220: {{1828-02: [[indented]] }} Her {{1827-01: own fair // 1828-02: magic }} hand had rear’d around {{1827-01: , }}

Line-01-221: {{1828-02: [[indented]] }} Gush’d shoutingly a thousand rills,

Line-01-222: {{1828-02: [[indented]] }} {{1827-01: Which as it were, in fairy //1828-02: Encircling with a glitt’ring }} bound

{{1827-01:

Line-01-223: Embrac’d two hamlets — those our own —

Line-01-224: Peacefully happy — yet alone —

//1828-02:

Line-02-222: Of diamond sunshine & sweet spray

Line-02-223: Two mossy huts of the Taglay.

}}

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Stanza: {{1827-01: [[blank line, but not numbered as a new stanza]] //1828-02: 15 }}

Line-01-225: {{1827-01: [[indented]] }} I spoke to her of power and pride {{1827-01://1828-02: , }}

Line-01-226: {{1828-02: [[indented]] }} But mystically, in such guise,

Line-01-227: That she might deem it {{1827-01: naught //1828-02: nought }} beside

Line-01-228: {{1828-02: [[indented]] }} The moment's converse {{1827-01: , //1828-02: ; }} in her eyes

Line-01-229: I read {{1827-01: ( //1828-02: , }} perhaps too carelessly {{1827-01: ) //1828-02: , }}

Line-01-230: {{1828-02: [[indented]] }} A mingled feeling with my own {{1827-01: , //1828-02: ; }}

Line-01-231: The flush on her bright cheek {{1827-01: , }} to me {{1827-01: , }}

Line-01-232: {{1828-02: [[indented]] }} Seem’d to become a queenly throne

Line-01-233: Too well {{1827-01: , }} that I should let it be

Line-01-234: {{1828-02: [[indented]] }} A light in the dark wild {{1827-01: , }} alone.

Stanza: {{1827-01: XI. //1828-02: 16 }}

Line-01-235: {{1827-01: [[indented]] }} There {{1827-01:// 1828-02: , }} in that hour {{1827-01://1828-02: , }} a thought came o’er

Line-01-236: My mind {{1827-01: , }} it had not known before —

Line-01-237: To leave her while we both were young {{1827-01: , — // 1828-02: : }}

Line-01-238: To follow my high fate among

Line-01-239: The strife of nations, {{1827-01: and //1828-02: & }} redeem

Line-01-240: The idle words {{1827-01: , }} which, as a dream {{1828-02: , }}

Line-01-241: Now sounded to her heedless ear —

Line-01-242: I held no doubt {{1827-01://1828-02: , }} I knew no fear

Line-01-243: Of peril in my wild career {{1827-01: ; //1828-02:}}

Line-01-244: To gain an empire {{1827-01: , and //1828-02: & }} throw down

Line-01-245: As nuptial dowry {{1828-02:}} a queen's crown {{1827-01: , }}

{{1827-01:

Line-01-246: The only feeling which possest,

Line-01-247: With her own image, my fond breast —

//1828-02:

Line-02-245: The undying hope which now oppress’d

Line-02-246: A spirit ne’er to be at rest.

}}

Stanza: {{1828-02: [[new stanza]] 17 }}

Line-01-248: Who {{1827-01: , }} that had known the {{1827-01: secret //1828-02: silent }} thought

Line-01-249: {{1828-02: [[indented]] }} Of a young peasant's bosom then {{1827-01: , }}

Line-01-250: Had deem’d him, in compassion, aught

Line-01-251: {{1828-02: [[indented]] }} But one {{1827-01: , }} whom {{1827-01: phantasy //1828-02: Phantasy }} had led

Line-01-252: {{1828-02: [[indented]] }} {{1827-01: Astray from reason — Among //1828-02: Her mantel over? among }} men

Line-01-253: {{1828-02: [[indented]] }} {{1827-01: Ambition //1828-02: Lion ambition }} is chain’d down {{1827-01: — nor fed //1828-02: , }}

Line-02-253: {{1828-02: And crouches to a keeper's hand — }}

Line-01-254: {{1827-01: (As in the desert, //1828-02: Not so in deserts }} where the grand {{1827-01: , }}

Line-01-255: The wild, the {{1827-01: beautiful, //1828-02: terrible }} conspire

Line-01-256: With their own breath to fan its fire {{1827-01: ) // 1828-02: . }}

{{1827-01:

Line-01-257: With thoughts such feeling can command;

Line-01-258: Uncheck’d by sarcasm, and scorn

Line-01-259: Of those, who hardly will conceive

Line-01-260: That any should become “great,” born (5)

Line-01-261: In their own sphere — will not believe

Line-01-262: That they shall stoop in life to one

Line-01-263: Whom daily they are wont to see

Line-01-264: Familiarly — whom Fortune's sun

Line-01-265: Hath ne’er shone dazzlingly upon

Line-01-266: Lowly — and of their own degree —

XII.

Line-01-267: [[indented]] I pictur’d to my fancy's eye

Line-01-268: Her silent, deep astonishment,

Line-01-269: When, a few fleeting years gone by,

Line-01-270: (For short the time my high hope lent

Line-01-271: To its most desperate intent,)

Line-01-272: She might recall in him, whom Fame

Line-01-273: Had gilded with a conquerer's name,

Line-01-274: (With glory — such as might inspire

Line-01-275: Perforce, a passing thought of one,

Line-01-276: Whom she had deem’d in his own fire

Line-01-277: Wither’d and blasted; who had gone

Line-01-278: A traitor, violate of the truth

Line-01-279: So plighted in his early youth,)

Line-01-280: Her own Alexis, who should plight (6)

Line-01-281: The love he plighted then — again,

Line-01-282: And raise his infancy's delight,

Line-01-283: The bride and queen of Tamerlane —

XIII.

Line-01-284: [[indented]] One noon of a bright summer's day

Line-01-285: I pass’d from out the matted bow’r

Line-01-286: Where in a deep, still slumber lay

Line-01-287: My Ada. In that peaceful hour,

Line-01-288: A silent gaze was my farewell.

Line-01-289: I had no other solace — then

Line-01-290: T’awake her, and a falsehood tell

Line-01-291: Of a feign’d journey, were again

Line-01-292: To trust the weakness of my heart

Line-01-293: To her soft thrilling voice:  To part

Line-01-294: Thus, haply, while in sleep she dream’d

Line-01-295: Of long delight, nor yet had deem’d

Line-01-296: Awake, that I had held a thought

Line-01-297: Of parting, were with madness fraught;

Line-01-298: I knew not woman's heart, alas!

Line-01-299: Tho’ lov’d, and loving — let it pass. —

XIV.

Line-01-300: [[indented]] I went from out the matted bow’r,

Line-01-301: And hurried madly on my way:

Line-01-302: And felt, with ev’ry flying hour,

Line-01-303: That bore me from my home, more gay;

Line-01-304: There is of earth an agony

Line-01-305: Which, ideal, still may be

Line-01-306: The worst ill of mortality,

Line-01-307: ’Tis bliss, in its own reality,

Line-01-308: Too real, to his breast who lives

Line-01-309: Not within himself but gives

Line-01-310: A portion of his willing soul

Line-01-311: To God, and to the great whole —

Line-01-313: To him, whose loving spirit will dwell

Line-01-313: With Nature, in her wild paths; tell

Line-01-314: Of her wond’rous ways, and telling bless

Line-01-315: Her overpow’ring loveliness!

Line-01-316: A more than agony to him

Line-01-317: Whose failing sight will grow dim

Line-01-318: With its own living gaze upon

Line-01-319: That loveliness around: the sun —

Line-01-320: The blue sky — the misty light

Line-01-321: Of the pale cloud therein, whose hue

Line-01-322: Is grace to its heav’nly bed of blue;

Line-01-323: Dim! tho’ looking on all bright!

Line-01-324: O God! when the thoughts that may not pass

Line-01-325: Will burst upon him, and alas!

Line-01-326: For the flight on Earth to Fancy giv’n,

Line-01-327: There are no words —— unless of Heav’n.

Stanza: {{1827-01: XV. //1828-02: 18 }}

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}}

Line-01-328: {{1827-01: [[indented]] }} Look ’round thee now on Samarcand {{1827-01: , (7) //1828-02: ! }}

Line-01-329: Is she not queen of earth? her pride

Line-01-330: Above all cities? in her hand

Line-01-331: Their destinies? {{1827-01: with //1828-02: in }} all beside

Line-01-332: Of glory {{1827-01: , }} which the world hath known {{1827-01: ? }}

Line-01-333: Stands she not {{1827-01: proudly and //1828-02: nobly & }} alone?

Line-01-334: And who her sov’reign? Timur {{1828-02:}} he {{1827-01: (8) }}

Line-01-335: Whom {{1827-01: th’ //1828-02: the }} astonish’d {{1827-01: earth hath seen, //1828-02: people saw }}

{{1827-01

Line-01-336: Striding o’er empires haughtily

Line-01-337: A diadem’d outlaw!

//1828-02:

Line-02-335: With victory, on victory,

Line-02-336: Redoubling age! and more, I ween,

}}

Line-01-338: {{1827-01: The Zinghis’ yet re-echoing //1828-02: More than the Zinghis in his }} fame {{1827-01: . (9) // 1828-02:}}

Line-01-339: And now what has he? {{1827-01: what! //1828-02: even }} a name.

Stanza: {{1828-02: [[new stanza] 19 }}

Line-01-340: The sound of revelry {{1827-01: by //1828-02: to }} night

Line-01-341: Comes o’er me, with the mingled voice

Line-01-342: {{1827-01: Of //1828-02: From }} many with a breast as light {{1827-01: , }}

Line-01-343: As if ’twere not the dying hour

Line-01-344: Of one {{1827-01: , }} in whom they did rejoice —

Line-01-345: As in a leader, haply {{1827-01://1828-02: ; }} Power

Line-01-346: Its venom secretly imparts {{1827-01: ; //1828-02:}}

Line-01-347: {{1827-01: Nothing have I //1828-01: And I have naught }} with human hearts.


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Notes:

For an explanation of the formatting used in this Comparative Text, see editorial policies and methods. This format is very much an experiment, particularly for poetry.

Because these changes reflect two different printed texts, pagination has been omitted in the present text. Since the manuscript is fragmentary, only the portion covered by both texts is presented. Line numbers are given based on the full text printed in 1827.


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[S:0 - comparative] - Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore - Works - Poems - Tamerlane (Comparative Text - TAOP and Wilmer-MS)