Text: Robert A. Stewart (ed. J. A. Harrison), “Notes to Ligeia,” The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe — Vol. II: Tales - part 01 (1902), 2:385-391

[page 385:]

The text follows the Broadway Journal. Poe's copy with his MS. corrections was used. Griswold shows one or two verbal variations from the text and some variations in spelling and in punctuation.

1840 was somewhat revised from the American Museum state. Several omissions were made, the phraseology and punctuation altered in a number of instances, and several changes made in spelling (mostly correction of typographical errors).

The next state (Broadway Journal) shows a much more extensive revision. Language and punctuation were carefully emended throughout the tale.

Variations of American Museum from the text.

Motto. l. 2 vigor (vigour) page 248 l. 2 where, (o. c.) l. 4 . Or (: or) l. 8 low (low,) l. 10 so (, so) l. 11 believe (know) l. 12 first and (o.) l. 14 . That it is (— that they are) l. 15 Ligeia! (o.) page 249 l. 1 more (, more) l. 1 else (else,) l. 3 — that (,) l. 8 finally (eventually) l. 11 , that (o. c.) l. 16 And, (o. c.) l. 17 wan (wan,) l. 22 fails (faileth) l. 22 person (n. i.) l. 23 days, (o. c.) l. 25 portray (pourtray) l. 25 , of (o. c.) l. 25 demeanor (demeanour) l. 27 as (like) l. 30 marble (delicate) l. 32 opium- (o. h.) page 250 l. 3 heathen (cap.) l. 4 Bacon ... Verulam (Verulam, Lord Bacon) l. 6 proportion (proportions) l. 8 regularity — (,) l. 11 and (, and) l. 15 — the (. The) l. 15 rivalling (rivaling) l. 16 extent (breadth) l. 17 temples; (,) l. 20 hyacinthine! (;) l. 23 were (was) l. 25 nostrils (nostril) l. 29 slumber (repose) l. 30 color (colour) l. 32 serene (serene,) page 251 l. 3 Greek — (,) l. 4 , to (o. c.) l. 11 fuller (far fuller) l. 11 bum (o.) hue (colour) l. 12 gazelle (cap.) l. 13 Nourjahad (Nourjabad) l. 19 Verulam (Verulam) l. 20 and, (o. c.) l. 20 them, (o. c.) l. 22 tint (hue) l. 23 I ... eyes, (I have found in the eyes of [page 386:] my Ligeia) l. 24 color (colour) l. 29 How (How,) l. 31 midsummer (mid-summer) page 252 after l. 3 insert: — Not for a moment was the unfathomable meaning of their glance, by day or by night, absent from my soul. l. 6 believe, (o. c.) l. 7 that, (o. c.) l. 7 endeavors (endeavours) l. 8 , we (o. c.) l. 10 how (, how) l. 12 of (of the secret of) l. 14 , depart! (.) l. 19 , from (o. c.) l. 20 such (, such) l. 21 me (me,) l. 24-25 the ... in (in the commonest objects of the universe. It has flashed upon me in the survey of a rapidly growing vine — in) l. 26 ocean; (,) page 253 l. 2 which ((,) l. 3 say?) (?) l. 4 sentiment; — (. —) l. 9 save (but) l. 12-13 connection (connexion) l. 13 the (the old) l. 15 , was (o. c.) l. 18 all the (the) l. 20 the (o.) l. 20 ever- (o. h.) l. 24 — by (,) l. 26 voice — (,) l. 26 energy (energy,) l. 28 habitually (o.) page 254 l. 2 of (, of) l. 3 singularly — (,) l. 5 only (, only) l. 6 — but where (. Where) l. 6 have (had) l. 7 who (who, like her,) l. 8 physical (natural) l. 11 ; yet (—) l. 18 me (me,) l. 19 sought (sought for) l. 19 known — (o. d.) l. 20 slow (slow but very perceptible) l. 21 , I (o. c.) l. 26 fly (flee) l. 29-30 wanting ... eyes (o.) l. 31 , letters (. Letters) l. 32 lead, (lead wanting the radiant lustre of her eyes) l. 34 pored (poured) page 255 l. 3 sank (sunk) l. 7 wife (Ligeia) l. 12 she (Ligeia) l. 13 Shadow (dark shadow) l. 15 but, (o. c.) l. 1 6 life, — (—) l. 16 — solace (,) l. 17-18 until the last instance (not for an instant) l. 22 quietly (quietly) l. 23 entranced (, entranced) l. 26 she (Ligeia) l. 26 she (me,) l. 28 her's (hers) l. 30 strength (intensity) l. 30-31 overflowing (overflowings) l. 34 confessions? (.) l. 34 how (cap.) page 256 l. 4 alas! (,) l. 5 , I (;) l. 5-6 recognized (recognised) l. 6 with (,with) l. 7 , for (o. c.) l. 8-9 vehemence (intensity) l. 10 portray (pourtray) l. 10 of expressing (to express) l. 14 — They (p. d.) l. 14 these: (: —) omit from page 256 l. 11 to page 258 l. 6; after l. 11 page 256 insert: — Methinks I again behold the terrific struggles of her lofty, her nearly idealized nature, with. [page 387:] the might and the terror, and the majesty of the great Shadow. But she perished. The giant will succumbed to a power more stem. And I thought, as I gazed upon the corpse, of the wild passage in Joseph Glanvil. “The will therein lieth, which dieth not. Who knoweth the mysteries of the will, with its vigor? For God is but a great will pervading all things by nature of its intentness. Man doth not yield him to the angels, nor unto death utterly ^ save only through the weakness of his feeble will.” page 258 l. 9 calls (terms) l. 9 wealth, (—) l. 10 more (more,) l. 11 ordinarily falls (falls ordinarily) l. 18 , had (o. c.) l. 21 Yet (Yet,) l. 23 ray, (o. c.) l. 25 — For (o. d.) l. 26 , I (o. c.) l. 26 , even (o. c.) l. 26 and (, and) l. 28 feel (now feel) l. 31 , in (of Arabesque, in) l. 31 Bedlam (s. l.) l. 34 coloring (colouring) page 259 l. 3 in (, in) l. 5 Lady (s. l.) l. 7 no (not any) l. 13 said, (o. c.) l. 25 window, (o. c.) l. 26 the (the open) l. 26 vine, (o. c.) l. 30 Druidical (s, l.) l. 32 gold (gold,) l. 33 Saracenic (Arabesque) page 260 l. 2 colored (coloured) l. 2 of (as of) l. 3 not new par. l. 3 candelabra (candelabras) l. 3 , of (of) l. 4 about — (;) l. 4 , were (o. c.) l. 5 too — (,) l. 5 couch — (?) L. 8 stood (, stood) l. 12 walls, (—) l. 13 so — (,) l. 14 , folds, (o. c.) l. 14 massive — (massy) l. 17 and (, and) l. 17 canopy (pall-like canopy) l. 19 The (This) l. 21 arabesque (cap.) l. 24 arabesque (cap.) l. 24 about (of about) l. 28 room, (o. c.) l. 28 simple (ideal) l. 29 but (but,) l. 30 gradually (suddenly) l. 33 Norman (Northman) page 261 l. 3 hideous (hidious) l. 4 animation (vitality) l. 6 — I (,) l. 10 little — (,) l. 11 ; but (—) l. 13 oh, (o. c.) l. 15 , the august (o.) l. 20 dreams (dreams,) l. 20-21 (. . .) (o.) l. 21 the (the iron) l. 24 through (by) l. 25 ardor (intensity) l. 25 departed (departed Ligeia) l. 26 her (departed Ligeia) l. 26 pathway (pathways) l. 26 — ah ... ever? (o.) l. 30 illness, (o. c.) l. 31 her (her,) l. 31 and (and,) l. 32 uneasy; (,) page 262 l. 1 or (or,) l. 1 in (, in) l. 5 suffering; (—) l. 5 ; and (—) l. 8 epoch (period) l. 10 physicians (medical men) l. 14 irritation [page 388:] (irritability) l. 15 She (Indeed reason seemed fast tottering from her throne. She) l. 17 — of (?) l. 17 sounds — (,) l. 20 not new par. l. 20 One night, (It was one night) l. 20 she (when she) l. 23 an unquiet (a perturbed) l. 24 vague (a vague) l. 29 bear — (,) l. 33 inarticulate (faint, almost inarticulate,) l. 33 those (the) page 263 l. 2 pallor, (o. c.) l. 3 reassure (re-assure) l. 6 of (of some) l. 11 although invisible (o.) l. 12-14 lay ... shadow (lay a faint, indefinite shadow upon the golden carpet in the very middle of the rich lustre thrown from the censer) l. 18-19 Having found (Finding) l. 19 recrossed (re-crossed) l. 20 goblet-ful (o. h.) l. 21 She (But she) l. 21-22 , however, (o.) l. 22 she ... self (, herself, the vessel) l. 23 fastened (rivetted) l. 26 and (and,) page 264 l. 3 own ... drops, (self, after this period,) l. 3 Yet (Yet —) l. 6 wife; (,) l. 9 fantastic (fantastical) l. 10 bride, — (.) l. 10 opium- (o. h.) l. 14 parti- (p. h.) l. 18 longer; (,) l. 18 and (and,) l. 23 we (woe) l. 26-27 gazing ... the (with mine eyes rivitted upon the) l. 32 . I (;) l. 32 an (the) l. 34 corpse — (,) page 265 l. 2 had (n. i.) l. 3 soul (whole soul) l. 4 I (, as I) l. 4 riveted (rivetted) l. 8 feeble (faint) l. 8 color (colour) l. 12 felt (felt my brain reel,) l. 16 preparations (preparations for interment) l. 19 abbey (cap.) l. 20 call — (,) l. 24 was (became) l. 25 certain, (evident) l. 26 color (color utterly) l. 29 repulsive clamminess and (o.) l. 29-30 coldness (coldness surpassing that of ice,) l. 30 body; (,) l. 32 couch (ottoman) page 266 l. 1 when (when,) l. 6 afterward (after) l. 6 they (they slightly) l. 9 there (therein) l. 10 reason (brain) l. 11 ; and (,) l. 11 violent (convulsive) l. 13 once more (, once more,) l. 14 and upon (, upon) l. 14 throat, (—) l. 15 frame; (—) l. 17 lived (n. i.) l. 17 ardor (ardour) l. 18 chafed (chafed,) l. 19 and (, and) l. 21 color (colour) l. 23 afterward (afterwards) l. 25 all (each and all) l. 28 again, (o. c.) l. 34 gray (grey) page 267 l. 1 repeated; (,) l. 2 how (and how) l. 4 foe; (.) l. 8-9 and ... corpse, (o.) l. 8-9 The ... dead, once (the corpse of [page 389:] Rowena once) l. 25 at least (, at least,) l. 28 the thing ... enshrouded (Lady of Tremaine) l. 29 the ... apartment (the lady of Tremaine stood bodily and palpably before me) l. 31 the stature, (o.) l. 32 demeanor (demeanour) l. 33 had ... stone (sent the purple blood ebbing in torrents from the temples to the heart) l. 33 — had (,) l. 34 the apparition (her who was before me) page 268 l. 3-5 Could ... Tremaine? (o.) l. 6 it? (.) l. 7 might ... be (was) l. 10 Lady (s. l.) l. 11-12 might ... hers? (was it not hers?) l. 12 but (but — but) l. 19 / it (It) l. 20 And ... eyes of (And. now the eyes opened of) l. 20 the eyes (n. l. ) 1. 21 then, (o. c.) l. 24 — of ... love — (o.) l. 24 Lady (s. l.) l. 25 LADY LIGEIA not in small caps. in American Museum l. 25 Ligeia. (!).

Variations of 1840 from American Museum.

Page 248 l. 4 Or (: or) page 249 l. 1 more (, more) l. 1 else (else,) l. 3 — that (,) l. 16 And, (o. c.) l. 22 , in (o. c.) l. 25 portray (pourtray) l. 25 , of (o. c.) page 250 l. 4 Verülam (o. a.) l. 15 — the (. The) l. 15 rivalling (rivaling) l. 16 extent (breadth) l. 23 eyes (eyes,) l. 25 nostrils (nostril) l. 29 slumber (repose) l. 30 color (colour) page 251 l. 11 believe, (o. c.) l. 13 Nourjahad (Nourjabad) l. 19 color (colour) l. 24 color (colour) l. 31 midsummer (mid-summer) page 252 l. 7 endeavors (endeavours) l. 19 , from (o. c.) l. 20 such (, such) page 253 l. 3 say, (?) l. 15 , was (o. c.) l. 19 known, (o. c.) l. 20 ever- (o. h.) l. 26 energy (energy,) page 254 l. 18 me (me,) l. 19 — known (o. d.) l. 21 , I (o. c.) 1.34 pored (poured) page 255 l. 7 wife (Ligeia) l. 26 she (Ligeia) l. 34 confessions? (.) l. 34 how (cap.) page 256 l. 4 alas! (,) l. 5 , I (;) l. 6 with (, with) l. 8-9 vehemence (intensity) l. 10 portray (pourtray) l. 10 of expressing (to express) page 258 l. 21 Yet (Yet,) l. 23 way, (o. c.) l. 28 feel (now feel) l. 31 , in (of Arabesque, in) l. 34 coloring (colouring) [page 390:] page 259 l. 5 Lady (s. l.) page 260 l. 3 candelabra (candelabras) l. 14 folds, (o. c.) l. 14 massive — (massy) l. 17 and (, and) l. 24 arabesque (cap.) page 261 l. 3 hideous (hidious) l. 4 animation (vitality) l. 6 — I (,) l. 10 little — (,) l. 20-21 (. . .) (o.) l. 24 through (by) l. 25 ardor (intensity) l. 26 her (Ligeia) l. 34 I concluded (o.) page 262 l. 8 epoch (period) page 387 l. 3-4 night (night,) page 262 l. 14 irritation (irritability) l. 20 not new par. l. 20 One night (It was one night) l. 20 she (when she) l. 23 an unquiet (a perturbed) page 263 l. 2 pallor, (o. c.) l. 3 reassure (re-assure) l. 19 recrossed (re-crossed) l. 21-22 , however, (o.) page 264 l. 6 wife; (,) l. 9 fantastic (fantastical) l. 23 wo (woe) page 265 l. 2 had (n. i.) l. 19 abbey (cap.) l. 24 was (became) l. 25 certain; (evident) l. 29 repulsive claminess and (o.) l. 29-30 coldness (coldness surpassing that of ice) l. 32 couch (ottoman) page 266 l. 6 afterwards (after) l. 14 and upon (, upon) l. 17 ardor (ardour) l. 18 chafed (chafed,) l. 19 and (, and) l. 21 color (colour) l. 28 again, (o. c.) l. 34 gray (grey) page 267 l. 2-4 how ... foe, (o. 1840) l. 32 demeanor (demeanour) l. 33 — (,) l. 33 had ... stone (had sent the purple blood ebbing in torrents from the temples to the heart) l. 34 the apparition (her who was before me) page 268 l. 10 Lady (s. l.) l. 12 but (but — but) l. 21 then, (o. c).

Variations of Griswold from text.

Page 248 l. 7 cast (caste) l. 10 that (, that) page 249 l. 29 save (, save) page 251 l. 2 fullness (fulness) page 252 l. 20 aroused (around) l. 21 me (me,) l. 23 recognized (recognised) l. 31 Lyra (Lyra,) page 253 l. 3 quaintness; — (:) l. 7 that, (o. c.) l. 11 years, (o. c.) l. 25 and (, and) l. 28 utterance (utterance,) page 255 l. 7, grave, (;) l. 10 terrors; — (;) l. 16 life, (o. c.) l. 23 entranced (, entranced) l. 28 [hers’] (her's) page 256 l. 5-6 recognised (recognised) l. 6 with (, with) l. 7 for (, for) l. 14 her (.) l. 1 these: (: —) l. 23 fly — (;) l. 29 Condor (s. l.) page 257 l. 2 spot, (;) l. 3 and (, and) l. 4 [page 391:] Horror (s. l.) l. 4 plot. (!) l. 4 the (, the) l. 5 rout, (o. c.) l. 16 storm, (—) l. 20 hero (hero,) l. 20-25 Conqueror (s. l.) page 258 l. 2 ear (ear,) l. 3 Glanvill — (: — ) l. 6 died; — (:) l. 10 more (mort,) l. 18 both, (o. c.) l. 25 within, — (.) l. 26 taste (taste,) page 259 l. 13 said (said,) l. 15 moment — (;) l. 23 moon, (o. c.) page 260 l. 4 about; (—) l. 30 and (and,) page 261 l. 10 me (me,) l. 20 dreams (dreams,) l. 21 drug (drug,) l. 27 forever (for ever) l. 31 her (her,) page 262 l. 3 well (, well) l. 11 which (, which) page 264 l. 31 — I (I) page 266 l. 1 when (, when) l. 34 revification (revivication) page 267 l. 9 once (one) page 268 l. 20 of the (the) l. 24 lady (cap.).