Text: James A. Harrison, “Fourth Letter,” The Last Letters of Edgar Allan Poe to Sarah Helen Whitman (1909), pp. 32-33

[page 32:]

Nov. 14th, 1848.

My dearest Helen

So kind, so true, so generous (— so unmoved by all that would have moved one who had been less an angel — beloved of my heart, of my imagination, of my intellect, life of my life, soul of my soul) — dear dearest Helen, how shall I ever thank you as I ought — I am calm and tranquil and but for a strange shadow of coming evil which haunts me I should be happy. That I am not supremely happy, even when I feel your dear love at my heart terrifies me. What can this mean? Perhaps, however, it is only the necessary reaction after such terrible excitements.

It is five o’clock and the boat is just being made fast to the wharf. I shall start in the train that leaves New York at 7 for Fordham. I write this to show you that I have not dared to break my promise to you. And now, dearest Helen, be true to me. [page 33:]

[The original letter contained in a P. S. a grateful acknowledgment of Mr. Wm. J. Pabodie's kindness to him during his recent illness in Providence. Mr. Pabodie borrowed the letter after Mrs. Whitman had made a transcript of the enclosed portion of it and afterwards told her he had either lost or mislaid it. — C. F. D.]