Poe's Works

Politian, A Tragedy. Scene: Rome in the 16th century. Characters: Lalage - an orphan ward of Di Broglio.Alessandra - niece of Di Broglio, and betrothed to Castiglione.Jacinta - servant maid to Lalage.Duke Di Broglio.Castiglione - his son and heir.San Ozzo - companion of Castiglione.Politian.Baldazzar - his friend.A monk.Ugo, Benito, and Rupert - Servants in the family of Di Broglio. I. An apartment in the Palazzo of Di Broglio. Traces of a protracted revel. On a wine-table some candles burnt to the socket. Masks, a lute, a lady's ...

Preface 1Romance who loves to nod and singWith drowsy head and folded wingAmong the green leaves as they shakeFar down within some shadowy lakeTo me a painted paroquetHath been — a most familiar bird —Taught me my alphabet to say —To lisp my very earliest wordWhile in the wild wood I did lieA child — with a most knowing eye. 2Of late, eternal Condor yearsSo shake the very air on highWith tumult, as they thunder by,I hardly have had time for caresThro’ gazing on th’ unquiet sky!And, when an hour with calmer wingsIts down upon my spirit flings —That little time with lyre and rhymeTo ...

A Pæan I.How shall the burial rite be read?The solemn song be sung?The requiem for the loveliest dead,That ever died so young?  II.Her friends are gazing on her,And on her gaudy bier,And weep! — oh! to dishonorDead beauty with a tear!  III.They loved her for her wealth —And they hated her for her pride —But she grew in feeble health,And they love her — that she died.  IV.They tell me (while they speakOf her “costly broider’d pall”)That my voice is growing weak —That I should not sing at all —  V.Or that my tone should beTun’d to such solemn songSo mournfully — so mournfully,That ...

O, Tempora! O, Mores! O, Times! O, Manners! It is my opinionThat you are changing sadly your dominion —I mean the reign of manners hath long ceased,For men have none at all, or bad at least;And as for times, altho’ 'tis said by manyThe “good old times” were far the worst of any,Of which sound doctrine l believe each tittle,Yet still I think these worse than them a little. I’ve been a thinking — isn’t that the phrase? —I like your Yankee words and Yankee ways —I’ve been a thinking, whether it were bestTo take things seriously, or all in jest;Whether, with grim Heraclitus of yore,To weep, ...