Text: Edgar Allan Poe, “Eldorado” (Reprint), The Works of the Late Edgar Allan PoeVol II: Poems & Miscellanies (1850), 2:45


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[page 45:]

ELDORADO.

~~~~~~~~~~

GAILY bedight,

A gallant knight,

In sunshine and in shadow,

Had journeyed long,

Singing a song,

In search of Eldorado.

But he grew old —

This knight so bold —

And o'er his heart a shadow

Fell [[,]] as he found

No spot of ground

That looked like Eldorado.

And, as his strength

Failed him at length,

He met a pilgrim shadow —

“Shadow,” said he,

“Where can it be —

This land of Eldorado?”

“Over the Mountains

Of the Moon,

Down the Valley of the Shadow,

Ride, boldly ride,”

The shade replied, —

“If you seek for Eldorado!”


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Notes:

Poe also mentions Eldorado in “Introduction [Romance]” and “Dream-Land.” In rhyming “Eldorado” and “shadow,” one must remember that Poe likely had a slight Southern drawl, even after years of living in more Northern climes.

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[S:1 - WORKS, 1850] - Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore - Works - Poems - Eldorado (Reprint)