Text: Edgar Allan Poe, “Annabel Lee” (Comparative Text) (proposed order)


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Texts Represented:

  • 1849-01 - “Thompson” manuscript (September 26, 1849)
  • 1849-02 - “Moore” manuscript (June 1849)
  • 1849-03 - “Hirst” manuscript (July 1849)
  • 1849-04 - “Sartain” manuscript (July 1849)
  • 1849-05 - “Griswold” manuscript (late May 1849)

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Title: Annabel Lee.

{{1849-04: A Ballad }}

Line-001: It was many and many a year ago,

Line-002: [[indent]] In a kingdom by the sea,

Line-003: That a maiden there lived whom you may know

Line-004: [[indent]] By the name of Annabel Lee {{1849-01; 1849-02: ; — //1849-03: : — //1849-04: ; //1849-05: ; — }}

Line-005: And this maiden she lived with no other thought

Line-006: [[indent]] Than to love and be loved by me.

Line-007: {{1849-01; 1849-02; 1849-03: She //1849-04: She //1849-05: I }} was a child and {{1849-01; 1849-02; 1849-03: I //1849-04: I //1849-05: she }} was a child,

Line-008: [[indent]] In this kingdom by the sea {{1849-01; 1849-02: , // 1849-03; 1849-04; 1849-05: ; }}

Line-009: But we loved with a love that was more than love —

Line-010: [[indent]] I and my Annabel Lee —

Line-011: With a love that the {{1849-01: wingéd //1849-02: wingèd //1849-03; 1849-04; 1849-05: wingéd }} seraphs {{1849-01; 1849-02: in //1849-03; 1849-04; 1849-05: of }} Heaven

Line-012: [[indent]] Coveted her and me.

Line-013: And this was the reason that, long ago,

Line-014: [[indent]] In this kingdom by the sea,

Line-015: A wind blew out of a cloud {{1849-01: by night //1849-02; 1849-03; 1849-04; 1849-05: , chilling }}

Line-016: [[indent]] {{1849-01: Chilling my //1849-02; 1849-03; 1849-04; 1849-05: My beautiful }} Annabel Lee {{1849-02: ; //1849-03:// 1849-05: ; }}

Line-017: So that her high-born kinsmen came

Line-018: [[indent]] And bore her away from me,

Line-019: To shut her up in a sepulchre {{1849-02; 1849-05: , }}

Line-020: [[indent]] In this kingdom by the sea.

Line-021: The angels, not half so happy in Heaven,

Line-022: [[indent]] Went envying her and me {{1849-03: : }}

Line-023: Yes {{1849-01: ! 1849-02: ! — //1849-03; 1849-04: , //1849-05: ! — }} that was the reason (as all men know,

Line-024: [[indent]] In this kingdom by the sea)

Line-025: That the wind came out of the cloud {{1849-01: , chilling // 1849-02; 1849-03; 1849-04; 1849-05: by night, }}

Line-026: [[indent]] {{1849-01: And //1849-02; 1849-03; 1849-04; 1849-05: Chilling and }} killing my Annabel Lee.

Line-027: But our love it was stronger by far than the love

Line-028: [[indent]] Of those who were older than we —

Line-029: [[indent]] Of many far wiser than we —

Line-030: And neither the angels in Heaven above,

Line-031: [[indent]] Nor the demons down under the sea {{1849-01; 1849-02: [[,]] //1849-03: , //1849-04: [[,]] //1849-05: , }}

Line-032: Can ever dissever my soul from the soul

Line-033: [[indent]] Of the beautiful Annabel Lee: —

Line-034: For the moon never beams, without bringing me dreams

Line-035: [[indent]] Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;

Line-036: And the stars never rise {{1849-02; 1849-03; 1849-05: , }} but I feel the bright eyes

Line-037: [[indent]] Of the beautiful Annabel Lee {{1849-01: ; // 1849-02: ; — //1849-03; 1849-04: ; //1849-05: : — }}

Line-038: And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side

Line-039: Of my darling {{1849-01: , //1849-02:// 1849-03; 1849-04: , //1849-05:}} my darling {{1849-01: , // 1849-02://1849-03; 1849-04: , //1849-05:}} my life and my bride {{1849-02; 1849-03; 1849-04; 1849-05: , }}

Line-040: [[indent]] In her sepulchre there by the sea —

Line-041: [[indent]] In her tomb by the {{1849-01: side of the //1849-02; 1849-03; 1849-04; 1849-05: sounding }} sea.

 

 


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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.


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[S:0 - comparative] - Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore - Works - Poems - Annabel Lee (Comparative Text - All MSS)