Text: Charles W. Kent (notes) Robert A. Stewart (variants) (ed. J. A. Harrison), “Notes to To Helen,” The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe — Vol. VII: Poems (1902), 7:171-172

[page 171:]

Variations of Southern Literary Messenger from the text.

I. 2 Nicéan (Nicean) 3 perfumed (perfum’d) 4 way-worn (o. h.) II. 4 glory that was (beauty of fair) 5 that was (of old) III. 1 yon brilliant (that little) 2. stand, (!) 3 agate lamp (folded scroll) 4 Ah, (!) 5 Holy-Land (o. h.).

Variations of 1831 from the text.

I. 2 Nicéan (Nicean) 3 perfumed (perfum’d) 4 weary, (o. c.) II. 4 glory that was (beauty of fair) 5 that was [page 172:] (of old) III. 1 yon brilliant (that little) 2 stand, (!) 3 agate lamp (folded scroll) 3 hand I (—) 4 Ah, (A) 4 Psyche, (o. c).

Variations of Graham from the text.

I. 4 way-worn (o. h.) II. 3 airs (airs,) 4 Greece, (—) III. 1 yon brilliant (that shadowy) 3 agate lamp (folded scroll) 3 hand! (—) 4 Ah, (!).

EDITOR’S NOTE.

Said to have been written when he was fourteen and, if so, then it refers to Mrs. Stanard. — The second “Helen” was Mrs. Whitman.