Охота за древом

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
««Tis some visitor,» I muttered, «tapping at my chamber door —
                                     Only this, and nothing more.»

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,

And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow; — vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow — sorrow for the lost Lenore —
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore —
                                     Nameless here for evermore.

And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain

Thrilled me — filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
««Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door —
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; —
                                      This it is and nothing more.»

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,

«Sir,» said I, «or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you» — here I opened wide the door; —
                       Darkness there and nothing more.

Ворон

Памяти мамы, сорок лет недоверчиво и ревниво следившей за изменениями в переводе: на листках с многочисленными вариантами — ее карандашные пометы.