PREFACE.

If the student of the sensible of the antiMoreover it furnishes

In this edition of Poe's Poems one of the most characteristic features is the entire rearrangement of the poems. It is usual to follow either the edition of 1845 or the Griswold Edition of 1850. These editions bring to the front the best poems and leave the earlier and inferior poems to the last. poetry follow this order he is climax of such an arrangement. no clue whatever to the developing powers of the artist and leaves the impression of waning rather than of waxing talent. To obviate this and to bring this volume into keeping with the others, which are so arranged as to show Poe's growth, the poems are here printed as nearly as possible in the order in which they were produced. Sometimes the earliest form is given and the revised form, where the poem has been completely changed, is printed in its proper place. In most cases, however, the best form of the poem is used and the other readings are given in the notes. By this plan it is hoped and certainly not without reason that the reader of all the poems will get at a first reading a better sense of the unfolding of Poe's powers and have the added pleasure of following the order of climax. Following the poems are printed the notes. are placed the historical notes, that the time and place of publication may be seen. Following these come the various readings. These have been compiled with laborious care by Dr. R. A. Stewart, whose industry

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