108 THE RAVEN IN POETRY AND FOLK-LORE 



recourse to them, and quote somewhat largely 

 from their writings. How is it, I would ask, to 

 begin with, that while some nations appear to 

 regard him with affection, with respect, with 

 religious veneration, others look upon him with 

 fear, with hatred, with disgust? How is it that, 

 in some latitudes, he is sacrosanct, in others, an 

 outlaw and an ogre? 



A prophet may be a prophet of either good or 

 evil, and the raven has been almost universally 

 regarded as a prophet of evil. 



" I would croak like a raven, 

 I would bode, I would bode." 



Is it best to propitiate or to ignore and defy him? 

 When observed by the Roman augurs, he was 

 generally on the left hand, and was therefore ominous 

 of ill ; and he not only, it was believed, foresees 

 evil, he gloats over it, he helps to bring it on. 

 Danger and disgrace, disease and death, are to 

 him the breath of his life. In them he holds a 

 ghastly revelry. Like the splendid personification 

 of Death itself in Paradise Lost, he can sniff them 



from afar. 



" Death 



Grinned horrible a ghastly grin to hear 

 His famine should be fill'd, and blest his maw 

 Destined to that good hour." 



