Then the bird uprose and fluttered, and this sentence strange he uttered,
"Hang Lenore," he mildly muttered; "you have seen me once before,
Seen me on this festive Christmas, seen me surely once before,
I'm the Goose—and nothing more."
Then he murmured, "Are you ready?" and with motion slow and steady,
Straight he leapt upon my bed; he simply gave a stifled roar;
And I cried, "As I'm a sinner, at a Goose-Club I was winner,
'Tis a memory of my dinner, which I ate at half-past four,
Goose well-stuffed with sage and onions, which I ate at half-past four."
Quoth he hoarsely, "Eat no more!"