The Poetical Works of John Keats. with a Life.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1854 Excerpt: ... Hermes, hast thou found the maid? " Whereat the star of Lethe not delay'd His rosy eloquence, and thus inquired: " Thou smooth-lipp'd serpent, surely high-in-spired! Thou beauteous wreath, with melancholy eyes, Possess whatever bliss thou canst devise, Telling me only where my nymph is fled,--Where she doth breathe! " " Bright planet, thou hast said," Keturn'd the snake, " but seal with oaths, fair God!" " I swear," said Hermes, " by my serpent rod, And by thine eyes, and by thy starry crown! " Light flew his earnest words, among the blossoms blown. Then thus again the brilliance feminine: " Too frail of heart! for this lost nymph of thine, Free as the air, invisibly, she strays About these thornless wilds; her pleasant days She tastes unseen; unseen her nimble feet Leave traces in the grass and flowers sweet: From weary tendrils, and bow'd branches green, She plucks the fruit unseen, she bathes unseen: And by my power is her beauty veil'd To keep it unaffronted, unassail'd By the love-glances of unlovely eyes, Of Satyrs, Fauns, and blear'd Silenus' sighs. Pale grew her immortality, for woe Of all these lovers, and she grieved so I took compassion on her, bade her steep Her hair in weird syrops, that would keep Her loveliness invisible, yet free To wander as she loves, in liberty. Thou shalt behold her, Hermes, thou alone, If thou wilt, as thou swearest, grant my boon!" Then, once again, the charmed God began An oath, and through the serpent's ears it ran Warm, tremulous, devout, psalterian. Ravish'd she lifted her Circean head, Blush'd a live damask, and swift-lisping said, " I was a woman, let me have once more A woman's shape, and charming as before. I love a youth of Corinth--O the bl...