Keats Story 2

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1. This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1923.

2. The author died in or before 1940, so this work is also in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 75 years or less. This work may also be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.

## Part 2

Lamia is a narrative poem written by English poet John Keats which was published in 1820. The poem was written in 1819, during the famously productive period that produced his 1819 odes. It was composed soon after his "La belle dame sans merci" and his odes on Melancholy, on Indolence, to a Grecian Urn and to a Nightingale and just before "Ode to Autumn".

The poem tells how the god Hermes hears of a nymph who is more beautiful than all. Hermes, searching for the nymph, instead comes across Lamia, trapped in the form of a serpent. She reveals the previously invisible nymph to him and in return he restores her human form. She goes to seek a youth of Corinth, Lycius, while Hermes and his nymph depart together into the woods. The relationship between Lycius and Lamia, however, is destroyed when the sage Apollonius reveals Lamia's true identity at their wedding feast, whereupon she seemingly disappears and Lycius dies of grief.

### Lines 397-400

1. Love in a hut, with water and a crust,
2. Is—Love, forgive us!—cinders, ashes, dust;
3. Love in a palace is perhaps at last

### Lines 401-500

1. More grievous torment than a hermit's fast—
2. That is a doubtful tale from faery land,
3. Hard for the non-elect to understand.
4. Had Lycius liv'd to hand his story down,
5. He might have given the moral a fresh frown,
6. Or clench'd it quite: but too short was their bliss
7. To breed distrust and hate, that make the soft voice hiss.
8. Besides, there, nightly, with terrific glare,
9. Love, jealous grown of so complete a pair,
10. Hover'd and buzz'd his wings, with fearful roar,
11. Above the lintel of their chamber door,
12. And down the passage cast a glow upon the floor.
13. For all this came a ruin: side by side
14. They were enthroned, in the even tide,
15. Upon a couch, near to a curtaining
16. Whose airy texture, from a golden string,
17. Floated into the room, and let appear
18. Unveil'd the summer heaven, blue and clear,
19. Betwixt two marble shafts:—there they reposed,
20. Where use had made it sweet, with eyelids closed,
21. Saving a tythe which love still open kept,
22. That they might see each other while they almost slept;
23. When from the slope side of a suburb hill,
24. Deafening the swallow's twitter, came a thrill
25. Of trumpets—Lycius started—the sounds fled,
26. But left a thought, a buzzing in his head.
27. For the first time, since first he harbour'd in
28. That purple-lined palace of sweet sin,
29. His spirit pass'd beyond its golden bourn
30. Into the noisy world almost forsworn.
31. The lady, ever watchful, penetrant,
32. Saw this with pain, so arguing a want
33. Of something more, more than her empery
34. Of joys; and she began to moan and sigh
35. Because he mused beyond her, knowing well
36. That but a moment's thought is passion's passing bell.
37. "Why do you sigh, fair creature?" whisper'd he:
38. "Why do you think?" return'd she tenderly:
39. "You have deserted me—where am I now?
40. Not in your heart while care weighs on your brow:
41. No, no, you have dismiss'd me; and I go
42. From your breast houseless: ay, it must be so."
43. He answer'd, bending to her open eyes,
44. Where he was mirror'd small in paradise,
45. My silver planet, both of eve and morn!
46. Why will you plead yourself so sad forlorn,
47. While I am striving how to fill my heart
48. With deeper crimson, and a double smart?
49. How to entangle, trammel up and snare
50. Your soul in mine, and labyrinth you there
51. Like the hid scent in an unbudded rose?
52. Ay, a sweet kiss—you see your mighty woes.
53. My thoughts! shall I unveil them? Listen then!
54. What mortal hath a prize, that other men
55. May be confounded and abash'd withal,
56. But lets it sometimes pace abroad majestical,
57. And triumph, as in thee I should rejoice
58. Amid the hoarse alarm of Corinth's voice.
59. "Let my foes choke, and my friends shout afar,
60. While through the thronged streets your bridal car
61. Wheels round its dazzling spokes." The lady's cheek
62. Trembled; she nothing said, but, pale and meek,
63. Arose and knelt before him, wept a rain
64. Of sorrows at his words; at last with pain
65. Beseeching him, the while his hand she wrung,
66. To change his purpose. He thereat was stung,
67. Perverse, with stronger fancy to reclaim
68. Her wild and timid nature to his aim:
69. Besides, for all his love, in self despite,
70. Against his better self, he took delight
71. Luxurious in her sorrows, soft and new.
72. His passion, cruel grown, took on a hue
73. Fierce and sanguineous as 'twas possible
74. In one whose brow had no dark veins to swell.
75. Fine was the mitigated fury, like
76. Apollo's presence when in act to strike
77. The serpent—Ha, the serpent! certes, she
78. Was none. She burnt, she lov'd the tyranny,
79. And, all subdued, consented to the hour
80. When to the bridal he should lead his paramour.
81. Whispering in midnight silence, said the youth,
82. "Sure some sweet name thou hast, though, by my truth,
83. I have not ask'd it, ever thinking thee
84. Not mortal, but of heavenly progeny,
85. As still I do. Hast any mortal name,
86. Fit appellation for this dazzling frame?
87. Or friends or kinsfolk on the citied earth,
88. To share our marriage feast and nuptial mirth?"
89. "I have no friends," said Lamia," no, not one;
90. My presence in wide Corinth hardly known:
91. My parents' bones are in their dusty urns
92. Sepulchred, where no kindled incense burns,
93. Seeing all their luckless race are dead, save me,
94. And I neglect the holy rite for thee.
95. Even as you list invite your many guests;
96. But if, as now it seems, your vision rests
97. With any pleasure on me, do not bid
98. Old Apollonius—from him keep me hid."
99. Lycius, perplex'd at words so blind and blank,
100. Made close inquiry; from whose touch she shrank,

### Lines 501-600

1. Feigning a sleep; and he to the dull shade
2. Of deep sleep in a moment was betray'd
3. It was the custom then to bring away
4. The bride from home at blushing shut of day,
5. Veil'd, in a chariot, heralded along
6. By strewn flowers, torches, and a marriage song,
7. With other pageants: but this fair unknown
8. Had not a friend. So being left alone,
9. (Lycius was gone to summon all his kin)
10. And knowing surely she could never win
11. His foolish heart from its mad pompousness,
12. She set herself, high-thoughted, how to dress
13. The misery in fit magnificence.
14. She did so, but 'tis doubtful how and whence
15. Came, and who were her subtle servitors.
16. About the halls, and to and from the doors,
17. There was a noise of wings, till in short space
18. The glowing banquet-room shone with wide-arched grace.
19. A haunting music, sole perhaps and lone
20. Supportress of the faery-roof, made moan
21. Throughout, as fearful the whole charm might fade.
22. Fresh carved cedar, mimicking a glade
23. Of palm and plantain, met from either side,
24. High in the midst, in honour of the bride:
25. Two palms and then two plantains, and so on,
26. From either side their stems branch'd one to one
27. All down the aisled place; and beneath all
28. There ran a stream of lamps straight on from wall to wall.
29. So canopied, lay an untasted feast
30. Teeming with odours. Lamia, regal drest,
31. Silently paced about, and as she went,
32. In pale contented sort of discontent,
33. Mission'd her viewless servants to enrich
34. The fretted splendour of each nook and niche.
35. Between the tree-stems, marbled plain at first,
36. Came jasper pannels; then, anon, there burst
37. Forth creeping imagery of slighter trees,
38. And with the larger wove in small intricacies.
39. Approving all, she faded at self-will,
40. And shut the chamber up, close, hush'd and still,
41. Complete and ready for the revels rude,
42. When dreadful guests would come to spoil her solitude.
43. The day appear'd, and all the gossip rout.
44. O senseless Lycius! Madman! wherefore flout
45. The silent-blessing fate, warm cloister'd hours,
46. And show to common eyes these secret bowers?
47. The herd approach'd; each guest, with busy brain,
48. Arriving at the portal, gaz'd amain,
49. And enter'd marveling: for they knew the street,
50. Remember'd it from childhood all complete
51. Without a gap, yet ne'er before had seen
52. That royal porch, that high-built fair demesne;
53. So in they hurried all, maz'd, curious and keen:
54. Save one, who look'd thereon with eye severe,
55. And with calm-planted steps walk'd in austere;
56. 'Twas Apollonius: something too he laugh'd,
57. As though some knotty problem, that had daft
58. His patient thought, had now begun to thaw,
59. And solve and melt—'twas just as he foresaw.
60. He met within the murmurous vestibule
61. His young disciple. "'Tis no common rule,
62. Lycius," said he, "for uninvited guest
63. To force himself upon you, and infest
64. With an unbidden presence the bright throng
65. Of younger friends; yet must I do this wrong,
66. And you forgive me." Lycius blush'd, and led
67. The old man through the inner doors broad-spread;
68. With reconciling words and courteous mien
69. Turning into sweet milk the sophist's spleen.
70. Of wealthy lustre was the banquet-room,
71. Fill'd with pervading brilliance and perfume:
72. Before each lucid pannel fuming stood
73. A censer fed with myrrh and spiced wood,
74. Each by a sacred tripod held aloft,
75. Whose slender feet wide-swerv'd upon the soft
76. Wool-woofed carpets: fifty wreaths of smoke
77. From fifty censers their light voyage took
78. To the high roof, still mimick'd as they rose
79. Along the mirror'd walls by twin-clouds odorous.
80. Twelve sphered tables, by silk seats insphered,
81. High as the level of a man's breast rear'd
82. On libbard's paws, upheld the heavy gold
83. Of cups and goblets, and the store thrice told
84. Of Ceres' horn, and, in huge vessels, wine
85. Come from the gloomy tun with merry shine.
86. Thus loaded with a feast the tables stood,
87. Each shrining in the midst the image of a God.
88. When in an antichamber every guest
89. Had felt the cold full sponge to pleasure press'd,
90. By minist'ring slaves, upon his hands and feet,
91. And fragrant oils with ceremony meet
92. Pour'd on his hair, they all mov'd to the feast
93. In white robes, and themselves in order placed
94. Around the silken couches, wondering
95. Whence all this mighty cost and blaze of wealth could spring.
96. Soft went the music the soft air along,
97. While fluent Greek a vowel'd undersong
98. Kept up among the guests discoursing low
99. At first, for scarcely was the wine at flow;
100. But when the happy vintage touch'd their brains,

### Lines 601-700

1. Louder they talk, and louder come the strains
2. Of powerful instruments—the gorgeous dyes,
3. The space, the splendour of the draperies,
4. The roof of awful richness, nectarous cheer,
5. Beautiful slaves, and Lamia's self, appear,
6. Now, when the wine has done its rosy deed,
7. And every soul from human trammels freed,
8. No more so strange; for merry wine, sweet wine,
9. Will make Elysian shades not too fair, too divine.
10. Soon was God Bacchus at meridian height;
11. Flush'd were their cheeks, and bright eyes double bright:
12. Garlands of every green, and every scent
13. From vales deflower'd, or forest-trees branch rent,
14. In baskets of bright osier'd gold were brought
15. High as the handles heap'd, to suit the thought
16. Of every guest; that each, as he did please,
17. Might fancy-fit his brows, silk-pillow'd at his ease.
18. What wreath for Lamia? What for Lycius?
19. What for the sage, old Apollonius?
20. Upon her aching forehead be there hung
21. The leaves of willow and of adder's tongue;
22. And for the youth, quick, let us strip for him
23. The thyrsus, that his watching eyes may swim
24. Into forgetfulness; and, for the sage,
25. Let spear-grass and the spiteful thistle wage
26. War on his temples. Do not all charms fly
27. At the mere touch of cold philosophy?
28. There was an awful rainbow once in heaven:
29. We know her woof, her texture; she is given
30. In the dull catalogue of common things.
31. Philosophy will clip an Angel's wings,
32. Conquer all mysteries by rule and line,
33. Empty the haunted air, and gnomed mine—
34. Unweave a rainbow, as it erewhile made
35. The tender-person'd Lamia melt into a shade.
36. By her glad Lycius sitting, in chief place,
37. Scarce saw in all the room another face,
38. Till, checking his love trance, a cup he took
39. Full brimm'd, and opposite sent forth a look
40. 'Cross the broad table, to beseech a glance
41. From his old teacher's wrinkled countenance,
42. And pledge him. The bald-head philosopher
43. Had fix'd his eye, without a twinkle or stir
44. Full on the alarmed beauty of the bride,
45. Brow-beating her fair form, and troubling her sweet pride.
46. Lycius then press'd her hand, with devout touch,
47. As pale it lay upon the rosy couch:
48. 'Twas icy, and the cold ran through his veins;
49. Then sudden it grew hot, and all the pains
50. Of an unnatural heat shot to his heart.
51. "Lamia, what means this? Wherefore dost thou start?
52. Know'st thou that man?" Poor Lamia answer'd not.
53. He gaz'd into her eyes, and not a jot
54. Own'd they the lovelorn piteous appeal:
55. More, more he gaz'd: his human senses reel:
56. Some hungry spell that loveliness absorbs;
57. There was no recognition in those orbs.
58. "Lamia!" he cried—and no soft-toned reply.
59. The many heard, and the loud revelry
60. Grew hush; the stately music no more breathes;
61. The myrtle sicken'd in a thousand wreaths.
62. By faint degrees, voice, lute, and pleasure ceased;
63. A deadly silence step by step increased,
64. Until it seem'd a horrid presence there,
65. And not a man but felt the terror in his hair.
66. "Lamia!" he shriek'd; and nothing but the shriek
67. With its sad echo did the silence break.
68. "Begone, foul dream!" he cried, gazing again
69. In the bride's face, where now no azure vein
70. Wander'd on fair-spaced temples; no soft bloom
71. Misted the cheek; no passion to illume
72. The deep-recessed vision—all was blight;
73. Lamia, no longer fair, there sat a deadly white.
74. "Shut, shut those juggling eyes, thou ruthless man!
75. Turn them aside, wretch! or the righteous ban
76. Of all the Gods, whose dreadful images
77. Here represent their shadowy presences,
78. May pierce them on the sudden with the thorn
79. Of painful blindness; leaving thee forlorn,
80. In trembling dotage to the feeblest fright
81. Of conscience, for their long offended might,
82. For all thine impious proud-heart sophistries,
83. Unlawful magic, and enticing lies.
84. Corinthians! look upon that gray-beard wretch!
85. Mark how, possess'd, his lashless eyelids stretch
86. Around his demon eyes! Corinthians, see!
87. My sweet bride withers at their potency."
88. "Fool!" said the sophist, in an under-tone
89. Gruff with contempt; which a death-nighing moan
90. From Lycius answer'd, as heart-struck and lost,
91. He sank supine beside the aching ghost.
92. "Fool! Fool!" repeated he, while his eyes still
93. Relented not, nor mov'd; "from every ill
94. Of life have I preserv'd thee to this day,
95. And shall I see thee made a serpent's prey?"
96. Then Lamia breath'd death breath; the sophist's eye,
97. Like a sharp spear, went through her utterly,
98. Keen, cruel, perceant, stinging: she, as well
99. As her weak hand could any meaning tell,
100. Motion'd him to be silent; vainly so,

### Lines 701-708

1. He look'd and look'd again a level—No!
2. "A Serpent!" echoed he; no sooner said,
3. Than with a frightful scream she vanished:
4. And Lycius' arms were empty of delight,
5. As were his limbs of life, from that same night.
6. On the high couch he lay!—his friends came round
7. Supported him—no pulse, or breath they found,
8. And, in its marriage robe, the heavy body wound.

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