Robert Bridges, ed. (1844–1930). The Spirit of Man: An Anthology. 1916. | | | | From Ode on a Grecian Urn |
John Keats (1795–1821) |
| | | THOU 1 still unravished bride of quietness, | |
| Thou foster-child of Silence and slow Time, | |
| Sylvan historian, who canst thus express | |
| A flowery tale more sweetly than our rhyme: | |
| What leaf-fringed legend haunts about thy shape | 5 |
| Of deities or mortals, or of both, | |
| In Tempe or the dales of Arcady? | |
| What men or gods are these? What maidens loath? | |
| What mad pursuit? What struggle to escape? | |
| What pipes and timbrels? What wild ecstasy? | 10 |
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| Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard | |
| Are sweeter; therefore, ye soft pipes, play on; | |
| Not to the sensual ear, but, more endear’d, | |
| Pipe to the spirit ditties of no tone: | |
| Fair youth, beneath the trees, thou canst not leave | 15 |
| Thy song, nor ever can those trees be bare; | |
| Bold Lover, never, never canst thou kiss, | |
| Though winning near the goal—yet, do not grieve; | |
| She cannot fade, though thou hast not thy bliss, | |
| For ever wilt thou love, and she be fair!… | 20 |
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| Cold Pastoral! | |
| When old age shall this generation waste, | |
| Thou shalt remain in midst of other woe | |
| Than ours, a friend to man, to whom thou say’st | |
| ‘Beauty is Truth, Truth Beauty’—That is all | 25 |
| Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know. | |
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