| John Keats (1795–1821). The Poetical Works of John Keats. 1884. |
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| 57. On Fame |
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| FAME, like a wayward girl, will still be coy | |
| To those who woo her with too slavish knees, | |
| But makes surrender to some thoughtless boy, | |
| And dotes the more upon a heart at ease; | |
| She is a Gipsey,—will not speak to those | 5 |
| Who have not learnt to be content without her; | |
| A Jilt, whose ear was never whisper’d close, | |
| Who thinks they scandal her who talk about her; | |
| A very Gipsey is she, Nilus-born, | |
| Sister-in-law to jealous Potiphar; | 10 |
| Ye love-sick Bards! repay her scorn for scorn; | |
| Ye Artists lovelorn! madmen that ye are! | |
| Make your best bow to her and bid adieu, | |
| Then, if she likes it, she will follow you. | |
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