I

ON THE SEA.

T keeps eternal whisperings around

Desolate shores, and with its mighty swell Gluts twice ten thousand caverns, till the spell Of Hecate leaves them their old shadowy sound. Often 'tis in such gentle temper found,

That scarcely will the

very smallest shell

Be moved for days from whence it sometime fell, When last the winds of heaven were unbound. Oh ye! who have your eye-balls vex'd and tired, Feast them upon the wideness of the Sea; Oh ye! whose ears are dinn'd with uproar rude, Or fed too much with cloying melody,Sit ye near some old cavern's mouth, and brood Until ye start, as if the sea-nymphs quired! Aug. 1817.

I

THINK it well to insert the first Preface to "Endymion," if only for the additional interest it gives to the remarkable letter Keats addressed to Mr. Reynolds in answer to his disapproval and objections. Many as were the intellectual obligations the poet owed to this friend, the suppression of this faulty composition was perhaps the greatest.

"PREFACE.

"In a great nation, the work of an individual is of so little importance; his pleadings and excuses are so uninteresting; his way of life' such a nothing, that a Preface seems a sort of impertinent bow to strangers who care nothing about it.

"A Preface, however, should be down in so many words; and such a one that by an eye-glance over the type the Reader may catch an idea of an Author's modesty, and non-opinion of himself which I sincerely hope may be seen in the few lines I have to write, notwithstanding many proverbs of many ages old which men find a great pleasure in receiving as gospel.

"About a twelvemonth since, I published a little book of verses; it was read by some dozen of my

friends who lik'd it; and some dozen whom I was unacquainted with, who did not.

"Now, when a dozen human beings are at words with another dozen, it becomes a matter of anxiety to side with one's friends more especially when excited thereto by a great Love of Poetry. I fought under disadvantages. Before I began I had no inward feel of being able to finish; and as I proceeded my steps were all uncertain. So this Poem must rather be considered as an endeavour than a thing accomplished; a poor prologue to what, if I live, I humbly hope to do. In duty to the Public I should have kept it back for a year or two, knowing it to be so faulty; but I really cannot do so,by repetition my favourite passages sound vapid in my ears, and I would rather redeem myself with a new Poem should this one be found of any interest.

"I have to apologise to the lovers of simplicity for touching the spell of loneliness that hung about Endymion; if any of my lines plead for me with such people I shall be proud.

"It has been too much the fashion of late to consider men bigoted and addicted to every word that may chance to escape their lips; now I here declare that I have not any particular affection for any particular phrase, word, or letter in the whole affair. I have written to please myself, and in hopes to please others, and for a love of fame; if I neither please myself, nor others, nor get fame, of what consequence is Phraseology?

"I would fain escape the bickerings that all Works not exactly in chime bring upon their be