POEMS OLD AND NEW

His soul has in its Autumn, when his wings
He furleth close ; contented so to look

On mists in idleness—to let fair things
Pass by unheeded as a threshold brook.

He has his Winter too of pale misfeature,

Or else he would forgo his mortal nature.

JOHN KEATS

ON FIRST LOOKING INTO CHAPMAN'S
HOMER

MUCH have I travell'd in the realms of gold.

And many goodly states and kingdoms seen ;

Round many western islands have I been
Which bards in fealty to Apollo hold. 10

Oft of one wide expanse had I been told

That deep-brow'd Homer ruled as his de-
mesne ;

Yet did I never breathe its pure serene
Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and

bold :
Then felt I like some watcher of the skies

When a new planet swims into his ken ;
Or like stout Cortez, when with eagle eyes

He stared at the Pacific—and all his men
Look'd at each other with a wild surmise—

Silent, upon a peak in Darien. 20

JOHN KEATS

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