ENDYMION. BOOK IV. MUSE of my native land! loftiest Muse! 5 Rapt in a deep prophetic solitude. There came an eastern voice of solemn mood :— IO Yet wast thou patient. Then sang forth the Nine, (2) This line originally began with O Mountain-born in the draft, where also while stands cancelled in favour of by. (6) The draft reads voice for talk, and in line 7 babe for child. (10) Cancelled reading of the manuscript, an hebrew voice. (11) The draft reads those nine. The references to the Hebrew, Greek, Roman, and Italian literatures are scarcely as clear and pointed as might have been expected from Keats. Such home-bred glory, that they cry'd in vain, 15 21 On barren souls. Great Muse, thou know'st what prison, 25 "Ah, woe is me! that I should fondly part From my dear native land! Ah, foolish maid! 30 Glad was the hour, when, with thee, myriads bade (13) In the finished manuscript, in vain they cry'd. (14) The draft gives from the Island. (16) The draft reads In self surpassing summons. (17) Originally an Alexandrine, in both the manuscripts— Thee to thyself and to thy hopes. O thou hast wonbut altered in the second manuscript so as to correspond with the text. (19) In the draft, thus— Which wanting all these latter days had dawnd... (20) The draft reads Oh Muse, not Great Muse. (31) The draft reads With for From. To one so friendless the clear freshet yields A bitter coolness; the ripe grape is sour: Yet I would have, great gods! but one short hour Endymion to heaven's airy dome Was offering up a hecatomb of vows, 35 When these words reach'd him. Whereupon he bows 40 Of underwood, and to the sound is bent, "Is no one near to help me? No fair dawn 45 50 (34-6) In the draft lines 34 and 36 read thus Where no friends are, the very freshet yields... Then take my life, great Gods! for one short hour... In the finished manuscript this last line originally began with And, which is struck out and replaced by Yet. (41-2) Cancelled readings from the draft (45) The draft reads hope for life; but neither manuscript affords any help to this ailing line. (48-54) In place of this passage the draft has the following: No eyelids meet To twinkle on my bosom ! false ! 'twas false Thou, Carian lord, hadst better have been tost Warm mountaineer! for canst thou only bear "O for Hermes' wand, To touch this flower into human shape! 55 60 65 70 Me now divine? Who now kneels down and dies Of all death's overwhelmings "-Stay Beware I presume it was intended to read Ah me how I am sad! A woman's sigh in the luxury of distress? (63) The draft reads fruitless for swimming. (70) According to the draft, living's crown. |