And thus to be cast out, thus lorn to die,

Is sure enough to make a mortal man

960

Grow impious." So he inwardly began

On things for which no wording can be found;

Deeper and deeper sinking, until drown'd

Beyond the reach of music: for the choir

Of Cynthia he heard not, though rough briar

965

Nor muffling thicket interpos'd to dull
The vesper hymn, far swollen, soft and full,
Through the dark pillars of those sylvan aisles.
He saw not the two maidens, nor their smiles,
Wan as primroses gather'd at midnight
By chilly finger'd spring. "Unhappy wight!
Endymion!" said Peona, "we are here!

What wouldst thou ere we all are laid on bier?"
Then he embrac'd her, and his lady's hand

970

(955) Cancelled reading of the manuscript, And by Promethean... This was probably rejected to get rid of the repetition of the word by. (956) The draft reads And by old Saturn's single forelock...

(967) The draft reads prelude for vesper.

(968) It is worth noting that, when writing out the fair copy, Keats made three several attempts to spell this word aisles rightly, having first written it isles, then ailes and lastly aisles.

(974-7) The draft reads as follows:

Her brother kiss'd her, and his lady's hand
Saying, "Sweet sister I would have command,
If it were heaven's will, on our sad fate."
Then that dark-tressed stranger stood elate...

Press'd, saying: "Sister, I would have command,
If it were heaven's will, on our sad fate."
At which that dark-ey'd stranger stood elate
And said, in a new voice, but sweet as love,
To Endymion's amaze: "By Cupid's dove,
And so thou shalt! and by the lilly truth
Of my own breast thou shalt, beloved youth!"
And as she spake, into her face there came
Light, as reflected from a silver flame:
Her long black hair swell'd ampler, in display
Full golden; in her eyes a brighter day
Dawn'd blue and full of love. Aye, he beheld
Phoebe, his passion! joyous she upheld
Her lucid bow, continuing thus: “Drear, drear
Has our delaying been; but foolish fear
Withheld me first; and then decrees of fate;
And then 'twas fit that from this mortal state

1

975

980

985

990

Thou shouldst, my love, by some unlook'd for change

Be spiritualiz'd. Peona, we shall range

These forests, and to thee they safe shall be

As was thy cradle; hither shalt thou flee

995

To meet us many a time." Next Cynthia bright
Peona kiss'd, and bless'd with fair good night:
Her brother kiss'd her too, and knelt adown
Before his goddess, in a blissful swoon.
She gave her fair hands to him, and behold,

1000

(984-6) In the draft thus :

Her long black hair swell'd ampler, while it turned
Golden-and her eyes of jet dawned forth a brighter day
Blue-blue-and full of love.

(997-8) In the finished manuscript the word kist occurs twice in these two lines instead of kiss'd as in the first edition; but bless'd is not similarly transformed to blest.

Before three swiftest kisses he had told,

They vanish'd far away!-Peona went

Home through the gloomy wood in wonderment.

THE END.

(1003) At the end of the draft Keats wrote "Burford Bridge Nov. 28. 1817—".

APPENDIX TO VOLUME I.

VOL. I.

Σ