ENDYMION:
A Poetic Romance.
BY JOHN KEATS.
“THE STRETCHED METRE OF AN ANTIQUE SONG.”
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR TAYLOR AND HESSEY,
93, FLEET STREET.
1818.
INSCRIBED TO THE MEMORY OF THOMAS CHATTERTON.
PREFACE.
Knowing within myself the manner in which this Poem has been produced, it is not without a feeling of regret that I make it public.
What manner I mean, will be quite clear to the reader, who must soon perceive great inexperience, immaturity, and every error denoting a feverish attempt, rather than a deed accomplished. The two first books, and indeed the two last, I feel sensible are not of such completion as to warrant their passing the press; nor should they if I thought a
year's castigation would do them any good;–it will not: the foundations are too sandy. It is just that this youngster should die away: a sad thought for me, if I had not some hope that while it is dwindling I may be plotting, and fitting myself for verses fit to live.