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THE EVE OF ST. AGNES (1896)
 
Illustrations of "The Eve of St. Agnes"
 
The Eve of St. Agnes, and Other Poems (1876 Osgood)
 
Date: 1876

Title: 1) "But she saw not: her heart was otherwise."

Artist: Unidentified Artist.

Description: The Eve of St. Agnes, and Other Poems. By John Keats. Illustrated. "We have rarely seen anything more exquisite in the shape of miniature editions of authors than the "Vest-Pocket Series." Published as part of the Vest-Pocket Series. Also includes nine other poems by Keats. "The Eve of St. Agnes" illustrated with six etchings by an unnamed artist.

                              VII
    Full of this whim was thoughtful Madeline:
    The music, yearning like a God in pain,
    She scarcely heard: her maiden eyes divine,
    Fix'd on the floor, saw many a sweeping train
    Pass by---she heeded not at all: in vain
    Came many a tiptoe, amorous cavalier,
    And back retir'd; not cool'd by high disdain,
    But she saw not: her heart was otherwhere;
She sigh'd for Agnes' dreams, the sweetest of the year.

(Left) Reproduced in "The Eve of St. Agnes", Title Page. Published by James R. Osgood and Company, Late Ticknor & Fields, and Fields, Osgood, & Co., Boston. 1876

 

   
Date: 1876

Title: 2) "Then takes his lamp, and riseth from his knees."

Artist: Unidentified Artist.

Description: The Eve of St. Agnes, and Other Poems. By John Keats. Illustrated. "We have rarely seen anything more exquisite in the shape of miniature editions of authors than the "Vest-Pocket Series." Published as part of the Vest-Pocket Series. Also includes nine other poems by Keats. "The Eve of St. Agnes" illustrated with six etchings by an unnamed artist.

                              II
    His prayer he saith, this patient, holy man;
    Then takes his lamp, and riseth from his knees,
    And back returneth, meagre, barefoot, wan,
    Along the chapel aisle by slow degrees:
    The sculptur'd dead, on each side, seem to freeze,
    Emprison'd in black, purgatorial rails:
    Knights, ladies, praying in dumb orat'ries,
    He passeth by; and his weak spirit fails
To think how they may ache in icy hoods and mails.

(Left) Reproduced in "The Eve of St. Agnes", page 11. Published by James R. Osgood and Company, Late Ticknor & Fields, and Fields, Osgood, & Co., Boston. 1876

 

   
Date: 1876

Title: 3) "He startled her, but soon she knew his face."

Artist: Unidentified Artist.

Description: The Eve of St. Agnes, and Other Poems. By John Keats. Illustrated. "We have rarely seen anything more exquisite in the shape of miniature editions of authors than the "Vest-Pocket Series." Published as part of the Vest-Pocket Series. Also includes nine other poems by Keats. "The Eve of St. Agnes" illustrated with six etchings by an unnamed artist.

                              XI
    Ah, happy chance! the aged creature came,
    Shuffling along with ivory-headed wand,
    To where he stood, hid from the torch's flame,
    Behind a broad hall-pillar, far beyond
    The sound of merriment and chorus bland.
    He startled her; but soon she knew his face,
    And grasp'd his fingers in her palsied hand,
    Saying, "Mercy, Porphyro! hie thee from this place;
"They are all here to-night, the whole blood-thirsty race!

(Left) Reproduced in "The Eve of St. Agnes", page 22. Published by James R. Osgood and Company, Late Ticknor & Fields, and Fields, Osgood, & Co., Boston. 1876

 

   
Date: 1876

Title: 4) "Full on this easement shone the wintry moon."

Artist: Unidentified Artist.

Description: The Eve of St. Agnes, and Other Poems. By John Keats. Illustrated. "We have rarely seen anything more exquisite in the shape of miniature editions of authors than the "Vest-Pocket Series." Published as part of the Vest-Pocket Series. Also includes nine other poems by Keats. "The Eve of St. Agnes" illustrated with six etchings by an unnamed artist.

                              XXV
    Full on this casement shone the wintry moon,
    And threw warm gules on Madeline's fair breast,
    As down she knelt for heaven's grace and boon;
    Rose-bloom fell on her hands, together prest,
    And on her silver cross soft amethyst,
    And on her hair a glory, like a saint:
    She seem'd a splendid angel, newly drest,
    Save wings, for heaven:---Porphyro grew faint:
She knelt, so pure a thing, so free from mortal taint.

(Left) Reproduced in "The Eve of St. Agnes", page 37. Published by James R. Osgood and Company, Late Ticknor & Fields, and Fields, Osgood, & Co., Boston. 1876

 

   
Date: 1876

Title: 5) "Her blue affrayed eyes wide open shone."

Artist: Unidentified Artist.

Description: The Eve of St. Agnes, and Other Poems. By John Keats. Illustrated. "We have rarely seen anything more exquisite in the shape of miniature editions of authors than the "Vest-Pocket Series." Published as part of the Vest-Pocket Series. Also includes nine other poems by Keats. "The Eve of St. Agnes" illustrated with six etchings by an unnamed artist.

                              XXXIII
    Awakening up, he took her hollow lute,---
    Tumultuous,---and, in chords that tenderest be,
    He play'd an ancient ditty, long since mute,
    In Provence call'd, "La belle dame sans mercy:"
    Close to her ear touching the melody:---
    Wherewith disturb'd, she utter'd a soft moan:
    He ceased---she panted quick---and suddenly
    Her blue affrayed eyes wide open shone:
Upon his knees he sank, pale as smooth-sculptured stone.

(Left) Reproduced in "The Eve of St. Agnes", page 48. Published by James R. Osgood and Company, Late Ticknor & Fields, and Fields, Osgood, & Co., Boston. 1876

 

   
Date: 1876

Title: 6) "Down the wide stairs a darkling way they found."

Artist: Unidentified Artist.

Description: The Eve of St. Agnes, and Other Poems. By John Keats. Illustrated. "We have rarely seen anything more exquisite in the shape of miniature editions of authors than the "Vest-Pocket Series." Published as part of the Vest-Pocket Series. Also includes nine other poems by Keats. "The Eve of St. Agnes" illustrated with six etchings by an unnamed artist.

                              XL
    She hurried at his words, beset with fears,
    For there were sleeping dragons all around,
    At glaring watch, perhaps, with ready spears---
    Down the wide stairs a darkling way they found.---
    In all the house was heard no human sound.
    A chain-droop'd lamp was flickering by each door;
    The arras, rich with horseman, hawk, and hound,
    Flutter'd in the besieging wind's uproar;
And the long carpets rose along the gusty floor.

(Left) Reproduced in "The Eve of St. Agnes", page 57. Published by James R. Osgood and Company, Late Ticknor & Fields, and Fields, Osgood, & Co., Boston. 1876

 

   
 
 

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