From a posthumous oil painting by Joseph Severn in the
possession of the Marquis of Crewe, K.G.

II. PORTRAIT OF JAMES HENRY LEIGH HUNT

46

From an engraving by Mayer after a drawing by J. Hayter.

V. 'ONWARD THE TIGER AND THE LEOPARD PANTS,
WITH ASIAN ELEPHANTS'

230

From an engraving after a sarcophagus relief at Woburn
Abbey.

VI. A SACRIFICE TO APOLLO

264

From an engraving by Vivares and Woollett after Claude.

VII. THE ENCHANTED CASTLE

266

From an engraving by Vivares and Woollett after Claude.

338

VIII. 'AND THERE I'D SIT AND READ ALL DAY LIKE A
PICTURE OF SOMEBODY READING'

From an oil painting by Joseph Severn in the National
Portrait Gallery.

xviii

PLATE

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

IX. 'FIGURES ON A GREEK VASE-A MAN AND Two
WOMEN'

From an etching in Piranesi's Vasi e Candelabri.

PAGE

342

X. PAGE FROM Isabella; OR, THE POT OF BASIL

394

From an autograph by Keats in the British Museum.

XI. THE SOSIBIOS VASE: PROFILE AND FRIEZE

416

From an engraving in the Musée Napoléon.

XII. 'WHAT PIPES AND TIMBRELS? WHAT WILD ECSTASY?'
Bacchanalian friezes, (A) from the Townley Vase in the
British Museum, (B) from the Borghese Vase in the Louvre.

XIII. PAGE FROM A LETTER OF HAYDON TO ELIZABETH
BARRETT, 1834 -

418

532

JOHN KEATS

CHAPTER I

1795-1815: BIRTH AND PARENTAGE: SCHOOLDAYS AND APPRENTICESHIP

Obscure family history-The Finsbury livery stable-The surname Keats
-Origin probably Cornish-Character of parents-Traits of childhood
-The Enfield School-The Edmonton home-The Pymmes Brook-
Testimonies of schoolmates-Edward Holmes-Charles Cowden Clarke
-New passion for reading-Left an orphan-Apprenticed to a surgeon
-Relations with his master-Readings in the poets-The Faerie
Queene The Spenser fever-Other poetic influences-Influences of
nature-Early attempts in verse-]
-Early sympathizers-George Felton
Mathew-Move to London.

FOR all the study and research that have lately been spent on the life and work of Keats, there is one point as to which we remain as much in the dark as ever, and that is his family history. He was born at an hour when the gradually re-awakened genius of poetry in our race, I mean of impassioned and imaginative poetry, was ready to offer new forms of spiritual sustenance, and a range of emotions both widened and deepened, to a generation as yet only half prepared to receive them. If we consider the other chief poets who bore their part in that great revival, we can commonly recognize either some strain of power in their blood or some strong inspiring quality in the scenery and traditions. of their home, or both together. Granting that the scenic and legendary romance of the Scottish border wilds were to be made live anew for the delight of the latter-day world, we seem to see in Walter Scott a man predestined for the task alike by origin, association,