1816
ENDYMION: A POETIC ROMANCE
by John Keats
PREFACE
"The stretched metre of an antique song"
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.
This may be speaking too presumptuously, and may deserve a
punishment: but no feeling man will be forward to inflict it: he will
leave me alone, with the conviction that there is not fiercer hell
than the failure in a great object. This is not written with the
least atom of purpose to forestall criticisms of course, but from the
desire I have to conciliate men who are competent to look, and who do
look witha zealous eye, to the honour of English literature.
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