Cybele wrote:Oh, I so agree with you, Saturn. Starting with Wm. Michael Rossetti's biography. (Honestly, I don't remember much about, except that I couldn't wait to be finished with the book.)
I don't think that many people think that sex was invented in the 60s (except maybe some of those who were very active in the 60s). But there are certainly several living in this town who believe they invented it, as can be seen every winter with our first snowfall of good "packing snow." Someone almost invariably makes a 10 foot tall phallus out of snow and no doubt pats himself on the back for the sheer cleverness of it all, like he is the first human being in history to think of doing this. (I must re-state that I live in a college town. From September through May the population of this small town approximately doubles from it's full-time, year-round population. )
Back to topic: you are correct. Those who aren't super-familiar with Keats or his works often view him as an asexual, albeit gifted, child, too pure to deal with the realities of life, who tip-toed through fields of flowers sprinkled with fairy-dust.
LOL -- it's really kind of a shame that more of his bawdy jokes haven't survived and come down to us. -- We have so few of those. -- Things he thought funny would help give us a more three-dimensional picture of the poet.
The Faerie Queene,” Book 1, Canto II, Stanza I
By Edmund Spenser (1590)
BY this the Northerne wagoner had set
His seuenfold teme behind the stedfast starre,
That was in Ocean waues yet neuer wet,
But firme is fixt, and sendeth light from farre
To all, that in the wide deepe wandring arre:
And chearefull Chaunticlere with his note shrill
Had warned once, that Phoebus fiery carre
In hast was climbing vp the Easterne hill,
Full enuious that night so long his roome did fill.
Source: http://www.luminarium.org/renascence-ed ... Cant.%20II.
IV
By Michael Drayton (1602)
BRIGHT Star of Beauty! on whose Eyelids sit
A thousand nymph-like and enamoured Graces,
The Goddesses of Memory and Wit,
Which there in order take their several places.
In whose dear Bosom, sweet delicious LOVE
Lays down his quiver, which he once did bear,
Since he that blessèd Paradise did prove;
And leaves his mother’s lap, to sport him there.
Let others strive to entertain with words!
My soul is of a braver mettle made:
I hold that vile, which vulgar Wit affords,
In me ’s that faith which Time cannot invade!
Let what I praise, be still made good by you!
Be you most worthy, whilst I am most true!
Source: http://www.bartleby.com/358/706.html and http://www.luminarium.org/editions/idea.htm
"I will imagine you Venus tonight and pray, pray, pray to your star like a Heathen.
Yours ever, fair Star,
John Keats"
Source: http://www.john-keats.com/briefe/250719.htm
"My dear love, I cannot believe there ever was or ever could be any thing to admire in me especially as far as sight goes - I cannot be admired, I am not a thing to be admired. You are, I love you; all I can bring you is a swooning admiration of your Beauty."
Source: http://www.john-keats.com/briefe/250719.htm
To Chatterton
by John Keats (1815).
Chatterton! how very sad thy fate!
Dear child of sorrow—son of misery!
How soon the film of death obscur'd that eye,
Whence Genius mildly flash'd, and high debate.
How soon that voice, majestic and elate,
Melted in dying numbers! Oh! how nigh
Was night to thy fair morning. Thou didst die
A half-blown flow'ret which cold blasts amate.
But this is past: thou art among the stars
Of highest Heaven: to the rolling spheres
Thou sweetest singest: nought thy hymning mars,
Above the ingrate world and human fears.
On earth the good man base detraction bars
From thy fair name, and waters it with tears.
Source: http://webspace.webring.com/people/tl/l ... cha01.html
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