sublimities of Byron and Shelley come to be unwelcome intruders on the calm of maturer of age. To these and such voices the poetic sense still listens, and will listen ever, in preference to more instructive harmonies; and the fancy recognises in the unaccomplished promise of this wonderful boy, a symbol of that old world, where the perfect physical organisation of man and the perfect type of ideal beauty may seem to have been crushed and 'obliterated by barbarian hands, but which perished, in truth, because these very aspirations could only be realised in another and still more glorious order of the universe.

ENDYMION:

A POETIC ROMANCE.

INSCRIBED TO

THE MEMORY OF THOMAS CHATTERTON.

THE STRETCHED METRE OF AN ANTIQUE SONG.

B

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 for Iward to inflict it: he will leave me alone, with the conviction that there is not a fiercer hell than the failure