[This remarkable sketch for one of the most remarkable fragments ever produced by a man of equal years remained in manuscript until Lord Houghton contributed it to the third Volume of the Bibliographical and Historical Miscellanies of the Philobiblon Society (1856-57). A few copies of this contribution were also printed separately from the Miscellanies. The fragment was afterwards published in the Appendix to "a new edition" of The Life and Letters of John Keats issued by his Lordship in 1867 through Messrs. Moxon and Co. It will be seen that, although a great deal of the Vision is special thereto, there are large passages which recur in the later version of Hyperion. A comparison of passages which are substantially identical while varying in detail supports Keats's artistic reputation in the most notable manner.-H. B. F.] HYPERION, A VISION: THE FIRST VERSION OF THE POEM. FANATICS have their dreams, wherewith they weave But bare of laurel they live, dream, and die; And dumb enchantment. Who alive can say, When this warm scribe, my hand, is in the grave. Methought I stood where trees of every clime, 5 ΙΟ 15 20 In neighbourhood of fountains (by the noise For empty shells were scatter'd on the grass, More yearning than on earth I ever felt, 25 30 35 40 Sipp'd by the wander'd bee, the which I took, And pledging all the mortals of the world, 45 Drank. That full draught is parent of my theme. Of the soon-fading, jealous, Caliphat, No poison gender'd in close monkish cell, To thin the scarlet conclave of old men, 50 Could so have rapt unwilling life away. Among the fragrant husks and berries crush'd The cloudy swoon came on, and down I sank, 55 Like a Silenus on an antique vase. How long I slumber'd 'tis a chance to guess. 60 65 Of grey cathedrals, buttress'd walls, rent towers, Or Nature's rocks toil'd hard in waves and winds, Seem'd but the faulture of decrepit things 70 To that eternal domed monument. Upon the marble at my feet there lay Store of strange vessels and large draperies, All in a mingled heap confus'd there lay Turning from these with awe, once more I raised My eyes to fathom the space every way: The embossed roof, the silent massy range 75 80 Of columns north and south, ending in mist Of nothing; then to eastward, where black gates 85 Were shut against the sunrise evermore; Then to the west I look'd, and saw far off An image, huge of feature as a cloud, |