Keats Poem

摘要

The poem was written in 1819, and is quite long, (42 stanzas). It is said to be amongst his finest poems, although to the modern ear, some of the language is quite abstruse. On a bitterly chill night, an ancient beadsman [almsman whose duty it was to pray for his benefactor] performs his penances, while in the castle of Madeline's warlike family, a bibulous revel has begun. Madeline pines for the love of Porphyro, sworn enemy to her kin. The old dames have told her she may receive sweet dreams of love from him if on this night, St. Agnes' Eve, she retires to bed under the proper ritual of silence and supine receptiveness.