                                      1816
                          LINES ON THE MERMAID TAVERN
                                 by John Keats

        Souls of Poets dead and gone,
        What Elysium have ye known,
        Happy field or mossy cavern,
        Choicer than the Mermaid Tavern?
        Have ye tippled drink more fine
        Than mine host's Canary wine?
        Or are fruits of Paradise
        Sweeter than those dainty pies
        Of venison? O generous food!
        Drest as though bold Robin Hood
        Would, with his maid Marian,
        Sup and bowse from horn and can.

          I have heard that on a day
        Mine host's sign-board flew away,
        Nobody knew whither, till
        An astrologer's old quill
        To a sheepskin gave the story,
        Said he saw you in your glory,
        Underneath a new old sign
        Sipping beverage divine,
        And pledging with contented smack
        The Mermaid in the Zodiac.

          Souls of Poets dead and gone,
        What Elysium have ye known,
        Happy field or mossy cavern,
        Choicer than the Mermaid Tavern?


                        THE END
