Text of the Poem | Ode on a Grecian Urn By John Keats | Eureka Study Aids

1. Thou still unravish'd bride of quietness, 

2. Thou foster-child of silence and slow time, 

3. Sylvan historian, who canst thus express

4. A flowery tale more sweetly thn our rhyme: 

5. What leaf-fring'd legend haunts about thy shape

6. Of deities or mortals, or of both, 

7. In Tempe or the dales of Aready? 

8. When men or gods are these? What maidens loth? 

9. What mad pursuit? What struggle to escape? 

10. What pipes and tumbrels? What wild ecstasy? 

11. Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard

12. Are sweeter, therefore, yet soft pipes, play on; 

13. Not to the sensual ear, but, more endear'd, 

14. Pipe to the spirit ditties of no tone

15. Fair youth, beneath the trees, thou canst not leave

16. Thy song, nor ever can those trees be bare; 

17. Bold Lover, never, never canst thou kiss, 

18. Though winning near the goal yet, do not grieve; 

19. She cannot fade, though thou hast not thy bliss, 

20. For ever wilt thou love, and she be fair! 

21. Ah, happy, happy boughs! that cannot shed

22. Your leaves, nor ever bid the Spring adieu; 

23. And, happy melodist, unwearied, 

24. For ever piping songs for ever new; 

25. More happy love! more happy, happy love! 

26. For ever warm and still to be enjoy'd, 

27. For ever panting, and for every young; 

28. All breathing human passion far above, 

29. That leaves a heart hight-sorrowful and cloy'd, 

30. A burning forehead, and a parching longue. 

31. Who are these coming to the sacrifice? 

32. To what green altar, O mysterious priest, 

33. Lead'st thou that heifer lowing at the skies, 

34. And all her silken flanks with garlands drest? 

35. What little town by river or sea shore, 

36. Or mountain-built with peaceful citadel, 

37. Is emptied of this fold, this pious morn? 

38. And, little town, thy streets for evermore

39. Will silent be; and not a soul to tell

40. Why thou art desolate, can e'er return. 

41. O Attic shape! Fair attitude! with brede

42. Of marble men and maidens overwrought, 

43. With forest branches and the trodden weed; 

44. Thou, silent form, dost tease us out of thought

45. As doth eternity: Cold Pastoral! 

46. When old age shall this generation waste, 

47. Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe

48. Than ours, a friend to man, to whom thou say'st, 

49. "Beauty is truth, truth beauty, -- that is all

50. Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know."