Thou wast not born for death, immortal Bird!
No hungry generations tread thee down;
The voice I hear this passing night was heard
In ancient days by emperor and clown:
Perhaps the self-same song that found a path
Through the sad heart of Ruth, when, sick for home,
She stood in tears amid the alien corn;
The same that oft-times hath
Charm'd magic casements, opening on the foam
Of perilous seas, in faery lands forlorn.

Another quote →

More quotes by John Keats

All John Keats quotes →

Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: John Keats (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.