Ode on a Grecian Urn by John Keats
b"Keats read by Classic Poetry Aloud:\\nhttp://classicpoetryaloud.podomatic.com/\\n\\nGiving voice to classic poetry.\\n\\n---------------------------------------------------\\n\\nOde on a Grecian Urn\\nby John Keats\\n \\nThou still unravish'd bride of quietness, \\n Thou foster-child of Silence and slow Time, \\nSylvan historian, who canst thus express \\n A flowery tale more sweetly than our rhyme: \\nWhat leaf-fringed legend haunts about thy shape \\n Of deities or mortals, or of both, \\n In Tempe or the dales of Arcady? \\n What men or gods are these? What maidens loth? \\nWhat mad pursuit? What struggle to escape? \\n What pipes and timbrels? What wild ecstasy? \\n \\nHeard melodies are sweet, but those unheard \\n Are sweeter; therefore, ye soft pipes, play on; \\nNot to the sensual ear, but, more endear'd, \\n Pipe to the spirit ditties of no tone: \\nFair youth, beneath the trees, thou canst not leave \\n Thy song, nor ever can those trees be bare; \\n Bold Lover, never, never canst thou kiss, \\nThough winning near the goal\\u2014yet, do not grieve; \\n She cannot fade, though thou hast not thy bliss, \\n For ever wilt thou love, and she be fair! \\n \\nAh, happy, happy boughs! that cannot shed \\n Your leaves, nor ever bid the Spring adieu; \\nAnd, happy melodist, unweari\\xe8d, \\n For ever piping songs for ever new; \\nMore happy love! more happy, happy love! \\n For ever warm and still to be enjoy'd, \\n For ever panting, and for ever young; \\nAll breathing human passion far above, \\n That leaves a heart high-sorrowful and cloy'd, \\n A burning forehead, and a parching tongue. \\n \\nWho are these coming to the sacrifice? \\n To what green altar, O mysterious priest, \\nLead'st thou that heifer lowing at the skies, \\n And all her silken flanks with garlands drest? \\nWhat little town by river or sea-shore, \\n Or mountain-built with peaceful citadel, \\n Is emptied of its folk, this pious morn? \\nAnd, little town, thy streets for evermore \\n Will silent be; and not a soul, to tell \\n Why thou art desolate, can e'er return. \\n \\nO Attic shape! fair attitude! with brede \\n Of marble men and maidens overwrought, \\nWith forest branches and the trodden weed; \\n Thou, silent form! dost tease us out of thought \\nAs doth eternity: Cold Pastoral! \\n When old age shall this generation waste, \\n Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe \\n Than ours, a friend to man, to whom thou say'st, \\n'Beauty is truth, truth beauty,\\u2014that is all \\n Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.' \\n\\nYou can find more readings of Keats' poetry at:\\nhttp://classicpoetryaloud.wordpress.com/category/John-Keats/"