'
Psyche is supposed to symbolize the human soul made immortal through
love.
Psyche is supposed to symbolize the human soul made immortal through
love.
Keats
_Lamia_, i.
159.
Here used of carving.
l. 44. _tease us out of thought. _ Make us think till thought is lost in
mystery.
INTRODUCTION TO THE ODE TO PSYCHE.
In one of his long journal-letters to his brother George, Keats writes,
at the beginning of May, 1819: 'The following poem--the last I have
written--is the first and the only one with which I have taken even
moderate pains. I have for the most part dashed off my lines in a hurry.
This I have done leisurely--I think it reads the more richly for it, and
will I hope encourage me to write other things in even a more peaceable
and healthy spirit. You must recollect that Psyche was not embodied as a
goddess before the time of Apuleius the Platonist, who lived after the
Augustan age, and consequently the goddess was never worshipped or
sacrificed to with any of the ancient fervour, and perhaps never thought
of in the old religion--I am more orthodox than to let a heathen goddess
be so neglected. ' _The Ode to Psyche_ follows.
The story of Psyche may be best told in the words of William Morris in
the 'argument' to 'the story of Cupid and Psyche' in his _Earthly
Paradise_:
'Psyche, a king's daughter, by her exceeding beauty caused the
people to forget Venus; therefore the goddess would fain have
destroyed her: nevertheless she became the bride of Love, yet
in an unhappy moment lost him by her own fault, and wandering
through the world suffered many evils at the hands of Venus,
for whom she must accomplish fearful tasks. But the gods and
all nature helped her, and in process of time she was
re-united to Love, forgiven by Venus, and made immortal by the
Father of gods and men.
'
Psyche is supposed to symbolize the human soul made immortal through
love.
NOTES ON THE ODE TO PSYCHE.
PAGE 117. l. 2. _sweet . . . dear. _ Cf. _Lycidas_, 'Bitter constraint
and sad occasion dear. '
l. 4. _soft-conched. _ Metaphor of a sea-shell giving an impression of
exquisite colour and delicate form.
PAGE 118.
l. 44. _tease us out of thought. _ Make us think till thought is lost in
mystery.
INTRODUCTION TO THE ODE TO PSYCHE.
In one of his long journal-letters to his brother George, Keats writes,
at the beginning of May, 1819: 'The following poem--the last I have
written--is the first and the only one with which I have taken even
moderate pains. I have for the most part dashed off my lines in a hurry.
This I have done leisurely--I think it reads the more richly for it, and
will I hope encourage me to write other things in even a more peaceable
and healthy spirit. You must recollect that Psyche was not embodied as a
goddess before the time of Apuleius the Platonist, who lived after the
Augustan age, and consequently the goddess was never worshipped or
sacrificed to with any of the ancient fervour, and perhaps never thought
of in the old religion--I am more orthodox than to let a heathen goddess
be so neglected. ' _The Ode to Psyche_ follows.
The story of Psyche may be best told in the words of William Morris in
the 'argument' to 'the story of Cupid and Psyche' in his _Earthly
Paradise_:
'Psyche, a king's daughter, by her exceeding beauty caused the
people to forget Venus; therefore the goddess would fain have
destroyed her: nevertheless she became the bride of Love, yet
in an unhappy moment lost him by her own fault, and wandering
through the world suffered many evils at the hands of Venus,
for whom she must accomplish fearful tasks. But the gods and
all nature helped her, and in process of time she was
re-united to Love, forgiven by Venus, and made immortal by the
Father of gods and men.
'
Psyche is supposed to symbolize the human soul made immortal through
love.
NOTES ON THE ODE TO PSYCHE.
PAGE 117. l. 2. _sweet . . . dear. _ Cf. _Lycidas_, 'Bitter constraint
and sad occasion dear. '
l. 4. _soft-conched. _ Metaphor of a sea-shell giving an impression of
exquisite colour and delicate form.
PAGE 118.
