Endymion: A Poetic Romance

by John Keats

"Endymion: A Poetic Romance" by John Keats is a poem published in 1818. Based on the Greek myth of Endymion and the moon goddess Selene, this work follows a shepherd-prince lost in dreams of divine love. Through four books, Endymion journeys into the underworld and across mystical realms, searching for the goddess Cynthia while wrestling between immortal passion and mortal affection. The poem explores beauty, aspiration, and the transformative power of love, beginning with its famous line: "A thing of beauty is a joy for ever."