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The Vagabond

Often the Vagabond has a little story to tell; and tonight as he sits musing in his Tower and thinking of the morrow's lecture a well known tale comes to his mind. An adventure even he himself, many ages ago, might have lived.

It is St. Agues Eve. Outside, the owl, the hare, even the sheep, are trembling in a freezing moor. A glowing chamber on this holy night is ringing with the revelry of a thousand guests; and somewhere old dames are telling an old story over again: How on this eve thoughtful maids "If ceremonies they did aright . . . " might win sight of their lover in their dreams. The fair Madeline, full of this whim is preparing in her chamber. Already Porphyro stands beside the castle gates. An old beldame speaks:

"Merry, Porphyro, hie thee from this place;

They are all here tonight, the whole bloodthirsty race!"

But a stratagem is proposed. The fair maid's chamber is entered.

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"And still she slept an azure-lidded sleep."

The awakening, the feast that follows are literary masterpiece that have made this poem of Keats the escape is planned:

"She hurried at his words, beset with fears,

For there were sleeping dragons all round

At glaring watch perhaps, with ready spears.

Down the wide stairs a darkling way they found:"

Then past where lay the Porter and the friendly bloodhound into the night.

"And they are gone: any ages long ago

These lovers fled away into the storm."

The Vagabond has the pleasure this morning to suggest Professor Matthiessen's lecture on Keats at II in Harvard 3. Other lectures:

At 9 o'clock

Professor Tezzer, "Griteria of Race" Semetic Mus. I.

At 10 o'clock

Professor Demos, "Plate's Theory of the Soul" Emer. D.

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