Mapping Keats’s Progress: A Critical Chronology

Mapping Keats’s Progress
A Critical Chronology

References to this poem

Not Aladdin magian

  • Not Aladdin magian
  • Ever such a work began;
  • Not the Wizard of the Dee
  • Ever such a dream could see;
  • Not St. John, in Patmos’ isle,
  • In the passion of his toil,
  • When he saw the churches seven,
  • Golden aisl’d, built up in heaven,
  • Gaz’d at such a rugged wonder.
  • As I stood its roofing under,
  • Lo! I saw one sleeping there,
  • On the marble cold and bare.
  • While the surges wash’d his feet,
  • And his garments white did beat
  • Drench’d about the sombre rocks,
  • On his neck his well-grown locks,
  • Lifted dry above the main,
  • Were upon the curl again.
  • “What is this? and what art thou?”
  • Whisper’d I and touch’d his brow.
  • “What art thou? and what is this?”
  • Whisper’d I, and strove to kiss
  • The spirit’s hand, to wake his eyes.
  • Up he started in a trice.
  • “I am Lycidas, ” said he,
  • “Fam’d in funeral minstrelsy!
  • This was architected thus
  • By the great Oceanus! —
  • Here his mighty waters play
  • Hollow organs all the day;
  • Here by turns his dolphins all,
  • Finny palmers great and small,
  • Come to pay devotion due —
  • Each a mouth of pearls must strew.
  • Many a mortal of these days,
  • Dares to pass our sacred ways,
  • Dares to touch audaciously
  • This cathedral of the sea!
  • I have been the pontif-priest
  • Where the waters never rest,
  • Where a fledgy sea-bird choir
  • Soars for ever; holy fire
  • I have hid from mortal man;
  • Proteus is my sacristan.
  • But the stupid eye of mortal
  • Hath pass’d beyond the rocky portal;
  • So for ever will I leave
  • Such a taint, and soon unweave
  • All the magic of the place.
  • ’Tis now free to stupid face,
  • To cutters and to fashion boats,
  • To cravats and to petticoats.
  • The great sea shall war it down,
  • For its fame shall not be blown
  • At every farthing quadrille dance.”
  • So saying, with a spirit’s glance
  • He dived —

× Cite this page:

MLA Style: Works Cited

Keats, John. “Not Aladdin magian.” Mapping Keats’s Progress: A Critical Chronology, by G. Kim Blank. Edition 3.28 , University of Victoria, 24 September 2026. https://johnkeats.uvic.ca/poem_not_aladdin_magian.html.

Chicago Style: Note

John Keats, “Not Aladdin magian,” Mapping Keats’s Progress: A Critical Chronology, Edition 3.28 , last modified 24th September 2026. https://johnkeats.uvic.ca/poem_not_aladdin_magian.html.

Chicago Style: Bibliography

Keats, John. “Not Aladdin magian.” Mapping Keats’s Progress: A Critical Chronology, Edition 3.28 , last modified 24th September 2026. https://johnkeats.uvic.ca/poem_not_aladdin_magian.html.