Endymion: A Poetic Romance is a
poem in four books by English poet John Keats. It is dedicated to the memory of Thomas Chatterton, an English poet of the 17th century, supposed to be an icon of unacknowledged Romantics poets.
The basis of the poem is the Greek legend of Endymion, the young shepherd whom the moon goddess Selene puts to sleep eternally so that she may always enjoy his
beauty. The poem is
famous for its often quoted first line "A thing of beauty is a joy forever." In it, Selene becomes Cynthia, who takes Endymion away to eternal life with her.
The four books are approximately a thousand lines long each. Book 1 is an accounting of Endymion''s dreams and experiences and the famous "Hymn to Pan." Book 2, Endymion searches for his
love and ventures into the underworld where he encounters Adonis and Venus. Book 3, the enduring love of Endymion is revealed. Book 4, Endymion languishes in his misery. Then the
lady-love comes along telling Endymion that she tried to forget him but to no avail, as "there no one but thee to comfort a lady maid" and leading to the lovely song, "Beneath my Palm Trees, by the River Side."