Eve of St. Agnes, The

The, a poem by John Keats, published in 1820. The poem is based on an old tradition relative to the eve of St. Agnes. St. Agnes was a Roman maiden who, during the age of Diocletian, when she was only thirteen years of age, suffered martyrdom. January 21st is celebrated in her honor in Greek, Roman, and Anglican churches. The night of January 20th came to be regarded as a special holiday for women, and the tradition on which Keats founded the story of his poem is that, by observing certain ceremonies, a maiden might on that night get a glimpse of her future husband. The poem consists of forty-two stanzas of nine lines each. It is, perhaps, the best known of Keats' poems.

Few poets have succeeded in creating an atmosphere so dreamy, so enchanted, so full of beauty, so removed from the common world of our every day experiences.--Gayley and Young.