The Poet Whose Name was "Writ in Water."

In the Protestant cemetery at Rome, there is a grave with this inscription: "This grave contains all that was mortal of a young English poet, who on his deathbed, in the bitterness of his heart at the malicious power of his enemies, desired these words to be engraved on his tombstone: 'Here lies one whose name was writ in water.' February 23, 1821." This is the grave of John Keats, aged twenty-four years, born in London, 1795, died at Rome, 1821.

He published his first volume of poems in 1817. In the following year appeared "Endymion," dedicated to the memory of Thomas Chatterton. This work was so severely handled in the English journals of the day, that he left England, and went to Italy. His later poems place him among the masters of his art, especially one entitled "The Eve of St. Agnes."

He died feeling that his name would perish, but the influence of his style still lives.

It is said that Browning "has his color without his melody," while Tennyson has both the color and the melody of Keats.