Much have I travell'd in the realms of gold
realms of gold=poetry
And many goodly states and kingdoms seen.
goodly=pleasing in appearance
states and kingdoms=works of poets
Round many western islands have I been,
western islands=Greek poetry
Which bards in fealty to Apollo hold.
bards=professional poets
fealty=loyalty
Apollo=Greek god of poetry and music
Oft of one wide expanse had I been told
wide expanse=Homer's poetry
That deep-brow'd Homer ruled as his demesne.
demesne=domain
Yet did I never breathe its pure serene
pure serene=clear air
Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold.
Chapman=George Chapman, who translated (1616) the poems of Homer into English
Then felt I like some watcher of the skies
When a new planet swims into his ken
ken=range of sight
Or like stout Cortez when with eagle eyes
Cortez=(incorrectly) discoverer of the Pacific Ocean (actually, Balboa)
He star'd at the Pacific--and all his men
Look'd at each other with a wild surmise--
surmise=conjecture
Silent, upon a peak in Darien.
silent=Cortez and his men were silent (stunned by the view of the Pacific Ocean)
Darien=name in Keats' day for Panama
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Much have I travell'd in the realms of gold
And many goodly states and kingdoms seen.
Round many western islands have I been,
Which bards in fealty to Apollo hold.
Oft of one wide expanse had I been told
That deep-brow'd Homer ruled as his demesne.
Yet did I never breathe its pure serene
Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold.
Then felt I like some watcher of the skies
When a new planet swims into his ken
Or like stout Cortez when with eagle eyes
He star'd at the Pacific--and all his men
Look'd at each other with a wild surmise--
Silent, upon a peak in Darien.
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