O Chatterton! How Very Sad Thy Fate. By Keats, John. O Chatterton! how very sad thy fate! Dear child of sorrow -son of misery! How soon the film of death obscured that eye, Whence Genius mildly flashed, and high debate. How soon that voice, majestic and elate, Melted in dying numbers! Oh! how nigh Was night to thy fair morning. Thou didst die A half-blown flow'ret which cold blasts amate. But this is past: thou art among the stars Of highest heaven: to thy rolling spheres Thou sweetest singest: nought thy hymning mars, Above the ingrate world and human fears. On earth the good man base detraction bars From thy fair name, and waters it with tears.