...And threw warm gules on Madeline's fair breast, As down she knelt for heaven's grace and boon; 220 Rose-bloom fell on her hands, together prest, And...drest, Save wings, for heaven: — Porphyro grew faint: 225 She knelt, so pure a thing, so free from mortal taint. XXVI Anon his heart revives: her vespers...

...twilight saints, and dim emblazonings, A shielded scutcheon blush'd with blood of queens and kings. 25 Full on this casement shone the wintry moon, And threw...boon; Rose-bloom fell on her hands, together prest, 220 And on her silver cross soft amethyst. And on her hair a glory, like a saint: She seem'da splendid...

...And threw warm gules on Madeline's fair breast, As down she knelt for heaven's grace and boon; 220 Rose-bloom fell on her hands, together prest, And...drest, Save wings, for heaven: — Porphyro grew faint: 225 She knelt, so pure a thing, so free from mortal taint. XXVI. Anon his heart revives: her vespers...

...queens and kings. (208-16) Illuminated by this casement, Madeline seems a kind of a religious statue: Full on this casement shone the wintry moon. And threw...splendid angel, newly drest, Save wings, for heaven. (217-24) The poem's penchant for turning artworks into the ekphrastic subjects extends to food and...

...panes of quaint device, Innumerable of stains and splendid dyes, As are the tiger-moth's deep damask 'd wings; And in the midst, 'mong thousand heraldries,...grace and boon; Rose-bloom fell on her hands, together presst, And on her silver cross soft amethyst, And on her hair a glory, like a saint: She seem'da splendid...

...kings' with a contrary Keatsian blush, and the casement casts images which cannot contain the body: Full on this casement shone the wintry moon And threw...knelt, so pure a thing, so free from mortal taint. (lines 217-25) We are still in the realm of heraldry, but the 'taint' which St Agnes' eve may bring...

...queens and kings. Full on this casement shone the wintry moon, And threw warm gules on Madeleine's fair breast, As down she knelt for Heaven's grace...splendid angel, newly drest, Save wings, for heaven. Her vespers done. Of all its wreathed pearls her hair she frees; Unclasps her warmed jewels one by...

...Roberts, my sixth form English teacher, was fond of this example from Keats's poem The Eve of St Agnes: Full on this casement shone the wintry moon, And threw...soft amethyst, And on her hair a glory, like a saint ... He liked to paraphrase: As Mary knelt to pray, the cold moon coming through the stained-glass window...