what does these lines mean:

"Gainst the hot season;the mid forest brake,rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms;"

Keats had tried to write an epic poem on the lines similar to Milton. The line mentioned in the question has been taken from his poem "Endymion". Although, Keats was not able to complete the epic, it has many unforgettable lines. The particular line describes the beauty of nature. The "Endymion" begins with the poet hailing Nature and her bounty. He says that each an every object in Nature, be it the daffodils blooming in the grassy meadow or the quiet flowing stream, the sun, the moon or other celestial bodies all make Nature beautiful. In spite of the heat of summer when the ground is covered with thick moss, the lovely, fragrant musk rose blooms. According to Keats, the diversity of Nature lies in the fact that two contradictory things can co-exist together. The particular lines provide us with a picturesque perception of Nature with all her beauty.  

  • -3

'Gainst - against

brake - thick mass of fern (non flowerring plants having feather-like leaves)

covert - a shelter or hiding place

--

The line continues from

That for themselves a cooling covert make gainst the hot season.

The clear and small streams of water make a cooling shelter for themselves against the hot season.

Mid forest brake, rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms.

The thick mass of ferns looks grand with their beautiful musk roses. The beautiful musk-roses help to make the beautiful forest rich in beauty.

  • 11
What are you looking for?