# LXXVIII explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by John Keats.

## What happens

The speaker recounts a series of misadventures involving dropping a gold watch, killing a kettledrum, and attempting to curry favor with a highness by coaxing her pug-dog, only to receive a sharp rebuff. The highness then wishes to play whist, makes three revokes, and turns from her partner in a huff, with a note that His Majesty will eventually know her temper.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The speaker narrates personal mishaps and social interactions with a highness.

## Key lines

> Dropp’d my gold watch, and kill’d a kettledrum⁠— It went for apoplexy⁠—foolish folks!⁠— Left it to pay the piper⁠—a good sum⁠— (I’ve got a conscience, maugre people’s jokes,)

I dropped my gold watch and broke a kettledrum, which was mistaken for apoplexy by foolish people. I left a good sum to pay the piper, despite people's jokes, because I have a conscience.

_The speaker describes a series of clumsy and costly mistakes, emphasizing his moral integrity despite ridicule._

> To scrape a little favour; ’gan to coax Her Highness’ pug-dog⁠—got a sharp rebuff⁠— She wish’d a game at whist⁠—made three revokes⁠— Turn’d from myself, her partner, in a huff; His Majesty will know her temper time enough.

To gain some favor, I began to coax Her Highness's pug-dog but received a sharp rebuff. She then wanted to play whist, made three revokes, and turned away from me, her partner, in a huff. His Majesty will eventually learn of her temper.

_The speaker attempts to ingratiate himself with a high-ranking woman but is rebuffed; her behavior at whist suggests a difficult temperament that will become known to the king._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_14_se/chapters/lxxviii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_14_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_14_se/chapters