then doth he propose

In two places in John Keats's Eve of St. Agnes Porphro seems to say great things that would advance his character immensely, except that they are only implied and never put into form for the reader to see for himself.

In stanza XIV, when Porphyro is speaking to the "old beldame" Angela, who helps Porphro get to Madeline, "he doth propose/ A stategem that makes the beldame start." Unfortunately, the reader is not privvy to this strategem, and can only learn of its nature through Angela's response: "A cruel man and pious thou art." The reading audience is forced to judge Porphyro based only on Angela's jusdgement, not Prophyro's words.

Two stanzas later, Porphro redeems himself, but the reading audience learns of it in a similarly distant fashion. "Thus plaining, doth she (Angela) bring/ a gentler speech from burning Porphyro;/ So woeful, and of such deep sorrowing,/ That Angela gives promis she will do/ Whatever he shall wish, betide her weal or woe." This is a moment of triumph for Pophyro, but his abilty to win people with words is a characteristic the reader much trust exists based on Angela's reaction.

Perhaps Keats left out the exact words Porphyro spoke to save time or space, but I still found it surprising that Keat would imply the great power of words in a poem, and not demonstrate them to strengthen Porphyro's character, but also to indirectly prove his skill with Poesy.