It was first published in , out of Vienna , by Romanian expatriates in Austria-Hungary. It is generally considered Eminescu's masterpiece, one of the greatest accomplishments in Romanian literature , and one of the last milestones in Europe's romantic poetry. One in a family or "constellation" of poems, it took Eminescu ten years to conceive, its final shape being partly edited by the philosopher Titu Maiorescu. During this creative process, Eminescu distilled Romanian folklore , Romantic themes, and various staples of Indo-European myth , arriving from a versified fairy tale to a mythopoeia , a self-reflection on his condition as a genius, and an illustration of his philosophy of love.
The eponymous celestial being, also referred to as " Hyperion ", is widely identified as Eminescu's alter ego ; he combines elements of fallen angels , daimons , incubi , but is neither mischievous nor purposefully seductive. He is persuaded by her to relinquish his immortality, which would require approval from a third protagonist, the Demiurge. The Morning Star seeks the Demiurge at the edge of the Universe , but only receives a revelation of mankind's irrelevancy.
In his brief absence, the Princess is seduced by a fellow mortal. As he returns to his place in the sky, Hyperion understands that the Demiurge was right. It has endured in cultural memory as both the object of critical scrutiny and a strong favorite of the public. It has also inspired composers Nicolae Bretan and Eugen Doga , as well as various visual artists. She is shown waiting impatiently for nightfall, when she gazes upon the Morning Star:.
From 'neath the castle's dark retreat, Her silent way she wended, Each evening to the window seat Where Lucifer attended. And secretly, with never fail, She watched his gracious pace, Where vessels drew their pathless trail Across the ocean's face. London etc. ISBN Hyperion senses her attention and gazes back, and, although a non-physical entity , also begins to desire her company. In one such a moment, she moans for him to "glide down upon a ray" and become her betrothed.
Urged on by this command, the Morning Star hurls himself into the sea, reemerging as a "fair youth", or "handsome corpse with living eyes". However, within days she returns to dreaming of the Morning Star and unconsciously asking for him to "glide down".
