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New York 14609 u- ^= (715) ^82 - 0300 - Phone — ^7161 ?88 - ^989 - Fa» r V¥A\ Gl ^x IKivcrcibc tToffrgc (TfaceifiJ SELECTED POEMS OF rEllCY BYSSIIE SHELLEY KDITKU WITH IN lllODL CTION AND NUTES 15V GEORGE HERBERT CLARKE, M.A. I'rojeasor of Kugluh in the VniversHy oj the South •1 I'll HOUr.HTOX MIFFLIN COMPANY BOSTtJN NEW YOUK CHICAGO SAN FUANCISCO CurT«Hilll, '- ,, 1^ lliil'<.ll liO', MIliriN ,\M' ( u\l>'A.'*V ALL Krc.ri 1 , III SI Kvtu iCI)r iRilursibe i}rt<« CAM 111. I 1)1.1! . MASSAC IIU-^HTTS ruiNiri) IN 'I llli U.S. A o h:. Zii m i*''^ti)ci IS h i ;?,>:;■■. i \ >•„„„.■ .'Ml •'"""1" , ^^ .,^ ,,|„„„t,.v.ry shv (-'"■■" "'" ''"""■' ;;",2"„v 1..-1...-S i.i";;-ci'.v "' "■'■ """' " " „ ,.1 -l.. .ll-v ..«>'■'-' ""■"- „ftl..-| '■-"'"'""" ,,,,v,.,n.-.l.l -,iu tio.a.l iM .1..- l',n.U..S.^n'l'>- ■ „, „.,,i„uuu -' ""'■ ^""'" , : ; ; ,„.,■. I- '"-»>■ >"■•'- g„^i.. ,"""-'l'>'.- '•",.„,„., ,,,„,„U „s vitally a. w. itself tattsltt ." ""■■1":-'"' ■,.,;,,, „,,,,aratns. Is vvunW liU>'- ''''^V'" '".'". ,., ,, i, Ivranso a V"«'"- H ,,..aus,. w. -|- 2,;;:;;,, ,,„(,,, u yi.i.i-t--""- like aiH"VMH»,i"^>^^" fulenoe ? Macon, (.koiu.ia. .^ G. II. 0. ^ *.•■;: '-V * CONTKNi: Isriti>i>i ' 111 11,.. l.ilV ..f Mi'll.y Ml. 11. \ as I'n.'t lllf.l.ltM.ll.MllV Uii Ixix V IV S\.\S/ \' AlMtll l^U 1 o ('nl.l Hll'i.l-. 'I'n \Vi)|il>tW<'i:Tn • • • ' ,,,,.,•• Tin ,,„,,. KA.nn.i..r.nK..ow ) ■ • TliK SlN-IT • • • ■ ■ yy MoM' r.i.^'"'' •••■■' •I',, (•„N.l...>rlA. SiNC.lMi .••••■ J S.NMl- O/.YMAM.IAH . ■ • • " ' r:;;:^.~rTTirFnMr^. ... a.» --.c kv«u, .■.....» > l,lM.-i Til A Cull.'' ■ rAS^A.lK ..K 1". Al-l.NMN''-'^ ON A FA1...1. Vlol.V.l' .••■■■ ^ L.S, S W.<.r.KN AMONO THK Kc-.AN..AN Ih.XS ^ S,-,./As W.nrr..N .s 1)k..:.ti..N, nkau Na.-.k. Links to an In.)1an Aik • • • ' * i,()vi-."s riiM.osoi'iiv ■ • • ■ * S.v.i-'roTMK Mkn okKnolanh . . • Kn'i.an.) in 1^1'' •••■■' I'li.iMl >I1KI S UnIUHND ..•••' Til. W..i:i.n's Wandeueks • • • • Tin. Wamn'i Moon ••••"' To nil Mdon Cidou-Nic.HT .•••'■ l> rt 11 ir> 17 1« IH 10 19 20 31 33 31 34 :«; ■M . 40 147 . U7 147 . 148 vin COX TEN T> Sl)N(l ("IlAltri.Y, ItAllI-I.V, lOMKST THOI" •(•■1 •1,\|{ IllV K ■ilS, N( Afii MN : A I'lKiM'; 'I'm; <^M I >i inN . H VMS UK Ari'i 1.(1 IIV.MN HI I'AN Aki Tin SA c 'I'm- ('i.i)Li) To A MiYl.AUK Odk to Liiu kty ^ The SKNsiTiVK 1'i.ant .... DiudK KQii Tin. Vi.au To Ni(iHT .SOMNKT TO KyKhN Links i"Fak. \i! away. ye'") To Emilia Viviam To (■■MlSir, WUKN 80FT VOICES die") To (■ On "ohd is too get n i-KOEANEn") . To (-When passion's tuanie is oveui'ast" Bridal Sono Ml'TATilLlTY Sonnet— PoEiTicAi. GuEATNEss . . . . To-MouKO\v A Lament (" O Woui.n! O Life ! O Time ! ") A Lament ("Swiftku fau than semmek's elk; ^ Aih)Nais ■^ A Hikoe (" Knrc.H wind, that moanest i.orn'' F-I'ITAPH Lines ("When the i.ami- is shattehed") j.;,,>,Tj — From "Chahees the Fihst" . To Jane — The Invitation .... To Jane — The Recoi.eection "With a Oiitau, To Jane Notes ht") ) . 148 mo \r,i ir.2 1.-.:? 1.-.4 l.T. 1.-.8 1" 1S7 1«8 1S!» UK) T.M) r.ti I'.U I'.fi 103 . I!t3 1<14 . 1<).-. l!i,-> . v.r. lit" . '.'IH •J1J< . 21H •Jl'.> . 'J'JD OO') 225 220 H \i FIELD PLACE INTRODUCTION TIIK LIFK OF SHELLEY P:vkry life is a symbol as well as a history, — a symbol, 1„m1ui))s i. were truer to say. because it is a history. Tlie lite of Slielley as a man, exceptional as it appears, is at one witli tlie ironius of Shelley as a poet, — it was impul>ive; i^enor- ously ardent ; tilled witli tlie scorn of scorn, tl..- h.ve of love ; ea^'er and anxi.ms to establish universal justice, freedom, andhap])iness; but pursuing too characteristically the d.- humanized method of importing goodness into men rather than that of winning men into goodness. The curse of his life moved from the tense yet dark mood of Paracelsus, exultant in denial and challenge, to the high affirmations o! Aprile, — »i _ . tlie over-radiant atar too mad To drinlt tlie Ufe-spriiiss." Had he lived, it is hardly possible that he would have failed to become at last « ^ . . . a third And butter-tempered spirit, warned by both." On the fourth day ..f August, 179L>, their first child was born to Timothy and Elizabeth Shelley, at Field Place, near Horsham. Sussex. He was called Percy, because that was a favourite name in the Shelley family, ancient m Sussex ; an.l Hysshe, because that was the name of his paternal gran.lfather. a handsome, wealthy, and positive old gentle- man, eventuallv made a baronet, who had been twu-e marrie.l, fust to Miss Mary Catherine Michell. a Sussex heiress, who ilied after eight years of union, at the age of twenty-six; and again to Miss Elizabeth Jane Sidney, III tf II ',» hi. ilt- P,,,,,.u.i,..n-"^;; ;;*;';;;';,:;: ;,,,,: uu„ ,.„■ iM.|>.-t.i..ns >"■'■>■ ; , ,,i, „,„ •n„«.Ui,v...uo r;:::j;;;:'^';;;::;:::--^--''"' -' faiiiily. , ^ En "-li slim an of Ti,n...l>y S!„.l!,-y «» a «"";'■'";■' ",'■' „,.l„,i,,„,l i„ ll,„ ,1m,.,, tl.a. " »-- >"■"'"■'""' lc.ll,.«s ,...rl.„;« .,,.n,e..s,„-,,..i,-.u:,i....,."n,,,.y .-i.-^ > ^^^ „,.„.,. „„„.. ,.t i, ..■..." 1,- ; " ■ ,,,„^.,,, ,,„„ .,,..,,„, y.,..,„K., .,( l-..ri,^,--" ■ " •" ',,' ,H .. . Willi,,.' *-i-.-i-i-s-. Y":::t:::^\^^''-^-^'^-^- uuwne.l Ml- l-.....it'ti ' . ^ ^,^1 ,n,u-iuus wonKin. .on.evvl.at unfcnnnme y.t '^^^'^ "^ 7_\^^.^ ^ , Pev.y Shel.ec:unetlKMno,herois.ven.Onliu.uJ-o .^ ti-^'>'^^-^^''-''*;'^,^::;r'V av.ntun,usan ^^'l j,, ^^^ sorts a,.i„, his stay at hon.e - n>l owel , U- ^^^ ^^^^ jrvouml for the most uu-mu^ 1- ,t. f„„a. toojiko Wsshetolnsaw.a<-ou.i.uaons R-^^^^^^ other i,nas,ri..al.ve ^-^'^^'^^'r' \'^' I "^a . leaah." lunt, shadowy situations in whuih. WP^^^^^^ o.a,ain.he...niaaeta.a. uns^ h. .aU ^.^^^^ ;a,.,nt ah>ne in tlx" moonhi^ht. saxt ^'•11''-''^ •''^'■'•^•^r, t ' trr infnn..V ana hovhoouhaa Alu., MX s...auaea y.a.s a ' ■'" [ Ka^aras.of 1 I'v ^h.. hecamu a puiul of tin- VU'\. ->i>- '-"" passed. l..\>^t" "^''^'"^ ,1 I,, ',M...i„u.'snr.-efainirvcurs the village ot Wavnhan., uaiu uj. .=•• • - IXTIiODi'CTloy XI he spent chieflv in study in, Latin and a.v. .,.,n, Ins st,e^ ,. Si.uH.nM.Acaa.nn.I>l..wovtl.n,.arln.M,to.a lu. c ,„„,Hl lun,.lf on., oi sunn, six.y ,um..1^. vnU.l 1 • !> • ,,,.„^.,.,,,,..,, vigorous ..MS..u,..!.,l,vn... u n .s u.tcs.-i I)...a<.K-M.l..l.n..:uunnu..ldu.ad.ai.Uuotnnkn.y . .^ With ■^p.-tarles pnslu.a l/.ul. hIm.vc. In. .la.k an., i.u^l > c.y Ws' WaonnLw.nM.,innda,.Ml. la..an -^^^ K ; 1 dips into Ids nudl ot S....t-h snutl l'> V'' "';• V' I \v-u- and t.-av uf tlu- ..lass-n.on.. ' Sludlcy . ;^rM:pve^ntanin.itatin,lynKU.Ueddevna.o,...^ no. n. and tlu-v s..on f..Mn.l that tins was t.m- als,> ot h.s n.an Is advent. a.n.nlin,ly,,. rovokod_n,u.ln.ss.pe,s..u- L oven, the nH.re readily that the fa,,.n, systeu. eove.ed t udeofpettvtvvannies.Th.nu.sMed.nKa^^^ h;t,.,.e..o^i>;.lley..ho.as.d..apnpd=a^ 1 M I,nn -.^ -a strai-r.. and nnsi.cial l)euv.> 1 lun.u tnt: :;:i.hi^isvi:ionsandnna,inin.s.he,aveo.dy ^nvained attention, o either his .■ho,.hnateso.. ins, a^s ; .advaneedsteadnyinleandn,.and.ast,ansevn.d. ,.„..n.t for he seems Uk-w. 1" Lave l,ee„ m.al oo».lm„ M '. . «.ve fu,- . si„,l.. tri 1 ; ve. a. Kt„„ 1..S s.,„a„.. ;, ,. aiv h„,,r„ve,l. Tho,,,!, l.e f,.un,l ..ore ne..,ls ..1 and pnpds. and lu ua> (;„,.dall. the dnllv apathetic to the mere h..ddv pain. ' f... .1 n.an of solid worth, was seeonded u. the L:;wr^t.;;i> ;^.. Ke.te. powertm .i,h hooU ..d Urreh .Uke Shelley entered the Fourth For.a under Keate « juu. m • 1 1 r,.- t with :i Mr. Ilfxton as lils Uitov -A t;'-;:vil":- ::■;:•":"-^-" s;,u:: ::.^i.■•^'i^,. ; S lilV.-t was ho to the ex..l...nu.n,. .^ h-s h.e ',,. 1 t..U„.. au.l so liercelv vos.ntful. n.,t <.f physu^al ,,,„., ,„„ .,t i,.-,,Mi.-.. an.l the s,>,nt ..f <-vn..t> tha the an o •• Mul ^!u-llev." an.l was hait.'.l t.nu- attt-i to hu known a> -Ma. I ^i" n^^- tniincnt- ti„H. tor their an.nsenu.nt hy a rr-'w ..f thoni^htU^^s t.nn.c.t rWl.v-lu..l to the lin.it onus patience, says one. h. 11 -tlnsh like a ti.-er-s, his cheeks -row pale as r:;;; i:I: .nt.--Snehhoysashe.li.latt.n...l.w. ' l!^tl ,lHew hut :>ne llalli.lay appear to have IKU anin.ine,ivennaerstanain,oflnn.-h.veainn.to h^ .00.1. aV,.,u't Kton, p.nnino- out his y..un, sonl in htB and \M>.'.i« , \i ■ ,,,„ *> Up eertamlv was not and starts of h.>pe an.l en hnsu.sn . »« -; ^^^ J.. ^ ,,^. ,,„ l.appy at Eton.- wrote Ins tnen. n '^y^l^,, was a. lisi)..sitl..n that nee.lea especial ptiso.iai i :;:Laow^.tc,. ana cherish ana airect all his no h.as^^^^ ana the rennukahU' tenaerness ot h-s heart He had , c \ . 1 i.'n'>',\ n.)lhin.^ hut what was hase an.l ^ moral courage, and leaie.l nouun„ t-A.o an.l low" From the same source we leain that Ins irwlre'chiia-splaytohin..'- He nn.vea thn.n.h tl. t la .MuaWnn. whh ease, ana ch..>e to aaa to Ins sclu.ol I ,he ..utsiae v..ain, ..f >u..h .aass.cal autlnn. as L - LanaPHny.withlM.:n,Min. (;onaorcet..,ap.H. - ,,,.<, .a.in- his future father-iu-h.w-.nlns_/./.^/ . jL:: His r-i..a..'a inter..st in science to. ,n..reaM^ , , „ t .. f,.w risks— hntli phv-^ical an.l nia.^iMtiial ^ :;;r::;i;";: :...-.i • -'---v.!;:;;:: c,.,.i,,.,.-. .nni.nal kinship with Shak..spe:uv s Ar.M. .;ieatnre of" air" and lire. C^erlainly, the youn^ Klo.aan cuuia i.avc /vT/i'o/)rr'77o.v XUl , , ,. J-,., i.«- ■"'■ ■■''-;•'-;:::■;;:::. '"■'■'■'■"";■ ' ';,.; 1..1 .V ,i„. u„v-s ,:,..»■,* n.- A,:,, i„.„.i.,- .j> '•■ :" i^™ '7' r:;::r;:t^r::::;:'::wt::;:i::;::-i^^ I 'it '• -'• ['»">• "■ ~'ii:;;;2LiI^"- he writes : — '.I,l„r..n...„lM.ru..ll.h..l>ourwlm-l, l,.n^t Mvs.infssl...,,, Ai-,v,hMav-.huvuU.-,as. \Vi, .;. I NVH'ik.Ml fo.tl. u|.>... the -lutrrn.- t;'"i='=S. A,„lu..,.,IU.-vno,.hv:,u,nl.!u.n.r..e FnMu.lH.n.ars..l.onlnH,M. vnun.stl.ut.aU.. Tho luusl. an.l ,ra.iu;, snitV. ot tyrants u,ul ..f f Sl.,.n,.v. as f..na.t,.o. of sailing, uin.atu,.e,al- boat. rf. /:.sa- ;/,„/„.,/ i7./M,, 11. Isl-lsL XIV i.\T!:(H>r('Ti()y So. ^^itl.oMl .li:il,l,.. I M.nk-: "I «ill 1m' "ISc-, A,„l li.^i .11.1 Ir. ■•. .Hi.l Miil.l. it In Mi.' li.s Sufli puu..-. I.. I I :^i"» w.ai-y in i„-l.ol.l Til.' -.Ifi'.li ana I In' stniiii;- slill l\ niimi/..' WmI ,.,M„;n'hor..ln...k.- I tin n mn, ■ nll,.,l ^_ Ms t.:i.^. n,> h.MM ^;n.w .hIh.. an,l 1 u:.s nn . k .unl bnl.l. If in tlir ti.M nionu lit ShrlK-v frit liis .•..nscirnc- .,uirken.'.l aiuM.Mliral.Ml 1.. tlu.rau^ouf liluTtv. so in tlu- M.run.l Ins i, „,,„;,„, i,.„ sou-lit .Irlivcnnu'.' from tlu- l.o,ul;.-c" -t tl..- ,„^,,,.lv iH.niia,' :nnl >iui>UT,an.l l.e-U" i"«'t':ul to M-rk lu.io h..au.v uii.l l.u.Mic it. -n.i^ ...oim-nt. too. he ha.* 11x0.1 ior us in hi- //////'/' '" Inh'llrrtnal Iltiint>j : — " Wliil.' \'t ;i 1>ov 1 son- lit fnr uln.st^, Mini spM 'riii.Mi-h many a U-t.-niir^ .•inmiluT. .'av. and rmn, And sta.lit;lit « 1. Nvilli teait'nl st.'iw pni'suint,' ll,,l),.s(,f !ii-li talk with till' a.'l.ilit.'d ilra.l. 1 calliMl .111 i...is..n..ns naim'S «ith wliicli .mr y.n.th is fi'd. 1 was ni)t liiMiii. 1 saw Tln-lii not ; Winn, niusiii^; di.-ply ' Of litV. at thatswui'l linn- wln'u win. Is ;iru wooing All vital tliin-s that wak.' t.i hriii^' Nrws c,t' hit'. Is and Ijlnssnniin^:;-, Sudd-'ii thy sliadow frll on mi' : — I shiiik.d and .•laspcd my hands in i>cst:isy . "I vowed that [ w.mhl .l.Mili'at.. mv i.,.wrfs To the.' an.l ihlp.- ; hav.. 1 rot k^lit thi- vow ? Tlo'V know that n.'vrr jiy illimi"d mv 1m-.. w rnlink.'.l with li.il..' tlial thou w..ul.lsl i'lco 'I'l.is w.iil.l iioin Its (l.:vk ^hivi'i'y. That th.m. V awt".l '1...VKLIN1;- s, _^ Wonl.lst j;ivc whal. ■•.'.• Ux ■< ^w.nls .'ann,.t express. Thes. iu.sa-.s vv.ro vuur.iv.a hv a saner niinil an-l ^vl■itt..n with a Meailicr h:unl than wit. th. rather l.n.hlic et^'nsions of Shi'llov-s ..ai'li.'.' s..iith.,>ro.liu-tin„swhu'h ho-a,. first at K'on to eourt pen ami i-a,..'!'. Sov.ral tra-nu'iu- an- l.o.'.n- hrlm- to this ti.iu". as al-o tly^ extravaoaiit rouiaiic.'. Anstrn::i. wruien i)n.i..oo,y in .•„llai;w;ath;:; wita ISTIiODrCTIOS XV ,,,H„, ,o .h:uv its .M.lmMasn. . .1 kn.a. 1 ^^^^^^^^^ I n..ll,>n witl. MtMhviii. a.ul imssil.ly .il^" ^^'^' ^" ; ..f ISlO-ll. (JnilKim may hav.l.cLM. as.o- -'>-'-^''^''V ti 1- ^vil^.a^vhlvlin,i.ul.ea, .. .• 1 11 tlw. ronics — wave ono, miu'c lepniutc lull nt wlm-h all tlu' opi '^ nr)l.ai.ly, .1-, ,l..s.tr.)V('a or sui'Pi''''^-"^'^^'- '^ ' ,. ^vcn■appan.ntlya M.ou > 1 j,avtner=*lup. M.awiu h..lp.a t<, sl.apo ^'- /f '"; :^;i : ^iWvi.u. the ,1„„„. ;>,..l tl,e two tvavellml "!'. '""''=' "j^.^j c..ncRO •ri„„..i.y w- s---iy f" "■'■.;" ' ,,.,„„, sialic, will. :;:-'f ,.::::n,:"S !;:;:i,::l' :vi-in:nsf »... .« .vhat was passincc m ^Vv- h' mu n, a. I ^^^ ^.j^^_ ,, O.fonl, aeciain, wlK^t h.- hkM aM.l .. h, Ue ^^ He. likM tlie seclusion, tl.o la.va.u-.. tl.L natu.a . ll:!:';:'! We aia not Uke its sleepiness, as co..e.vaU.u, • I. I I XVI ISTlKUtrcTION its (tnlcilv academic routine. ( Jiic is strikiiiL^ly remiiulod of Bacon's iii(licliiieiit of the ( 'ainliiiit ie>. ;ili lliili'4^ ate loiind opjiosile til tlie adv;iuce- ineiit of tlie MJeiices ; for tin- leadings and exercises are liere SI) niaiia-ed that it cannot easily couie into any one's mind to tliini< of thiie^'S out of tjie coinnnn. road. . . . For the studies of men in such |phice»i are c(»nlined. and |)inneil (hisvii to tlu' uiitin'^fK of «'ertain authors; fioiu \vhi(di. if anv man ha]i|ii ns to ditfer, lie is jiresenlly re|ii-esented as ;i di^tuilier and innovator. " Siielley's mind — ah'it, orii^inal. tiioMi,di al\va\ s in certain ie>]ie<'ts untiaineil — thoiiL,dit ot many thiuLjs out of ihi' eommoii road, ilis ju'ime ( )xtoi'(l * innovation." it is true, was not curefidly conci-ived or tact- ful! v jiresented. It was a jiiex'e of folly for which he paid dear, iiut it wa> not di-lionoural)le, nor was it even "dan- f^erous " in any vital «ense. Soon aftxM* ITu iirrivul he made the acquaintance casually of a felh>w-fre»ihman. Thomas Jefferson Ho^^jl,'. a well-born anil><>nit' : — " 1 cannot oxjiresa His virtu. -s. tli<»iif;h I kiKnv (liat thcv arc j;rp,it, I)i'i';iusc 111' locks, tlii'ii l^iiiricaclca. the f^ate Within which thcv inh:ihit ; -^- uf his wit And wisdiPMi. you 11 cry out wlieii you are bit. He i.s a pearl within :iii ovstcr siu'll, Out; of the ric'lii'st of I lie ilecp." IIocTi? was stroiiLjly attracted by Shelley's look.s, sincerity, and enthusiasms. The two met nii^bt after ni'^dit in each other'.s rooms, and del»ated questions of literature, science, and his- tory, on Siielley's side with fervour, on Ho;^i;'s with i^rowinif interest in this rarti a/v'.v. an interest almost wonder. Hof:jtj deeiilv re.snected Shelley's uowev of imaLdnation and niiritv of ISTnoitlCTloS XVII rli:iract«>r. ttinii(,'li In- ;illi>\vr.l Iiiin-irlf to ii<> (Mit<"rt;iiii(il l«y lii-; new fiiciid's txli :i\ a^'aiicts of iniiimiT aii'l statt'iin'iit. II,. Iki-. Ifit ii> in lii> l.ih' <'l' Slnlhij :i .l.t;ul.-il ami pii'- , tiin-.|iic a.'coiiiit (.1 tlic iiHft a- lie Ki rw liiiii .luring' tt"ir six lliollllis' (•(,inia>lf-iii|. at cuUf;;.'. lie .I.Miilir.i Slifllt > s flmiiv as-'-li-lit ami fra'^'il.-. ami yrt lii^ Iioih- ami joints ucif lar^r ami slion-. II.' was tall, l.ui tio sIimiikmI so iniifh that Im' -.cfinrd nf a low -tat nic. lliscluth.s u fie fxpt'lisivc, and iiiadi- accni-dinLC to the ino^t aiiprovcd iiiudc nt llicday; hill Ih.y WCIX" tUlul.lrd. IMMiplrd. II nluiisli.'d . His j,'CsturfS wiTi! aKMijit. ami suimtiiins violent. ucr.nMoiially even awk- ward, yet nioif tri(|miitly m-ntle ami <,nactfiil. . . . His fcaturi's. his whole t'aee and pailiciilai ly his head, were, in fact, nimsnally small ; yet the la-t "/>/,r'iriluaK--..u,->- '1 upn„l,nM. :nnl i.i.rMM.,1 i;,...U.ll,...,,Mlinv,.-..,:mun.u,.l.:. In,.. nuHh,,,,!... :,.,.•,,- ,i....lv in.HM ..■uitlnMtlHM"i^-->"^ '"-'•''""'"■"•";:"'' i,„/|M„t,,nl,. IMato. \hmu: Ln.U: thr (imk t r:„v,l,.>. Si:.U...n..:,iv. ;m,l Lana,.,. 1 1. n.nl inu..l al>o tu wnt... pui.- li.l.i,..- .t l.i-.uu .xiM.UM- an,.tl>.T Kt..,u;.n .uMKUH... - MM, l-,il„,;. _,S7. /,■,•,/.,..-,• nr Unslrrnrhu, : >....,.■ 1M,1, tu.il v.TM.- and avulu,>H.nf,..iMH.lla>UMmsi,„H,vr.,„tain.n..lMM- h..,l,u.s that i.l,.as...l uM.l.T^ra.l.ut. last.. i.r.nU..! tu^Khov ,vi,h sMMu.n, ,.vs..,i.msw..vk pnulnn.! s,.asM,..l..-,U.V. 1 liat Sholh.v runia l.av.. l.c.-n wlUin, at thi^ .la,,- 1.. ,.nl.l.4:. Hmnuh ,„unvnHM.4v. l,is rnwl.. an,! ..vr^tranu-l tal,.. a.,.l to ,.:>-t muvIv hav. K.cn l,ml...ta„ttl..-uinK-: •• I am aua.v.- h. u .„t,- to St„..Uale ll., p„l,U,l.... at..-r na..,i.mln.,an t.. I.. lVlt,'-..t Ihenni-vu- ,,,„;,. .,,■ i,„l,ll.lnn. a l.-uk m. ilUr.,..>tc.a .> .S7. /nv/... S...rU,lal.. tor his part. lr...n uhat.v.r nmt.vo. sIhto.I up tn.ul.U. lor Slu.Uov at luMuc. l.y .ailing his ratlu.,-sat.<-.,tH.n toth. m.s.mna.u;- uf his vi..u ■- ami attvihutim^ tins to Ins ,.„„,i„„,aasso..iati,mwithlI,.,t^. I'an ntal -••hmliy pat,..'- „,a-int,.m.nti,mtollouea.o>av t,. .•onHi.r. MH-lh.y m what ,„„,„„, nu.^t ,h-si,..at.. a. th,. hm./f of tlu- n.i>..n, .rstoo.h n. v..w..a c.x..h..llv t,, a,.t,.M,l i.is pnm.iph.s to tlm ast. an. t,.n.mainh.valtohisfm.naa, all ha.a,-,!. 1 hs .• .l.Ts d,.! „.„ „,,,„ |,nn with the wis.h.n. Innn of huunmr un. sy.npa- ^1,, , thcv -lia not U.mw tlm way t,. hi-, h,a.t. ami l>a,l th..,v known it' th.>vwoul,l have fouml that Ima.t at tlm moment ..utof tuno ana ha.sh. Uar.u.l Gn.ve's alt.n-.i.m was not pv.K.f a^ain.t her ahum at Shelley-s reputo.l In.resu.s and ' ^ . , , .■ ^ a- l,..i;..V ■■...1 unliclu!!. Ins own ,'xagt.';t'.uU-ii >Uu .awanjiis ui u-- ]\ri:ni>i'(r!(>y XIX "iif S,,. ',,,,1, lnv..,l .n.l -In.a.l.l .h- stnu,^. v-mtl. ; Fn.l.;.- ;„....:.il..,l. an.l in ISll >1... .nam..! - n ..l...! ni.-ar-l, as Sli.llrv .I.tmIkmI hi.n. a. Ml. M.lvai. i" . ,. „,,' ..mlu 1...... IM.M n,,..,. .l.nin, Ih.. ( najunas v...aU.::raMa,h..M.ati...l I n„.l..,an.-.. tl... ..>....• nt ;.!''_ .„... 11. w,.la,n„..l,l.a. lU,,>hnu!.l.nanv KhaKHl, ,,U ,1.1.-. M^t.r. ulm uas atV....tiuMa.. ly .-..^.1.,,^ li-n. at M,M. ,,...l,a,.. all. ..f -Ins o,il l,a,l l..-, av,...!..,! .1 .1- p,iuu.a,I.Ml..n.inl,a.ll>...nl..>siuM....M,.0.:.v,.nn^a^^^^ ,. f,.i..n.Nn..u.uilliuut.. n.ly on lus ,,...• =^» ;^"";'' ' ,„a r..ot .l..nli.v. h ■. far ln„M tl,. n.a.k ,. allow t-.at Sh..ll..v ua- at any li-u.. a .LlilKTat. ath.Mst. >o man. u -^ .,tV t.'. ^av. has f.lt n.or. .lim-tlv an.l ....nt.nnally than . hd ';,,„....xM..n.-....f al..-nelWntS,,in.. As an un.l.r^nu.w- ,,., i, ion,... h.■uasaHWt...linhisth,.u,■htl,yth...^.uMnas■ ;,f;,,,,,,iMisn,.l,^,a,n...inu,.a..s...l^.,...sn^at..th. ...^ olanulmna,.-ln,.lli,.-H...an,lLov... 1, ua.nl.. he .htlw.lt t,, lin.l in pun. m..-atur.. a m..e ,.a,.r lun.,cr ami tlnrsf f^ ,,-li„.ss and ,!u. Source of i.oline>s -Iwrn a,Mu-a.s n, Slu-1- ,!,.-s .1,/ ns. nr rr.n. //./A'.. 77,. /.■-.--// ';/ /.sV..., .i,;,l ]>,.,.n,rf/..»s rnhoun.l. n.,t t.. speak of Ins .,ust an. ;,,v..n.nt Ks.nn.^ arf/n:.. when e.„n,Kne.l w.th C huu- eer-. ,-o...l-hnn,..nr..,i ..v.-lath-ns in 77,r (^n>f.;'l.>nf T..h's. an.l lt..wnin^'s half-f.aen.ilv .-on.h.mna.ions ..! Hh„u:.-n.n an.l hiskin.h Slullev nnf.nlnnat.ly t.MHh.l t,. ..l..nt,iy alwavs pviesth..o.l with tradition, th.' elnarh with u.u:...ni,r..nns.nj,' i ill XX TNTUODUCTION and pov..M-utin- .-onscrvatisn,. TIumo is in Ins work no .. povn. I'.Tsoun ..f a tonn," no Innocent XII. H.,' .b-l not iKil.itnally m- l,oth m.I.'s. tli(.n,i;h in one of liis more lu-n-ivo nn.o.ls I.'- a.tnallv expressed a deMre to l-rconn' himself a ,„i„i>trr. "Of the moral doet rines of (;iiri>liamty I am a more .leeided diMMple than many of its more ostei.taUons prnfessors. And consider for a monumt how mnch ^ood a ,r.,„d eler.-vn.an mav do." ' I'.'.t for a moment only Nvas tins eonsidere.i. Shrllev wid.ed eharaeleri>tieally to dispense f.n- ,.-,M,d and all with the "law- idea, and to hrln- the sorely MdTerin.- world ont into the li-ht of knowle.l-e, virlne, love, and freedom. He knew what prayer meant : lu- was deeply moved hy awe and wonder in the contemplation of the eternal inysteriJs. In hrief. he was n<,t the enemy of veli-ion that I,,', thon-ht he WIS ; he everywhere iiroclaini.-d the eilieacy of the spirit of Love in liealins; and redeemin- hnmanity. In later years Dante and Petrarch, in some respects moddie.l Ids aversion to historical C ristianity. for thron-h their works he canu. to feel keenlv its spiritual heanty and power. His (,wn reli-ious instinct and attitnde as a yonth are sno-o;ested for us in\wo stan/.as of Wor-lsworth's 0>/e to Duty : — '■TluTc ;ir(' who ask nor if tliine eye Be on tlu'ni ; wlio. in lovi> .uul tnuh Wlicn> iio inis^ivinj; is. rely TTpon till' ■;rni,il sciisf of youth: Glad lic:uts'. without nproiicli or l)lot, Wlio do tliv work, and know it not: Oh 1 if tlnont;li contidi'iic.- misi.laci'd Thty fail, thy savin- arms, dr.ad 1* "w.r '. around ihom cast. " ScriMii' will l>f our ilays and hri.iiht An is an nn.rriu:^- liuht, And joy its own security. And (hey a hlissful emirso may hold Ev'n now, who, not nnwisely hold, 1 Front a conversation with Thomas Love IVacoek, reported by him. XXI ISTllODVCTloy i;,v.. in til.' spirit of tl.is cncd : _ , ^^ Y , sc...k thy tirn. su,.,ort, accorJiu,^ to the.r nc.d. 'P,,. f,,shm:,n of University College, however, with a „ , , .....atious ...a for reforuu was .n ..o n.oo.l o c.on>i>l.r his ways a.ul he ms. H ,^^^ ^'^'•^^^'^^'' •^^^'- ■ ,,lvnoaoul.t.arauKUie. The ar,n- „n,_-par,lysuH.eH..Va 1^ ^^^^^_^ „„u-nahslic ;:::;:::i::;r;.i::^:t^ ::-:;:;--,;:-:: U„„wU..l,.. l.nt tl.« an.l,,.,- «™, ■ 1 "^J ^^ j_^;^ Stukeh.y-' foreounsel -''''•^■"'■■'- ,;'' ,;;.i,.,ie.i..ea contro- iurnishea their eorvesponaent w:th '"'"'' '^^-^^ .. y;,,. . , •„,< Sl.ellev haa sent a copy to tUt V h e versud ope,Mn,s ^Mjh ^j^^^^,,^^ „„i ,y Uis own CliaiiceUor ami to eatli oi tut. ^ Vr . I.. WW iiiterro.'atea ainl coiuleinuea. Upon con Master l>e ^-^y".^^",,; .,. ^„ ,,i,,„3wle(h40 ov to aisavow ^''"'^^'•"r V Tu.c t^X was sun^narily expellea. tl>e anthorsh.p "t the P'M eiy ^ ,^^, ^.^,^,^^.,1 Fron. the stern conclave of Mast i .in.l i,„t„„iv ..v..n.lv to Ilo.-ui.h thefatetnl news; H0-4 .n>tanu> " •, , ..eh ana .h.-w „p..n l>in.>elf a hke exannna- ^""^■^•'"^ '^"' 'V'^'^'- '7^ ,,,, ;,.,„... l.ope.l that submission ,•„.„. with a ia.ere^uh. J\^''* •1" ''- ,. ' ,„ .„„^,a ;„,l the -"IT;: : ri,e,l;.anailo...i:nneaanan.onnu.a. 1 :, •si,ew!.onu.l>thavehe..on.en.oreanan.>re !;::,'s;!ih.v-s.l/ J/... haa hehavea ,n a »«. of „,,,.,nnM.aien..ashisy>..,A|..^^^^^^^ After visiting trien.ls and skumisUin^ ai ''"^^' ■ ; ,,.,„'-_-tlK-twovom.^.m-nsoUl.Miamv,i "\Viirsa\v;in(lnt iivfddiu. — tmM>oN ^ o tlu.ir l:aUitnal ..on.nuU.hii,, m,.,l nU.m>i M - .u inu.licit future oboai.Mu-. .uul a rupture w.th Ilu-,, ciu.nu, "'M'''- ' ,,,^^.,, i.iu. 11. h.a als., aa.,ur..a :t:::'m-':;:t,....-.:n...^:"-. '--": s„.,„ >v„l,.l,H„- ...■ «..» .;,h,lr..-„ to \"H, to ■■"•'' Sl„.ll,.v wh.. ,J....u.,l to (ollow Ititt, Ut.r.t,,.. »lt" "•"■'' .w:ti;,K..o,u'.i.ii". ...--.>•■ '"™'^''7, ::::;; ;, , ,.n..,. t«-i,„ » .v.i.l....t of 1 '-■ -"' I""""'"-' l,..il- vi'il aiul i)t'ison;u — niiwct^" :;;;::,.^;t:: ■;::;;.'—- ,.f l,..r Hirri.'t was a ninsoiue la.>. . xiiniMU ix XNTllODVCTloy ''''"' pavticnlavly attva<.t.ve -; ' ^ ^; ;;:^.;,, ., ,u views, sh. vapuUv .-.e una.- the <•'-;;-; ;-^,.,,, ,.,,„ .eeUs luulvassoahevln.ut .e,au . ul O ^^^^^^^^._^^_^^^ ^,,, Uis part, knew notlun,. . - -^^^^^^^^^^ snehap. -^''li'v. InU took a 1. . •- ^^^ ^^^^^^^^^ "^ "-'^'^^ =*''' :' 'W'ri-r ::;:ntly coneemln, the 1-- ana '^V''"" , I .iet'she hhtheveaftev l.e.an to „„„evs they a.senssea Han et ^ .^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ .. ^^^,.. ,-,U, ana SheUey. at,.-,hut.u. th to so. ^^^^ ._^ .^^^.^^_ ----•• -^^:"'r:;r:tl.ha,ainh..oke a Uu-ee ^^•^': '7 '■''■"'';; ;n^:tenvava.Havn.t-sp.-eeeptn.ss .vithlntoenuu.^- > ^ ^^^._^^^ •^'^^•'T^' Titl-Il-uul even, it is saul. suspenaea hoth her ami hi^ lanuiu Hanlet. . ,• f (\,,,t;iin PilfoM ^^--^'^7^^7T';.u-r-; :n.vsheiiy-spou.ie.i ana the Duke of No tolk. M ;,,,,_,.,.,. ,„,iu.i toh.s ehieMh.t,enth.nuu.lK..une a ^ ^^^^^^^^ ..n.enaoweahim.nu.ona^. a^^^^^^ sentea to ve.eive ''^'".^^ ^ "^'\ ' ;, ,„„,,,.., .n.l Eli/aheth, S,eUeyfouna^nst.a.n.ev.^^ . ., hi. aesi.e that aeavly as they lovea hnn. ^ . ^^^ ^^^^, ^^.^^^^^ . .. [ she shouhl aeeept Ho,,- » *' ^ " "^^ ,,u with ! I son.e- ,.,.pevieethennan..a^ .^ l^^ tin.es -''-^-^^rV • I i^av ehMiuent; o.l,e.wi.e ^^^^ '^ f ''^^ ^'T \vir pavtiedav oh^eet in view.-; Ho .vvote not ^av ^ H^ -^ ^^^^^_^^^._ ^^ ^^,^„ ^.„,, , ..sly i:.:i"a:::;:it.ess w^nnn he inul n,et at Capta.. Filioia-s l-,oni>i''"i'^'^^ =^'''^r''''''rrnWwn.teon..e a.ain. appealing t.. SlK.ll.v to sav \m--v In.ui , . „;„;.,een - P'-stM at cu'c^ ,,ea.t.a youth -- h-^ ^^^^^^^,^^ ^^^ ,,^^. ^,,,,,,a avp.ai- ^" ^^'""^'r- v'" T,ivwlu.n she falUTingly tola 1..M. love. ...... a,uU.nb, -^"t JlesfeltiuB^>^v..iug•si^yr- Sh.•ll.■y aoublL.= Kit as omt '' If wl)<>»'V('r loves ^Vl,v s\,o,.M wo always .hoos. tl . ..i,< _l ],::.i..wo,nanwithnU..n 1 ot ..... - l,iu.l...yself4..ee..h...v..ts..e,.... 1 f- 1,-w (^ouvsf as vcsemhUii;^ ^,^ ^^ ,,,,,, H.,, ho s,.as..^ ,.^^,,„, ..„.W a. urn .^^2a^alou^:sh.wlli,htit.as A„..n.l Hvssh. ana lav .t l> ^ .^^^ ^^^^^^^^ __l,v^oa.htoKalubm-l..^^i-■ ^"^^ '_'S. ISll. ,u,,,,ito fuKiurlal tronhles. for ,..„. hn.hana ana -;'"-•''' ;„^, his son. again u ith- S..,U.v-sfa..v.ao,.Un.-^^^^^ .ln.vvhi^:na—^1>"'" ■''"-" . ' york. ana was aon.i.a.a with ins tvunuls. 1 .1- "1- - .^,^„^,^,,-, entlmsi- at jyTUOhVCTlON XXV \ ...hool.^ivl. very w.lhn, .o •» 1 ^^^^^ i,u.n..MU!4 U.e .V.V.1U.VS nu.vM on U^ -1^ . ^^^^^^^^^ He nuule a to seek a prsonal '"t-- w ^ ; ^^^ ^.^ ,,,,,. ..ly to u, ,..t,ytnpl.toSnspasU^^- ^^^,,^^^^^ ^ ,^, ,a, .u-t with Mr. ^lu^ll;^ ;'^ ^,;^„,,, .vhose tu.e .nental ami conversation w.tU '^^>^%"'^ "!^ ,i,,Uy overrated, was Im piritnal .nalities ''V"'TLm - - returned to York J„W ,ain. Passiu, ^;-;^^^,^° ! ^ ,..,,e north and i>ad to 'tin.! that Kli-* '^^^'^' ;, 1 Thon,h Shelley was aware of tld. plan, and had to ^^^^^^^ ,,,o,van>n.e l,een .on>ewhat diseoneerted. At ^^^^ ^ .as inan,nrated. ^^^^^^^^^, J hy Shelley, who .vho was as clay m f^^''" ^ ' "lu>y Ho,,, who was not .o.dd only look on juul -- ;,;^ ^as feelin, the need ot .•onsidered at all "--;:; /^.....t. an interest wh.h protection fron> Ilog^ > ''''\ I- tUon -thephu.eofHo,,pv-;^ ;^^^.^.^^.^, ^ Chesuut Cottage mv I ^,^^,,,, , n,>y>n, H.ve they st.yed toi -^ ^^ ^^ ,,,t, and with du.rs ,,..,,U with the h.^^£^^-^W^,^ ,, ,., ,1 orter lUerary enterpr.es, >nc la a ^^^^. .^^^^ _^^^^^^_ ,^,, , INTROTiVCTJOy en! in ..-l-' -"^ l''?' i;:^,,!. l.ut tUuu,h Shelley tnet ,.,un^.v nu>eU v-'^-f ^^'^ ,,,,„.ss, !.>• sunn aVtevwarc -vote .o M-H-'''^'--'-^ ,,,,,,, „,.uMhatWi. or can 1.0 .-.uulhey as 1 .lul. • • • ^^ ^ ,,;„, to ; Ins nun.l • ,/,nl'lvn;nn.\vcon.l.are.l t» ii- • ' , „ The Dukeot >'"'^"^^; '" ;;a son -in response to a -^u,ly letter tn.n> Bvsshe H- ;^^^ .^^.„„, ,,,,, opened, t..v was not at once aajn-te.l. - i ^Vestbvonk ^veve ..ai.efo.elon.theyoun..nn^;;^; ,.., .eat. Sho.ly i„vite.ltor.n.vs,oke.the )nU ^^^^^^ ^^^^ .^^^„^,,^^. ..j a(terwa>a it was uannate.l ^o S - > ^^^^^^^ ,.„„,.„t to ^,0(.0 annually nu,l>t l.eon.h-^^^^^ -'^^"' ^'^' """' ': *^^nC^';Vo.posea the lawol pvi.no.eni- John. Shelley, who stvun 1> ^^ ^^^.^.^.^.^ ^as Uu-e ana helieveieaa ■■■■- - - lyTIlonrCTION XXVll l,i. wife ana si.t.r-u.-l.u. U tt ^ ^^^^ ^^^ 1,,,,. I'M-l-'-^'-^V'f "',in:mon in itself. -l- •'-;- (,,.;„, Ut,l. for Cath.au. La ..,,,, .-^tne. no pavtv Imt . ^^.„,,,.,.-. __ ,.. -v..v.lua.-> tin - ^^^^^^^^^ ^^,^ .,,,/,.,.. gcvvuH' ol 1". 1 ,.v,.'.tt'a sonu" stir. and. .uaaea l.y C-auUK M.n.,Ut to 1 o.n _^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^^,, . Association ..f rhllanthrop >t>. ,, ^,, .ann-hlets ,,.eatlv en]oy.a then- ';-^^';;: ;;:\ ,, ,,,,. the .inaow to i;. .vote, so-aetunes tl--;^jl-^^^^^^,^ ^^^„,,, .,, some '• l-'^-^Vv •' 1'---^^- !' '^' '' , .na thereafter u-et, though ,.e.ptance at a vuhlu- m. U.u, ^^^^^^. _^ j^.^,^ ^ , ,,. ,,,th seant satislaetn.n. - -^ ,.;„,,,, nnnle huu- Heeneoanterea P— ^•^•>'7.: ;,.,.,„ i ,..etlonset in. a re- aetion aue partly to »-';--;, ,^, ,., (...i.in^ rather -tuationiuanypraetn.a.a-^^^^^ elulhn, erltielsms. At^ 1-^ ;■ ^^^^^,,„,.,^ aay>. V'-^-'^ f.rHolyheaa. ana.aie - Here he pennea one or ,,u,atNant,walt.^o.h^y^^^^,^^ ,,,,,,,, l,,vel>ea- t- ^'>--'^- ^'"'7- "' " e. u- man ana writer, thenee- eoeU. a liheral. ^l^--^ ;^' ^J, ,,,kes were up. ana the i.,vth Shelley's Iruna. Hut a^^ 4f| I XXVIU i\Ti:()i)rrTi()S 1 \\i rims rwv.'t V, tiist to tlw di'iivc-;" lioiii^. near liy, and tlicn id Clicpstow. iMul to Lyiiinoiuli. Dfvoii. Amid tlic t -(•fiitiv tlicv st:i\c.l two moiitlis. ami Ihtc lli<'y illlrd I \\<- :iil\ rll t (il .Mi>- I liti'lllllt T. W <-liai'm>. Iii.wrvrr. >l((\vl\ l:il l:i|isiil iiiio ciimmiiiiiphicc iii 1: ti-:iunlin:irv Slirl- Icv s ;i> HI 11; llirt >i tlllllkll I- I'DIM •I'liiih'. thriMi'^li ,--t\ir;i rc:i(ilii'4 iiinl wriliiiL^ 1 trnii^itiiiii^. "' 1 it' my sold I )rmon. >l'o\\ II wi'iil. OH m li\ nmoiilli, am 1 at as liiixilv at work ii|)oii lii> (,hiri'ti M"/i. he wrote liis liirtliday sonnet and his hlaid.; verse I jielined his elier'j,itic Lctti'l' \-j^ till' ])roseciition of one me s yi {'le Much tl.i~ time Shelley w 1 lere. too, ai)oslr(i])he to llaniet. am td L'ird J:'l/i ii/ioroii'/// conce Katon. a jioor liookseller, tor i)al)li>hint;- pait of I'a of Hpjisoii. 'I'iie Devon coast saw Shelley often enfjfa^M'd in Iho l)oyisldv serious hii>ine>s of sciitteiiii<; his revolutionary writini,'- to the world it lar^^e through the media of liotths. sea-hoxes. and lire-ljahoons. 'I'lio arrest of his man-ervant, however, while dist rii) itiii^r .-opies of the Shelh-yau J>i'rl,irei'oro slie liecame Godwins tirst wife. Clara Jane Chdrniont. dau-^hter of ?ilrs, Godwin antl> W.T.- Sn.,11 to I will, tilt' lift! of tlu! l-oct, lu' lus f his iini.ri-sioiis. if ht! lln'ii saw 011CI'11H'( miiiuttJ o 1,. II, London ShcllfV made >tl Otllfl' fi •luls also, am I >oii-ht t»ut llo--. l-'vii lllUii'^ ^U^ li ifiu'wal as was i)Os- ■,1,1,. of lliuir ,1,1 association. Miss Ilitcluiifr lier ji l,fin;4 lost, took luir timil leav..- ( ,f ShfUfV hospitality, li (Ifstal •• Wo wei-i- nitiru Iv .Ifreivt-a in Iht .-iKua.-tiT as U. .■.■i,nl.luni-.,.sn. li'ish frii'n.l. Mr.- Catln'n.i^' wrolo llanii't to im Ins "and in short eviTythiiu olso w hicl 1 she pre Nni'cnt, tended to be. Novenihe of happy < her 15 Trei naduc loinesticitv foUowec ,;\vasa-ain in siKdit,aiid months 1, Shelley reading nmeh, con- tiniiinL' Queen Mth. r dieviny the distress of the pi>or ahont him, at imprisonment o d consumini; lii3 s'>n 1 in inilii,niation at tl le R ipi e'a-n f Leij;h limit for a lihel npon the 'nnee t. Late m Fell niarv. 18i;^, a hnvglaiions attaek was U. npon the poet s home am: 1 his life seems to Lve heei. in some danger. At all events, the uieulent «as nervously n,as,niitled hy SheUeV into - atrocu.ns assass.na- ^ "and. eo^vineed that some sinister villaui was on Ins : I, he h.ft a,ain for Duhlin. Tlienee the yonn, f^umly^ •onrneyed to the heantifui KiUarney Lakes, and by Apr.l wei-e ao'aiii hi London. . QuZ. Mai. a Ion,, uneven, nnrhymed poem lync a,., hen,ic, far n.ore representative of the hoy Shelley than of ^ ;!, was completed in the spring, and ..s pnn^ for restricted distrihution. in 1S21 its author ^ ----^ - " a poen, • . • written hy me at the age of -S,' '^een -- I h t savm a sumciently intemperate spirit. . . . 1 douht nothnt thi;, it is perfectly worthless i.. point of literary con.p.-tm,> ; 1 I„.,„ InU-restins article in Th. Centnr^j Ma^\ and thiit.inall lliat .■niicrin- iin.riil ;uul i.nlill.Ml sppcnliilion. as w. 11 a-, ill tlif siil.tl.-i ,li>ci iiiiiiialioiis of iii.'taiili\ Mcal aii.l ivli-i..iis .loctiiuc, It i> still iiinif iMiiii.' and iinMiatui.." Dii.in- UiL- same yt-ar lu- un.f In Wovaw Smith: - It yn iK.pi'ci' to l';i^'' l>i">''4l't a .M.l'V "I (Maikrs ..ditiim ..f r,>(0.,/ .)/'//, tor me. I sliouM liU.' v.tv u.'ll to s.'c it.— 1 ivally l.unllv lHh. l-uin the tolh.uin- dun... SlH'lh'vV S-'ptrniL.T sunn.'t. To inithr, expn^scs tin' i,n-(.uini; lovi- he hcstowed npun tlu' iidaut. After her rominLj a rcMnoval was mad.' to I'.nicknt'lh in Ucik- shiru. at tlu! sn-4t'sli.)n .d' Mr-. I'.oinvdh'. a cidtiirL'.l an.l hi-h-prin.'ii.h.l \v.)man. an.l Inr .luU'^hl.-r, Corn.lia Tarrn'r, uh..m Sh, Ih'V ha.l ni.t in L..ud..n. Fn.m 15rackn.-ll llu-y w.nt int.) Iht' Lake .'.nintry. an.l thence t.) K.linhnr-h a-^ain. with Peac.M'k, hut hy Dc.'end.er weru ha.'k in L..nw itself in iK'culiar fashion. She lost, almost cmplet. ly, her interot in h.)..k.s an.l read- im^r. in intellectual a.lventnres. and even in the voice. . .1 :,. .. 1...1, i\' il:i>hr< rios XXXI Harriet al^.i ,t a voiu.- iiiatiMii who l.M.ke.l UI...11 ;.,,,,,u,l.a>.a--.K.a.,......,alvi,.w-,an.lu.a.nu..su>tl.l.->si.ar- ;;i,,,.„..„l„.i...... N,.u 1,. was n.a,ll.,, •■ap.un.u.ly vv. h II tit 0>rn:.liaT..n...r in tl..- Italian ,..M.ts.n.,w.l.l.ati..^ soinr v.-li''l...i- nii...liti<'al.|.i.'>ti ar.liMitly ,,,,. n..w iiii|.iil-ivrly waii.l.T- .,,;^^,„,,.„, or !..-in, lnn,...in„ fa...a>.i.. al,Mra..t,.,n. l...t si,,., wi;.l.a,luiv..nh..r.4n,>ln,nf..ralltin..sw-asn..tn..-...vn,, a . ....n.,l..va,i a.,.l .li.l n..t f...l th.. n......>Mty ..t -naU.n, L.ifta,n,.n.ssiv....n,.. T....yw..n.ln.s,,a,,.l..^^^ ,,,.1 tl... witV ha,l n.. iVar ..f l..s,n,Mh,. lu.shan.l. ItSh.lKy ,,,,., It,, l.nak tl.n>ngh tl.i> tihu hanlenin- ,nt.. a La-TUT, Klla s .-..nstan. ,,.■.•>....•.■. -lu.h ha.l Lecn... v.vy uks„,no hi„..an,liIan.i..tV..uvl,.sM,,.sst,,war,lIanth....na.l. h. a,.,.u,tn..,n.an.l,n..n.,litli,ul.. Thn,n,h the a.lvH- u lu.- sister a.ul fath.r. t,.... ilar.i.'t was he^nnnin-^ to press for u :rsocialstati..ninlire. Wa. n.,t Shelh-y a haronet-to-he an.l heir t.> a ,reat estate Mt was h,-,.nnn, surely apparen that the n-la.ion h.^tuveu ihe^. two ha.l never heen a v.tal o„e. hnt ..nlv for a tin.e vi,ali/.e,l. IVsp.te a see.^ul n.ai- ria.^e eeren.ony, enter...! up,.n Mav.-h '>2 tor le.,al reasons, ■UHl .lespite Slu.lU.v's passive aeeeptanre ..f the .luty of pa- ::!:.Kli.aan.l Harriot, hv April. lSltJ.a.l taken ,he,r departure f.>r a season, an.l Shell..v ha.l written the n.ourn- ful stanzas printe.l .-n pa,e 1. The f..ll..wMn., n.onth h,3 acUlressed a poen. to Havnet. conelu.lin;^ with this appeal : - "0 trust f.)r .nu'f ii>> t'rrin.4 s'"'!'^ • Hill the rL-iiiDrsi-less f..,liiiS flt-e ; T is maru',., 't is it-veii'^L., 't is pride, •T is ;iii\tliiii;^ liut tti,-,- ; dei^n a iioliltr l.iidu t,) iintve. And pitv if then .■aiist net love." . Harriefs las, l,-.,e.s t„ M.-. N,.^,nt, however, contain several very iiU'eulionatu relenUL-ts U< l.uillie. i it. 4 ' "'I .\ X X 1 1 r\ ruohi ( I i own, ;iii.| whum 111' w;i.s (l.v.ili-dly ;uixic.ii> to rclifV.'. ( ) .■ iiiiclsiiinim r ,I;iv lif m.'l |ir..li;ilily tlifii lot- In- tii-'t liint-- (in.lwin's (1:ii.l;1iI' 1 M.iiy.' » \tiitirii \c;irs (if a'4<'. palf. tarri.^t. an.l licainil'iil. 'IMicir iiil.ll.ctiial ^\nlllatll\ \va> iiimi.Mlialc, aii-l al't.i- l>ul a in.iiitli of aciuaiiilanci- t arli Kmu hnl too .■.f- taiiilv ill"' fi'i'liiit; of tlif olliri. A^ \ uonl of disloyalty to Hanift was iittcii'd on ritiici- side. Siullfy d'nl not at thf nioiinnt iiflif\c that an lioiiouialiK' ii lease was open to him. aii.l Harriet, for lier part, was now l.ei,nnninL; to ni^Met tlu'ii- division. By .Inly, however. Shelley had coine into possession of what lie thoiii,'ht iini|nestionalile evi.'ence of hi- wife's unfaithfnlness to him. evidence which lu itinued to l.elieve. tlnin^li it wa> later modified in s<.nie important particidars. nntil h- died. Conceinini; its actual value it is dilh<-uh if not iinp^ tu iiroimunce. Imt there can he n(» douht of Shelley's pain ' siu.-erily in relation to it. Neither he ii<;r Mary (In hesitated to acceiit what seemed to them a ju-tifyiuir ,•,.,, dition of their incseiit love and. indeed, of their later union. Writing to .Southey in 1X20. Sheiley declares liintself *• iniioceiil of dl. either done or intended ; the const-ipiences you alludo to ilnwed m no respect from me. It yon were my friend, I couhl tell you a history that would make you oiku your eyes ; hut I shall certainly never make the jjuhlic my familiar coniidant." When Shelley, ahont .Inly 14. sn^'^ested to Harriet the dosirahillty of an understood separ: tioii. she did not openly oppose him. thlnkint? it prohahle that his re<;ar(l for INIary 1 H.irrii't's first reference to Mmtv. in her correspondence with Mrs. Nugent, ll.is piillielie interest : " Tliere is ;iiiotlier (laii-liter "f hers. who is now in Scotlan.l. S!,e is very nuieli like her mother, whoso picture hanps up in hiH (Coiiuin's) study. She must have heen a most lovelv \N(iniun. Her countenance speaks her a woman who would daio to think and act for lierself." Gi»lwin Will /.V7/;- ial vv, Ifa..'. :ui.l witli- ,lri \v ui til ;i i'liliii'j, I li.it all woul.l li" ^vi'll. ai ,1 that llanift coiicun III \v;is nil M till' i)iir*< ho lia.l ivM.lv.l to pmsi. That 1 lit) AaU-u intliissiii.posi tioii inaili- llanift .iiort' (r| liVOU'^. l„il l.oth Slu-lU'V ai .1 M ;irv lo^s only the I that hrl H'Vi thi- ni'W union was to I ifove he>.l not ni'i'i'ly Iv for ihi-iii hilt fur liiirri.'t as wi Slii'Hi'V <'oii 11 whose '• iiileitsls as hi' coiicfivt veil tlit'iii, ^laiilly ctHisnlti 1. On -luly *^«. l«ll' ^^'''y (;,mKviii ami l*''>-''y HvssliL S'..'ll.-y, a.Moinpani.'. 1 hy Clara Jan (' aiiMiion it. hfl Lon-hm for th'eC"....tiuent, an.l the ni' xt ,lav. at Calais, the poet wrote m his j oiiiiia .1: «'SuJilenly the hroa.l sun ri»^' < ,vi-r Kranci, Thf toin that followed was a of fiinils ami laste.l. howev. hy (lilU.'ultif T. Shellev am hrief one, .-ut short hy lack ;,;.'isin- in Knglan.l. While it 1 Marv ha. I .>])portiinit\ ,IV to reah/.e the stren :tl 1 an. 1 virtue of tlu'ir love, i n a time of physie ami mental stress. Spe din;^ hnt a few day.s i Paris, they l'< occe. 1,.,1 on f..ot (Mary ri .11 iiL' a . lonkev) toCharenton. There thev rejilaee lth..i,"littlel.easthyastnr.lym.ile.an,l..n real ■hini: Troves hoii-ht an open carnat; Bv these means, after many annoyanee thev :siuini lier of his intention to renia in her friei d. At Hiunneii he hc<,'an the f ragmen ,t entille.l The .l.s.S'^s•.s(/^s, roinan tie tale of s.mie pow er. After a hrief stay here an Lm-eriie, the travt ■Hers tnriie.l honiewai .foil am 1 the Rhine The beauty of the hitter river, from Mayenre .iwint: the ii. M: d at Icuss to Uonii, f^reatly impn xxxiv 7.vy7.'o//r(;7';o.v frufly a.r.'pt.Ml inoncv fiou. hi> k..l for liioiv 'n.tro i. uncon>nous rcn.nl nf l,i> •■haractor. ' HaiTM-t. too. uas \o>\n'4 iKUi.nc.. an.l trouMin- l-th Ma'lU'V and t!,e G.ulu ins with iiHMvasi,.-a..n.an.ls. On NovcMulu-r IK) .>h- -.-ut birtl> to a l.ov. (M.arU-s UvssliL.. ulu>. with lantho, was soor to U.-oVA. i\u- Mihi-'t «.f ChancH.ry lili-ation. IVacork wa. provhi- him rlt au c.M frion.l ; Fanny G.Mw.n wa. >cnrtly Uin.l;l>nl iur the in..st part Shelhy an.l Mary were hi severely alone save iur the e.-niiKiniun-hil. of Ilo--. uho ,.alle,l often, and Jane Clairniont (Claire), who .hThned to ivti a iionu, (hnnivorous rea.lin- .sola.n-a the evil tune. -^ - Anaereon. Colerhl-e. Spenser. lU'ron. Browne of A'orwn-h. Glhl.on. Go.Kvin, etc. Claire, alert an.l olive-lnu.l. otten ai>turhe.l the hunseh.,M uith her f.-ars an.l .louhts .•oneern- in- the s.ii.ernatnral. an.l th.'V were n..t unreh.ve.l to -ee luT.lepart. in Mav. ISlT.. for a stay in Lynniouth. M.elley. for his part.ha.l oth-.r fears, an.l was n..w nn.vm- fr..ni spot . ■ >pot in L..1. l.in. prohrti, ; himself as he nn-ht a. 0- • ..le vi'.ilanee ..f tl,o hailiil's. The new yar hr.m-ht important .-han-es. Sir lU-slu- passe.l away on Jannary (. Mr. Timothv Slullev lK,-.'ame a haroi.et in ins stea.l. an.l the poel snc-.'-ee.le.l his fath.r as heir-apparent t., the title an.l a ..reat estaf. He went down t.) Fiel.l Pla.v. hut was n..t ^vcd.■ome.l. Ihe (,uesnon of entail a-ain came up, an.l thomdi Shellev deelined to chanjre his attitude, he was wdl- i,„.- to s, 11 his'own reversion. Eventually he planned to .lis- jmse of his Interest in a small part ..f the pn.perty f.u' an annual ine..m.. of £10(10 during the joint survival of his fath.-r an.l himself, hut Chancery would not later pern.it this plan to he reali/.e.l. M.nn'y was a.lvanc.Ml to ni.'et Ins nn.st j.ressia- nee.ls. an.l it is worthy of note that he n.i- lue.lialidy s.tth.l l"'-'00 a sear upon llirriel, a like sum haviu'r lifcn centiniu'.l hy Mr. W.sihrook. ISTllohi'VTloS XXXV Slu'lU'y" lieuUli ha.l .)f l:ito Ir'cohu- seric'sly hnpauT. and was not iiiiiivuvf( (U-atli. >'ai( I l.v ihi' >li'>ck (•()iisLMii,>nt ui><>n the taut, hardlv luoi'o tliaii (•). .if Maiv"s in>t 11 a fort 111: ;ht old, an I continued aliiMiatioM o f Godwin, whom lie was aidiiii; s lettiTs very pat i. mi teadily. lie l)oie (Godwin's l)ittor iinal outlireak of feoli.ig : tlv save for one IjoUS '• Do not talk of ,/:wv//'-'^«r,s-,s- ai^ain to me. lor my n < i,. „.vveln.. and niv ^all vises against all that bears the ,„.,„ '.^ f, „,,.,. when I think of wliat I. H.eir benetaetur and ardent lover, have endured of enmity and eontempt rom vol an.l from all mankind." A trip of several days dnra- L. np the Thaines Lo Leehlade. in the eompjuiy of Mary Pe.eo'k. and Charles Clairmont, Claire's brother, dnl uundL to restore the poet to health an.l t^ood spirits. On his return to lii.lu.p.,nue he conceived and that antnmn wrote the ,„ovin, nn^latory poen,. Al.s^or. the first ot Ins really snro and vital works, published the following; March. 1 eace- fnl months foUowe.l. of study and compoician, (•nnsin;j; ah,)at the lak.^. or exi)loriiii,' ii ''oii-s. During tiiis time liyron wrote somi' of tlie ia-st >taii/.as of his C /(!/'/<; J/nrul,/, Slalley conceived his M Shelley, who went to Swatisca sutVer- in- great anguisli .d' spirit: '-It she had lived until tliis moment, she would have been saved, for my house would ISTUODl'CTION xxxvu 1 fT-liPv" Two months later t,en have been a proper -^ ^l ^ '^ 1^; ,i„e River, after ^''''>-^>'''*^^^"tri^ ^^^'ehaLvenas , .Usap,H"avan.-e of ^^'^ '^ ,, .^,, „„.,;,„,. a.ul now. wUU an.ionsly.thathen.,laveu. ^> - father a.ul si>ter .n.eve.l ^^^^^ ^ j ^ .„^,,,. ,,,e t.uk the unwllhn, h.n,ertotovwanlh.^uM nu^^.^^^^^^^^^^_^^^^^^^^ . ,,„naiy, she felt at la . ^^^^^^ l,enetieent apph- soeial views were not eapaW <^ .naerstoo.l it. seen.ea cation to concrete cases. L. ve, a. ,.,„i„,,H.e. Yet her aeath was tar les. the spe U ^^ .^^ ^^^^. ^^^^.^^ ^^^-^^'^•'r^' ;r;: '---^- l ren.rse. we n.ay he cannot he saul to have ^^i^_ ^^^ ^^^ .^^^,^,,^^^1 he^inumL^s of hvit'tly conipare, m pa»" ,.• - j^^. untimely Shelley with those of h.s «>-;':;; ^^, .,,,, Harriet's. I closing of the waters ov..Sl^^^^^^^^^^ ; We mn^t pass rapuUy o^e^the ^^^^^^^^^1^ ^^^ ^^^^^ trienaslnps, ent events ..f this ^^^T^ ^^ ,^,.„,,,u, literary encour- ^••'^^''^ 7 Tn:^ y t r > H.;. the reconciliation of ac^ement of hhelley l.J l^ V. ,,,,,nonv ..f marriage Ooawin to the poet^ ana tl. * ^ .^,.^ ^^..^ch, London, WtweenSlK -y and Ma.j at M. . DtM-emher 30. , Charles Bvsshe. had ,.,„. c»,o „f w» -i.-.w-"- '»■■■';',,„ ;„uu...i ... „„,,iet Uy U,.-.v (a.l,.... «vl,.. ";;;;,.,„..„!.,, ,,y .We of H»n.i.. I the »;•";» ;'\;^" ,,„,,,■. ,„,l,rin«.,.B .n,l education ; while ftlieuey f. .■il XXXVIII I.\Ti;()I)[T-[oy yns.,ust,,..,I,nl,.nnn. Hani,.,. :„„1 ,l,n, I,, ha.l si„..Mlnt ''''"'";";':• "— ^li- Ml.In.ntn.n. l,i,„ .nnvlv on ....- '""!'■' Ill'' 'MM' U, -IS,!, ,,.,■, I, .(I ;;illi>! l>..th p;iili,.s. r,,,,,l '''■-•--U''-^-nMlH.<.,.,.,Wyor,l,..,.l,H,l,..,,,,,,,,,,,,s,,^ S ell... I<..,,,v ,..,, ,,,, inins,i....,„,e,j,.,„n.enM.„t,n.o: 'n''l.-vf.n..att,tn,!. ,!n...,.,I.o„t ,1,.. ,,.o,......li„.s. 1)„ ;„ , ^ -•'-■•''■-• Man. ui,,.n,.,, Hum Wniia,..:!; tlir iiK.st part rcsi,!,.nt at .AFar ow oil til,. 'I'liaincs. II,. fore Ho.^;..S..uU,..ho.,....a,.eaHo..f..^^ At.M., i,.u l''-iH.„t niorc. tl.ni a yi.ar of In.sv au W.lnn ;;;:';: '•"^•7""'-;"— as. ,.„... he p..o.i,....,,a^^ t ..,Knnpin..,sa,M,.o..„.s.so,.K.,....„onst,.anNinostoJ.J X. . ^;../ ^.M..,_ af,.nvanl T/. L'eroit ./■/./,.;,!: a St rnn^- an,I ,.Io,p,ent pioplu...: "f tlie triumph of the ^'.n <>* ... an,l lil...,.ali,y. - I Ikivo attenipt.l. ' ho ..o^ M-M.sh... •■inthopi.o.n.ssof „., ,,,,H. ,. .,,,,^ to the eo.nnion ..h.nienta.y emotions of ,1„. 1 , ' '1^ "f the luiMian heart |^...ua.,p,,,u,sthes,o,.yofvioleneean,|,vvol.,,ion.iti .H.v.li,y„.ae,.p,et.n..offnen.i.,npa,:,|,.,v..andnat,,,. ilins. \\,lha,n Baxter, an.l Horaee Smith, i„.si,les Claire -. he ,,len,.u..ome,..C'ia,.aAlh..,.a.,a,,h,e..ofHv. A;tnen,lan,l 1-1|-. the po... ..f Ma.h.u kneu- and love.l nni. (,nSep,e,nl,e..li.lS17.aft..Ml,eeonipletio„of/V:ri --V..^ath„.dchiiaua.honitoSl.lley naMary,wh a iNTnonrcTTox XXXIX thov nanu'd Clara Kvciiiia. (J.i.hviirs wfll-knowii iinvcl. M,i iKlfrillr. apiicarcil during,' NovrmUrr. and Slicll.'v <'<)r- ic-ixiiidrd freely willi its aiitlioras licith a.liiiii'ini; crilic and I'lirvc-djH'iier. •• 1 tliiiils we i>ii'4!il to iui ti) Italy.' ui'otc I'eslle-;-; Shelley t'l .Marv late in iSlT.ai'ter nuieli eaiiu n! diseussinn nt ways and means. Sludley's t'ailin- health, medical advice. Mary's (e.vn ineliiialion, and tiie desire to help Claire toward an n!iiler>tandini,^ with Hyron, all cuiisiiired to this end. Marcli VJ, ISIS, saw the travellers once a;;ain — for Shelley now the last time — leavim; the ancient clitVs of D'ver for Calais. Had the poet known that he was to see his native land no \\\<>\\\ his heart would have i^^one out t.) her in a hi,ij;li son■«,„■„ ,„ K„„ „,„, t,,„ ,,,.,, .live;,' fAl" . ,,""■ " '"'" I.\TU(>!>l(Tli>.\ xli sot '^nutluvavd for Nai.los. \hvv. n..twitl,stnn.lin- liis hope „f imi'i'-vi'm.'nl. a i/..Ml upon Sl.cllcy, an almost Han.let-liki' s.-iisc of isola- tion, troin wli id i 1h' < 11(1 not w.-ll ivc. v. t until tin- it Unnie. when" they liad spent l)Ut a week '-n matr to Naples, and the coinplotion uf tlu'ir lirst year in Italy was si-nali/e.l l.y tlie entranee of the pil- ..rin.s i.ito the Eternal City. They foun.l themselves now somewhat less lonely; acpiaintanee.s ealle.l ; steady readin- went on ; and interested visits were paid to the Vatican. Villa Uor-rhese. I'antheon. and Capitol. In the remote and solitary nmn.enls of his fre.pnnt walks .ihoiit the ruins of the Haths of Caracalla. Shelley almost completed his great lyrical drama. Pronieth>'us riihonm/, among at once the g<'hvlu8 and others, hut hy the high instinct of man he had himself developed. Here Shelley's ,.rime idea of the self-saving • and self-justifying l)ower of Love reaches its surest and most elevated expression. A long reaction and an anticipation of evil to come led the poet'to long again for at least a hrief visit to England, '•out of pure weakness of heart." The temperamental harometeri.rove.l true. On June 7 William, the most f.m.Uy cherished of the children, passed away. Tlie En .lish hury- ing-ground. hard-hy the I'orta San Paolo, received the little hodv. and Shelley an-l Mary were left .lesolate in.leed. The nnith'er-s melancholy, in truth, hecame s.) intense that Slielley de.ided upon Le-horn and Mrs. (iishorne as the place and person most suited to her at the moment, aiul rented. a.'c. .'111,1 ill,. |,,v,. ,,f ;,ll ""■ .^J •■11. 'v rca.I .•111.1 tl„,i|Ml l'"ii v. Ml.- \V],..M Marv uoul :i\' li! ii I'c iiiiich t'Vi-i. a.lvcii tiiriiiL^r tliroiit,^!, Daiit... | '' :i-. r;i)M(l!\ am! IS |.M'Trl\' and nraisin ■ t!i,. S' xiccacci,,. ami ("alder "M. 'aiiisli (li-i:nati I will tluiMaMM. \„,v tr.n. 1„- finisl|,.,l • Iraina. Th 1 '<>(•(! portrait ot iJ, atric I lli.s IHudllcti,,!!. touch,.,! iiiLT and of diainatic •■ I liilldlT.s ll,,. |,,,|.l, <'!' luitf and .^■iii>ni. and vicwinj^r (iuid ill tl"' Cnlomia I'alacu at 1 " S >I|I|- inllli' • IISlllC: as it IS With vv( the d illCS^t's of pliras- raiiialist soiiictiiiit '>y'tcoiii|,ai:il.I(., asastiidv in tl villan If sjiirlt iiiiil IJrouii I'>falii(.|' luiiii the li-iaii 'J'lic liill It coiitaitis tl y. -Illy uuh ,ShaU..s,u.an.-s Un-hanl HI 'li'l'lr.; „|,!1,. C"(M'doli;:. I act is ),v t;i|. tl II' ■■ ticnu.ndoiis (.n.l. LTicat Women in J.;,, iiiovf |Hi\vcrfiil, not iiilMlia, ai:(, .lisli J)Octl\-, "lll\- Ir.cail- lere a ni-h untcltciT.,! \vi lilt liccaiisc Slhl ''V l•al^ rani'c. ii;,;' 111 soul crit "■'^'11 and dramatic In Fl( Shell (■V iiil: andstatiiarv it'iiff.wJa.i,. the autumn of ISl'Jfound tli iHM.tmany .lays vJMii,,:; tlH.j^reat-allenesuf tiiiMii,di '.vith i '■III settled, Jiaint- iHTcasi "oveinlK v\ !• 1-;i last child oifiK'c. ulu. survived l.otli his father aii.l J"'>ite.l tiie iKiiouctcy. 'i'he ,.revailin.r d 'i.iT pliysical unrest. On 1^ I'lirn to him. christened P, iiiotli(.|.. ami it ert'i l.tnd. wit this time tli- vv-hich .Shellev deep] scoiitent ill Kiic- y syiiijiatiiized UlIlL,^ of his Sntvjs lUld /*, •fasioiied at fi '/ /'J/i;//a/H/. and his JLisunc of' J n jioiso hut revohilioi 'Sn/i /n'ra/ r tic.-itise. J /'//, of Kuiijii.Ies' T.';r c,/,./, act of lie / ri)i//i tl, 'in> j.r iJir Me,i ••iikI a Ihoii-htful ■'«• A translation '"" of an additijiial larv imiiiil 't U>'t: '/>■■<. the ci.,.ai to tl ' ''S. and tilt 1 tl '•""athiii- of the ^,,1 ynr nu-antat.on to the spirit of tl,e West Wind, all he] ilol I V 1.- ^ncit creative year. It lUI."" i.s iiileieslin- to note the luval i 1 I.\Ti:<)l)i(Tl()\ xllii liniiiaii intcri'st SIicllcv tnnk diiriii ,^ this winter in Ills fiiciiil Krvilrv's |iriii.ctcil ^tc;uii>lii]i. an intiTist lliat ilid not lii'si- t;itr til provide ill-tn-lie-v]i;ireil e\ lor tile advancement dl' what was almost a t'ore(h)omeil failure. The extreme ccdd (,f eaiK .laniiai), JS'-'H, diove him at l-n-tli t^ l'i>a. whef.' nio-t n|' hi> time was theneel'oi-tli to he -pent. A -mail t;ion|) ot' trienils eheered Shelley and Mary here. diiiinLT the tVw intervals not '^^iven over to study ;iiid coiniiosli inn. — Iriends not iinwflcome, >ince the (ii-hornes and Ileiii-y IJevelev were now leavini; tor Kn-laud. 'I'hoii-h the pott's heallli was lopoiidinL; I'avoiirahly to tlu' ehaie^e ol' elimale. (.iod- w ill's nioiKitonous emharrassmi iits and demands preyed upon jiis -pirits. and he was ohli^fed to protect Mary irom lull knowledge of her father's rapacity. Tlieri' wci'e other >oiirces of perplexity and even aii'j,ir that -reatly di-tiirherotVered home of till' ahsent (lishornes, Casa Kicci. in Le^honi. wiiero — fid- lowiiiL,' the I'isan lyric. The C/oinl — tlie (hlr fo a Slaj- hirk was written. l*rohahly the music of the Spenserian Alexandrines, for he iiad h)ni,^ hived tlie Fnrrhi Qui'p.ue, rani; in Slielh y"s ears as he penned tliis exuUin;; yet vefrret- fiil crv. Anioii'4 tlie other poems of iSL'O are the Lftti'i' ti> Muri'i Cis'ionii'. Thr Si-nsiticr Plmit. The ]l'ifr/i of Atl'i^i. lliiiiii) ii) Mercin-ij, Uile to L'lhci'tij. and Oilf i<^ y.iji/fs. l>v Au-tist the heat was unhearahle. and another chani;e was made to the Haths of San Giuliano di Pisa. Shelley's interest in Kurojiean jiolitlcal conditions was acute, and lie wat(died with keen solicitude the course of the revolutions in Spain and Naples, greatly rcj:rettin false Neaiiolitaii kiny;. During; the early months of IS'il he ui.Miilit :ind found social reinforcement of his view's. The I H m n ■I i! xliv T\Tl:()I)l-f'TlO.V (;i>lM.rnrs wriv Ka.k. tl.oi.-li a liv.lv iMlMiiHl..i-taM.liMu prc- V(-iitf(| an cailv iviwwiA ui .,1.1 li,, ; a.i.l 'I'lDnias .M,..i- wiii. fJM. p.i.i's ,.,.nsii, ati.l f,.rm.T NclM,nl,iiat(". lia.l toiiii.l Ills nut t M, u..l..,,MH' uav t., I'isa. ( )v,r against th.'s.- «as Ihr liiirr inl.^lli-rn,.,. an. I .xall.'.i snirit ..I tl,,. (',,v,-k jia- tiii.l. Alixan.l.T .Mavin.M.nlat.,, t.. uhnin Sli,l|..v's pioplifti,. Wiania. //r/A/.v. wa. ait.Tuai-.l ,I..,lirat.Ml ; thV fin.,ss,,. „f Fr.m. •,■>(•<, I'a.vlii.ini. a l'i>an a.M.l..mlciai; ; the ......l-nalniv.l va|M,Iitv „r C.unl 'I'aalV..; tl,.. ,>ki!l„l in,, .-uvivati.Mis .,f the fain..iiN Soii.vi; an.l th.- path.-ti.' .luian. f 1 !„. ( '..ntc^sina Kmilia Viviani. I,fl,.v,-(I alike l.y Slnll.T. Maiv, an.lClaire. C.Muleii.ne.l, Willi Iht sIsI.t. t.. the strict s.^luMon of a coii- vnt lit,, hy ;i j,.;,l.,iis >t..i .In .it h(T un.l ail in.IltVeiviit father. Kmilia was in evil eas... an.l this, with h.r ex.,ni>ite i.,veli- iie,-. s.. wr,.u-ht n|H,n SlH.ll,.y's iina-inali..ii that he s.,uoht '■nntiniiaily t.. .l.-liv... ' ,,• r,„„, th,. In|.,ie,.an..,. h.. ha.fso c.tt,.ns....m-e.l „f „h|. li,. |„.,,„ne h.-' •• ra n> n-of^f/o '' nud .Alary her -dearest, sister.- The profoiin.l thoii-h jiassin^r inlh.enci exerte.l ..p..n .Sh..lley hy her eharac-ter and situ- atinti is a],i.ar(.nt in his /■.'/'l/tsifr/in/inn. " It ks." |,e wr.ite U> (iishorne. after many m..nti.s. •• an i(l..ali/.e.l history „f my life ami fe,.lin,^rs. J think o.n. is always in love with s..rnethin- or other ; the error — an.l I ....nfc'ss it is not easy for .spirits cased in ilesii ami hlij.nl to avoid it — consists ili seeking in a mortal imaj;,. the likeness of what is, perh.aps, eternal/' The "isle iin.ler I.,niau skies," an idea which' lia.l so stron.^ a Ih.ld np.m Sli,.ll,.y's fan-.y,' ns „jM,n the youthfnl I'.r..wnin'.'s.-h..re achi..v,.< its ri.^'ht p<.,.tic value. Kmilia married at last a Sinn,,,. Hiondi. and live.l h.it a brief an., checkered life. It was littin- though almost acci- ' Cf. letter of An-nst. ISl'1. to Mary : '• Mv j^^r.-af^st content xvonl.l be ntt-ilv to .l..s,.rt alii, nni.-in society. I u,.nl,l n.fire with you an.l o.u' clnl.l to a soJiraiv isl,..„l in tl,.. s..;, an.l l,„il,l a boat, -uul sl.nc ni._on n,v >..„vat the floo.l^at..s of the world." VL also I'rometheus 1\ . IV. 2iill. L(ll. ' ^ Cf. I'ippa I'assts. ii, ;ii4-;;L'T. \ lyrnonccTioy xlv < .l.iitivl that at tliis time Slidli-y sliouM put into critic:!! fnrm 1,1s UVVM liulil.- tlhi.iy nf \u„[\\. puLli-licd aft.r lu> a fiiriuis „t M.auiii. i.iciit.naht K.l\v;,nl KllilK;iti.! an. I wife, were imii'li plcascl with t' iicwcoiiicrs. wIk. in heir tiini attachc.l llitMu.sdvi's with >yiii|.atiiy aiul iin.h'istaii.liiiLC to tlirir tVll..w-cxih-s. Witli WilhaiiiH and It^^vrlcy the pc't uuald sail tlic Ain.) i-i a lii^lil Artlnman >hallo|.that on on* cxcitini,' i)cca>i()n sud.h-nly ovciM't, nearly ending Sliolh-y, tile n..n-swinuner. then and tlu're. Nulw ith,.tandin<; tiiis mishap his love fur ntnitical excursions L;rew into a pa-ion, nearly everv day found him on the water, and on May 4, he even undertook a venturesome excursion with Keveley from the mouth ()f ihe Arm. lo Le<;horn. In San Giuliano the case was notdilVerent. and it was here, indeed, that The llnnf nil fill- Srrrh!'> was horn. Here also was produced the last of SlieUey"s completed major poems, Aii(iii, writ- ten in memory of Joim Keats. UponheariiiLJuf Keats'rt illness and of his arrival in Italy, Shelley ha.l urt,'ed him to accept the invilallon to IMsa he had previously extended, hut i)oor Keats was already struf^- i^lint; with death, and yielded himself at Rome. Fehruary L'.'i 18*21. Shelley received the news some weeks later, ju'ohahly in a letteV fn-n. Ent;la!l--.ll.v-un .- un... Sl...l|,.v V.Tc i.MiM tu an iimiinitalilv uf „l,li\ i,„i.•• A (.,.,- :, H vi,,^ vIm, to Kl.,..,,,-... I,„„.,.l„.„,i,„„„ l,,,,,i^ ""•onu-e Smuh. uho ua> .l..S.,Hlin, hiu. a^vainM ,.alu,nni,.s '"'";'7"''" "I""' ""■ I'i'ai..,! >... ,ii,,.„io„ of <,>..,,, ,/„/; ;'''':''••••■''''■''• '•-■''•-il^^ to read. Italy. SlK.lh.v iounu.v..,i -.xu.ava,a.,.,ha,, l.,.l,„.„ in la.,, .f not in niti 1,.. ' ^'" ^'""-^- .'^-' '"• 1^--' "' H.v-u's iH.Hi.iv in failin. '•-IT''-^ -n,l.,.,l anaally n,in^ ^ .vpoH. a.aiusl Sl...i: 'V, :T'~' I'-'i-'v -.■hi.1,.,...1 wlu.n iu3 cin..a....| vvt --'•''-'-■'vn-,,,M^.IIo,,nn..aniu,..,antJ,.n.,.;-,.i,l..n <" '"■•■'■.;• Mary. -I, i. ,1,„„„|„, ,|n.tl,er I,. u-on!,l hav. '■o'lsent..,! to Mi.ct Bv.on a'^ain \s ii u-, 1 i' i n- • ,, • '-,•""; -is 11 \\a-. Ill' loimd iitc '" Kav.nna non,. too ,,l,.a.,n,. an,I ,l,„,,h Ik. ua^ ..aptivatnl '11- own .nalnluy.o nval ,1... fanlitv of snd. ar,. vet S;;;, '•■'■'":; i-;' — i'-yun.l |,i. v.,yVeni„s opines"..., ^ IK'X. -.1 lu. ,, I>,w.nna fo.. Pisa Au,nst 17.' 'n,,o,... ^ia_ i i\ri:<)i>i' ll... IvroH l.ii.l MU-r.t..,l t.. Sl,.!l.y a' ll.vi,..:i I^,.,.^!, II,, lit si l.l iiiiil.- in tnuiuliii- a [.n i- „,„,,1, „, ,.,„„,,ii,^-,.,,n^.nt:itiv.. f,.t;.r.- work f.oiu .'ri.-l, ..t■ .,,„. Sli, ll.-v u.uv took up tl..- l-ltu witl. rntliiKiasMi. so t.ir III l.usl ;i> It .•om.ti.umI 11. ml. ami, I.mi.hi.- of hU In.-i..! s R.Mioiis illiM'ss i.. Ki.uLni.l. w.ot.. ,.ro,,nsin- his -l-paft-nv for I,,l,. llm.t n'a.-l,...l l.->Mn ..nlv in .l.-lv. IS'J'J.l.ut tlu. .^,-,.,,„.„;U.. uvl.o.n.' with wl-I.-li SlH.!l..y -n-t.-l htn, vv=is ,„,.„1„„|, ,h.. !H..4,nni..- aiwl ll..- -n.l of iIk' ivtu-w..! .•o.n- , ..Ir-iiip for wiii.'li .Mcli was ImiM^.Tint,'. 15at a f.w i.iil.s uy tl..- ro.i.t from I'isa li.'S th.' (-tU <'C So /.ia, wliilher SholU-y an.l M.uy. with Claire, who had ,,„i„i„,.l tluMn, trav..lU.,l in Septonil-.T, IS'JI, s.rk.,,- a lu'st f,:, li.ii,. t„ ..otno. Thcv oxpl...-..,! th.. ...iHiat.ti..- sh.Hvs w...i .U.li-ht. an.l ivt.ifiuMl happy it. tlH' a.si.nnu-.. that tlu-y ha.l f luo.l tluMi- snini.HT haven for th.' siw.-er.li.i- y af. Miortly .,f,..rwunl th.'V h'fl tiu- I'.aths.au.l ,v-.st:,hlish..l th..ms,.lve3 i„ I'isa prop.T. at the Tie Pala//.i .H r\uv<:u oppoMte tlio I u.f. uu-hi I'alaeo and Hvn.n. inviiin- tii.- Williams family ,,, .,.,,,pv the lower iloo,. The Shelleys - f.v.- f..r the m.H „i..„t ftom the ca.es of aalho.shlp, now .ha. H.lhs an. Ma.y's Valpenja were concl.i.le.l — lea.l l.eely, .hseusse.l i.h matt.rs with Hynm an.l th.- Wiilian.ses. or he.^.nh..! tho „ ,. uith M.Mlwin an.l TaatY... Shell-y himself walk.'.l ami „i.. an.l sail.'.l n..t, a littl. . ..r Uyn.n woi.hl m.scluevously invite him to a fonnal .liiiner, for the sak.. of watehin- his ui.aM-. or woall lea.l his <'.n» t.. a hea.vr ev.Mi nmro ,;,p,,..-iatlv... perhaps, thai, its eivat..r. liynin plaee.l ^'.eat vihie iip-:i Slulhv's e.'i.ieal opinions, asseitin- that " iuN alone, in this a;." of hiimhuu'. .la'vs st.-m tlu- cnmmt. as he di.l to-.lav th.e tloo.l,..! Arm. in his skitV. alth.m-l' I '-"iil^l ""t nhs,-,v h.- ma.le any progress." These w.mls are .pu.te.l from the original li.rollrrflons of K.lwa.-.l John Trelawny, a Cornishn.an, o.ul frien.l ui M.'.lwin ami Williams, who. t!mm'h ..ill v'H.ng, had led a wild an.l var.e.l career. He iii'4 I IM'l r. •i it i\ -41 xiviii I^'TIiOlJircTKKV 1 ^"••ivcd in I'isa. at WiH I. -it lis (i()|)ini,' Ml SI ■'•inv U'illi.-ui criii ;m( sc on tlie M. •SK'HC <'•"•'<• tall, and st '•litcnantaii. Jl roll' instance, January 14. ],SL'L' !"■'• »e{ (ill, I vt L' \\;is a iislinian." as M, ll\- (IcsCl '*■ l*<'i>n won liii.. tl manner -uid I'O// >ind tlie Ai(fh ""- Anio. His Hecnrtl '^ ninrard of the peculiaily interest "/• are, thoiiQ-li s( ■•^ of Shell fi valo ami d ■■'"■^ 'igure. a ready-to-hand '■'•"■ =' l"»i^ti<' picture of 1 >inexvliat inacciirat "^V^-.I readaide. Shelley fonndl 'y. Jinislinl I) ^nimu. Willi linn in /'/ i«J|'n formed a h ams andSJidl iiin a rranti'v, "jniPiifs of an Un- symho] of kniirht-e cv. uit upon SjK.zia, and 1 a.i,nie with 'I'rel li awiiv for tl yi'on's partv, ■'"•oner from Captain Daniel S( 6t left f, 'e vvas con.M.issioned to order a 1 =iy>'igat Gtnoa. Karl Rohert (-■ ensnin^r descent ittle oi' Spezia CO y ill Feh an old friend th eijriia i-y Shelley and Will tliat oidy one <,rood resid was -to serve for all." 'fj secure houses, hut returned len laiiis to annoui ii(!e l)y B the T ron's defection. D -nee was^t., he had. and that this ; i'owever, hecame limited ;ill Will her iiscan s[)ring Shell 'nrin^r the softly I Ify wrote liis tl 'amsorij,dnallyintende.l only for tl nsl.and and herself. H y Iwautiful days of 'i-ee lyrics to Jane •e private readin, and it was therefore witi nat he aocenfp.l K.r. • i • ■ tM-vent,o„. slowly wore out Shell tliat h accepted Hyron's d relief ■'•a, who soon thereafter died efision. Cla on all grounds 'i'<^« anxiety for Al- caused her such sutl in an uidiealthful ^'•iug that Shelley and M convent. and Claire to S])ezia, followe<{ tl IVI '-• with then. On A . '.^v ;" ' '■""'^■"' ''' 1 ^' • • ■ - '"'-'' ^'^^^''^«'"y escorted Mary •e next day l.y Shelley an.I party were settle.l in" Casa e villa on the the Williamses. By May 1 the 'igni, a l>'ctures,jue hut not too comfortabl INTUODVCTION dix l?av «f Lovici, neur the lisliinsr-lianilet cf S:in Tereiizo. Claiic. appiis^xl at len-th of AUe-ni'.s tleatli. returnei ;i time ti. F lOlTlU'l- and I to It'iid a liaiitl in Ciptain itlaw ny jiiocffdi'il to (, Rolifits'sboal-biiildiiip iciio; 1 for theio Tl IS now )]!( liidod not only Shelley's cr ift, but a yacht, the Bolivar, for livron. On May 12 thelont^'-expccted boat arrived, bnilt from the soniewhatVccentric plans of Williams, but so swift and f,'race- ful that Ariel became her name o Juan, as Trelawnv i rii;ht, rather than Don had named her daring the ori.Ljinal part- nership. Charles Vivian, a yonngsaibn-dad, one of the crew Nvho bronoht her, was retained, and made a ([nietly elHcient Mil! Williams and the id per to the too pleased and energ l)ook-preoccupied Shelley, w ho. delegated to steer, used ..ftener than not to put the helm the wrong way. Trehiwny a!id Roberts touched at Spe/.ia, June 13, with Byron's^ ya(dit, and Trelawny went on to Leghorn three days later. Whether almost constantly reading or on land or sea, Shelley was iniisuu thouirh at times his nnxx I was as c.uick and merry as a ( •hild's at play. The Triumph of Life, begun at Pisa an< 1 continued at Casa Magni, is die last fine fragment of .1 his poetic work. The poem is touched with a deeper and truer philosophy than of old. the fruit of maturing exi)e- rience. and leads us to feel that, if time had been his. he would have become at once more human and more catlxdic, less impatient for the renovation of life, more penetrating in its interpretation. bi_jiianv of SheUev's mostjiaunting songs there h luumi the ecdioiuiTuJiisiifiiLiffi^ IS ever of a really robuiO^ ci^^ stitution. an d subject «luriiig liiiiust years to spaimii* <»{ • acute pain, heinsen.sibl/alloAYed hisjouthfully pensive anlk. cipations to take on a more settle.l habit. When boating with Byron during the summer of 1816 and threatened with acci- dental death J.e felt in the i)rospect, he wrote to Peacock, "a mixture of sensations, among which terror entered, though but subordinatelv." Trelawny tells us that Shelley remained 1 lyTUODUCTION inort, nt t!,,. I.otton, of a ,1,.,.,, ,,o„l i,, tlio Arno .h.rin.r the I.n.-rc.ss of tl,e only swi,mnir,^r lesson l,e soenis to liavo tak.M,. a,i,l |,H,1 to l,c lKi>iily rcscu...!. -\VIhm, l.o recovemi liis h.eati,. 1„. sai,! : -^ ahv:tv.sjm,l the holtom of thn vvoll I'av.. fo^T;n,.a:,a .vuu woul.l have fo.,„l an .....pty shell.' " Ami at^ Ca.a Ma:;,.!, oaiin,; the boat o,.e ,lav into .leep u ator, «'ith Jane W:"i„.,s and her I.ahes as passengers, he sat Hl.nt a wh.l...at last lo.kin^r „,, and exelain.in.r -■ No,v let us tog.4he^Jve_Uie_greaUnys^ " Williams N^tes of what, perhaps, was tin,- st.-an.:,.esi j-ortent of all, ti.e vision l.at cau.e to Shelley in May of a ehil,! like Alk-.^-a risinj. t.om t u. sea, to s.nil,. at hin. and elaj. her hands in joy. _ Ivuly .n June Clai.e retarne.! to Casa Magni, and assisted m_nnrs,ni; Mary, who heeauie for a week or n.ore seriously ilK ll.uu.d. attended hy Shelley with unrelaxin. devotion, sl.e improve,! hut slowly. By July Hunfs announee.l de- IKirtui^e fron, Genoa for Leghorn .ieferndned Shelley and ^Vlll.:un^J<, s.dl for the san.e^.rt, that tl.ey might there welcome h,jn_to Italy, and see his fun.ily safely housed in thfcjowei^oor oj the Lanfranchi I^ihice at Pisa WIth_ vag..e le^us Mary saw her husband en.bark, and - eried bit-' te.ix_wl|en he weutuway."L The voyage was pleasant and ^ «peedy, but disappointment awaited th.> voyagers. Alth.>u'di |Iii>iL!HiHm:i;n him l.y ti.e_It.ahan anth,niti,-s, and wa- resolve,! to .p,it tin- lit- <>mry enterprise an,I the eountry at onee. It was imperative tjiat_SdudK^y siiould ani.eaUo Bvron on b..I,alf of Hunt's necessity and goo.l faitlN. whi.-h he ,li.l with so much foree and_reas<,n that a satisfactory i.rogramme was at last ar- ranged. % July 7 all was settle,!. an,l the poet, turning to Mrs. H.mt, as the tii.ee frien.ls stn.lle.l ai,out Pisa exclaime.1: '• If i^iu^,>-,._^n;,.w, IJutve lived to be oldeL ^thau ^ly fa^er ; I am ninety years of age.'^ • PVoiii .1 lettor to Mrs. (iiaborne. IXTUODUCTION li Vrnpliotie words! Farewells were pxclian^cd. Tliiiit i)nt into Slu'Ucy's hands a cn]^y of Krats's list volume, and tli.i .voiiini^ sliadows of the Lcghurn road swallowed up tlie form of his t'rien.l. On the morrow, July S. US'-'L'. hoili the j.ort aulliorities and the friends of Williams and Shelhy at Leghorn were disturl)ed hy si-iis of tempest. Cai)tain Ilol)- cits. in iiartleular, sought to detain them for anotlier day. l{iit dissuasion was of no avaih Both were anxious to return to Casa Mat^nii. and shortly after noon, with the lad Vivian, tliey set sail, watched anximsly hy the -lasses of Roberts and Trelawny. A few ho\us later a thunderstorm broke in earnest, the several smaller eraft seurryin^' before it into harbour. Trelawny was stationed on board the anchored liolivar, whence he did not retire until dark. Roberts saw the la>t of the Ariel^rom the lighthouse tower. It was a speck some niTles out at sea, but his glass descried the occu- pants taking in the tojjsail. Not for several days did the sea relinquish its dead, cast- ing iiplShellev's body near Via Reg-iu, and Williamss- alujut three miles distant^Jji Tuscan territoiy. The end had come, and Shelley's life of ligiit and song, — " _ . . its ])inioiis (lis.iiTMVLMl of mitjlit, Diooju'd ; o'er it oIosimI tlu; cchoLS i'ar ;i\v,iy Of thu j;''i-'at voice \\lii(li did its . I.vlauny. Hunt, an.l Byron gathere.l on the heaeh ; the nn..ral pyre for Willian.s's l.o.ly was .nado ready, and was ht hy Irelawny. •• The .naterials hein,^. dry and^.esin- ous the pn.e-wood hnrnt furiously, and .Irove us hark It .•as ho, enonoh hefore. there was no breath of air, and the loose sand seorehe.! our feet. As soon as the flames became clear, and allowed us to approach, we threw frankincense an.l salt into the furna.-e, and poured a flask of wine and od over the body. The Greek oration was ondtted. for we hae do the act I should have been put into quarantine." llie final bunal of the poet's ashes took place, by Mary's desire, ,n the Protestant cemetery at Rome, in a tomb built by Irelawny within a recess of the old Roman wall This was covered with solid stone, bearinj. an inscription in Latin written by Lei^h Hunt, with a passa.^e added by Trelawny from The Tewjjesf, well loved by Shelley : — PERCY HVSSHK SHELLKY rOR COUDIUM XATUS IV AUG. MOCCXCII omiT vni .rirr,. Mncccxxii " Xothing of liiin tliat lintli fa.Io liiit .lot'i sniff r .1 spa-cli:iin;e Into sniiipthiiif,' rirh aii.i Ktran^'e.'' In the companion tomb lies Trelawm-, whose grave is in- scribed with .Shelley's lines, The Epitaph. Nut far .awa- ISTRODUCTION liii aro tl.e gravos of John Keats anver and hio,,M-ai.her of Shel- ley -Ana all ahont -vow everv sovte of fh.wve. -J'f'^^ ,„;,l daisies, roses anI.KY A S I'OKT-^ There is nothin- more .lifheult t.. detine than Poetry, he- oause there is nothing n.ore Protean. The st;.teme..ts are as various as the creators and the critics, and .t is well th.t it is so, for parth-ularity and insistent dicta are fore>^n> ^c the spirit of literature. Literatnre_is large andcathol.c ; >t is in its essence a n.ystery, incapable of prec>se_sc.ent,hc analysis ; it is an unquenchable spiritual impulse and adven- ture^ealiml in words; it is the interpretation n thoT^ream r life; an.l with its instinct humanity is mahenahly en- dowed. "Yon cannot escape Literature," dedare.l Sidney Lanier. " For how can you think y.urself <.ut ot thought f How can you run away from your own feet f " Yet there are at least three .pndities that may seem to detern^ine the literary artist, the poet. He must, fn'st. 8eek_ pure truth with a devote.l and single-minded enthusiasm, whateverUie cost. He must cherish every hint, every gleam. He must catch the rhythms of the noisy life about him as those of the sea and the forest. He must be at heart a man of i,.,ense social sympathy, yet of a lonely h.bil. Certainly, 1,, ,vill belong the more truly to the woi.d ot men because he does not belong to them. He must be for mankind - 'The okIv speaker of essential t_i;iith. OpH.ised to relative, couipurative And temporal tnitlis.' '•Poets," said Shelley, " are the unacknowledged legislators of the world." And again. " A poem is the very image of life 1 Tl.eatten.pt l.a« l.een u.a.le to toneh tl.e l.io-,apl.ieal sketcl. with criticism. The presen, treatn.ent ain.. to derive general crmcal prin- ciples from the particulars alrea.lv given. •t'i 'i\ ' i* 'k i '\ I i '■■ t i i. T i '' . 1 , "! IIV ly'lUOhlCTlOX fxprcsscd ill its olrnial truth ''lit Iianl. It is liis, al: Tl tih ■•il>tism III salt Hi place of the poet is J^Iirh ove others, to ox]K.rieii,.(; with foiH- aiid oven at times in ait f..r lii "•ater. to siim-r „ol,l V Ml ifo Hlldwith stniL;-ie. yet 1,0 still s(.litarv flLrin'o „f Alast IS liouers salve. H slowly spells out Ins woid. Siiell ev s til(MI_;ll I sadness.' IIS ear wa.- '"■ "■''"* ""t. "v iiiiist think, iinl s lioldeii to he, ir ll lapj.y. It' eternal imto of Til liiri. I)oet must have, also, fi du'tioii must 1) ly- Is IS the pla ill Words: II ;uif.v that iiK; sur(j seiitiii' liim. H L' must liL" ii 1 I'epresentiiiif life words, their i l>oems must not 1 eeiilv a "latciial with which I silences. :iiid repre- ei,^ativelv, il •iiisic, colours, individual tl )e wor ili'i-isons. hut ware of the di,<,'nity of s.and kiiishi])s. His ille "IS re-ard for words — indeed, in,!,' such re-aid — | into the root ri-^rl,tncss of tl truth ail word-hoines. And te asf, a i>i ••"iidiiioniii- and jiistify- aii im; llll'I-S. Art. 'eUlll^r insi.rlit With its hun..'cr f «l -ts ,,assion for heaiity. feeds also ami al or good, upon the law of 1 must til o.(!and-virt e artist he ; hut I ways iijiou "t--o;raiiied aesthete 'e must he. hefme and heyond that, All a .nan One iii any tiehl who delights to picture';;;:;:.;;; It UM. sake who IS preoccupied rather with the tempo- y alliance of energy and evil than with the stru-ile '-t ".a e, ,., characer-such an one is not less dead tL -"y tlKin to ,ood. It is ,uite true that the prof l!^ '-• '^^I>-.al pleader, and does not see and show impar. -I'y- "-^I''-^-'''l'l'I'> ill.- „..,„,„ si.ellev, no end ol -owncm,ceptioi.sofri,,,andwro„.w-hi;hare^.^,^^^ -of his pla.. and tinic. in his poetical crea, s. w "h ' ;;P;-;''->>ier-- v.. it is a... true that Hfe is seej ■n .r r ' """ ""' '"^ 'l-Miii^Ji^ is of moral ^ ""■""; .'''Vorygi.c,,t aitis, is implicitiv .levoted to the .■io^.d. IS sincerely on the hetter side.' All sur.^^^^^^^ masterpieces are marked by uiimistakahle si.ns of I.../..: \ lyriionrcTioy Iv tint wl.irh is lu.lv. wIkvI.-vcv i.l..t <.v nu-tliod may appear. No .^..ni.is. l...urv.T crrati.-. Xhvrvinva, has l.ceii radically vi..i,MH. Thun-1. tlH> li-l.t !u. livt's ill may smuctinu's l.lm.l l,i„,. it will nnt l.la^t him. Kx.tj:aonlmai-y siucei'ity w-^lo- ,„.,,*,1,.,1 in art. u h..l..-h.'aitr,i all.-i;infc to (..u-'s i.loal and i„-.pi.atT..n, and lif.d.m- pc-cveranc- in the attempt to reah/.e ll,,.^-. " Poetry redeems from decay the visitations of the divinity in man." Notwithstanding the varyin- emphases of the great poets, — variations often more api)arent than real. — it wdl he ,„„„.l that their liv.s and their works satisfy thoe condi- tions. It is easy todistinjruish Shelley's poetry Irom \\ onls- worth-s. or fron. Shakespeare's, and yet it would .sometimes l.c a i,'o.Hl deal less easy were it not fur the s.n-le faH o .tvT,..-_the characlerlstle elothin-. or rather the special uTv in which ean'se sources of emotion and thoudit, an.l with the contemi.orary con.liti.m of them : one .Meat poet is a masterpiece of nature which another not only ou.drt to study but must study. He mi-ht as wisely and as eMsilv determine tliat his mind should no lon-cr he the muTor ot ail that is lovelv in the visible universe, as exchnle from bis contemplation 'the beautiful which exists in the writings of a LH-e.at contemporary. ... A poet is the cond.med pvoduct of such intern:d ; wers as modify tW natui-e_of others ; and of such exteThal nifluences as excite and sustam S:,.^^ ,,i,u'ers : he is not one, but both. Every man's mind Ivi /.v77.'o/ircr;o.v / ""„■ '■' '■"'■'>■ "'"■'' ^' ■v.T.V «„;bc,,i „.|,i,.|, 1,0 over J ;;;.:'i:;;:t:r,;;;r;:;;-';- ^» -.;- i-^,:::!; !.^:^"s,r;;:r,n:r:l'::;;:r;:,:nS''r''" -•ly won f... ,n.„ the title of -th,. poets' poe ' •, Jlo.nn- an.I tl.e Greek tr,.„.e,l,Vs ; i,. Tl L.nt,, M 1 - i^o„=i.„. ovi.,,vi,,i,...., ;:;;:;;: r;^-^^^^ -ii.iuaiiN . Ml iMilton s austere f^in/. ..>, 1 i • -■.■•;• -•i■■ li'-vmn,. in a late,-, a'y. „1 ""<»K ot Juli especiuliv. . i he In ,n,- persons u ho n,o>t i„fl,H.n,.e.l Shellev have heen a- ynn.UnHu.lan.l,,..se,.ihe,Mntheske,eh\.fU r a k^ lari. Shelley see.ns eh,e% eoneerne.l with its inren natnre iieither ns vnef i^, ■ t i s<-es .... a , .,;..rr x:r- ,::r;;t\: ^rom the Preface tc Promelheu, Unbound. ISTUOUVCTION Ivii R ,t'Si)onsive unreal projection of human tl\ou;^lit atid fanry as lie is to every seiisiions impression, ami ea^er to trace tlio ! coiiise of Imnian dotiny in the syniholic aspects of natnie. h« ' \ ft rharacteristically regards all natural phenomena as vital ill tlicni-elves and for iluni>cive<, iinder>taMdinL;- man no l.'^s than underslond In liini. lioiicmrin- tiieir own dii^nity as m ■niliers of the spiiilmd crononiv o f th univer>e. am ralmer am 1 t rner in their niiivemenl toward (h'stinv than the morta is who live aniont^ them in alternatin;^ tits of tnal uid crmlty, of fear and lio])e, into their spii^ti hrollierhood the iiiiunined_jnav gain access hut only oil terms of purity and lui-ellishness. What they reveal to such led for the larire sake of all. not for the little, local is reveale )f 1. Nature and man are tendin'' Ljam ot a wanderini^ immai _ toward the hij^h estate of perfect love, and each will he the' lietter for the otiier's understandim;- friendshi]). Prometheus, tlie ideal of ^n. and Asia, transfigurejil Natjire, will at ieiii^th hecome united in one heing, that Light of which the poet sings in Ai?;ed. Wordsworth, though he informed nature with intense spiritual meaning, yet saw it in famjliar imases and in rather still hahitudes. Even at its highest, f»« ^ 'W -m VIII iyTU()l)I(Tl(>\ ".•itMroi„l,i. worki. .n,n...,vl.:.t .Ion,..s, i,.i/...l. .-„ |,.,s, I,,,,]. ""''• '" ""-"• •■""' i^ ""'•" .•'.'vj.,.r;,tiv,.Iy I.Ms|„.,| a,„l sta- t'"^^MV \Vl,..n. i, M,uv,.s an.l ..„.., ,i/,.s ii .|,.,.. .„ .|,,,|, '""'"'""""'"'•- '"' ■.•!■. il^ tnn,. ,-.. ,|„. t.„ f fl„. pi.;.; ": ^'' "•"-^' •'' in , i,v,i„. ,.;„,,„, ,,„i„.MlK,„;',a "» =' n:.l,M„ „„„„yui„.|. T„ i\,„.,lMv„P,l. natu.v ,. ,1... K:.r,H.„,..f ,1m. Ki..n,.I: .o {;iM^,Ju^,.,,,,,„,,„t. si,.!!..,. inak..s Ins ,.;,.„,.■.. l..s ,.,.„.,...: ,1,:,,, :H.,i.,„.l pro,,!....!... A.v,ln,s:. !,..,. ,|,.„,.,,„ .v,.I--l vn,o.I..n. an,! f..,v.,,, in spin, --.;,,. tl,..,„ a,. ou-..,. ti.at s„rs ami draws .von ...suaily luuMnotioi.al rea.i.Ts. Hi, P-try .liustrates oiu- ul Ins ,.u„ ..anlinal .lu.t.i.n.s as ciiti. '• •• -•'•''M'.'ls us to f...., tinu wludMvo pen.en-e, and to hnaginJ tliat wlncji \vc li)icTi()\ Hx r.iiiiili;!!- ^li'l-i -ii-'' liiviiit ifiil llifi)iit;li I'lvc ; I,:il..iiii-. :liiil piiii. mill wn, t, in III', 's l;i( ni i.'rnv.- Spiirl Ilk.' I. nil.' I)i;i--ls, 111. II.' kii. u liou v;. nil.' iImn c.itilil Im. ■■ lli^ will, uilli '11 nil MM ].;i<i. Innl il'li^lit-i, Aii.l -. lti-1. (11. -. il^ II. nililiir^ -..il.'llit. 1, A ^|iM II ill I.. '^111.1 ■. Ir.il ini'_:lil \ L. ..l" \. I, :is ,1 I inpi'sl v\ iii'^.'i! sliip. u I1..N. li.liM I, .IV.' nil.'-i llir.i'r_;li u.iv.'S wliiili .l.ir.' n.it ov.Tu li.'lin, Kiirc'iii;; liti-'s wild, st sinHTS In nvMi its scivi'i'.i-ri svi.-iy. " 'I'll!' ili^litiiiiiL; i-^ lii< --iiivi' ; licivin's iitiiin-it dct'ii (iivi"H lip liri- st irs, ami iik.' :i llmk uf slii>.'p Tlii'V piss ImI'iim' Ills I'M', ai'.' niiiiil..'i'iii, .■mil mil on! Tin- t.inp.'st is liis stri'il. hi' si 1 i.l.s tlic .'lir ; Anil ill.' ilivs-, sliiiuts t'liiiii lii'i' ili'ptli l:iiil li.-irc : ' lIi'Hvi'ii, liast Ihoii si'LTL'ts ■.' Man iinvuiU uw ; 1 liavp nunc' " III niili'i- to clrar nuni's \v;iv fi'i' him Siu'llry discuviTS not oiilv liis iiiUTiial foes, liut uIm) till- cxtorniil eiicinics which (■iiroina^c thi'se. — Kini,' ami Tii-st. Against iiolitical and ti-i'leisiastical tyrants lie lifts u|> a Imi'iiiiiL; voico, in his O'te in Lilirrfii, Rei-nlf of Isl'Hii, J'romrt/irjis, aiwl 7V/c Ciiiri. Here he is at ono with \\\6 most anhnt sjiirits of tlit" inuck'i-n rcvohitionaiy I'la. though in point of ]iatieiico ' In' iiad much to h'arn. It secnipd to Slndh y tliat iicrsonal |irosi>ority and content meant m'ai'T\' .always a sclfisTi hlindiu-ss to the woes of others : it seemed to him that tlie world at lap^o was inUie }^rip ofTanef iirTuKl intolerahle custom ; tFatnien were simr^Ty !uV(TTatiionsly wearint:; shackles tiiat r.ot only hampered their movements hut corroded their very souls ; and that all tliat was necessary to tlieir deliverance was acri'iitance of the spirit of love in ])lace of tlie dictates ol ' In in.ittrri- intiniati'lv atr.'itiiiLr liinis.'lf. liowi'vcr. Sliill.'V suini;- tinu'S slioucil I'xti.ionlinarv liiii'^-siill'rrin;:'. Nut.' tli" niililiu'ss of tlie fi.Uowiii.^' ri'l)iikt> in a l.'tt.T '.> laiii.s Ollii r, liis pnlilishcr : " Mr. (Jis- liiii'iH' li.'is si-nt ni(> a copv ..f tiic /V"/i'.'/iMi\. uliirli is ci'i tainl v ninst H'aiitii'iiUv piinU'il. It i-* To In; ri'-ri'ttiil tliat tli ' .'inns of tin' p.ri'ss >ri' s ) niniRTiiiis. and in many ri'spccts so ili'stiii.'tivi' of tin' urns.' of .. ,..,.,.:,.„ .,(■ ......trv wl'.'cli. I fear. OYL'n vvittiont this ilisadvantairt'. vor]/ fi'w \ ill nndtTstand or like." HI l:«'i r Ix ISTUohrcTlOX (what tlicv .'.illr.! lau,' ,i u-illi„K,„.ss t„ s..(> a,„l assniiu- inan- ^ kind's In-rita-c of tV.T(I...n of soul, and a dftcrinii. tion no lon.^,.,- to sni.init |„ tli.- uliiins and \vilfiilii,.ss,.s of srU-cui- stitntrd ..xpluitrrs. In l.ri.f, Slirllrv uas a tlionM.o|,-^,,ini; liadical in tlion-lit. in t.Mclii.iir. and in d.cd. fhou^-li a '"■"'.^ ■'•''"' '""■• '•'• "'l^ wllolfsouicly .allirst in liis dcsiiv I'M 111'' u,. lid's l„.tt, iMiM.t. yi-t Im' was. in Ids personal n la- ^Jions. s,,ni,ti.nrs slian-.ly inst-iisiUvo in liis vcrv s..nsitiv,.. M.S.. \h' was liaidly willin-that m.-n sl.oidd enn.unt.r and o\,.itliinu- tyranny with its own weapons, and y.-t lu- was d.'t'i.ly impatient of tlieir Ion- hesitation to he free. If Wordsworth was a priwit of Liherty. and Hyron its sohlier, Shelley rather was its yonn- pro^et. who hrooded", and ^promised, and exhorted, and lamented, in turn. Too often his poetiy strnek the note of jrrief at the list- lessne>s and iiisuiHcieney of human life. It is intcrestini,^ to !.■ te with what unrest he time after time contrasts life with e Krpatesf,|Manfity an,l -.mrest ,|na!itv „f happiness will ensue from any acti.,nv Itl.is] is to l.e i„sr, and tl.ere ,s m. oflier jns- ti.e. Tlie distinction betwe.'n justiee and ini-rey w.as Hrst inia.Mned :,-::|:::v. ." ,;:ii;;r.(l rr. .iive eveiy relaxation of < iieir tyranny ,-w a circuiustajicu of j;Taco or favour." i\Ti:(U)r(Ti<>y Ixi ....,„s ,nust ..atlu.,. in-n iWlf all ,h.. .n..unn,s ami 1 .- ,„.,,„., ,.f .1...,,. Sl,..ll..v ...,u-lu.s th..s.. i.l.-as wu h a n... .Mi..:U,.anain,,..nn,>>m,u,l,y.l,au,l..>a,.v,,,. . W^ ^,..,,,,,.,,/^//.s.J/.M/.//^^v^-.^.y^ ". Iv,,..;; ..r/-" - /W'W;... a...l i.. tl..so l.tten.! .^nls ,„„....,,,i,„ th. Km,1.>1. l.Hn.M,-,aa.ealKon.o; • lose, the sMM shiMlM, OM ..s iM^l.t ..a.s, f.e.l.. when ^^.. h.s v,M.,.,l it, with ll.o a..tM.M..al cK-ws, a.Ml l.ea.- Ihe wl..s,,...-..,,^ ,n.wM the tuml. .,f C^sUm-. a...! the s...l wh. . ,. s,....m, the s,„.-wa..n. earth. a,,a...M.a.k the to,..l,s,n.,.stlyot ::;::a..ay..un. people, w,,o...,ehMvie.lt,.e.eM..n.^^^^ if „nc were to .lie, clesi..- H ' sleep th.-y see,., to sle..p. ^"',1. rhu,Mann.i,..l.an.l..it, ph. with its w.s.es v.ea.u-y ohlivio...-''rheh,.u-esM..a..rwhiehSh.l.yhroosMpo the tho..,l..s of sleep a„a aeath a.v a,..o.., the gentlest ami truest in the whole ra.,-- of his shi..i..- .n.a-ery Trisin._.na falling nu.sie, it was .aia. - t.,.,e. ..ften with n.ehu.ehuly. But this nu-la..cho'y .s not to be u.n- . , • • If ;.. tliP nielaiieholv of au a.id fuun.lea with pess.nnsM.. It is the n.c am , •utists, a pri..eiple that has persi.tea .n le.Uon.e hte.atmes espeeially! f ron. the tin>e of the Saxon sa.as to - -; d^y 1, roots, perhaps, are three: reco^,M.U.o.. of the Inc oni te..ess.,ihuln life: inability to exp..ss a U.,.a^^^^^^^^ ,„h wi.h the sheer iirst power of that thouK.t or t... ...a failure to secure n.ore tlKU. a ve.y .^,ht share ..f O. . ve.po,.sive syn.pathy of n.en and won.en. Ihe poet i. haf- ,e at ever/turn by these ^' Thus f-'s,"- ev., though he fi,ht the better for then,, - the l„n,tat,on o h e^ t^^ 1 > ,,i,,,.,nan,Ma,e.theliu,itationof love. Shjaie fit 1 n ,Uao,aelv. Himself hi.ulerea by h,,.,self. he iooUlf, - ,,,,, the;.o,.e eagerly to tl...KU.e.p.,on..,,.a,^^^m I i 9 his later days cleei.iy UOUOUIUI ]xii i\Ti:()/tr(Ti(>.y of the j.^.tti,. i.ourr l,f yit fdt ,•.,M^tl•ai,uMl t,. ...voii ; lum-iy :il\v;iyN toiuui-h ;,ml luuks of mi(l,ist:iii,liiiL;- ; he lias Teft us Ins t.-.tii..„ny t..i.d,i„- i.ach of llirsu .•..imnun .somnvs Of the iiii|KM fuctiiess uf life lie wn.tc : ^ '■ l-ifr. lik.. a (Iniiic of iiia,iy-c,,l„iir.M] m1;iss, ■^ ."^taiiis llii' uhii,. i-adi.iii. f ,,i' Kt.iiilt y. ';;;;■ Vu<\l D.atl. tiampl.s it to fra-rrifiils.— Diu If tliou wouhlst bu wiih that wliie-li thou dost suek ! " Of the :^tru--le fur exi)ies»i(.u : — ■• Wo is i,„. : T1m> uiiiL;,'.,! u,.nl., <,n uhi.-h mv soul «oul,i ,,iercu Intoth.. h.M;;ht oliov'sra, . Cnivrrso Art' I'liaiiis of Irad arouii.l its th-ht of liro." An.l a-ain: "The must glorious poetry that has ever been co.nnnnueate.l to the worhl is proo.-J.Iv a feei.le shadow of li.eonL^inal .■oi,(v,,tioi,s of the poet.' A.ul of the iua.le- (jiuu'y of htiiiian love : — " () Love I who ncwailrst The frailty of all tliiiij;s here, Why choose \ou the frailest For your cradle, y,,ur lionie and your bier ? " SheUev's own tlioir^^ht of hiinseli as ■t an.l refornier is s-t forth ill the follouin^r cxtiaet from a leUer of Deeemher jK 1S17, to (Jodwiii. eoneeriiiiio- [^aon (i,nl Vi/th„n ,,r Thu AWn/f ,./ Ishn.,: -l felt that it was in u.atiy respects a/ Jjen.mie i.ieture uf „iy oun iniml. I felt t.iat the sentiments/ were tnie. not assimie,!. An.l in this have I Ion- helieve.l j tha^ my puuer consists— in syn,]iathv, an.l that j.art of' th.' inia.;inati..n which relaf.^s to sympathv an.l c.ntempla- 1 tion. I am forme.1. if for anythinj^r „nt it, o<>nim..n with the ' iK'-a of man!ciii,l. t.. appreh. .,1 minute an.I rei. ,te ,lis- 1 t.ncti.ms oi fe,.ling, Avhether r.'lative to ext.Tual nature or '' the hvin^r l„,i„^.s whicli s.irr.Min.l us. an.l to cmmunh-ate '■"• ••"•i''<"Iti"Hs whi..h ivMilt from .•o.,M.l..rl„.,. ..jther the '"oral or th.. material universe as a whole. Uf course 1 \- •f^-'- -^ lyrnoD'CTiox Ixui l.eliove these faculties, uliicli peiluips eoinproheiul all that IS iiiiiKt ihlime in man. to exist very imiieifectly in my own I (•anno t hnt he coiiscions, ii much of what I write, of an ahsence of that tnuHiuillity whieh is tln3 ;,ttiihnre ainl acconiiMninient of power. ... If I hve. or if I >,.e anv trust in eoniin- years, .hml.t not tliat I shall .lo something'! wliatever it nn.y he, whicli a serious and earnest ..stin.ate ")f niv powers will su--est to me. and whieh wd^l lu. in every respeet arconunodated to their utmost limits." Godwin n'ee.l not have douhted. for SiieUey was not horn to pa^sawi.v until he had uttered his masterpiece. — holii a revelation and a prophecy. Alasfnr. too. JoHan lake-rt'ti.'ct.-d sun illume The Vk'llMW he.'s in the ivv-}ileoin. Nor iieed nor see what things '''^J" '^^ '< Hnt from thi-SL« cn-att; hi' can Forms more ri'al than Hvin^^ man, Nursliii ;s of immortality. ' It remains to speak of Siielley> distinctivo^ -style, which is of .'ourse. one always in point of w<.rd-lore, musical kfemu.ss. vivified sonslhililv. arnlrrntlov, yet it is sej.ar.ahlo into the Ivric manner, th." dramatic, the satiric, and the poleniic. Ir, the Ivric Shelley is in.st surdv himself, stnk- in- tl edi to the secret of his feelin- vsith .pnck j.enelra- if I'll 1X1 V INTRODUCTION tion. and sinojin!::^ out Iiis emotion oxultantly, as \n__The Cloud: or nioiirnfuUy. as in Stanzdn WfUi&»- in Drjec- tim ; or liotli. as in I'^jiijisi/r/iii/ioii ; yet in all with an a~>t()ni>liiMi,r antici|iativeties.s. It is a siiiLjiiif^ at its lia])))iest lil\f till' shrill (li'lif^hl of his own skylark, or the eairh'>s laptuie oT I'rownin^f's tluii'^h, hird-like in hoth its trillin;^' eclioes anil its swift-lhnijjj r'lforin'llcs ; in its (|uiet earessini;" of a sinj^le note, as " dieilal " or '• multitudinous," and in the iloodiuL; harmonies of its iinale. And here it siionld be said that Shelley's endin<,^s are amoii^' his greatest j)oetic victories over tiie elogs of expression, whether in the lyrie- huilt drama. J't'onirt/ifiis, with which he could not rest (•onteiit until he had added a fourth act of hope and glad- ness ; or in the magnificently sustained ]ia3an of Eternity vvitli which AdniKih hreaks off its nujsic : or in the lin- gering ])ri.niise-refrains of the ()(h to the West ll'iiitf and the ajiostrophes to Jane. Yet this is not true of all of his work, some of which, in its sheer lyric ahandon. is over- cartless of the oracle that " truth in art is the unity of a thing with itself." In the sonnet form, particularly. Shelley is less successful, possibly because his ri'pugnance to even a literary law that did not immediately commend itself to his art sense may have disturbed his pen's ease and power. Certaiidv, he was careless here of the canons, and seems to liave had scant ajjitreciation of the self-justifying genius of this difficult but finely sul)tle form. Even so. one cannot but be grateful that Shelley nt eded no salvation from the vice of fastidiousness. It is possible to fail in art, as Browning writes, "only to succeed in highest ait." Something of the same unease in techniipie appears in the dramas. IfeUns, Pronief/ifiis, and TI/p Ci'nci, of which oidv the last-named is. in the traditional sense, a con- tribution to drama ])roper. I have used of the I'miiief/iriis the term " lyric-built." for Shelby's utterance is always essentially lyrical, and so indeed is his ])oint ot view. By this is meant that he is chiefly inteiesled in rej)roducing IMRODUCTIOX Ixv his own emotions in song, — emotions touching past deaths and pursecutious, present i)h-asure3 and sorrows, and ideal aspirations toward a World-Cause he too often felt as silent and remote. He wrote — in its highest s^nse — personal jK.etry. His aharacteristiQ work is never horizontal: when exultant it shoots upward ; when dejected it plunges down- ward. ■ It has no merely craftsmanlike propriety. Of the rroft of the dramatist, indeed, he knew little either hy ex- ptrience or hy reflection, tliough his critical vision showed him the meaning of the dramatic i>/ea m jdainly that his statement of it in the preface to The Ceiiri is among the host we have. " The iiigliest nioral purpose aimeest. neither of which plays can achieve on' the stage a success commensurate w" h its spiritual power), it is natural that closet drama is becoming more aiid'more per- sistent, and that we should have come to feel as well as to admit that the theatre is only an incident —however import- ant — in the development of the dranni, and that a play is notgreat liist of all because it is actable. Shelley, for'his ])art, felt this very keenly. '• With the excejition of Fazio" ' wrote Peacock, " I do not remember his having been i)Ieased with any performance at an English theatre." In his JJe- fince nfPoetru l'« discusses at some length the history of the dramatic idea and the weakness of the moilern stage. His own plays, given their api)roi)riate background, will n.,t fail of their social and spiritual ap]»eal. ^ Of his satiric and polemi- verse but little need be said. Though keen and animated, it iifi;Nf.< to Shrllrifs I'lwt'ind W'nrha, adapted to tiie editions ot For man and W jtti an< 1 of C. 1). I. lOCO' An K lilintinil (I >f t/l> the. lioilleuin Ll/mrri/. 'I'lie Shelley invniu al)li S/n-llei/ MSS. Ii Society's Pafiers anJ Publications are Mai^^azine articles on Shelley and his works will he fonnd listed in Poole's In'li'x to J'rrio'/ind Lite rut it r,' and TJie (llfiil Lite rut It re. The American in Index to Generiil Litenitnre Header's Guide to I'er Lihrary Association's J; should also he consulted. The foUovvinj^ list comprises a carefully selected mimher of Lives, Critical Essays, Editions, and Poems concerninfj Shelley. EnwAUi:) Dow LIVES AND TIKCOIIDS DK.\: The Life »f J 'err;/ Bi/sshe Shelley. Two vols. Kegan Paul, Trench & Co. Same. Ahridged. Kegan Paul, T: ich & Co. John Ai)i)iN' John Trkf-awn-v: Eeeord^ <>f Shellei/, Bijron and the Author. Pickering & Chat to. Thomas JriKKUso.v Hooo: Life of Shelley. Thomas Mi:I)\vix: Life of Shelh-y. W. M. KossKTTi: Life of Shelley. Shelley Society. Thomas Love Peacock: Memoir.^ of P'-rey /lysshe Shel- ley. «fiS !, ' JH '■''i {>■■ ■ ■ 4 !■ i i M im 1 hm Jxx niiiLiOGiiAriiv H. S. Salt: S/tr//,';,, A IH'xjmphh'al Sfu(hj. Mu.s. Jii.iA.N Maksmall: L[f. and Lrltvr.nf Mary WolU sfo,H'rr<,ft Shrllril. Two V(.I<, Hfi.tley." I-i:ii.ii Hint: Aiituhinip-dii/u/. iKi. \\i:r.M: JJurnrf ShdUj and Catherine Nugent. I hi; ^\tif(i)ii^ Vol. xlviii. Alfki ClilTICAL ESSAYS KoMKKT i{ii()w.\iN-(i: An Kssay on Shcllei/. Lkslii.; Stki'Iik.v: ll,»irs in a Lil>rar>,, v(")l. iii. iVlATTiiFw Aknold: Essaij. Wooi.iiKKKv : Makers of Literature. The Torch. Wai.tku ISagkhot .• Literary Studies. Taut, IJoritfiKT: Etudes e; Portraits. AxintKW La.m;: Letters to Th'a,t Authors. W. M. HossKTTi: Lires of Eanioits Poets. EDITIONS Works ofPerey Bysshe Shelley in Verse and Prose. Ed- ite.l I,y Harry Buxton Fornian. Eight vols. Reeves & Turner. Poetieal Works of Perry Bysshe Shelley. Edited, with a M.'mo.r. l.y Mrs. Shelley. Tu-„ v.,ls. Honf^hton. Mifflin. Complete PoeHral Works of Shell,- y. Edited, with Menx.ir and Notes, l.y (;eort,'e Edward Woodberry. Four vols Ilonprhton. MiiHin. Poetieal Works of Shelley. Edited, with Menx.ir and Notes, l.y W. M. R,,ssetti. Three vols. Poems of Shrllry. Edit...! by Edward Dowden. (Globe edition) Macniillan. Poems of Shrlley. Edited by Geor.^e E. Woodberrv. (Cum- biiiigu edition) iioii^d,ton, MiiHin. BIIiLIOGIiArilY Ixxi A,hmn'i.i. Editofi by W. M. Uossotti. Clarondon Press. A'/'ni'iis and AInstnr. Edited l)y CMiarlcs G. D- R()l>crta. Silver. Hiirdett. I'nuiirt/ieiis Uuhnund. Edited by Vida I). ScudtU'r. HcaUi. Srirrt J'oniis ofShilleii. Ey W. .1. AIexan(U>r. (Jinn. /•;.sN-/_v.s- a/(-/ Letters hij J'erri/ lii/sshe ij/idlei/. Edited by Ernest Kliys. Walter S.olt. Py Anna I). McMaban. aieClurg. POEMS CONCERNING SHELLEY Rni'.KRT BROWNlxr. : Memorabilia ; rauline (beginning, " I ne'er bad ventured e'en to bope for tbis "). Lkkjh Hunt : Sonnet to SJiellei/. AViLLiAM Watsox: To Edward Dnwdeiu on his Life of ShdU'ii ; Shelley s Centenary; Shelley and Harriet. Andkf.w LAN(i: San Terenzo ; Lines on the Inaugural Meeting of the Shelley Society. Edmund Clarence Stedman: Ariel. Paul BouR'ip:T : Sur nn Volume de Shelley. I). G. RossETTi: Percy Bysshe Shelley. W. ]\L RossKTTi : Shelley's Heart. ,T. B. Tahb : Shelley. A Sonnet. Georck E. Woodberry: Shelley, A Sonnet; Shelley s House. Algernon Charles Swinburne : Cor Cordium. Oliver Wendell Holmf^s : After a Lecture on Shelley. V rh! iM'li ^^ ^- POEMS OF PERCY 15YSSHE SHELLEY STANZAS — Al'RIL. 1.S14 AwAV I the moor is daik btnieatli tlu- moon, K;il)it sought in Ktariy «'Vps IVjiiiis tli;it were iu!ver iiiL-ant for thine. Aiiotlu'i's \v»!altli : taiiu! sacrilicc 15 T(» a fond faith I Still dost thou pine? Still dost thou hope that j^reetinj; hands, \'oii'e, looks, or lips, may answer thy demands? Ah I wherefore didst tiiou hnild thine hope On the false uilt refuse s^) ••' Al)ove the hlind and battlinii;- nniltitn 10 Jn honoui-ed poveity thy voice did we: Son^s eonseci-ite to truth and liberty , — Desciinin' these, thou leavest nie to i;rieve, Thus having been, that thou shouldst cease to be. 1S15. A SUMMKR EVENING CIIl'RCHYARD LECIILADi:. GLOlCKSTEKSIlIIiE The wiiul has swept from the wide atniosj)here Kaeh vapour that obscured the sunset's ray; And pallid evenin<;- twines its beaininn- hair In duskier braids around the langiud eyes of day. Silence and twilij^^ht, uid)eloved of men, 5 Creej) hand in hand from yon obscurest glen. They lireathe their sjxills towards the di'parting day, Kiicom])assin^' the earth, air, stars, and sea; Light, sound, and motion own the ]iotent swav, Kesponding to the cliarm v.ith its own mystery. 10 The winds are still, or th«.' ''rv churcii towei- trrass Knows not their gentle ni' tioiis as tlu'y pass. riiou too, ac'i'ial Pile, whose iiinnados Point fi'om one si u'Mie lik. Ob pun ram His o f fi re. 'V st in silence their sweet nolemn spells, 15 Clothing in hues of he en thy dim and distant spire, LINES Arouiitl whose lesseninf^ and invisihle hcijj^ht (jatlicr ainoii'T the stars the clouds of iii^ht. ! The dead are sleei)iiij;' in tlieir sepulchres; And, nioulcU'rini;- as they sleep, a thrilling sound, 'JO Half sense, half thought, among tlie darkness stirs, Iheathed fronj their wormy beds all living- things around ; And, mingling with the still night and mute sky, its awful hush is felt inaudibly. Tims solemnized and softened, death is mild 25 And terrorless as tiiis sereiiest night : Here could 1 Iiope, like some incniring child Sporting on graves, that death did hide from human sijiht Sweet secrets, or beside its breathless sleep That loveliest dr'^ams perpetual watch did keep. 30 JSi^ptunibur, 181"). LINES The cold earth slept below, Above the cold sky shone ; And all around, With a chilling sound. From caves of ice and fields of snow 5 The breath of night like death did flow lieneath the sinking moon. The wintry hedge was black. The green grass was not seen, Tlie birds did rest 10 On the bare thorn's breast. ( n 1 -: \.. \'i "■'p ^ ■ f ■-■* A 1 6 THE SUNSET Whose roots, hoside the pathway track, Had bound th^-ir folds o'er many a crack U liich the fiost had made betwee". Thine eyes j;h)\ved in the ijlare \- Of the moon's dvinf li<>lif • As a fen-fire's beam On a .sluggish stream Oleams dimly — so the moon shone there, And it yellowed the strings of tliy raven hair, That shook in the wind of ni-dit. 21 Tlie moon made thy lij.s i)ale, beloved ; The wind made thy bosom chill; The night did shed On thy dear head Its frozen dew, and thou didst lie Where the bitter breath of the naked sky Might visit thee at will. NoveiiibtT, 1S15. 25 THE SUNSET There late was One, within wliosc subtle being, As light and wind within some delicate cloud That fades amid the blue noon's burnin-r sky Genius and death contended. None mav know i he sweetness of the jov which made hi's breath 5 iMil, like the trances of the summei- aii. When, with the Lady of his love, who tlien First knew the univserve of mingled being, He walked along the pathway of a field, Which to the east a hoar wood shadowed o'er, lo iiiit to the west was open to tlie sky. THE SUNSET i Tlmro now the sun liad sunk, but linos of ^nUl llii.ii; on the ashon (,'h)U(ls, and on the pointn Of tiio far level <;rass an-i r;i,^.si,,nless calm, and silence nnn). roved, 4.«; Whether the dead llnd, (di, not sleep! hnt n-st, And are the nneoniplainiiij; things they >eem, Or live, or drop in the deep sea of Love ; Oh, that like tliine, mine ei)itai)h were Peace!" This was the only moan she ever made. 50 1810. HYMN TO INTKLLECTUAL BEAUTY TllK awful shadow of some unseen Wnwr Floats though unseen amoufj us ; visiting This various woild with as inconstant whijr As summer winds that creep f,om Hoover t<, Hower. Like moonbeams that behind some j .ny mouL in shower, _ T . . O it visits with inconstant glau ^ Each human heart and countenanc* ; Like hues and harmonies of eveninf, Like clouds in starlight widely si)read, Like memory of music fled, ]q Like aught that for its grace may be Dear, and yet dearer for its mystery. ^Spirit of IJkattv, that dost consecrate With thine own hues all thou dost shine upon Of human thought or form, where art thou gone'> 1.5 Why dost thou pass away and leave our stat^. This dim vast vale of tears, vacant and desolate? Ask why the s-inlight not for «'ver Weaves rainbows o'er yon mountain river • Whv aught shouhl fail ami fade that once is shown; V\ hy fear and dream and death and birth 21 Cast on the daylight of this earth HYMN TO IMKLLKCrrAL liEAUTY 9 Such j^loom ; why in:in has such a scope Vov love and hatt;, despoiKh'ncy aiul hope. No voice i loni some suhliiiier uuilil hath ever 2r< To saj^e or poet these res])onses j^iven ; Tlieiefore the names of Demon, (iliost, and Heaven, Kemain the records of tlieir vain endeavour: Frail spells, w ose uttered charm might not avail to sever. From all wv hoar and all we see, 30 I)oul)t, chance, and mutability. Thv Vv^ht alone, lilu' mist o'er mountains driven, ( 'r music by the niijjht wind sent Through strings of some still instrument, Or moonliirht on a midniiiht stream, ^'i Givts grace and truth to life's unquiet dream. Love, Hope, and Self-esteem, like clouds, depart And come, for some uncertain moments lent. Man were inunortal and omnipotent, Didst thou, unknown ami awful as thou art, 40 Keep with thy glorious train *irm state within his heart. Thou messenger of sym])athies That wax and wane in lovers' eyes : Tliou, that to human thouglit art nourishment, Like darkness to a when winds arc woo- All vital thini;s that wake to bring News of birds and Idossoniing, Sudden thy shadow fell on me : 1 shrieked, and clasped n.y hands in ecstasy ! 60 I vowed that I would dedicate my powers To thee and thine: have I not kept the vow^ With beating heart and streaming eves, even now i call the phantoms of a thousand hours Each from his voiceless grave: they have in visioned bowers Of studious zeal or love's delight Outwatehed with me the envious night: They know that never joy ilhuned my^row, Unlinked with hope that thou wonldst free This world from its dark slavery, 70 That thou, O awful Lovklinkss, Wouldst give whate-er these words cannot express! The day becomes more solemn and serene When noon is past : then' is a harmony In autumn, and a lustre in its sky, 75 Which through the summer is not he'ard or seen As if It could not be, as if it h:ul not been ! Thus let thy ])ower, which lik«! the truth Of nature on my {)assive youth Descended, to my onward life sui)ply 3/O.VT liLAW 11 Its oalin, to Olio who worsliips thee, And every form contMiiiiii^; thee. Whom, Si'iKlT fair, tliy spells did hind To fear himself, and love all huinankiiKl. 1810. MONT BLANC LINES WUITTKN I\ TlIK VALK OF ClIAMOUNI The everhisting universe of thinj^s Flows tluough the mind, and rolls its rapid waves, Now dark — now ;s winds still 'i\i •'"'>"' aiid ever rntne '";l"nktlH.ir.M|uu..s. un.l th.-ir nn^l.t v .u in-in- '•• '"•■"• •"' "Mniid .s,.lcM,„ l,;,nn.m\": " " ll.u,....:n.l.ly ,;.inl.owssfn.t..|,...l;.,-n;ss,lu.sw.rp -o Ot tiK. ctlu'n.al \v:it,M-f;,ll, ul„.>r v.il Iw.l...ssn,.n. „nM.„l,..,nv.ii„n;^..; th. strange sloop >MMr|,, ulirn thf. v(,i,.,.s of the tlH. .\rv,.-;;..,nMn.,tion A loM.I. I„n,. s.M.n.l. no ,.tl,e.•so^n,|,^•u,taM.e• ^ -nart,,.Mva.l..,lwi,l. tl,atn.as,-l..ssn,o.io„; ''""•arttl... ,,at!, oftl>atnn,rstini,.soniul Di/zy Ravin." : and whrn I naxc on tluv, I sn-nia. in a trance .sul.lin.c and stran-e lo nins,. on my own separate fantasy, ^ly own. ,ny human mind, whidi i)assivdy .Now renders ami rtn-eives fast InHnen.-in-s, Holdin,i,r an unrcmittinn^ interclian<--e With the clear nniverse of things lonnd : One leomn of wild thon^hts, whose wandering win^^c Wfl.,atahov..,hy darkness, and now rest U here that or thon art m, n.d.idden guest, In the still o.tve of the witch l>oesv, Seeking au>ono the shadows that pass l>v M.osts of all things that are. some shade'of thee Sou, l.antom. son.e fain, image : till the breast ^•'-'» -l^'^-I' tl-'V fled nvalls them, thou art there' 3,'5 40 igs in S.Mne say that gleams of a remoter world \ .s.t the sonl in sleep. - that death is shnnher, r,n Am that .tsslK.pes the imsy thoughts outnumber ttl'ose who wake an.l live. I look on high; lias some unknown (Munipotence unfurhuf Moyi liLASC Tlio v:ile of lifo aiul deutli ? Or do I lie III dream, and docs tln3 miyliticr world of sleep Spread far around and inaeet,'ssil)ly Its cirejes.- for the very spirit fails, Driven lik<' a liomeless eloiid from steep to steep That vani>hes ainoni; the viewless _i,Mles I 13 l.h 60 65 Far, far aliove, piereing the infinite sky, Mont IMane apj)ears, - still, snowy, anil serene — Its sid)ject mountains their unearthly forms Pile around it, iee and roeU ; broail vales between ()!' frozen Hoods, unfathoniahle deeps. Blue as the overhani;in<; heaven, that spread And wind amon<; the aeetnnulated steei)s ; A desert peopled hy the storms alone, Save when the ea<;le l>rin<;s some hunter's hone. Ami tiie wolf traeks her there — how hideously Its shapes are heaped around I rude, hare, and hi<,'li, 70 (Jhastly, and searred, and riven. — Is this the seene Where the old Karth(piake-d:emon taught her young Kuin ? Were these their toys? or did a sea Of fire envelojje once this silent snow ? Nt)ne ean re]>ly — all seems eternal now. The wilderness has a n\ysterious tongue Whieh teaehes awful douht. or faith so mild, So solemn, so serene, that man may be. Hut for sueh faith, with nature reeoneiled: Thou h:ist a voiee, great Mountain, to repeal Lar"e eodes of fraud and woe ; not understood r>y all, but whieh the wise, and great, and good Interpret, or make felt, or deeply feel. 75 SO IV The fields, the lakes, the forests, and the streams, Ocean, and all the living things that dwell 86 :zk --V^ii^,. . J 'f^ t - :>^i 14 MONT II LAN C 11 )0 100 AN itlnn tlu,- .labial earth ; ]\<^hUuu dart through them: — Winds con- tend Silently there, and heajt the snow, with breath 135 Rapid and strong, but silently ! Its home The voiceless lightning in these solitudes Keeps innocently, and like vapour broods Over the snow. The secret strength of things Which governs thought, and to the inlinite dome I f(i ( )f heaven is as a law, inhabits thee I And what were thou, and earth, and star^, and sea. If to the human mind's imaginings Silence and solitude were vacancy V June 2;;, 181(i. ¥ n m i ■.^ri MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHART ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No 2 1.0 I.I 1.25 ti. Ill 2.8 ilM m 1^ 1.4 I 2.5 IZ2 2.0 1.8 1.6 ^p^ "153 fas' Main Street r.= - Chester. Ne« York 14609 U^ = 16) 48? - 0300 - Phone =: 16) 288 - 5989 - Fa% ' ««« m i L i ,, i I IG TO CUNSTANTIA. SLXGING r'-O CONSTANTIA, SINGING Thus to be lost and thus to sink and die, Perchance were death indeed ! —Con^tantia, turn! In tliy dark eyes a jmwer like lij^ht doth lie, p]ven though the soundi? which were thy voice, which burn Between thy lips, are laid to sleep; 5 Within thy breath and on thy hair, like odour it is yet, And from thy touch like fire doth leap. Even while I write, my burning cheeks are wet, Alas, that the torn heart can bleed, but not for"-et ! A breathless awe, like the swift change 10 Unseen but felt in youthful slumbers, A\ ild, sweet, but uncomnnuiicably strano-e. Thou breathest now in fast ascending numbers. The cope of heaven seems rent and cloven By the enchantment of thy strain, 15 And on my shoulders wings are woven, To follow its sublime career. Beyond the mighty moons tliat wane Ujton the verge of natiire's utmost sphere, Tdl tht! world's shadowy walls are past and disap- pear. Iler voice is liovering o'er my soul — it lingers 21 O'ershadowing it witli soft and lulling wings. The blood and life within those snowv fim^ers ieacli Witchcraft to the instrumental strings. My brain is wild, my breath comes quick 25 The blood is listening in my frau'e. And thronging shadows, fast and thick, SONNET — OZA'MANDIAS Fall on my overHowinf? eyes; My heart is (|uivering like a Haine ; As morning dew, that in the sunbeam dies, I am dissolved in these consuming ecstasies. 17 30 35 4t> I have no life, Constantia, now, l)nt thee. Whilst, like the world-surrounding air, thy song Flows on, and fills all things with melody. Now is thy voice a tempest swift and strong, On which, like one in traroe upborne, Se(!ure o'er rocks and waves I Svveep, Keioicinir like a cloud of morn ; Now 'tis the breath of summer night, Which, when the starry waters sleep Kound western isles with incense-blossoms bright, Lingering, suspends my soul in its voluptuous Hight. 1817. SONNET — OZYM ANDIAS I MET a traveller from an antique land Who said : " Two vast and trunkless legs of stone Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand. Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown, And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold eonnnand, 5 Tell that its sculptor well those passions read Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things, The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed ; And on tlie pedestal these words appear: ' My name is Ozymandias, king of kings : Look on my works, ye Mighty, and desi)airl' Notiiing beside rcjuains. Kound the decay Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare, The lone and level sands stretch far away." IS 17. rii 10 1£: i":b i Ml • I .a; 18 LINE TO A CRITIC LINES That time is dead for evor, eliild, Drowned, fro/en, dead for ever! We look on the i)ast, And stare af^hast At tlie spectres wailing, pale, and gliast, Of hopes which thou and I heguiled To death on life's dark river. The stream we gazed on then, rolled by ; Its waves are nnreturninff; lint we yet stand In a lone land. Like tombs to mark the memory Of hopes and fears which fade and fly In the liglit of life's dim morning. November 5, 1817. 10 LINES TO A CRITIC Honey from silkworms who can gather, Or silk from the yellow bee ? The grass may grow in winter weather As soon as hate in me. Hate men who cant, and men who pray, And men who rail like thee; An equal ])assion to repay, — Tliey are not coy like me. Or seek some slave of power and gold, To be thy dear heart's mate , 10 ON A FADED VIOLET 19 Thy love will iiiovo that bigot cold, Sooner than mo thy hate. A jiassion like the one I prove ( 'aiuiot, (livis, as ever still Longing v.llh divided wiii, 10 15 20 I li WRITTEN AMOya THE EU\s oi Liii; ji **'''' ' 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 • " 'fit i3' ^i i 00 ^ WRITTEN AMoyc THE EUdASEAN HILLS Or the wliirlwiml up and down I!()\vliii;:r, like Ji shiuj^htuiod town, When a Idng- in glory rides Throngh the pomp of fratricides: Those unhuried hones around There is many a mourn Ful sound ; There it: no lament for him, Like a sunless vapour, dim, WIio onee clothed with life and thought What now moves nor murmurs not. Ay, many flowerinn^ islands lie In the waters of wide A<;ony: To such a one this morn was led My l)ark, by soft winds ])iIoted. 'Mid the mountains Enyanean, I stood listening to the jnean With which the Icgioned rooks did hail The Sim's uprise majestical ; Gathering round with wings all lioar, Through the dewy mist they soar Like gray shades, till the eastern heaven Bursts, and then, as clouds of even, Flecked with lire and azure, lie In the unfathomable sky, So their plumes of purple grain. Starred with drojjs of golden rain, Gleam above the sunlight woods, As in silent multitudes On the morning's fitful gale Through the broken mist they sail, And the va])ours cloven and gleamino- Follow down the dark steep streaming- T;ij .,11 ;.. \...:.A L 1 , , ... °' -i.ii «ii i- uMg.ii, iiiiu Clear, imu stiii V 1 *'■ . j;. i,;ii GO 05 70 80 85 i) WRITTEN AMOSC THE f:U<;.\SEAN IIILLS Btii't'citli is spii'iid like :i grt-en sea )h )f Lonihiirily, waveie ounded by the va{)()ious air, Tl n Islaiuled by cities fair. UiultM-neatli day's azr.re eyes, Ocean's nnrsliiii;, Venice lies, — A peopled labyrinth of walls, Anipliitrite's destined balls. Which her hoary sire now paves AVitli his blue and beaniinj;' waves. Lol the sun upsprini;s behind, 15road, retl, radiant, lialf-reclined On the level (piiverinj^ line Of the waters crystalline : And biifore that chasm of liylit, As within a furiuice brij;ht. Column, tower, and dome, and spire. Shine like obelisks of fire, I'ointing with inconstant motion From the altar of dark ocean To the sapphire-tinted skies ; As the flames of sacrifice From the marble shrines did rise, As to pierce the dome of fijold Where Apollo spoke of old. Sun-girt City ! thou hast been Ocean's child, and then his queen; Now is come a darker day, And thou soon must be his prey. If the i)ower that raised thee here Hallow so thy watery bier. A less drear ruin then than now, *> itii tiiy cOimUcSt-OraiiuOu OiOW 23 00 95 luu 1U5 110 115 120 t -J,. m i . It I !■ i « ■■ IS: 24 wniTTKy AMoxt; Tin: hi(;.\\EAN hills St()()j)iii;^ to tin; shivi' of slaves From tliv tliroiic. :iiiioii<( tin- waves If siaiiiew Wilt tlioii lu', wlic'ii tl Flies, as oiict- Itcfon- it flew, O'er thine isles (lepopulate, Aihi all is ill its ancient state, Save where inaiiv a palaee-^ato \\ itii "rreeii sea-tlowt-rs overirrown I jiKe a r()( k of (H-ean s own. Topjiles o'ei' the abandoned sea As the tides change snllenly. The fisher on his watery wav, AVanderlnj;' at the close of day. Will spread his sai 1 and seize his oar. Till he ])ass the i^^loonjy sh()re. Lest the dead should, from their sleep liurstinj; o'er the starlight deep, Lead a rapid inas(pie of death O'er the waters of his j)ath. l-V VM) 135 110 I i Those who alone thy towers behold Qnivering thronf^h ai-rial j;'<'l and .shivcrics foul Overcloud a suniilic soid ! As the L;host of Ilouicr clinLjs Jioiiiid Scauiaiidcr's waNtiiiL; sprin-^s As diviiH'st ShakHsj),.;ii»''s \u\'j\\t Fills Avon and the world witii li-lit. Like oniniscicnt power, wliith he Iina,i,'('d "mill inortalitv: As the love from IN'tiarch's urn "iet amid yon hills doth i»urri, A (pienchless lamp, by which th.- heart Sees things unearthly : so thou art, Mi-hty spirit : so shall l)e The city that did refu'-e thee. Lo. the sun floats uj) the sky, Like thon;iht-wiiiL;ed Liberty, Till the universal li^iht Seems to level i)]aiu and hei-ht ; From the sea a mist has spread, AmX the beams of morn lie dead On the toners of \'eniee now, Like its j;lory loui,'' a^o. By the skirts of that -ray cloud Many-domed Padua proud Stands, a peopled solitude, 'Mid the barvest-shining plain. Where the poasmt heaps his -rain Li the garner of his foe, And the milk-white oxen slow purple vintage strain, I'JU VM •JOO ;oo no 215 <• ilii tUc 220 WIUTTKX AMt).\(; /■ T', I.VA I.V IIIL[.> IIc.'ipcil iipon tin- crr.ikiiiL: wviiii, Tliitt till- linit:il ( '<■]{ iiiav swill Driiiikcri >lrt|) Willi >;iv:i'4(' will; And tilt' Mc.Jf t(» tlie sword liicH mii'liaiii^^cd, tlidiiuli iiiiiiiv a lord, LiU»' a wt'L'd wliosc sIkkU; is |ioi.soii, Overcrows this rc^non's foisoii. Sheaves ot wlioiii are ripi; to eonie To de.striu'tioirs liarvestdioinc : Men must reap tin; tilings tliev sow, Force from foicc mii^t evei' ilow, Or worse; hut "t is a liitter wot; That love or reason cannot chaiitre The despot's rage, the slave's revenge. .';{() li ^ L'.-?; Padua, thou withia uliose walls Those ninte guests at festivals. Son and Mother, Death and Sin, Played at dice for Kzzelii), Till Death cried, " I win. 1 win!" 210 And Sin cursed to lose the watier. Put Death ])roniised, to assuage her, That he would petition for Her to he ma(h' Vice-Km|)eror, ^^ hen the destined years were o'er, '_Mr> Over all hetween the Po And the eastern Al])ine snow, l^uler the mighty Austrian. Sin smiled so as Sin oidv can. And, since th;it tim<'. ay, long before, 25(J Both have ruled from sliore to shore, That incestuous pair, who follow Tyrants as tlie sun tlit; swallow, As Kepentance follows Crime, And ;)s c]i;ni"-e-> follow Time, '2r>" FF (^! I 28 WniTTEN AMONG THE EUdANEAX HILLS In tliino lialls the laiiiji of kariiii Lik 'g» ;i(tu;', ni)\v no nioitj is buininir; e a meteor \vl lose \vi 1(1 iiy Is lost over the f;r:ive of day It lijleanis betrayed and to betray 2G0 () nee remotest nations came To adore that sacred llaine, A\ hen it lit not many a hearth On tills eold and jj^looiny earth ; Now new lires from anti(|iie liiiht 2tJ5 Si)riiii;- be.ieath the wide world's iui, 10 That these? stintless drones may spoil The forced produce of your toil? Have ye leisure, comfort, calm, Shelter, food, love's gentle Iiahn? Or what is it ye liny so dear 15 With your pain and with your fear? The seed ye sow, another reaps ; The wealth ye find, another keeps; The rohes ye weave, another wears; The arms ye forge, another bears. 20 Sow seed, — but le*^ no tyrant reap ; Find wealth, — let no impostor hea]) ; Weave robes, — let not the idle wear ; Forge arms, — in your defence to bear. Shrink to your cellars, holes, and cells; 25 In halls ye deck, another dwells. AVhy shake the chains ye wrought? Ye see The steel ye temj)ered glance on ye. With plough and sjnide. and hoe and loom. Trace your grave, and linild your tond), 30 And weave your winding-sheet, till fair England be your sepulchre ! 1819. i *:1 86 ODK TO THE WEST WIND ENGLAND IN IS 19 As old. mad, hliiid. (Icspiscd, jind dviiiij 1 ilU'r^ - I'lllCCS, Tl l()ll"ll 1)1 till' ditji;s of their dull race, who flow iMif scorn. — inud fi ihiif scorn. — mud tiom a niuddv sDrin"-: liiiiers who noitlH.-r sfc, nor fed, nor know, But li'i'ch-likc to tlu'ir faintini,^ country clini;-, 5 Till tlu-y drop, blind in hlood, without a blow; A ])e()|)lc r^-irved and stahlu'd iu the nntilkd field; An army, which liheitieide and pi-ey Make as a two-edged sword to all who wiidd ; (Jolden and sanj^uine laws which tempt and slay; Keli^ion Christless, (Jodless, — a hook sealed ; 11 A Senate, — time's woi'st statute nnrepealed,— Are graves, from which a glorious Phantom may Jjiirst, to illumine our tempestuous day. IS HI. ODE TO THE WEST WIND O wuj) West AVind, thou breath of Autumn's bein"-, Thou from whose unseen presence the leaves dead Are driven, like ghosts from an euchanter fleeing, 'fellow, and black, and ])ale, and hectic red, Pestilence-stricken multitudes : O thou, 5 ^^'ho chari )test to their dark wintry bed The winged seeds, where they lie cold and low, Kach like a corpse within its grave, until Thine azure sister of the Spring shall blow ODE TO THE WEST WIND 37 IlfT clarion o'er the dioainiiit: cartli, and fill 10 ( hi'ivin^- swi'ct buds lilit- llocdvs to fi'cd in air) ^\'itll living lines and odums jijaiu and hill: Wild Spirit, which art moving- I'Ver} whtro ; Destroyer and preserver; hear, hear! II Thou on whose stream, "mid the steep sky's oonuno- tion, 15 Loose elonds like earth's decayint,'- leaves ar. shed, Shook from the tanjiled bou<:hs of heaven and ocean, Angels of ra'n and liyhtnini;- : there are spread On the blue surface of thine airy surge. Like the bright hair uplifted from the head 20 Of some fierce Mienad, even from the dim verge Of the horizon to the zenith's height The locks of the approaching storm. Thou dirge Of the dving vear, to which this closing night Will be the dome of a vast sepulchre. Vaulted with all thy congregated might Of vapours, from whose solid atmosjdiere Black rain, and fire, and hail, will burst ; O hear I III Thou who didst waken from his summer dreams '■fill "^ f" 1 • , » 11 i i'lxj, oiiu" i^ieuiLorraiH'aii, Vviuri' iic iay, Lulled by the coil of his crystalline streams. •jfi %.; i IS < H\ ■■ f i ll 1; 88 OliK TO THE \\ i:.Iff|» (lid palact's an I t (>iiivfi ill'' witlilii till,' u oucrs ivc s iiitt'ii>fr dav, All civcr-iowii witli azure iiids-;. and flowers ^M ^weet the ,>eii>e faints piet iiiini^' them! Thou I nr wlioNC path the Atlantic's level powers Cleave tlieinsolves into ehasnis, while far hi low Die sea-ldoonis and the oo/y woods whieJi wear Tlie saph'.ss fulia<;e of the ocean, know ■10 Thy voice, and suddenly <;iow <,nay with fear, And treud>Ie and despoil tlienistdves : O hear! IV If I wore a (h'ad leaf tlion ndi^htest hoar If I wore a swift elond to Hy with thee ; iV W iive to pant honeath thy junver, and share 4.' Tlie impulse of thy stron^th, only loss f Than thou, () uncontrollable! if I were as in my boyhood, and could bt rce oven 1 he comrade of thy wandei ini;.s over heaven, As thon, when to outstrij) thy skyey sjieed Scarce seemotl a vision; J would ne'er have st 60 riven As thus with tl ()! lift I loe in prayer in my sore need. ne as a wave, a a cloud 1 fall upon the lliurns of life ! 1 bleed ! A heavv wei"!i1- of Ik^.hi; l.nc /.l,o;..o-l "--i i - i One too like thee : tameless, and swift, and proud. ODK r<) TUK WKST WISH 39 Make iiif tliy lyn-, fvcii :is tlir forest is: Wliiit if ii'.y lt'- aiitiiiiiiial tone, ''0 Swr.t tliou-li in sadness. Vw tlioii, spirit fiorcc, Mv spirit! IW thou nu', impetuous one! Drive my dead tliouglits over the universe Like witliered leaves to cpiieken a new birtli ; And, by the iueantai-on of this verse. Scatter, as from an unextini^uished hearth Ashes and s))arks. my words anion^- mankind! lie through my lips to unawakt'ned earth he trumpet of a prophecy ! O Wind, If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind? 1819. 65 70 i«l I'lJOMKIIIKls IM'.or M) A i.\ Ki( \i, mc \M.\. i\ Koiit \, r^ Aiulism- li.M>, Aiii|)lii;irao,.siili t.rr:im iilulitc? I'Ur.FACK T.IK C.vrvk ti-.-.ni,. writ.Ts, in .s,.l,.,ti,M^r ,stl,..ir sul-joct any '""•"""-'' ""■"•"^'"""^'llnstnnor,MMlH.I„;;v,..,„,,lov..,lintl,.Mr tr.'at.M.nt u| ,t a .-orta.n ur I ut. ■;..•> di.cT.t ,.,.,. Tl„.v hV i,., .nrans c..m..n,.,ltlK.,MM.lv..sl M,lt,.a.llu.r,.to,|„...n,n„;„„h,t,r,,n.tH- t...n, ...• t.. nui.at.. in ..orv, as ,n titl., tiuir nval> an.] ,„...lo- crssors. Su.h a svst..n, w.,ul,l have : „,„..| ,., a n.si.natlon ..f t ,„s,. daMMs to i.r,.|',..vn<.,. ov.t tln.ir .•on,,,..tilo.s wind, in- oitr. tin. .•o,n,M,M,i„n. Tl,,. A^^.nn.,nn„nian .storv was ..xliil.iu.d .n. tl.L- Atln.nnin theatre with as many va.iati..n.s"as .l.annis 1 l.ave ,..esnrn...l t.. i.,n|,l„y a sinnlar license. The /'nmutheu. Lnbound „f .Ksehylus sn,,,.„s...I the . , ....neiliation of J„,,iter with Ins netin. as the pru-e of the .liselosure of the .ian-aT tl,reatene.I to his e.npire hy tin- eons.un.nation of his uu^vvh^.^ with Ihet.s. Thetis, ac.eor.linj,r to this view of the suhjeet was {,m-e.. n. .narria.o to I'dens, and I'nMM.thens, hv tl,e ,M.,nn'ssion (.t .Inpiter, .lel.vere.l from his eaptivitv hv ilerenh.s 1I.,|i|ii>sitiiiii t>) i>tniii|i^^(•. I'liit i'l'Dnirthfiis is, as it were, tiic 1} ["• 'd' tin' lii;;lii '^t |icitri- tion of iniii-al and inli Irctnal nat nrt", ini|ndli d by tiif [Mirist and tliu tiin'st motive-. lo tin' Im --t and iioldi >l ends. riiis |iii('m was cliiidly wiittiMi npon tin' moiintainons rniiis of till' Matlis of ('ai:icai!;i, ainon'T tin- tiow t iv •rladi'-, and tliiclict-S of odoriferous Idossomin;; trees, wlmii art' cMendt'd in cver- windinj; lalnrintlis njion it-, immense ]datforms and di//y artdn's .suspended in the air. 'riie lirieht Idne >ky of Konie, and tin' elfeit of tin; vi;^orons awiilcenilij; of sjilini,- in tl at divincst (di- luate, and tiie nuw life with wiiieii it (irenehes tlu- si)irits evuii to iiitoxieation, were the ins])iration of this drama. Tlie iina^'eiy wlii(di I have ciindDyi'd will hf found, in many instances, to have lieen drawn from the operations id" the luimaii iniiul, or from those external actions by whicii they are ex- pressed. Tiiis is unusual in modern poetry, altho\ii;h Dante and Sliakespeare are full of instances of the same kind : Dante in- deed more than any other poet, and v. It h j^reater success. I^ut the (ireek ])oets, .'is writers to whom no resource of awakenin;^ till' symi>athy of tlicir conteiniiorai'ies was unknown, were in tiie haliitual use of tliis power ; and it is the study of their works (since a iiij;'lier merit would prolialdy lie denied mejtowhiidi I am willing; that my readers shouhl impute this sineuhirity. One word is due in caiulonr to tiie deforce in whieli the study of contenqxirarv writinLjs mav have tin^^ed my com]iosition ; to- such lias hcen a topic of eensnre with rerjard to iioems far moie poi)ular, and indeed more deservedly popular, than mine. It is impossihie that any one who iidiahits the sanu' age with ^ucli writers as those who stand in the foremost ranks of our own, can conscientiously assure liims(df that his lans^nafre and tone of thoii-'-ht mav not have been luoditied hy the study of the prodiie- Hi; m : -rill tions o f those e\traordinarv intellects. It is true, that, not the 42 rnoMETHEVs I '.V no i \\ n spirit ..f their c^ciiius, Inii thr forms in wliicli it lias niaiiifc'stcd itsi'll, arc (iiic less to tin- prniliaritics of tlit-ir own iiiiiids tiiari to the |H iiiliarily of tliu moral and intellcctnal ('(.niiition of the inin.ls aiiHiiii;- uliicli tlu-v iiavc liom |iroilni-.cl. 'I'hn.s a luunht-r of wrucis 11US.SC.-..S tilt; form, whilst they want the spirit of those whom, it is all<'M;,'(], thfv imitate ; lua'ansc the fornier is the cndoum.iit of tin; age in which they live, and the latter must lie tilt,' uneonitnnnieated li^htninj; of their own mind. 1 iie p'l'idiar style of intense and comprehensive inia;,'-ory which distinj^Mii.^hes the modi'rn literature of Kni,dand, lias not been, as a ;;encral jiower, the prodnct of the imitation of anv l>ai-ticidar writer. The mass of capabilities remains at every ]ien,Mi m,a!>-rially the same : tlie eirenmstanccs which awaken it to action perpetually chanj,'e. If Knj,dand were divided into forty republics, eacii eipial in iK.pul.ation and extent to Athens, there is no reason tosiiiipose but that, under institutions not more per- fect than those of Athens, each would produce philo.sophers and poets e(jual to those who (if we e.\ee|it Shakespeare) have never been surpass -d. We owe the great writers of the golilen age of our literatT.^r to that fervid aw.akening of the public mind which shook to dust the oldest and . .ost oppressive form of tie; Chris- tian rtdigion. We owe Mdtou to the progress and development of the same spirit: the .-.acred Milton was, let it ever be remem- bered, a republican, and a liold iiupiirer into iiioral:^ and reIi<'ion. The great writers of our own age are, we liavi' reason to sup- pose, the companions and forerunners of some unimagined change in our social condition, or the opini(Uis which cement it. , The (dond of mind is discharging its collected lightning, and the C(piiiiliriniu between institutions and opinions is now restoring, or is about to be restored. As to imitation, poetry is a mimetic art. It creates, but it creates by cumbinatioM and reprcs;'iitation. Poetical abstractions are beautiful and new, imt licc.iuse the port loiiMif which they are composed had no previous e.\i.-,tence in the mind of man or in nature, but because the whole ]iroduci d by their combination has some intelligible and beautiful analogy with those sources of emotion and thought, and with the contemnorarv condition of them: one gre.it ])opt is n masterpiec' of nature which another not only oughf to stiiil;. but must study. He might as wisely and as easily determine that his mind should no loneer be the mirror of all that is lovely in the visible imiver.se, as exclude from ruoyiETiiEvs uMiouyn 43 liis ooiitoiiiiiliitioM the bcautihil wliicli exists in the writiiipjs of ;, great cdiitfiiipoiiirv. TIip jirctPiue of doiiij; it would lu' a piesumiiliuii in any Init the j;ieatt'st ; the ellVct. cviMi in liini, \\:;l !'.!s*i>!'V of whilt a'.o.iea.r to loe to be thi' Cfenniiie I elements of human society, let not the advocates t)f injustice and J ) nr m m it ^iH "'■\t it k \i\ 44 PROMETHEUS UXIiO UND r suporsfitio,, (latfor tl,on,s,.lvos that r,sI,„MM (ak. Jvsohyli.s rafl.or \tliaii I'lato MS my inixli'l. Tlu. luvin,^ spokrn „f ,„v.,.lf witl. ....allVH..! fn-o,!..,,, will ■"■;■'' l"'l-M-l'W with tlH.,.aM,|i.l ; an.l la ,h.. un..an.ii,i ...,„. snl.Tthat th..yinj„ren„. l...,s than their own hearts an.l nun.ls .y nnsn.,.,...s,.ntation. Whatever talents a person n,av possess to :t.",.se ami insfrnet others, he they ever so ineonsi.leVal.le. he isyet honn.l to exert then, : if his atten.pt he ineilVetual. let the JHuuslnnent o an nnaeeo.nplishe.l pnrpose have l,ee„ snftieient • I.'t nonetronhle then.selves to heap the dust of ohlivion npon his e orts ; tlje p,le they raise will hetray his ^jrave, which .night otherwise liave heen unknown. I ' DK.' \IATIS I'KRSOX.E PlJOMKTTIK.rs IH.Mocoiico.v .Jll'ITKU The KaUTH OCKAV A !'()[. LO Mkkctijy IIkiicl'lks Asia, ^ Pantiika. - Oreanulr:^ Ion,.:, \ The PlIAXTASM OK JcriTKR The Si'iitiT OK THK Kautii The Si'iHiT OK Tin: Moo.v SiTKITS OK THK IIoCKS Si-iuiTs. EciioKs. Fauns r UKIKS ACT I ScprvK. A Rcunne of In, Rocks in the Indian Caumsus. IKOMKTHKUS Js d!scorn-ed hnnnd fa tJw PrenpJre 1 AN-TMKA and loN-K are smWd at hh fWf. Time Xiqh Dnrin,j the Scene. Monun,j shari,, hreaks. ifjht. PltOMKTTIKUS Aron.-u-oh of Gods an.l I):vmon.s. and all Spirits r.nt On. who tlu-on.i; those bright an.l r.,llin.^ worlds U hu'h thou and I alone (.f living thin^rs P.ohold with sl.'Pploss eyes ! r.^-ar.1 this Earth Mad<>^ multitn.lln.)ns with thy slaves, whom thou 5 Ko.|nit.>st for knee-worship. piav.T. an.l nrniso, Ami toil, an.l heei.tonibs of broken hearts, riiOMETIIEUS UMiOUNI) "Witli fear ami self-contempt and harren hope: AVliilst tliv f( hate. liilst me, wlio am tiiy toe, eyeless in ii; lliist tliou made ieij:;n and tiiumj)li. to thy scorn, ()"i'i' mine own misery ami thy vain I'evenge. Three thonsand years of slee])-nnsheltered honrs, jiiid moments aye divided hy keen ])ang;s Till they seemed years, torture and solitude, Scoi-n and des])air, — these are mine em]>ire, ^lorc glorious far than that wliieh thou snrveyest p^'om thine nnenvied thione, O mighty God! Almighty, had I deigned to share the shame Of thine ill tyranny, and hung not lure Nailed to this wall of eagle-haffling mountain, ]Mack, wintiy, dead, unmeasured : without hei'h, Insect, or l)east. or shape or sound of life. Ah me I alas, pain, pain ever, for ever! No change, no pause, no ho]ie ! Yet I endure. I ask the Earth, have not the mountains felt? I ask yon Heaven, the all-hehohling Sun. lias it not seen? The Sea, in storm or calm. Heaven's ever-changing Shadow, spread helow, Have its deaf waves not heard my agony? Ah me! alas, pain, pain ever, for ever! 45 10 15 20 25 30 Tlie crawling glaciers ]m• o r -.v /> When tlie rocks split and close again behind ; While from their loi;d abysses howling thron' The genii of tlie storm, urging the rni:e Of whirlwind, and afHiet 40 nu' with keen hail. And yet to nn; welcome is day and nigiit, ^Vhether (me breaks the hoar frost of tli<. morn, 45 Or, starry, dim, and slow, the other elind)s The leaden-coloured east ; for then they lead The wingless, ei'awling hours, one among whom As some dark Priest hales the reluctant victim — Shall drag thee, cruel King, to hiss the blood r,0 From these pale feet, which then might trample thee If they disdained not such a prostrate slave. Disdain ! Ah no! I ])ity thee. What ruin Will i-.int thee undefended through the wide Heaven! Ho- 1 thy soul, cloven to its depth with terror, 55 (Jape like a hell within I I speak in o-iief, Not exultation, for I hate no more, As then ere misery m;ide me wise. The curse Once bieathed on thee I would recall. Ye Mountains, Whose many-voiced Echoes, through the mist GO Of cataracts, flung the thunder of that spell! Ye icy Springs, stagnant with wrinkling frost, Which vibrated to hear me, and then crei)t Shuddering through India! Thou serenest Air, ;t Tiirough which the Sun walks burning without l)eams ' And the swift Whirlwinds, who ju poised wings Hung mute and moveless o'er yon hushed aby^s, As thuiuler, louder than your own. m;ule rock The orbed worhl ! If then my words had power, Though I am changed so tliat .lught evil wish 70 Is dead within ; although no memory be Of what is hate, let them not lose it now! >v iiixi was tiiat curse .- tor ye ali heard me speak. rnoMETiiF.rs uxnouND 47 FlKST VoiCK : froir) the Mountanis Thrice three hundred thousand years O'er the E;irth(|u:ike's couch we stood; 75 Oft, as men convulsed with fears, We trend )led in our nudtitude. Sf.cono York : j'row t/ic Sjn'iiujs Thunderbolts had jjarehed our water, We had been stained with bitter blood, And had run mute, "mid shrieks of slaughter, 80 Through a city and a solitude. TiiiKD VoiCK : fro?)! the Air I had ch)thed, since Earth uprose, lis wastes in colours not their own ; And oft had my serene repose Been cloven by many a rending groan. 85 FouKTH Yoicvr. fro »i the Whirl whids We had soared beneath these mountains Unresting ages ; nor had thunder, Nor yon volcano's flaming fountains, Nor any power above or under Ever made us mute with wonder. 90 First Voice But never bowed our snowy crest As at the voice of thine unrest. Skcoxp Voick Never such a sound before To the Indian waves we bore. A pilot asleep on the howling sea 95 Leaped up from the deck in agony, hi 48 riWMKTllEUS UNliOUNl) And lu'iiid, and cried, " Ah, woo is me ! " And died as mad as tiie wild waves be. Tnii;i» \'(HiH By such dread words from F-aitli to Heaven ^ly still realm was never riven : AVhen its wound was closed, there stood Darkness o'er the day like blood. Fouinii VoicK And we shrank back : for dreams of ruin To frozen caves our flight ])ursuin<^ Made us kcej) silence — thus — and thus — Though silence is a hell to us. 100 105 TiiK Kaiitii The tongueless Caverns of the craggy hills Cried, '' Misery! " then; the hollow Heaven replied, " Misery! " and the Ocean's purple waves. Climbing the land, howled to the lashing winds, 110 And the pale nations heard it, '' Misery ! " Promethei's I hear a sound of voices: not the voice Which 1 gave foitli. Mother, thy sons and thou Scorn him without whose all-enduring will J'cueath the fierce onniipotciice of ,[ove, 115 ]5oth they and thou had vanished, like thin mist enrolled on the morning wind. Know ye not me, The Titan? he who made his ngonv The hairier to your else all-con(Hiering Foe? O rock-embosomed lawns, and snow-fed streams, 120 Now seen atliwai't fi-oi-e va])ours, deep below, liirough whose oershadowing woods I wandered once PROMETHEUS UNBOUND 49 With Asia, (IriiiUin"^ life from her lovod eyes; Why scorns tlic s| Wit wliich informs ye, now To commnne with me? me alone, who checUecl, As one who elieeks a tifnd-drawn charioteer, The falsehood and the foi'ce of him who r(Mi:;ns Supreme, and with the t^roans of pininj;' slaves Fills your dim glens and li((nid wildernesses. Why answer yo not, still, Iirethren? TuK Kauth 125 I.IO They dare not. Prometheus AVho dares? for I would hear that curse again. Ha I what an awful whisper lises up! 'T is scarce like sound : it tingles through the frame As liii'litnin"- tingles, hovel•in^• ere it strike. Speak. Sj)irit I From thine inorganic voice, 135 I oidy know that thou art moving near And love. How cursed I him ? The Earth How canst thou hear m ■i-if 11 Who knowest not the language of the dead ? Pkomethfus Thou art a living spirit: speak as they ! The Earth I dare not speak like life, lest Heaven's fell King 140 Should hear, and link me to some wheel of pain ]More <-orturing than tlie one whereon I roll. Subtle thou art and good : and though the Gods Hear not this voi(!e, yet thou art niore than ViOu, Being wise and kind: earnestly hearken now ! 145 50 pnoMETiiKi's rsr.orsi) PliOMKrilFl'S Ohsciirely tll^()^^•^I my hiaiii, liUu shadows dim, Swci")) awful tli()iij;Iits. rapid and thick. I feel Faint, liiic one mingled in entwiiiint;- love; ^ ft "t is not pleasure. The Earth No, thou canst not hear : Thou art immortal, and this tonj^^ue is known 150 Only to those who die. Pkometheus And what art thou, O niolanchojy Voice? The Eaktii I am the Earth, Thy mother ; she within whose stony veins. To the last fibre of the loftiest tree "Whose thin leaves trembled in the frozen air, 155 .Foy rail, as blood within a living frame, AVhen thou didst from her bosom, like a cloud Of glory, arise, a spirit of keen joy I And at thy voice her ])ining sons uplifted Their prostrate brows from the polluting dust, 160 And our almighty Tyrant with fierce dread Grew i)ale, until his thunder chained thee liere. Then, see those million worlds which burn and roll Around us: their inhabitants beheld My sjdiered light wane in wide Heaven; the sea 105 Was lifted by strange ti-mju'st, an One, that which thou behohlest ; but the other "¥■ ^ .T.I IS untieriieatii tne "rave, vy'iicro tio iiiiiaiyiL The shadows of all forms that think and live, 4^ it .1 I I :tll f ■■' rnoMF.TiiEr>i u.\iior\ i> Till (Icatli iinitt' fl Di'cimn atul tlic liiilit cm and tlit-y part no in ore And all that faitl iina.;inini;s of nn-n 200 1 ci-t'atc'S or love dcsir- • rrililc. straiiL;!'. snlilinii', and licarif line tlioii art. and dust Iiati • 'Oils -liaix's. a wi-illiini snai (' Mid \\liirl\vin,l-|),.,.|.l,.d nionntains ; all tin' (lod; Aiv tlicrc, and all tlic powrrs of nainidrss w..rMs, L'Of) \ a>t. scrptrt'd i.liantonis: heroes, nwn, and hcasts ; And Dcnioi^or^-on, a trcincndons ^looin ; And he, tho snpn.'nie Tyrant, on his throne ()f bnrnini; j^^old. Son, one of these shall utter The oiirse whieli all reinoinher. Call at will 210 Thine own ^■host. or the nliost of Jupiter, Hades or Typhon, or what mightier Gods From all-prolifie Evil, since thy ruin Have spruni;, and trampled on my jn-ostrate .sons. Ask, and they must ve])\y : so tho reveno-e 215 Of the Supreme may sweep tlirounli vacant shades, As niiny wind through the abandoned gate Of a fallen })alace. Pro.mkthku.s Mother, let not aught Of that which may he evil, pass again My lips, or those of aught resend)ling me. Phantasm of Jupiter, arise, appear ! 220 Io\E My wings are folded o'er mine ears : My wings are cross(?d o'er mine oves : 1 et through their silver shade appears, And through their lulling plumes arise, A ftli'iim r> ♦.i>„„„™ „r 1^ May it be no ill to thee 225 riiOMK THE ( 'S l\ n () I S D () tlioii of iiiiuiy Wdiiiids ! Near wlioiiu foi- our swoet sister's sake, Ever thus we watch aiul wake. 'i 11 •j;{() Pa NTH i: A Tlu' sound Is of whhlwiiul uiuler^romid, Kartlnjuake, and tire, and mountains cloven ; Tlu' shajie is awful like the sound. Clothed in dark j)uri)le, star-inwoven. A s«'eptre of pale ^old, -35 To stay steps proud, o'er the slow eloud, His veined hand doth hold, ('ruel he looks, but calm and strong, Like one who does, not suffers wrong. Phantasm ok Jii'Itku AVhy have the secret powers of this strange world Driven nie, a frail and empty phantom, hither 'J 11 On direst storms? What nnaecustomed sounds Are hovering on my lips, unlike the voice AVith which our pallid race hold ghastly talk In darkness? And, proud sufferer, who art thou? 245 Prometheus Tremendous Image I as thou art must he He whom thou shadowest forth. I atn his foe, The Titan. Speak the words which I would hear. Although no thought inform thine empty voice \ The Earth Listen ! and though your echoes must be unite, 250 Gray mountains, and old woods, and haunted springs, Protilifttic caves, and isle-s"rronnding[ streams, liejoice to hear what yet ye cannot si)eak ! 64 ri;'>Mirrin:i-s ixuoiwi, I'llANIASM spirit seizes inc and sj.caks witliiii: t.'ar- mm; as liiu tears a tiiiiiHl»T-rIoii,l It L'dU F'amii. a See how I,., lifts his iniglity looks ! the Ileuveu Darkens above I Id.Nt: lie sjHak.sI (> siielter nie ! I'KOMKTMKI'S I see the cnrse on -vstiires piou.l and cold, And looks of firm delianee, and calm hate, And such(K"si>air as mocks itself with smiles. Written as on a seroll : yot speak ! () speak ! i Jl VTA8M Fiend. I defy thee! wii dm, fixed mind, ^ All that thou canst inflict I l.id tlie^ li'('|ilfss ai;<)iiy, 2S() 'I'liis uiHlfcliuiii^ head while thou must ici^ii on lii;;)!. 15ut thou, who art tin- (ioil and Lord: () thou, ^\ ho liik'st with thy soul this world of woe. To whom all thin;;s ol I'.arth and I leaven do how In feai' and worship : all ])rL'vailiiiy foe, — -S5 I eurse thee ! Let a sutTcrer's curse (Mas]) thee, his torture! . liUe rt'morse ; Till thine Inlinity shall he A I'ohe of envenomed a^oiiy ; And thine Omnijiotenee a crown of pain, 2!)0 'Jd clinj; like hurniuL;' i;old round thy dissolvinj^ ])rain ! Heap on thy soul, hy virtue of this Curse, 111 deeds ; then he thou damned, heholdinj,' good ; Both Inlinite as is the nniverse. And thou, and thy self-tortuilng sulitiule ! 20') An awful linage of calm j)ower Thouiih now thou sittest, let the hour Come, when thou must ai)pear to be That whicdi thou art internally. And after many a false and fruitless crime 300 Scorn track thy lagging fall through boundless space and time I i'lioMKTIIKMS Were these niy words, () Parent? 'r ir . ..,„.. Tliev were thine. rt t|l 5»J PROMETIIEVS I'NBOUNT) KOMIVrUKKS It (loth rcpt'iit iiie : words are (luick and vain (irit't for ;i while is l)liiid. and so was mine. I wish no liviiii^ tliiny to snt'fer pain. 305 Tni: IvvHTH Misery 01 1 misery to me. That ffove at lenj^th should vancjuish thee! ^\'ail, howl aloud. Land and Sea, TIh! Laitli's I'ent heart shall answer ye. Howl, Spirits of tin; livinn' and the dead, 310 lour refuge, your defenee, lies fallen and vantiuisLcd ! FntsT Echo Lies fallen and vaiKjuished I Skconi) Kciio Fall en an- 1 va;i qu IS hed lOM Fear not: t is but some p.'issini; spasm The Titan is nnvan(|nished still. see, where tlu'ou th ;h tl le azure c hasra But Of yon f(>rked and snowy hill. Trampling the slant winds on high With g()l(h:n-sanv (t lit ir I 1 1 iii-jiiivi, i*it;ri*iiry, O-^) pnoMETiiKcs ryjif, nd 57 IitNK And \vlio are those vitli hydra tresses And iron wings tliaJ climb the wind, Whom the frowning God rej)n>sses, Like vai)()urs steaming np beliiud, Clanging loud, au endless crowd — 330 Panthea These ?\re Jove's tempest-walking hounds, Whom he gluts with groans and hknul, When charioted on snl])lun-ous cloud He bursts Heaven's bounds. lONE Are they now led from the thin dead, 335 On new pangs to be fed? Panthka The Titan looks as ever, firm, not proud. ' i ,n Hil wi First Fury Ha ! I scent life ! Second Fuhv Let me but look into his eyes ! TlIIKO FURV Tiie hope of torturing him smells like a heap 3^0 Of corpses, to a death-bird after battle. First Fl'UY Darest thoii delay, O J lerald ! Take cheer, Hounds Of Heii : vv lull ji ilie Soh oi i>iaia soou |! n 4 i 58 / 'no MET UK I -S I '.V li O UNI) Slioul.l i„;ike us foot! aiul si)ort — wlio can pkasc loner 'llie ( )m!iip()tunt ? Mekcury Bade to voiir towers of iron, ,'i i.l And g-nasli, ln'sido the streams of fin; and wail, Your foodless tot-tli ! (ieryon. arise! and (iorgon, ("liiiiKi'ra, and thou S|.inn\-, suhth'st of fiends,'' NVho niiiiistertd to Thebes Heaven's poisoned wine, I nnatural love, and more unnatural hate: ;joi} These shall perform your task. FlK.^T FuiiV Oh. mercy! mercy ! We die with our desire : drive us not back ! Mkik niv Croueli then in silence ! Awful Sufferer! To thee unwillinir, most unwillinulv I eome, by the Groat Father's will" driven down, .S.-.r, to execute a doom of new revenue. Alas! I pity thee, and hate myself That I can do no more: aye from thy slight Keturning-, for a season, Heaven seems Hell, So thy worn form i)iirsues me night and day. ;ir.O Smilingv reproach. AVise art thou, firm ami o,,oil, Hut vaiidy wouldst stand forth alone in strife Against the Omnii)otent : as yon ilear lamps That measure and divide the weary years I'rom whicji there is no refuge, long liavc taught, .^n.-) And long must te;ic]i. Kveu now thy Torturer I'lrms With the strange might of I Iwk lli^klt-^nci %rrli.^ ....1 1 * v< ijAvy 1 unnnagined jiains Hell, iiwUiiica lit piiOMETiiEUs rxnoujsrn 69 And my commission is to lead tlieiu ln'ie. Or what more sul)tlt', foul, or .savai;e fii'uds 37U People the ahyss, and leave them to their task. lie it not sol There is a seeret known To thee, and to none elsi' of livin^i: thintrs, \\ liii'h may transfer the sceptre of wide Heaven, The fear of which pei'plcxes the Sujtreme : 375 ('lotlie it in words, and hid it clasp his throne hi intercession: bend thy soul in ])raver, And, like a suppliant in some yor^cous fane, Let the will kneel within thy hau;;hty lieart : For benefits and meek .submission tame 3b0 The fiercest and the miiihtiest. • in pKOMKTHF.rS Evil mind.s Change good to their own nature. 1 gave uU lie has: and in return he chains me here Years, ages, night and day : whether tlu Sun Split my ])arched skin, or in the moony night 385 The crvstal-winiicd snow din"' I'ound mv hair: AN hilst xiy beloved lace is tramjiled down ]\v his Miought-cxecuting ministers. Such is the Tyrant's ree]tiiiics over thine ovi's, IK Lest tin. II l,rli,,l(| and di... Tliry come, they come, nhii'k.iiiii- the hiith -if dav uitii coinith'xs wiie^s, And hollow undeinealh. Id^e death. I""ii;>i' I-'iKv Prometheus ! Skcovi) Fcia- ( ( Immortal Titan I TllIKI) F'l-KV ('liampion of Ilenven's slaves! PuoMKTIlKrS ]fL whom some dreadt'nl voice invokes is here ; li") Pmmetheus. the chained Titan. lIoiTil)le forms, What and who are ye'/ Never yet there came Phantasms so foul thronnh monster-teemino- Hell Prom tile all-miscreative hrain of Jove; Whilst T l)ehold such exeerahle shapes, 450 Meihiiiks [ n-row like what I contemplate, And laugh and stare in loathsome sympathy. FmsT Fury We are the ministers of pain, and fear. And disai)pointment, and mistrust, and hate. And (din-in^- crime: and, as lean do^s pursue to.-. Through wood and lake some stiiu-k ami sobhin" lawn. We tra(dv all things that weep, and bleed, and live. When tl e great King- betrays them to our will. riiOMFTIlET'S rS'IiOl^XT) G3 PKOMKTMF.rs inanv foiu'ful natures in niu! iiaiiic, 1 know ye; ami tlii'se lakes and eelioes know 100 TIh! darkness ami the elan<,nHir of your \viii<;s. P.nt wliv more hideons than youi- lo-athed selves (iatlier ye up in legions from the deep? Sk<'om> FruY We knew not that : Sistei's, rejoice, rejoice ! Pkomethkus Can aught exult in its deformity? 465 SkCONI) Fl'KV Tlie beauty of delij^lit makes lovers glad, (iazintr on one another: so are we. As from the rose whieh the pale priestess kneels To "-ather for lier festal erown of flowers The aerial crimson falls, ilushing her cheek, 470 So from our victim's destined agony The shade which is our form invests us round ; Else we are shapeless as our mother Night. Pki>mkthi;us I laugh your power, and his who sent you here. To lowest scorn. Pour forth the cup of pain ! 475 FlKST FUKY Thou thinkest we will rend thee bone from bone. And nerve from nerve, working like lire within? PUOMKTUKUS aiil r.i Vuy uioincnL. ^i:: i:^---- = ■ • - Ye rend me now : 1 care not. [ t > 64 rnOMETHKUS rNTiOUND Skcom) Fri;v Dost nnairine We will Imt hw^h info tliy lidlcss eyes'^ 48( 1'i;n>i|.:TiiKrs I vy.;-!) not what y.' do, I.iit what ye snfYcr, l?''in,-L'vil. Cni.'l was tli.- pow.-r which culled "i on, or aught else so wretched, into li^lit. TiiiHi) FrKv Thoii thiiik'st we will live through tliec, one by one, Like animal life, and, though we can ohscure not 4.s5 The soul which burns within, that we will dwell Beside it, like :i vain lon-.-:,4^V. When cities sink iiowlin^- in ruin ; and ye 5uo 65 50S 510 515 I'UitMKTllKlS VMior.M) AVho with wiiii^h'ss footsteps tniiiiitl*' tlin sea. Ami close upon Slu])\viock and Famine's tnu-k, Sit chatterinix witli j<>v on the foodloss wreck; ( 'onie. come, come ! Leave tlu- bed, low, ('(.Id, and red, Strewed beneath a nation dead; Leave the hatred, as in ashes Fire is left for future Imrning: It will burst in bloodier Hashes When ye stir it, soon returnini,': Leave the self-contempt implanted In youn<; spirits, sense-enchanted, Sliserv's yet nnkindled fuel: Leave Hell's secrets half unchanted To the maniac dreamer : cruel More than ye can be with hate, Is he with fear. Come, come, pome! We are steaminj; up from Hell's wide gate And we burthen the blasts of the atmosphere, But vainly we toil till ye come here. loxE Sister, I hear the thunder of new wings. Pantuk V These solid mountains quiver with the sound, F:ven as the tremulous air: their shadows make 524 The space within my plumes more black than night. FlHST FrRY Your call was as a winged car. Driven on whirlwinds fast and far ; It rapt us from red gulfs ot war. 5'Jl fl I jf •11 HI fil G6 rnoMirniKi s r.\in>vsit Sk< (».m> Kikv From wide citi<;s, f:iiiiiiu--\vastt'(l ; 'I'liiKK \\n\ Ground lialf litunl, ami blood untasted ; b'M FnrUTII Fl'HY Kindly com-javcs, stfiii and cold. Where blood with ^old is bonght and sold; Fiirn Fruv From tlio furnace, white and hot, In which — A Fruv Sj)eak not: wliisper not : I know all that ye would tell, rtWr^ ])nt to speak nii^^ht break the spell "Which nuist bend the Invincible, The stern of thoni;ht ; He yet delies the deepest power of ilell. Fuuv Tear the veil ! Anotiiku Fukv It is torn. CilOKlJS The i)ale stars of the morn 5lo Shine on a misery, dire to be borne. Dost thou faint, nii-hty Titan? We lau-h thee to scorn. Dost thou boast the clear knowledge thou waken'dst jr man '! ?1 riiOMirniEcs rsiiocMt 67 Then \v:is kiiulk'il williin liim :i thirst wliicli out- ran 50 565 Those pciishiii- wntrrs : :i thirst of fit-rct' fever, 5ir, ilop"', h)Vt', (h>iilit. ih'sire. which eoiisiiiiie him iov ever- One eanir ith of ,i;cnth' worth. Smiling;' on tht; sanguine earth; His words ontlived lilni, like swift jxiisoii Witiieiin;^ u\> ti iilli, peace, and pity. Look! wlieie round tlie wi(h' horizon Many a niillion-peoi)led city Vonuts smoke in the hri_L;lit air; Mark that outery of (h-spairl "r is liis mihl and t^enth' <;!iost Wailing- for the faith he liindh'd: Look ai;ain! the flames almost To a ^low■-w•()rm■s lamp have dwindled : The survivors round the emhers Gather in dread. Joy, joy, joy I Past a<^es crowd on thee, but eaeh one remembers; And the future is dark, and the i)resent is spread Like a pillow of thorns for thy slumberless head. Sk.mk Hours I Drops of bloody aj^ony flow From his white and (piiverlng brow. Grant a little respite now : See I a disenchanted nation Springs like day from desolation ; To Truth its state is dedicate, And Free.•> 570 Tfi r 11 . ..l,:i,l..,,.. >» iiijiil jLi»J»C l-iiii^ ;-i- ;i**-i* wii ;!I] Lji* i G8 Si:\iii iiDKis II 1 is aiiotiier's : Sri; how Iviiidrcil Diiinlrr kill | 'I'ls tlir villi;!-,. -liinr furdcatli Mild sin. r,ir, \>\iun\. lik,. II, .\v will,'. Iiiilililt's wlihiu: I ill I )cs|>,iir siiiotlii Is TliL' .strug-lm-- w,)il,|, uliicli .I;iv,.s ;iiid fvr:iiits win. [.!// f/ir FlKUI.s ra/iis/i, rjrfcj,f (,,ie. Iom: llaik, sister! what a low vi't dreadful '^vonn (^iiitf uiisii|i|»iess,.,l is tcaiinn' up the heart Of the L;()!•!••.•!!• l-.i-^vfc For men were slowly killed by frowns and smile es riioMhrriii'i's iwnor.M) 69 Ami otlitT sights too foul t(» s|n:ik ;iii(l live \\'ciT waiidci ini; liy. Lft us tint tempt WMisr fear r,\ lookiiii; I'oilli : tliMSf groans arc -rirf fimir^li. H.hold :m riiiblcm: tlio^' who do oiidmo •'iO.'? l)i'i']i \vfoiit;s for iiiaii. and scorn :unl rliains, bnt lii'a]) 'llioiisandfuld tornu'nt on tlicnisclvos and liini. i'lioMinni'ts IviMnit tlic an<;iiisli of tiiat lighted stare; Close those wan lips: let that thorn-wounded hrow Stream not with Mood : it niin<;les with thy tears I GOO I"ix, iix those tortured orbs in jicai-e and death, So thy sieU throes shake not that erueilix. So those pale lingers i)lay iit)t with thy ,<;ore. Oil horrihle! Thy name 1 will not speak. It hath l)eeome a <'ursi-. I se«', I see 606 The wise, the mild, the lofty, and the just. Whom thy slaves hate for hrinu' like to theo. Some Imntfd hy foul lies from their heart's home, — An early-chosen, latedamented home. — As hoo(ied ounces cling to the driven hind ; 610 Sonu linked to eori)ses in unwholesome cells; Si.ine — Hear I not the multitude lau-;!! loud .- — Impaled in Ilnp.M-inii; lire: and mighty realms Float l>y my feet, like sea-njuooted isles. Whose sons are kneade I' 'f n a N Ft'ltY •>. ...-.,.. f 1,.-. n f. rrff F)lo<)(l linMi (•aii>L Net', uuu uti Worse thiiij^s, unheard, unseen, remain behind 70 Worse '! rilOMETIIErs VNUOUND Pl{O.MKTIli:CS Ol'O f)2r, In each Innaan lieart tcrroi- survives ilie rmii it lias oo,.„e,l . tliu loftiest fear All that they would disdain to think were true: llypoerisy and custom make their ndnds The fanes of many a worsiup, i;o\v outworn. They dare not devise yood for mans estat'N And yot they know not that thev do not ut live among their sufiering fellow-men As if none felt : they know not wliat they do. Pkometheus Thy words are like a cloud of winged snakes; And yet I pity those they torture not. FriiY Thou pitiest them '? I speak no more! (i.'iU 635 [ Vanishes. Pku.mkthkl-s , Ah woe ! All woe. Alas: pain, pain ever, for over! I ''lose my tearh'ss eyes, but see more elear Jhy works within my woe-illumined mind ihou subtle Tyrant .' IVaee is i:- the ..-rave- Ihe grave hi.K.s all things b.-autiful and good. -I am a (iod and cannot find it fl„.r« 640 ,M PROMETHEUS UNBOUND 71 Nor would I seek it: for, tliou-h drc'id revenge, This is (Iffeat, fierce King! not victory. The sights with which thou torturest gird niy soul With new endurance, till the hour arrives ^5 WTicn they shall he no types of things which are. Panthea Alas I what sawest thou ? Prometheus There are two woes: To speal;, and to hehold : thou spare me one. Names are there, Nature's sacred watchwords, they Were home aloft in bright emhlazonry ; 050 The nations thionged around, and cried aloud, As with one voice. Truth, liberty, and h)ve ! Suddenly fierce confusion fell from heaven Among them ; there was strife, deceit, and fear Tyrants rushed in, and did divide the spoil. This was the shadow of the truth I saw. 6r)5 The Eaktii I felt thy toiture, son, with such mixed joy As pain and virtue give. To cheer thy state, 1 bid ascend those subtle and fair spirits, 6-''9 Whose homes are the dim caves of human thought, And who inhabit, as birds wing the wind. Its world-surrounding ether: they behold Beyond that twilight realm, as in a glass, The fut.ue : may they speak comfort to thee ! Panthea GG5 Look, sister, where a troop of spirits gather. Like Hocks of elouds in sjuing's delightful weather, Thronirin r i" the bine -Mr! 72 riiOMETHEUS UNliOUNL lo.VK And see ! more come, 675 li.kc fountain-vapours ulien the winds are dumb, That climb uj) the ravine in scattered lines. AvC hark .' is it the music of the pines ? 670 Is it the lake ? Is it the waterfall ? Panthea 'Tis something sadder, sweeter far than all. Chorus of Spikits From un remembered ages we Gentle guides and guardians be Of heaven-oppressed mortality ! And we breatlie, and sicken not, The atmosphere of human thought : Be it dim, and dank, and gray. Like a storm-extinguished day, Travelled o'er by dying gleams : Be it bright as all between Cloudless skies and windless streams. Silent, liquid, and serene. As the birds within the wind. As the fish within the wave, As the thoughts of man's own'mind Float through all above the grave : ^Ve make tliere our liquid lair. Voyaging cloudlike and unpent Through the boundless element. Tlience we bear the prophecy Which begins and ends in thee ! loVK More vet come, one bv nn.^ • f i,, - -J • •■'?•_ iiii *i,i* Looks radiant as the air around a star. 680 685 690 1 ^.i itiiii mem A' \ rnOMKTllE I '.S ( 'NB O I uVT) FlKST SriKIT On a liattlc-tniinpet's blast I fled hitlier, fast, fast, fast, 'Mid tlie darkness upward cast. From the dust of creeds outworn. From the tyrant's banner torn, Gathering round me, onward borne, There was mingled many a cry — Freedom! Hope! Death! Victory! Till they faded through the sky ; And one sound, above, around, One sound, beneath, around, above, Was moving ; 't was tlie soul of love : 'T was the hope, the ]n-o])hecy, Which begins and ends in thee. Second Spirit A rainbow's arch stood on the sea. Which rocked beneath, immovably ; And the triumphant storm did flee, Like a conqueror, swift anu proud, Between, with many a captive cloud, A shapeless, dark and rai)id crowd. Each i)y lightning riven in half. I heard the thunder hoarsely laugh : ^li 'htv fleets were strewn like chaff And spread beneath a hell of death O'er the white waters. I alit On a great ship lightning-split. And speeded hither on the sigh Of one who gave an enemy His plank, then plunged aside to die. 73 695 700 705 710 715 720 H n hi 74 730 735 PnOMETUErs VNliOUX]) Tmiil) S I'll; IT I sato beside a s:ige's bed, And tlie lump was hurniiiy red 7j Near the book where lie had fed, ^\ heii a Dream with plmnes of Haine To his pillow Iioveriny came, And I knew it was the same Whieh had kindled lonn- ao-o ity, ehxjuenee, and woe ; And the world awhile below Wore the shade its lustre made. It has borne me here as fleet As Desire's lightning feet: 1 must ride it back ere morrow, Or the sage uill wake in soi'row. FoHHTII SpIKIT On a i)oet\s lips J slept, Dreaming like a love-adept In tile sound his breathing kept: 740 Nor seeks nor finds he mortal blisses, l^ut feeds on the aerial kisses Of shapes that haunt thought's wildernesses. lie will wateh from dawn to gloom The hdve-reflected sun illume The yellow bees in the ivy-bloom, Nor heed nor see, what things they be i Bnt from these create lit; can Forms more real than living man, Nurslings of immortality! One of these awakened me. And I sped to succour thee. 71.' l-iO l! riiOMETIIEUS I'NUOUND ^5 loN'K iVliold'st thou not two shapes from the ea>t and west ("oiiie, as two (lovus to one beloveil nest, Twin nnrslin;;s of tlie all-sustaining air, "•"'•'"> On swift still wings glide down the atniosidiere? And, hark: their sweet, sad voiees ! 'tis despair Min"led with love and then dissolved in sound. Paxthea Canst thou speak, sister? all my words are drowned. lo.VK Their beauty gives me voice. See how they float 7G0 On their sustaining wings of skyey grain, Orange and azure deepening into gold ! Their soft smiles light the air like a star's fire. CnoHUs OF Spirits Ilast thou beheld the form of Love ? Fifth Si'ikit As over wide dominions I sped, like some swift cloud that wings the wide air's wildernesses, 765 That i)lanet-crested shape swept by on lightning- braided ])!nions. Scattering the liquid joy of life from his ambrosial tresses : His footsteps paved the world with light; but as I passed 't was fading. And hollow ruin yawned behind : great sages bound in madness. And headless ])at riots, and pale youths who perished, unuphraiding, ^'^^ f ^ i'l 70 PllOMETlIEVS UNIiorXD Gleamed in the nio|,t. I wandered <,Vr, till thou, () Kin^- of sadness, Turnr.l hy thy snii!e the worst I saw to rec.dlected laiiness. Sixth Si'ikit All, sister : Desolation is a delicate thinj;: It walks not on the eartli, it floats not on the air, J'.ut treads with silent footstep, and fans with silent \vinj4' The tender hopes whi.di in their hearts the best and gentlest l)ear ; Who, soothed to false repose hy the fanning plumes above. And the music-stirring motion of its soft and busy feet, ^ Dream visions of aerial joy, and call the monster Love, And wak.', and fin.l the shadow Pain, as he whom 780 now we greet. Ciiouus Though Ruin now Love's shadow be, Following him. destroyingly. On Death's wliite and winged steed, Which the fleetest cannot flee. Trampling down l,oth flower and weed, 785 Alan and beast, and foul and fair. Like a tenijx'st through the air; Thou shalt (piell this horseman grim, Woundless though in heart or limb. Pkomkthki's spirits ; Jiow know ye this shall be ? 790 riiOMETIIEl'S rX HOUND 77 CnOKi's In the atmosphere we breathe, As Imds g;\i)\v red when the snow-storms flee, From sprini;- uatherini;- np hcneatli, "Whose mihl winds shake tlie elder-hrake. And the waiKh'rini;- herdsmen know 795 That the white-tliorn soon will blow: AVisdom, Justice, Love, and Peace, When they strugfjle to increase. Are to us as soft winds be To shepherddmys. tiie propliecy 800 AVhi(di begins and ends in thee. loNE Where are the Spirits fled ? Pa.nthea Only a sense Remains of them, like the omnipotence Of music, when the inspired voice and lute Lanrjiiish, ere yet the responses are mute, Whicli throup;]! the deep and labyrinthine sold. Like echoes through h)ng caverns, wind and roll. 805 PuoMK/rnKi's ITow lair these air-born shai)esl and yet T feel Most vain all hope but love : and thou art far, Asia! who, when my being overflowed, 810 Wert like a golden chalice to bright wine Which else had sunk into the thirsty dust. All things are still: alnsl how heavily This (juiet morning weighs njxjn my h(>art : Though I should dream I could even sleep with ill! t'- i'i-' i ii 78 PnOMKTlIErs VS BOUND I 1 i If sliiiiilxM- wore dan'wA not. I would fain I5o wliiit it is my ik'stiny to be, Tliu siiviour and the stivn-tli of suffering man, Or sink into tlie ori-iiial <;idf of tliinj;,s:° Tliciv is no ai^ony, and no solace left ; S20 Karfli can console, Heaven can torment no more. Pa NT hi; A I last thou forgotten one who watches thee The cold dark night, and never sleeps but when The shadow of thy spirit falls on her? Pi{i).MKTi[i;rs I said all hope was vain hut love: thou lovest. 825 Paxthka Deeply in tinth : but the eastern star looks white, And Asia waits in that far Indian vale, The scene of her sad exile : rugged once And desolate and frozen, like this ravine : But now invested with fair flowers and herbs, S30 And haunted by sweet airs and sounds, which flow Among the woods and waters, from the ether Of her transforming presence, which would fade If it were mingled not with thine. Farewell ! ACT II ScKN-K I. — Morning. A lorehj rnle hi the Indian Caiiniaus. Asia, n/one. Asia From all the blasts of heaven thoii hast descended: Yes like -j--:iii, i;ii.L: .1 LiiUUgiit VViiieii uiuktiS PROMKTHKl 'S VS IhH'SI) 79 10 If) riiwcintPil tears tlin.iii;- to the lioniy t'ycs, And iR'atin^s liaunt tlit- desolated heart, Wliieh should have Uarut repose: thou hast descended Cradled in tempests; thou dost wake, () Spring! () child of many winds! As suddenly I'hou coniest as the memory of a dream. Which now is sad heeause it hath heen sweet; Like genius, ov like joy which riseth uj) As from the earth, elothing with gulden clouds The desert of our life. This is the season, this the day, the hour; At sunrise thou shouldst come, sweet sister nuue, Too long desired, tot. long delaying, come! How like death-worms the wingless moments crawl! The point of one white star is (juivering still Deep in the orange liglit of widening morn lievond the purple mountains : through a chasm Of wiud-divided nust the darker lake 20 IveHects it; now it wanes: it gleams again As the waves fade, and as the burning threads Of woven cloud unravel in pale air: "T is lost ! and through yon j)eaks of eloudlike suow The roseate sunlight (piivers : hear I not 25 The JOolian music of her sea-green plumes AVinnowing the erin ,on dawn? [I'anthka enters. I feel, I see Those eyes which burn through smiles that fade in tears. Like stars half-ciuenched in mists of sUver dew. lieloved and most beautiful, who wearest 30 The sl-.adow of that soul by which I live, How late thou art ! the spjiered sun h:ul climbed The sea ; my heart was si(di with hope, before The prinliesb air felt thy beluleu pluuiea. If \ i' II • r 'i i^l E M\. ]■ 80 rnoMETUEis rynorxD I'antmk.v Pardon, f;r.\'^ Sister! hut my \vin<;s woro faint :ir, W itii tlie (Icli^lit of ;i iciiicriilx'n.'d (Ircaiu, As art' tilt' noontide (diiines of suninu'r wintls S;itiat>' witli swet't flowers. I was wont to sleep reac.fidly, and awake I't-fresln 1 and ealin, Uefore tlie sa.Tcd Titan's fall, and tliv 40 rnhapiH- love, had niatle, tlirouj^h use and pity, ]iotli love autl wot! f.'iniiliar to niv heart As they had j^-'rown to thine: erewhile I slept Tinier the glaucous caverns of old Ocean Within dim i)owers of j^n-een and purple moss, 45 Our yoiuii;- lone's soft and milky aims I.tcketl then, as now, behind my dark, moist liair, ^^ hile my shut eyes and cheek were pressed within The foldeil de))th of her life-hroathin^- hosom : JJiit not as now, since I am made the wind 50 Which fails beneath the nmsie that I bear Of thy most wordless converse; since dissolved Into the sense with which love talks, my rest Was troubled and yet sweet ; my waking hours Too full of care and i)ain. Anil let me read thv dream. Asia Lift up thine eyes, Paxtiika As I have said, "With our sea-sister at his feet I slept. Ihe mountain mists, condensing at our voice Jnder the moon, had sj)read tiieir snowy flakes, From the keen ice shieldini,^ our linked sleep. Then two dreams came. One, I remember not. 60 J'liOMETIIErs rNliO I NI) 81 |)iit in tlu' other liis ]);ile wouiid-vvorn limbs F.U fiDin rroinctlH'iis, aiitl the uziin' nij,'lit (ut'W i;i(li;int with the j;loiv of tliivt form Which lives uni'h:iii>;«Ml within, iiiid his voice fell e/j Like music which makes <;if weak melody: thy name Among the many sounds alone I heard 90 Of what mioht be articidate ; tliough still 1 listened througli the night when sound was none. lone wakened then, and said to me : 41 /"i._„„f fi-..".;i :iivMr!r> wb.nt trop.bles me to-nierlit? I always knew what I desired before, 96 80 85 M IW ! 82 PnOMETlIKl'S J'NHOrxi, Nor ovir found (lclit;lit to wisli in vaii). I'nit IKiw I (•.iiiiK.t tril I lire wliat I Hcck ; J kiHiu not : soiii.-tliiii;;- sw.'ct, sitico it is sweet Kvrii f(, (Icsiic: it is tliy spoit, false sist<'i' ; Tlioii Iiast \\v intertwlniii"- arms " 1 answered not, for tliu eastern star <,new pale, \^nt fled to thee. inn 105 1 Asia Thon speakest, bnt thy words Are as the air: I feel them not. Oh, lift Thine eyes, that 1 may read his written soui ! 110 Pa NTH i: A I lift them, thou<;li they droop heneatli the load Of that they would express: what canst thou see But thine own fairest siiadow imaged there? Asia Thine eyes are like tlie deep, bhie, boundless lieaven Contracted to two circles underneath Their long, fine lashes: dark, far, measureless, Orb within orb, and line through line inwoven. Pa XT Hi: A Why lookest thou as if a spirit past? 11.5 j'UoMirnin's rwiiors'i} A>IA Tl HMO IS :i cliaiiL;!' : ln-vniul tlirir imiiost (lt;}>tli I sec .1 sikkIi', ;i slwipc t 1- II. :irr:nti| IJO In llir M)ti li'^lit of his own siuilrs. uliirh siircinl l/lKf iMiliiU I'lMlil lllc cliiml-Mir! ullllilrd Illiinll. I'mmct I'fiis. it i-^ tliiiir! |)c|iait ii<»t yd! S.iv iml tliosi- smiles lliat ut: sliall iiicft auaiii Within tliat Ini^lit iiavilion whicli their heaiiis 1_'5 Shall hiiild oil tilt; wasti- world? The dream is tola. What shape is that l.etweeii us'.'' Its nide hair Koii^heiis the wind that lifts it, its i-e^Mi'd Is wild and qui'- , yet t is a thln^ of air. For through its j;ray r<»l»»' fleams the <;()lden dew l."() Whose stars the noon has (juentdied nt)t. Dhkam rANTllKA Follow ! Follow I It is mine other dream. Asia It disappears. Pantiik > It ])asses now into my mind. .Methou;;ht As we sate hero, the flower-enfolding buds Hurst t)n yon lightning-blasti'd almond-tree, ISf) When swift from the white Scythian wil'i.'rness A wind swept forth wrinkling:- the earth with frost: I looked, and all the hlossoms were blown down; Hut on each leaf was stamped, as the blue bells Of Ilyaeinth tell AjHyllo's written grief, 140 O, FOLLOW, follow! II iff] i i- 84 PROMETHEUS UNIiOUXn Asia As you .si)eak, your words Fill, pause by pause, my own foi-oottoii sleoj) AN itii siiapes. Mothought among the lawns to gi'tluT W »' wMiidcrcd, luideni-.'ath the yonnp- giay dawn. And iiiultitmU's of dense white Heeey elouds I IT) Were wandering in thiek Hocks along the moun- tains, Shepherded hy the slow, unwilling wind ; And the white dew on uii new-liladed grass, Just i)iereing the dark earth, hung silently ; And there was more which I reniemher not : 150 IJut on the shadows of tlie morning clouds, Athwart the purple mountain slope, was written Follow, O, follow! as they vanished hy ; And on each herb, from which Heaven's dew had fallen, The like was stamped, as with a withcr'-ig fire; 155 A wind arose among the pines : it shook The clinging nnisic from their houglis. and then Low, sweet, faint sounds, like the farewell of ghosts. Were heard : O, follow, follow, f-OLLOW ME ! And then I said : " Panthea, look on me I " IGC But in the depth of those beloved eyes Still I saw, FOLLOW, FOLLOW ! Echo Follow, follow ! Pan'tifka Tho crags, this clear sjiring morning, mock our voices, ^ia tiiey Vveie spinL-Longueti. riiOMETUEUS UN HOUND Asia It is sonic 1)01112 »0 1G4 Around the crags. AVluit fine clear sounds ! O, list ! EcHOKs {unseen) Eclioes we : listen ! We cannot stay : As (lew-stars j;listen Tiien fade away — Cliild of Ocean ! 170 Asia Hark ! Spirits speak. Tlie liquid responses Of their aerial tongues yet sound. Pant HE A I hear. EcHOKS O, follow, follow, As our voice recedeth Through the caverns hollow, Where the forest spreadeth ; {More distant.) O, follow, follow ! Through the caverns hollow, As the song floats thou pursue, Where the wild bee never flew, ■ Throuuli the noontide darkness deep, By tlie odour-breathing slec]) Of. faint night-flowers, and tlie waves At the fountain-lighted caves. While our music, wild and sweet, IMocks thy gently falling feet, / M.:i 1 ..f /I,.,. .1,1 ' 175 180 186 WM- .*:¥-, I. 86 l-liOMKTlIEUS UNnoi'Mj Asia Shall ue ].tusue the sound? It grows more faint And distant. Paxthka List ! the strain floats nearer now. EcilOKS In the world unknown Sleeps a voice unspoken ; I»y t!iy step alone Can its rest he broken ; Child of Ocean I Asia How the notes sink upon the ebbing wind I EciIOKS O, follow, follow ! Tluough the caverns hollow, As the song floats thou pursue, hy the wo. land noontide dew, By the forests, lakes, and fountains. Through the nuvny-folded mountains ; To the rents, and gidfs, an.l chasms, ' AVhere tlie Eartli reposed from spasms, On the day when He and Thou Parted, to couuningh' now ; Child of Ocean! 190 195 200 205 Asia C.me, swr,t rai.lhea. Ilnh thy hand in inlne. And follow , viv the voices failr away. i liOMKTIlEl'S I'MlorND 87 ScExn II. — .1 Foi-fsf, hifrrri'nt'jled irith Rocks and Carerns. Asia a?i(/ 1'a \tiika /^'/.vs intuit. Tivo yoiuKj Fduns are sittiwj <>n a Rock, listeninrj. Skmuhorus I OK Spirits The path throuj^li which that h>vely twain Have past, hy ee(hir, pine, and yew, 210 And eai'li dark tree that ever grew, Is curtained out from heaven's wide hhie ; Nor sun, nor moon, nor wind, nor I'ain, Can ])ierce its interwoven howeis, Nor aught, save where some eh)ud of dew, '.M5 Drifted ah)ng the eartli-creeping breeze, Between the trunks of the lioar trees. Hangs each a i)earl in the i)ale flowers Of the green laurel, Idown anew ; And bends, and then fades silently, --0 One frail and fair anemone : Or when some star of niany a one Tliat climbs and wanders throtigh stcc]) night, Has found th(> cleft througli which alone Beams fall from high those depths npon, 2J5 Ere it is boine away, away, By the swift heavens that cannot stay, It scatters drops of golden light, Like lines of rain that ne'er unite : And the gloom divine is all around ; 230 And underneath is the mossy ground. Si;.MicmiKis II There the voluptuous nightingales, Are awake thiough all the broad noonday. AVhen one with bliss oi' sinlness falls. And through the windless ivy-boughs, 235 SicK' witll «\\<'Mt liiv.'. rlvnrmc dvi'ic -"w-iv if M- IS ' l!' f ( ' l 88 rnOMETIIKlS I W ]UJ LMJ Oil its mate's nuisic-pantinn;' hosom ; Aiiotlier. from the swinniiij^- blossom, Wjiteliiii<,r to catch tlie hiiii^niid ch)se Of the last strain, tlieii lifts on hi<'h 240 The wings of the weak nieloily, Till s uie new strain of feeling- i)ear The son^^ anil all the woods are mute; A\ hen there is heard through the dim air The rush of wings, and rising there 245 Like many a lake-surrounded flute, Sounds overflow the li.- iier's brain So sweet, that joy is aln.ost pain. SkMK IIUKUS I There those enchanted eddies play Of echoes, music-tongued, which draw, 250 By Demogorgon's mighty law, A\ ith meltuig rapture, or sweet awe, All spirits on that secret way : As inland boats are driven to Ocean Down streams made strong with mountain-thaw ; 255 And first there conu's a gentle sound To those in talk or slumber bouiul. And wakes the destined soft emotion. Attracts, ini])els them : those who saw Say from the breathing earth behind 260 There steams a plume-uplifting wind Which drives thetn on their ))ath, while they lielieve their own swift wings and feet Tlic sweet desires within obev : And so they float u])on their way, 265 Until, still sweet, but loud and strong. The storm of sound is driven along, Sucked up and hurrying: as they fleet liehind, its or-athering billows meet I'llOMETIIErs VS HOUND 80 And to the fatal mountain bear 270 Like clouds amid the yielding air. First Faun Cimst thou imagine where those s])iiits live Which inaki! such delicate niusie in the woods? We liaunt within the least frequented caves And closest coverts, and we know these wilds, 275 Yet never meet them, though we hear them oft: Where niav thev hide themselves? Skcom> Faux 'T is hard to tell : I have heard those more skilled in spirits say, The bubbles, which the enchantment of the sun Sucks from the pale faint water-flowers that pave 280 The oozy bottom of clear lakes aiul juxds, Are the pavilions where such dwell and float Under the green and golden atmosphere Which noontide kindles through the woven leaves; And when these burst, and the thin fiery air, 2sr) The which they breathed within those lucent domes. Ascends to flow like meteors through the night, Tliey ride on tlicm, and rein their headlong s])eed, And bow their burning crests, and glide in fire Under the waters of the earth again. 290 First Faux If such live thus, have others other lives. Under jiink blossoms or within the bells Of mcndow flowers, or folded violets deep, Or on their dying odours, wIk u they die, Or in llie sunlight of the spuercd dew V 295 i 5 wm 00 TnoMtniiFAs I '.V isorxh Si:((iM> Facv Ay, many nioiv wliicli we may well diviiu'. r>iit >li()iil.l wt! stay to speak, noontide would come, And tliwart Silemis find liis i^outs undrawn, And .nind-v to sino- those wise and lovely songs Of fate, and ehanee, and (M)d, and Chaos old," r;0(; And Love, and the chained Titan's woful doom. And how lie sliall he loosed. an SI A Fit throne for .such a Tower! MagniHcentI I low glor^.us art thou, Karth ! Ami if thou be The sliadow of some spirit lovelier still, 'i'hough evil stain its work, and it should be Ldi(! its crciitiou. weak yet l.e;iufiful. 1 could fall (huvii and woi^hip that and thee. Lveu now my iioart adoretli. V\ ouderful ! :rjft \, PR OMETII K I 'S US nor .V /) Look, sister, ere the v:i])oiir dim tliy bruii 'u'lieiitli is :i wii 1(> pi; nil () f hill. )\vv iiust. As :i hike. |):iviiii; in tiie iiioriiiii<;- sky, 91 325 Witl I azure waves which l)ur>t in siiver liii'ht, Some Indian vale. IJehold it. rolling < a Tiider the cnnllim; winds, and islandint;- The peak whereon we stand, midway, aronnd, I'iiu'iuctnred hy th.' dark anil hloomin^ forests, 330 Dim twilii;ht 1; n>. and stream-illuniine-like water-drops. The vale is girdled with their walls, a howl Of cataracts from their thaw-cloven ravines Satiates the listening- wind, continuons, vast, 340 Awfnl as silence. Hark! the milling snow! The snn-awakened avalanche! whose mass, Thrice sifted by the storm, had gathered there Flake after flake, in heaven-defying minds 344 As thon'dit bv thought is i Ued, till soiae great truth Is loosened, and the nation, eclio round, Siiaken to their roots, as do the mountains now. Pa N'T III: A Look how the gusty sea of mist is breaking In crimson foam, even at our feet ! it rises As Ocean at the enchantment of tlie moon 330 Kound foodless men wrecked on some oozy isle. Asia The fragments of the cloud are scattered up; The wind tlfit )'ft> th^m di-.-nUviiH < niv hair: H l^ h » ,; • ii 92 rnoyiETii k i -s rsno us u Its Itillows now sweep o'er luino eves: my hniin (irows (li/./.\ ; I see tliin shapes within the mist. a.-ir* Pantiika A coiiiitenaiice witli Ix'ckdiiiii^- smiles: there hurns All azure fire within its golih'n hx-ks I Another and another : hark I they speak I S()\(; OK Si'iKiTs To the deep, to the deep, Down, down I TiM-on;4li tlie shade of sleep, Thronjuh the eloudy strife Of Death and of Life ; Through the veil and the bar Of thini^s whieli seem and are, Even to the steps of the remotest throne, Down, down I y(JU 305 While the sound wliirls around, Down, down I As the fawn draws the hound, As the liL;htiiin<; the vapour. As a weak moth the taper: Death, despair; love, sorrow: Time, lioth: to-day. to-morrow: As steel obeys the spirit of the stone; Down, down I Thron^rh thi' ^ray, void abysm, 1 )own, down ! Where the air is no ])rism. And the moon and stars are not. And tlie eavern-(M'a<'s wear not 370 375 r?Rn rnoMETiiEUs usnorsD 98 Tlio radhincc of Ilnivcn Nor the u'loom to Ivirtli f;ivcn, "Where tliere is one y rvjiding, one alono, — Down, down I •^^'' In Ihr (h'jith of the Jcfj), 1 )own, down I T>iko veiU-d ]i,<;litnln^' asleep. Like tlie spark nursed in endters, The hist h>ok Love rait i.minl, as li-lit from tlic; iiifridiaii smi, 1 ii-a/.d ii|>oii and sliaprlcvs: iumiIhm- limb, >.()r lollM. Mor out line ; yet ut' feci )t IS A liviiii;- Spirit. I)i:.M() this lu-opU'd earth a solitude \\\wi\ it returns no more':' l)KMo(iOHiiON Merciful (lod. Asia And who made terror, madness, crimo, remorse, Whieh from the links of the -iieat chain of things. To fvery th(»n<,dit within the mind of man Sway and dra- heavily, and each one reels rnder the load towards the l)it of death ; Abandoned hope, and love that turns to hato ; And self-contempt, hitterer to driidc than blood; I'ain, whos unheeded and familiar speech Is howlinii-, and keen shrieks, day :ifter day; And Hell, or the sharp fear of Hell? 420 425 DKMOr.OKtiON Asia He reigns. I'ttor liis name: a world pining in i)ain Ask but his name : curses shall drag him down. •130 1 ' J ml I '1 I V !. He reigns. l)KMo<;()U(iox A>1A Wl 10 reigns I feel, I know it : who ? DKMOC.OIMiON' Asia ? There was the Heaven and Earth al fust, He reigns. 434 7 9G riioMKTifhrs rwiunwi) 41(1 us 450 And I.!-Iit:.iul Lov ; thru Saturn, from wIh,s(. throne Tim.- I.'" -1 ..i.vious .sli:i,|„w : sii.-li tin- stat.. <>•" 'I" - primal spirits iM-nrafli lijs sway, •^\''" • ,i'»y of tl«>\v,.rs and livin- l.-avus ' ''"'""• \\'>"1 "!• smi lias witli..r...| tlicu. A nil -riMivital uoriiis: i.nt li.- rrl'ii,,.,! 'I''"' I'irlliri^lit <>{ Il.rir l.,!!,- kn.ns 1..,]^;,.. ,„,«■.. r, 'I'll.- >lviil ui.ici, ulcl.ls t|i.,> .Inn,. III., ilh tli..u-ht U'lii.'li pi.MVfs this <|iiM uiiivers.' lik,; li^lit, S-'lf-cinpin', and tlu' iiiaj<'sty of l.>v.' ; F..r tl.ir.t of whi-.-h th.T faint.-.l. Tiu',. Proinotl.c (Javo \vis(l.)ni, wliich is str.'ii-tli, to .lupitrr, Au.l uitli this law alone, - Let man hv frcj," n.'tluid him with th.,' .loniinion of wide Heaven. To liimw nor faith, nor love. ,u,r law, to h.. - Onmipotrnt iuit fri.MulIess, is to rcii;ii ; ' And .I..v(' n.,w r.i-ned ; for on tin; ra.-e of man First famine, aii.l then toil, and then disease. Strife, wounds, and ehastly death unseen l)ef()re, Fell : and the nnseasonahle seasons dr.)ve, With alternatin,.; shafts of fn.st and fire, ' Their shelterless, pale tribes to mountain oaves: And in their deseit hearts fiere(! wants lie sent,' And mad dis(iui.tui»t lovely, i)layea iK-iicath Tlu; frown of man ; an.l toittiit'd to Ins will Iron iin.l -..1.1. tli.- sl;iv.-s an.l si-ns of pow.T, Anil L^fMis an.l poi-^'-iis, ami all snl.tl.st foinis 111, Men lienratli tli.' nionntains and tin' waves. Ilr Liavi- man sp.-. cii, ami spctcli cix'ate.l tlioui;lit, 175 Wlii.'h is tlu! ni.MSKr.' of tin- nnivcrse ; Ami Scicn.'.' stnu'k tli.' throm-s of earth an.l licavcn, Which shook. l«nt fell not ; an.l the haini<.ni.)ns mind rour.'d its.lf f.nth in all-inoi.h.'ti.' soul;; An.l nmsie lift.-.l up the list.Miin- spirit ^SO I'ntil it walked exemi)t fr.iin mortal eare, (io.llik.', o'er the elear l.illows of sweet so', d ; An.l human han.ls first mimieked and then mocked, With moul.le.l lind>s more lovely than its own. The human form, till marhle <,new divin.', 1S5 And m..thers, <;azing, drank the l.)ve m.:. see KeHeeted in their ra.-e, hehol.l, and p.-rish. He told the hidden power of herbs and sprinjrs, \nd Disease drank and slept. Death grew like sleep. He tauj^ht the implicated orbits woven HM) Of the wi.le-wanderint? stars ; and how the sun (:hani;es his lair, and by what secret spell The pale moon is tiansformed, when her broad eye (iazes not on the interlunar sea. He tan-ht t.. rule, as lif.' .lin'Cts the limbs, 4nr, . The tempest-win;j;e.l chariots of the Oci-an. And the Celt knew the Indian. Cities then Were built, and through their sn.w-like columns fl.)vved The warm winds, and the azure ether shone, An.l the blue sea and shadowy hills were seen c:..<.u flw. ..llovJntions of his state, Prometheus gave to man, for which he Uaugs 500 i: 98 riKtMETIIF.l s r.xnor.M) Witlicrincj in dcstiiicd p:iin : l)nt, wlio rains down Kvil, tlic imnit'dicablo ])lai;no, ■ "licii, wliilc M:iii looks on liis ci'cation !■ And sees tliat it is ijlorioiis. iod i hini on. 'I'lic wi-cck of ids own will, th . orn of earth, Tin; outcast, tlie abandoni'd. tli(> aloni! ? \ot Jove: while yot his frown shook heaven, ay, when His adversary fi-oni a(himantine chains 510 Cnrsed him, he trend)hd like :i slave. Dechire Who is his master? Is he too a slave? DKMO(;oi:(io.v All spirits are enslaved whieh serve things evil: Thon knowest if Jnpiter he sneh or no. Asia Whom calledst thon God r I sjmke but as ye speak, ior Jove is the supreme of living things. 51G Asia Who is muster of the slave ? DEMUGOK(iOX If the abysm Conld vondt forth his secrets. . . . iint u voice Is wanting, the deep truth is imageless : For what would it avail to bid thee gaze 520 On the revidvin-r world'.' what to bid speak Fate, Time, Occasion, C'iiance, and ( 'iiang" ? To these All things are subject but eternal Lovt. rnoMETiiErs uxnnrND 99 Asia S » tmu'li I iisked before, and my lu-art trave 'IMir ifsponsc thou hast ijivcn : and of sucli truths 525 I'^ach to itself lunst be the oiach". ( )nr MU)re demand ; and do thou answei- me As niv own soul would answer, did it know That which I ask. rrometh"us shall arise lleneeforth the sun of this rejoieinu' world: 5rs0 "When shall the destined hour arrive? DEMO(iOKCiON Asia Behold! The roeks are cloven, and through the i^urple night I s( ' cars diawn l>y rainl)ow-win fed with Mie liuhtuing. They drink of the wliii'iwiiKi's stream. And when the re(^ morning is luight'nin"-, They bathe in th.- fresh sunbeam ; They have strength for tlieir swiftness I ^'..era, ."JTO Then ascend with me, daughter of ( )cean. \ \ /•;.' OMETIIEUS UN 11 UNI) 101 I desire: and their spofd makes iii<;lit kindle ; I fear: they outstrip the typhoon; Ere the eloiid ])iled on Atlas can dwindle \\'i' encircle the earth and tlie moon : 575 We sh:dl rest from lonj;- lahonrs at noon : Then ascend with me, danghter of Ocean. ScKNK V. 77".' Car jvnism irifhht a Cloud o?) ilic Top nf (I s)io>ri/ Mountain. Asia. rAMUKA, ami the Si'IKIT of TlIK lIoLK. SriKiT On the hrink of the ni;jht and the morning My coursers are wont to resjjire ; But the Earth has just whispered a warning Tliat their fli^•ht nuist he swifter tlian lire : They shall drink the hot speed of desire! Asia Thou hreathest on their nostrils, hut my breath Would give them swifter speed. Sri KIT 580 1 * 1:1 Alas ! it could not. !i I :l;.:l Pantiiea O Spirit! pause, and tell whence is the li^ht Which tills the cloud? The sun is yet unrisen. Sl'IUIT The sun will rise not until noon. A])ollo Is held in heaven by wonder; and the light Which fdls this vapour, as the aerial hue Of fcnmtain-gnzing roses fills the water, Flows from thy mighty sister. 585 5'.)0 t i ' 102 I'llOMETIIKT-s vynovsh I*ANT1I1.A Asia Ye<, I feci — r)9-. GOU \Vli;u is it with ilire, sisUT? Tlioii arf pale. I'antiika How tl.ou art clian-c] \ I ,lai n,.t look „n thee; I f»vl l)iit sre tlieu not. I scarce en-luro Til., ra.lia.u-e ..f thy hoaiity. -^ouio -oo.l cliaix.,. Is workini.- in tlie I'lcnicnts, wliid, suit Tliy prosonce thus unvMhnl. The Nereids tell That (Ml the (lay whm the rlear hvaline Was cloven at thy uprise, an,' tlioa di.lst .stand U ithm a veined shell. \vh h iloated on Over the calm floor of f';,; crvstal sea, Anion- the .K-ean isle>. and l.y im; sVores A\ hich hear thy name ; lov,% L,,e the atmosjihere Of the sun's fire iiUin- the liviii- world, liurst from thee, and illumined ('arth and heaven 005 And the deep ocean and the sunless cav,.s. And all that duells within them ; till grief cast Jvdipse upon the soul from which it c;nne. Such art thou now ; nor is it I alone. Thy sister, thy companion, thine own chosen one, 010 l..it the wh.de world which seeks thv svmpathy. ll.'a.vst thou n..t s,mn.ls i' the air wliicli peak the loxe <)i all articulat.. Immuos'/ Fcle^t thou not 'ilie inanimate wiiuls en;imoiiied ,)f thee / List! \_Music. Asi \ T hy words are sweeter than an-ht else l.ut his G15 ^Miose e.'ho..s th.-y are: yet ail love is sweet, {) G'i5 660 i GG5 070 ' I'UOMKTiiKfs rxiiorxD Wo 1 iav(> piisst .1 A- <> s lev caves, And Manhood's dark and tossinjj; waves, And Vmiiirs siiioulli oci-an, sniilin" to hrtray t'Vond tilt' "la-isv "nils \si Of sliado\v-|ifi)|ilcd Inlancv, II ce 105 075 Tliiini.^li I)t;atli and I>ii'tli, to a divinei- day : GSO A ])aradis(' of vaidttul howers Lit, liy do\vn\vard-i;a/,ini; tiowei's, And watfiv |»atlis that wind between Wildernesses ealni and j^reen, I'copled l)y shapes too bright to s(>e, 085 And rest, haviiii^ helield : soniewliat like thee: Which walk upon the sea, and ehaunt melodiously ! ACT III ScEXK I. — Henvni. JrrrrKU o7i hh Throne; Thetis and the otJicr JJeities assemldid. .Iri'HKK Ye conp[reg;ated powers of heaven, who sliare The |,iiiiiLr. uiiiepri'ssfd, yt-t su-xi to fall : Kviii II, ,u liav.. I lic-oticii a stiaii-v wonder, Tint fatal cliiM, th,. i.-nor of tlic cartli, ^\"lio \v;iits l.ut till thf odied now, Between us Hoats, felt, although nnheheld, 45 ri:()yfi:Tni:t .^ imkum) Waitiii'^ tlu' iiicariijitioii. uli'u-li ;is<'t'ii(ls, 107 If vc the tlniiKlcr of tlir liirv wlicfls (iliiiill'^ tllf Winil-i.' ) llnlii 1 )iliiii^'iil ^"li > ililnlil'. N'litiiiv! victorv! I'ffr>t tli() ( )1\ iiipus? [^T/f Cur iij' f/tr Will \: nrriri's. I)i;Mo('ak I I)i:Mor dwell toj^ether T)") lleiuMjforth in darkness. Lift thy liuhtnings not! The tvranny of heaven none may letain, Or reassnine, or hold, succeeding thee: "^'et, if thou wilt, as 'tis the destiny Of trochlen worms to writhe till they are dead, Put forth thy might! .Il TirKK Detested prodigy ! F.ven thus beneath the det'p Titanian prisons I trample thee! TIkhi lingerest? Mercy ! mercy ! No pity, no release, no respite ! Oh, That thou wouldst make mine enemy my jndge, Kven where he hangs, seared by my long revenge, On Caucasus! he would not doom me thus. (lentU", and just, and dreadless, is he not The monarch of the world ? What then art thou? No refuge! no appeal ! GO f.,") m TV 108 \Vc i i-h'OMirniKis r.v/.or.v /> Milk with IMC then uo will siiilc on the uiM 70 • ' \v;ivt' "< "I nun. .vni ,1, ;i \ nil |,,f :ii|,| I) ;i •^n; '•"1>. IwiMrd in incxtiical.l,. tj^ht Cf mil -jH lit lO 80 Int.. :i shc.ivh.^s sra. Lrt h.ll nnh.rlc In nioninlfd oc-ans n{ t.-mpist nous liiv. And uIh-Iiii on tlicin into the hottonih-ss void This desolated woil.j, and tliee. and ine. Tin- eon.,neror and th.. eon.ineiv.I, an.l tlie wreck <>t that for wliieh tliey conihated ] TI 1 , ' -^'' •^'' I lit! fienn'nts oi.ey rnc not. I sink I>i//.ily down, ever, for ever, down. And, like a elond, mine enemy alxtvo Darkens my fall witli victory! Ai ! Ai ! S,KNK U.-n.Moufh of a ,jrrat Ulrc.r In the Is/and Afl,n,ns. O. KAN- ;.s ,/;sr.rn-r,/ rrrluunrj near the bhoir ; Al'oLLu stands hrs!,lc him. C)(i;av Ile fell, thou sayest, l.en,.-ath his conqueror's frown? Ai-or.i.o Ay, when the strife was en.I.Ml which made dim s:. . I I'c orh I rnle, and shook the solid stars. The terrors of his eye illumined heawn ' AMth san,,n.ine li^ht. thron.^h the thick ra-ed skirts yn tile victorious darkness, as he fell : Like the. last -la re of day's red a -on v. rjc ^^ hieh. from a rent anum- the fiery clouds, liunis far alon- the tempest-wrinkled deep. 0< KAV He sunk to the ahyss'^ to the dark void? ruoMKTiiF.i's r\i:(>i m> Ait'i.i.ii An f:iL;l(' so can^lit in '^ciuf lmi'8tiii<^ cloiul lou l.:ini. ( )ii ( .(iii';i>ii>. lii^ tliiiii .■!• lt;ittlril \viiii;s '.»,> I'.ntim^lcil 111 till' wliii Iw iiiil. ;iiiil lii> cyt'S W liicli ^:i/.»'(l (HI till' un(l.i//liiiL; smi. ikiw l)liii(l(' fiflds of I |cavt'ii-r<'fl('<'tin<,' soa W liirli arc iiiv realm, will lieave, un■^taine(l with hlood, Keiieath the ujiiiftinix winds. like plains of corn Swaved l)V the snmmei- air: my streams will How Ivountl iuanv-|)en])li(l continents, and roiinil l''()rtiin:ite isles; and from tlieii' ;^lassy thrones liiiie I'rotens and his hnmid nym|ihs shall mark The shadow of fair ships, as mortals see The lloatini; hark of the lii^ht-laden moon Witli that white star, its si^^htless jiilot's erest, I)oiMie down tin; rajiid sunset's clihiiii;- sea; Tiaekinj; their path no more hy hlood and groans, And desolation, and tlie mingled voice Of slavery and enmmand : hut hy the liuht Of wave-reHeeted tloweis. and floatinu odours, And music soft, and mild. free, p'nth' voices, That sweetest music, such as spiiits love. Ai'oi.r.o \nd I sliall iraze not on the deeds which make Mv mind ohseui'c with sorrow, as eeli]ise Darkens the sjihere I _<,Miide : hut list, I hear 1-0 The small, clear, silver lute of the younjj Spirit That sits i' the morning star. ii; \\ M MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHART ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No 2i 1.0 I.I 1.25 12.8 13.2 m ■ 4.0 1.4 [ 2.5 2.2 2.0 1.8 1.6 ^ APPLIED IM^GE Inc 165J Eosr Mam street Rochester, Ne« York U609 uSA (716) 482 - OJOO - Phone (7161 ?8R - Sq89 - Fav no IM piiOMEriiErs rxiiorxn ()< KAX ] 25 Thou must awav; Ihy steeds V ill Mause at evo.i. till wl,rn fareudl: Iho loud d.;,p calls uw h,„ue even now to feed it W ith azure calm out of the emerald uiiis Which stan.l for ever full beside mv throne. JJehold the Nereids under the <,neen\ea, Their wavering lind)s borne on"the wind-like stream 1 he.r white arn.s lifted o'er their streaming hair ' N ith -arlands i)ied and stai'ry sea-llower crowns, 130 iiastenmg to grace their mi-hty sister's joy. . [-' *■""""' <'/ (races is heard. Jt IS tiio uupastured sea hungering for calm. Peace, monster ; I come now. Farewell. Al'OI,LO Farewell. ScK.vi: Iir._rv,/r-.,,s;,.,. PitOMKTurt-s. IlKKrrr.Fs Ionk the Kakth. Sp.kits, Asia, and I^vntuica, borne in the tar ivifh the Si'irit ok tiik IIofk. IIekcitles unhinds PjioMirruKis. n- ho descends. IIi:U( L'LKS M. St glorious among sj)irits: thus doth strength r.) wisdom, courage, and long-suffering love, '^ 13.5 Aiul thee, who art tiie form they animate, Minister like a slave. t PliOMKTliKr-s Tliy gentle words Are sweeter oven than freedom long desired -iiid long delayed. Asia, thou light of life. Shadow .)f beauty unbeheld ; and ye, hq I'ROMETUFA'.^ I WliOlW I) 111 un 11- Fair sistor nyin))hs, \v!.o luadu loiii; years of p Sweet to reinetul)('r, tlirongh your love and care llciict'fortli wu will not part. There is a cave, All overgrown with trailinj^ odorous plants Which enrtain out the day with leaves and flowers, And paved with veined emerald, and u fountain Leaps in the nndst with an awakening sound. From its curved roof the niountain's frozen tears, Like snow, or silver, or long diamond spires, Han"- downward, raining forth a (hjuhtful light: 150 And there is heard the ever-moving air, Wliispering without from tree to tree, and birds, And l)ees: and all around are mossy seats. And the rough walls are clothed with long soft grass; A simi)le dwidling, which shall lu' our own ; 155 AVhere we will sit and talk of time and change. As the world ehhs and flows, ourselves unchanged. What can hide man from mutahility? And if ye sigh, tlien I will smile : and thou, lone, shalt ehaunt fragments of sea-music, 160 Until I weep, when ye shall smile away Tlie tears she brought, which yet were sweet to shed. AVe will entangle buds and lloweis and beams Which twinkle on the fountain's brim, and make Stransre combinations out of common things, 1G5 Like human bal»es in their lirief innocence: And we will searcdi, with looks and words of love, Foi' hidden thoughts each lovelier than the last, '.)ur unexhausted spirits: and like lutes Fouched by the skill of the eni'.moured wind, 170 Weave harmonies divine, yet ever new, From difference sweet where discord cannot be; And hithei' come, sped on the charnKvi winds W'!,!;.!; t!!..(.f fi-oni :J1 the iioiLits ol lieaven, as bees t' ! I 1 112 PliOMETIlECS VMiOUXl) \\<' 'lit •1 I -l ' ISO Yrom ov.Mv flowor aerial Kiina feeds, 175 At tlicir own island-lioincs in llimera, Tlie cclioes of the hutiian woiM. wliieli tell Of tlic low voice of love, almost unlieanl. An. I .iove-eye.l pity's inunnnred ])ain, and music, Itsi'jt the echo of the heai't, and all 'J hat temj)ers or imjjroves man's life, now free; And lovely ai)])aritions, dim at first. Then radiant, as the mind, arising- Ijiioht From the embrace of beauty, whence the forms Of which these are the i)hantoms, easts on them 185 The gathered rays which are realitv, ^hall visit us, the progeny immortal Of Painting, Sculpture, and rapt Poesy, And arts, thougji unimagined, yet to be. '1 he wandering voices and the shadows these 100 Of all that man becomes, the mediators Of that best worship, love, l)y him and us Given and returned ; swift shapes and sounds, which g^row More fair and soft as man grows wise and kind. And, veil by veil, evil and error fall: 195 J^uch virtue has th<> cave and ])lace ;uound. [Tl/ruu,;/ in ill,' SlTUlT OF THE IIoUK. For thee, fair Spirit, one toil remains. Tone. (iivc her that curved shell, which Proteus old Made Asia's nuptial boon, breathing within it A voice to be acc..mplislicd. ami which thou 200 Didst hide in grass under the hollow rock. IdN'K Thou mo^t desired TTour, m..rc lov.'d and lovely Tiian all thy sisters, this [is] the my.stic shell. bee the j)ale azure fadintr into silver riiOMETHEUs iwnoryi) 11<'5 l.iiiinj: it w'itli a soft yet j;lo\vinoosenin<;' its ndiihty music: it shall be As thunder mingled with clear echoes: then 1'15 Return ; and thou shalt dwell beside our cave. And thou, O Mother Earth! — Thk Earth I hear, I feel ; Thy lips are on mo, and thy touch runs down Even, to the a\ ho die? TiiK EAiiTir It woidd avail not to reply: Thou art inunortal, ami this ton-ue is known lint to the uueommnnieatini; dead. iX'ath is the veil which those who live call life: They sh'ep, and it is lifted : and meanwhile In mihl variety the seasons mild Vv'ith rainl).)\v-skirted showers, and odorous winds, And Ion- blue niete(-rs eleansin- the dull ni-ht, '250 And the life-kindlino' shafts of the keen snn'^s Al]-i)ierein^i;- bow, and the dew-min.i;led rain Of the ealm moonbeams, a soft inibienee mild, Shall clothe the forests and the fiehis, ay, even The erao-built deserts of the barren deep, 2','. AVith ever-livin- leaves, and fruits, and flowers. And thou : 'i'iiere is a cavern where my spirit Was pante.l forth in anouish whilst thy pain Made my heart mad, and those who did inhale it IJecanie neu] f,w. ..,.,1 I,,.;it .. 245 1 .1 -"iiipiu Liiuie, 260 V ROM KTIl FA'S T.V liOUXI) 11. 1?,: 10 k, 50 And sjxikf, and wcic oracular, and Inrod '1 lie cniiii;- nations round to mutual war. And failldr.^s tait li, .su(di as dove kept with tlieo ne W \ violet )rt atli now rise as aiKonLis t tall weeds s ex halat ion, and it tills •jr.-) itli a sereiier imlit and enmson air. Intense, vet sott, tlie rueks and woods around It f( th (M'ds tlie (juii'k i;r()wtn ot tlie serpent vine, And the dark linked ivy tanii,lin<^ wild. And huddiiii^-, blown, or odoni'-faded l)loonis 270 W'iiich star the winds with jioints of coloured light, As tlu;v rain throu'di them ; and l)ri''ht jrolden tilobos Of fruit, suspended in their own green heaven ; And through their veiin^d leaves and ami)er stems 'I'lie llouers wliose purple and translueid bowls 275 Stand ever mantling with aerial dew, '1 he drink of sj»irits: and it circles round, Like the soft waving winirs of noondav dreams. Inspiring calm and ha)>])y thoughts, like mine, iS'ow thou art thus restored. This cave is thine. 2S0 Arise! A])])ear! \_A SriKiT /'/.s't'.s- 1)1 the likeness of a minr/ed child. This is my torch-bearer ; Who let his lamp out in old time with gazing On eyes from which he kindled it anew ^Vith love, which is as lire, sweet daughter mine. For such is that within thine own. Run, wayward, 2S5 And guide this (!om])any beyond the peak Of l)ac(diic Nysa, Mienad-haunted mountain, And beyond Indus and its tribute rivers, Tiampling the torrent streams and glassy lakes A\'ith feet unwet, unwearied, undelaying, 290 And up tlu! green ravine, across the vale, Jieside the windless and crystalline pool IK) PliOMETlIKr- IWIIOISI) h H \V licrc ever lies on unerasing w.-ivtvs Tlic iiiia-c of a tt'iiiplc, i)iiilt, altovc, Distinct witl. colli,,,,., arcl,, aii.l arcl,it,-avo, •j..».i And |»alr„-lii<(. capital, and ovci\v,'oiiol,t AikI populous i,,ost witl, livi,,..- iiiiai;r,-v, I'laxitclcan shapes, \vli,,so ,,i;ifl,],. s,,,ilrs I'lll the hiislicl ail- uiti, cvcrhistiri-j; love. It is (Icsci-tcl now, hut once it hore ;}oo Thy nan,,, Pro„,cthru. ; there the onmlons youths Pjore to thy lionour through the divine <;h)om The lanip \vl,ich was thi!,e einblen, : even as those AVlio hear tlie untransmitted torch of hope Into the -rave, across the nijiht of life, sof, As thou hast home it most tri,nni»l,antly To this far .i^oal of Time. Depart, fan-well. ]>eside that temple is the d.-stini-d cave. ScKVK IV._../ F„resf. In the DnrhqmuiuJ a Cave PKoM,.:TiiKirs. Asia, P.v.ntuk.v, Iox,,, and the Spiuit OF TiiK Kakth. loXK Sister, it is not earthly: how it n;lides Under the leaves! how on its lieml there burns 310 A lio-ht, like a <,rreen stai-, wliose emei-ald beams Are twined with its fair hair! how. as it moves, The splendour drops in flakes uj),)!! the grass! ' Knowest thou it? P-ANTHEA It is the delicate spirit That o-uides the earth throu-h heaven. From afar 315 1 he })op,doiis constellations call that liLrlit The loveliest of the idanets; and sometimes It floats aloni,'- the spray of the salt sea, Or mrikon lis chariot of a to<>-t;v eioiui rnOMKTUFA'S I '.V llOl S I) 117 ( »r wallvs tlu()iii,'li fields or cities wliilc iiicii slci'j), ;5:i(> ( )\- o'er tlic iii()iiiitain-t(>]»s. or down tlic rivers, <)i- fliroii'4ii the i;reeii waste wildeiiiess, a> now. mdenii'. at all it sees. I x'lore Jove rei^nec I j't loved our si>ti'r Asia, and it came Ilaeli leisure hour to diiidc tlie li(|nid liulit ()iit of her eyes, for which it said it thirsted ,\s one hit hy a dii)sas, and with her It inado Its eluldisli coiifKUfHce, and told lier All it had known or seen, for it saw nuieli. Yet idly reasoned wliat it saw : and called her. For wlienco it s])riinj^ it knew not, nor do I, Mother, dear mother. Thk Si'iiiiT OK THE Eaktm {ruiiiiiii'i in Asia) Mother, dearest mother; May I then talk with thee as I was wont? ^fay I then hide my eyes in thy soft arms, After thy h)ohs have made them tired of joy? May I then ))lay heside tliee the lon<;- noons, ^Vhen work is none in the l>rii;ht silent air? Asia I love iliee, gentlest being, and henceforth Can cherish thee nnenvied : sjieak, I ]iray : Thy simple talk once solaced, now delights. ;i3U 33; 340 vSi'IRIT OF THK EaKTII Mother, I am grown wiser, thongh a child Cannot he wise like thee, within this day ; And happier too: iiajtpier and wiser hoth. Thou knowest that toads, and snakes, and loathly worms, j'vnii venomous ami iiiaiieioiis iiiri-'rs, rniii MOiigiiS ■; i;i I ' ■' I I' 118 Tint :'n<>Mi:rui:(s r\n<>r.\h .'{.-(I Aulnml,,.,.,... „., nyualk^uVr. I,.. ,■,.,...„ worl.l • An,i iI.a,,aMiun_^tlu. l.anntsofhnM.ankin.l anl-h.atun..l MM.M, or xvith ,>n„.,K a,„,Ho„ks, '• '-M, sta.,1 ;;ait, or tal... au.l hnll.nv smil.s, '>''^l"-'l"llsi...Tofs..lf-Jov...l i:;nora,nv '/''•'^''^^f '^''■■'•••".i^uluMuw.. spirits rail, „an- -^■"1 u-o,n..n too, „,i;li,.>t of all tliin-s rvil (lI..'U,I.tair..v..ninauo,l,lwl..;;.t,,,;,,,tf,i,.,,, l-.|,^oodaM, knuLtV...,,,,sin....n.lik..thec.,) ) iH.n fals.. o,. f,,,u„in, ,,...1,. ,...■ si.k at lu.art -; p:.sstI,..M,. though tl„.ysl..,,t,a>Hl I nusec-n. \.'lKn,y path lardy lay tluou,h a. M-e.t city Into the u-oo.ly lulls surn.mulin..- it: A s..ntincl was sle.'pin- at the -ate • ^MK•u there was lu.anl a soun.C so loml it sl.on in. towers a.Mi.l the ..oonli^ht, vet n.ore swee iiianaiiy von-e Lut thine, sw.-etest of all • A lon.i^r lon,,,r sonn.l, as it woMhl never emi: An.l all the inhal.itants leapt sn.hlenly O.itol the.r rest, an.l -athere.llM the streets, 3GU ook t 305 o Ihe .nus.e pealed along. I hi.l n.vself ^ U ithm a tonntain in the public s.piare, VN liero I lay like the reflex of the nn.ou N'en m a wave under -reen leaves; ,-...-> ^- Those u-ly human shapes and visa-'-.. 37U H uhu-., I spoke as having wrought n.e pafn, 1 ast floating through the air, and fadin-^ still 37 "to the winds that scattered then,: and those ' l"n,M, who,,.,hy,,..tsee,,.,.d,nilda,,dh,v,.|vro,.,,.s All. ■.•son;,, tonl .lisgui... h,,I f,|i,,„, ,,„,, .,„ " »V ere so,i!,'wliit ,.1... ..,..,. 1 .. i ,■ , . .. ""ui oriel sniprise rUoMl.illECs I Mior.M) 119 And ;';rt'('tiiii;s ot (loli;^litc(l uoiitlcr, all \\ lilt to tlifir slcfp aL;aiii : and wlicii tln' dauii vault', woiddsl tiioii tliiid; tliat tciaiLs, ami ^llal;c.1, ami efts, Coidd c'lT Ix' Itcaiitifid' vet ^o tlirv wen-, And that uitli linlf clianm' (d' slia] r line: All tilings had [nit tht ir evil nature off: 3S5 I cannot tell niv joy, uhrn o'er a lal<<' rpoii H di'oo[iiii;; ltoiii;li with iii^ht^hadc twined, I >a\v two a/iui' haieynn~; cliii'^inL;' downward And tiiinniiii; one li!ii;ht hnneh of uniher lieiiies. With (jiii(dv Ioiil; Iteaks. and in the deep there lay ii'.'O Those lovely tonus iniaL;ed as in a sky : So with my thoughts full of tiiese happy ehanges, We meet aj^ain, the happiest (■lianL;e of all. A- 1 A And never will we ])art, till thy ehaste sister \\ ho guides the frozen and inconstant moon, 395 ^^ ill look on thy more warm and e(pial lii;lit Till her heart thaw like tlakes of A})ril snow, And love thee. Sl'IKIT OF THK EaKTII What! as Asia loves Prometheus? Asia Peace, wanton, thou art yet n(;t old enough. Think ye by gazin<^ on each other's eyes To nudti|)ly your lovely selves, and fill With sphered fires the interlunar air? Sl'IlMT OK riiK Kakth Nay, mother, while my sister tiiuis her lamp i is hard I should "o darUiinjj. 400 II! ii H ^-^ i'i:<>Mi:iiii:rs rsnorsi) Asia Ijisti'ii; look! ['/'//'■ Sni;ii UK Till.; linvK rntcrs l*i;i)Mi;riii:r«; Wo l\.fl what tI...M !,ast l.rar.l an.l s.rn : yet speak ' ton Sl'lKll' ()|- liii.; Iloi |. Sn„n astli," s.)..n.l Iia.l .•.■asr.l ul,,,... iIuhuI.t iilled liir alnss.vs ,,t th.- slvv and tli.' uifornM.,l, As if th.' s..ns,> „f h,ve. .li.ss..|vr.l i,, thnu, ' 410 ll.id fohlfd its.'lf i-ouihI the splirn'.l world. My vision th.-n -r.'w char, and I cnuld see Into the niystcrics of the nniv.'i>,t'. Di/zy as with (hdi.L;ht I Hoafrd ,|uwn, Winnowino th. hV|.tso,ur air with languid phnnes, 115 My (...nrsers s„n-ht th.'ir l.irthplac,. in the sun, A\ h(Mv they hrnceforth will liv exempt from toil, i.istiinn.o; [on J flowers of vcovt;,!,],. n,,.. And when- my mooidihc car will stand within A temple, oazed „pon l.y Phidiaii forms 4.0 Of thee, and Asia, and the Ivuth, and mo. And you fair nymphs. lookiiiL; the love we feel; In memory of the tidings it has horne; Beneath a dome fretted with j,naven flowers, Poised on twelve columns of resplend<.nt stJue, 4.«5 And open to the bright and liquid skv 1 <)Ked to It by an ainpliisl).'enie snake The likeness of those winrred stee l>rcatln'. tn lie, I uaiiili riiiLT went IJl A iiioiiiii'li ininlity fliaii^c as I liail f»'It witliin, i'",\|tit'ss(,'(l ill outward tliiiii^s; l»ut soon I looked, Uiii^l< A lid Iti'liold, tliroiH'S were < )iir with tin- otiicr cvfii as spirits do <'ss, and nit.'ii wa Iked 410 oil' awiied, none tiaiiiidi'd hate (lis.l im, Of lear ft Sidt love or stdf-contciiipl, on liiiinan lirows No ni(»rt' iiiscriljed, as o'er the ;;ate of hidl, " All hope ahandoi) ye who enter here ; " None frowned, none trembled, none with ea<:er fear 115 (ia/i'd on another's eye of cold eominand, Until the subject of a tyrant's will Became, worse fate, the aliject of his own, W liii'h spurred hiiii. like an oiitspcnt horse, to death. Noni! wroiii^'ht his lips in tnith-entan^lini^ lines t.'iO Which siiiilfd the lie his tongue disdained to speak; None, with firm sneiM-. trod out in his own heait The sparks of love and hope till there remained Those l)itter ashes, a soul stdf-consumed. And the wretch crept a vampire aiiion<;' men, 455 riifectinj:^ all with his own hidfous ill: None talked that common, false, v''oId, hollow talk Which makes the heart deny the i/cs it breathes, Yet (piestion that unmeant hvpocrisy With such a self-mistrust as has no name. 460 And women too, fraid<, beautiful, and kind As the free heavi'ii wliieh i'aiiis fri .~li Ji^lit and dew On the wide earth, past : i;eiitle. radiant forms, !■ rom custom's evil taint exempt and pure; Speaking the wisdom once tiicy I'onld nut tiiink, 4G5 122 / 'liOMhTIIK I -s I -.V /; o [ y /> nil. (I if Lookiiii,^ ciiiotioiis once tlicy fearrd to fcol, And cliange.l to all wliicli om.,; tlicv dareil not be, Yei l)cing now, mad-; eartli like liuaven ; nor pride, Xor jcahmsy, nor envy, nor iJI-slianie, Ti)o hitti'rest of tliose drops of treasured ]Iiiios of tlic iJeopfed earth. Stand, not oVrthrown, l)ut unregarded now: And those foul shapes, abhorred by god and man, A\ hich, under many a name and many a form, Stranue, savage, ghastly, dark, and execrable, -KiU U ere Jupiter, the tyrant of the world ; Ami which the luitions, panic-stricken, served With blood, and hearts broken by long hope, and l(,ve Dragged to his altars soiled and garlandless, And slain among men's unreclaiming tears, i torn aside; 500 The loaths(jnie mask has fallen, the man remains, Sccptreless, free, uneircuni.scribed, l)nt man: K(liial, unelassed, tribeless, and nationless, Exempt from awe, worship, deij^ree, the kini^- ( )ver himself ; just, gentle, wise : but man. 505 Passionless? no, yet free from guilt or ])ain. Which were, for his will made or sutTered them; Nor yet exempt, thoui^h rulini;- them likt' slaves, From chance, and death, and mutability, The clogs of that which else might oversoar 510 Tlie loftiest star of unasoended heaven. Pinnacled dim in the intense inane. 10 ACT IV SrF.XK. — A part of tlie Forest near the Care of Pkomk- TiiKi's. Paxtiika (Hid Ionk are dtej/lii'j : they aicaken yraduallij dur'uirj the frsf S'nig. VoiCK OF rNsKF.V Sim KITS The pale stars are gone I For the sun, their swift shepherd, To their folds them comiH'lling, In the de])tlis of the dawn, Hastes, in meteor-eclipsing ai-ray, and they flee 5 Beyond his blue dwelling, As fauns flee the leopard, Hut wheie are ye ? [J tniin of ihirk Fnniis and Shadows j/asses bij ill ) I /' if il ( I i f 124 ^ I'UOMETiiEfs vsnousD Here, oil. here : AVo hear the hier Of tlie Father of many a caiifellecl year I Spectres we Of the (lead Hours he, "\\ e hear Tii:ie to his toiiih in eternity. Sti'ew, oh, strew Hair, not yew I Wet tlie (histy pall witli tears, not clew! IJe the faded tlowei's Of Death's hare howers Sl)read on the eorjjse of the Kiny day. from heaven's hlue waste, Wt! melt awav, Like dissolving;' sprav, 25 From tlie ehildren of a diviner day, With the luilal)y Of winds that die On the bosom of their own liarniony ! loxK What dark forms were they ? Pa XT hi; A The past Hours weak and ;;ray, With the spoil which their toil Kaked tof;;ether From the conquest but One could foil. 30 TT., loN'K 00 rnoMETiiErs rxnorxD 125 Pa NTH K A They have past ; 35 Tlioy oiitspeedod the blast, AVliik' 't is said, tliey arc Hed : AVliitlior, oil, whitlioi'? Pantiika To the dark, to the past, to the dead. Voice of I'nskkx Spirits Bright clouds Hoat in heaven, 40 I )('\v-stai's gk'ani on earth, Waves assenihle on occ^an : They are gathei'ed and driven By the storm of delij,dit. by the ])anie of glee ! They shake with emotion, 45 Thev dance in their mirth. But where are ye ? The i)ine-bouohs are sincinfr Old songs with new gladness, The billows and fountains 50 Fresh music are Hinuiuir, Like the notes of a s])irit from land and from sea; The storms mock the mountains AA ith the thunder of gladness. But where ar(> ye ? 55 ToVK What charioteers are tiiese? Paxt'ifa V\ here are their chariots'? ill II ■!f| I i I ' " 12;i I'llOMETlIKls IWJioiMj Skmiciiokcs ()|,- ]I,,ri;s Tlui voice of tlie Spirits of Air uiid .,f Kurth II;i^ .liMuu l.ark the lio,nv,l cirtain of >.eep AVhicli rovernl <.ur Ihm,,.^ ;u„l .larUciuMl our hirtJi III tilt! (ItTj). A \'()1( !•; In tin; (lec|)? Skmiciioki's II 01), below the deep. Semichorus I An hundred ages ue had been kept Cnidled in visions of Imte and care, And ..ach one wlio waked as lu.s brother slept, Found tlie truth — 61 Si'MicnoKus II A\ orse than his visions were ! Se:\iichouus I We have heard the lute of Hope in sleep; We have known the voice of Love in dreams; We have felt the uand of Power, and leap — Semkiiohus II As the billows leap in tiie niornin^' beams! 65 CnoitL's AVoavo the danee on tli<" floor of the brec ^ rierce witli song iieaven's sih-nt light, Enchant tiie day th;it too swiftlv flees. cze, 'l\, ..I...„l. u. a- • vo ...o-.c cic Liie cave oi niotit. ri: OMETiiK I 's I -y i: o i wu 127 ( )ii('(' the luiii;;ry Hours were lioiinds Wliich chased tliu day like a hk'edinjjf doer, And it limped and stuudiled with many wounds Tlirough the nightly dells of the desert year. > o waded and flew, j„,j And til." islets were few Where the bnd-hlighted flowers of hn,,piness grew. Our feet now, every palm, Are sandalled with calm, ,.,._ uert ui vjui- Wings is a raiu of balm ; V25 riiOMETIIEUS UNIiOUND 129 And, beyond our eyes, The human love lies Which makes all it gazes on Paradise. CliOKUS OK Sl'IRITS AN'I> HoiJRS Then weave the web of the mystic measure ; Fiom the depths of the sky and the ends of the earth, loU Come, swift Spirits of might and of pleasure, Fill the dance and the music of mirtli. As the waves of a thousand streams rush by To an ocean of splendoui' and harmony ! Ciiouis OK Spikits Our spoil is won, 135 Our task is done. We are free to dive, or soar, or run ; Beyond and around. Or within the bound Which clips the world wiUi darkness round. 140 We '11 })ass the eyes Of the starry skies Into the hoar deep to colonize : Death, Chaos, and Night, From the sound of our flight, 146 Shall flee, like mist from a tempest's might. IT- ■1 i I i 1 1 : p '■\ « ? \ And Earth, Air, and Liglit, And the Spirit of Might, Which drives round the stars in their fiery flight ; And Love, Thought, and Breath, 150 The powers that ijuell Death, Wherever we soar shall assemble beneath. 130 I'UOM Kill lie s IMiOCyj) I I >i i'i And (till- siii^ri„M sliJill h'.iild In tin- voids loose ticl«l A world for tlio Spirit of Wisdom to wield ; ir,5 W o will take our \>\au From the new world of man. And our work shall he eallt'il the Promethean. Ciiours OF HouKs Break the danee, and scatter the son<" Let some depai't, and s(Mne remain. 160 SkMK lloiil'S I AVe, beyond heaven, are driven ahjng: SkMK'IIoUI'S II Us the enchantments of earth retain : Skmhiioius I Ceaseless, and rapid, and fierce, and free, With the Si)irits which l>nild a new i-arth and sea, And a heaven where yet heaven could never be. 105 SKMK'UOIurs J I Solemn, and dow, .and serenu, and bright, Lcadinjj;' the Day, and outspeedini,' the Ni-ht, With the powers of a world of perfect ligiit. SKiMKHOHI'S I We whirl, sin<]fin<; loud, round the ,<,rathering sphere. Till the trees, and the beasts, and the clouds appear Irom its chaos niay love, not fc;ir. 171 SkMK ilOKl'S II t» x; ^»iv..iv.ic tiic ucxciu ami iiiountams of earth. I'liOMETIIEVS UMlorXI) And the happy forms of its death and birth ('liaiii;c to th(^ iimsic! of our sweet iniith. 131 ClloKl'S OF n ovKs .\M> Si'iuir.- Hri'ak the dance, and scatter th e SOU' Let some depart, and some remain W iierever we tiy we h'ad alom;- In h;ashcs, like starl Tl )eanis, soft vet stronii-, le eloud.s that are lieavy with love's sweet rai n. Pa.ntiik.v Ha I they are ;one I O.NK Yet feel von no deliulit 1 80 From the ])a.st sweetness? ' t t^ i l'A.N"Tin:A As the hare green hill, Wlien some soft elond vanishes into rain, Langhs with a thousand drops of sunny water To the unpavilioned sky ! lONK Even whilst we s])eak New notes arise. What is that awful sound? IS.' Paxthka 'T is tiie deep music of the rolling world. Kindling within the strings of the waved -Kolian modulations. air lONK How every pause is tilled with under-notet /' 132 viioMKTiiKrs rxiiorxi) l!f il i 00 ('l(':ii-, silver, icy, k,.,.,, awalicnin;; t„i,t.s, joq Wl.icli pific- the sense, and live within the soul, As the shaip stars pierce winter's crystal air, And gaze upon thcnisclves within the sea. I *A NT I IK A But see where, thn.ii.-h two openiu-s in the forest ^^ hicl: haii-in-' hrun.-hes overcanopy, j,,,- And where two runnels of a tivnlet Jietween the close nioss, violet-inwoven. Have made th.^ir path of inelody, like sisters |\ ho part with siol.s that they n.ay meet iu smiles, liirnm^r their dear disunion to an isle ()f lovely orief, a wood of sweet sad thou<^hts ; Two visi,)Ms of stian-e radiances float upon The ()cean-like enchantmerit of stron<,' sound, AVliicli Hows intenser, kc^ener, deep.. "yet. Under the ground and through the windless uir. 205 To\K I see a chariot like that thinnest boat In whieh the mother of tin; months is horne r.y ebbing night into her western cav.-, When she upsprings from interlunar dreams; Oyr which is curved an orblike canopy 210 Of gentle darkness, and the hills and woods Distinctly se..u through that dusk airy veil, K'egard like shapes in an enchanter's glass ; Its wheels are solid clouds, azure and gold,' Such as the gvnii of the thunderstorm" ' 215 I'ih' on the floor of the illumined s.ni AN lien the sun rushes uniler it : they roll And move and grow as with an inward wJtuI .- "^\ ithin it sits a winged infant, white 190 ist i(»; es. .'00 riioMKTinns r.v iioi w u i;];5 Tt s coimtciiaiicc, like ilic w l.iti flifss ol hrii-lit SHOW, JJO It- |iliiiiit's air as ft-atlicrs of sniiiiv tiost. liii ll.S -1 faiii wliitc. tlir(»ii''li tlic uiii low iiii'- fol lis ( M it> wlii'.' rolic, \\o.>t' of ctlit'ical [n-arl. Its Iiaii' is wliitc, llif !)ri"lifiic>s of wliite lio-lit >rattt're(l in strings; yt't its tu(» eyes art' iK-avciis 2. ( M' li([ui(l (larkiit'ss, wliicli tlio ilcitv W itliin siM'iiis |)oiiriiiL;', as a storm is poured I' I'oiii ja^■JJ;('■(l clouils, out of their arrouv laslu's, 'rriiii>eriii_<; the eohl and radiant air around, \\ ith lire that is not luitihtness ; in its hand J.': It sways a (jiiiverini;- nioonheain, troni wliose point j\ f^iiidinn' ])ower directs tlie chai'iot's prow Over its wheeh'd elouvls, whicdi as they roll Over the grass and flowe s, and waves, wake -lounds Sweet as a sinnjnii' rain of silver (iaw. i;>, 2{)l. 210 215 Paxtmka 1 from the otlier opienini; in the wood . shes, with loud and whirlwind harmony, A sphere, whieh is as many thousand spheres, Solid as crystal, yet through all its mass Mow. as tlirouL'' empty space, jnusic and light: 240 fen thousand orbs involving and involved, I'luph; and azure, white, green, aiul golden. Sphere within s])here . and every space between Peopled with unimaginal)l(> shapes. Such as ghosts dream dwell in the lam])less deep, 2-15 Yet each intertranspicuous, and thev whirl Over each other with a thousand motions, I'lion a thousand sightless axles spinning. And with the foire of self-destrovin^' swiftness. Tut eiiselv, slowlv, soleiunlv I'oll < >n. 250 Kindling witli mingled sounds, and many tones 1 i : I •JGO L'df) Iiit.'li;.4lMr \v,,i-,U ;,,,,! imislc wild. Will, iniuhty u|,i,l ,|„. „.nltii,„li s ,„1, (irin,l> thr l„i^l,i l„.,H,k ini,, ;,,, ;,^,,|,,. ,„i,( Of ••IruM'iit.il suhtlctx, Jili,. li.|,,. Ami til.. uil.I ,„|.>iir <,f the lo'ivst ll..u,.rs, Tlu' iimsi,- ,,f til,, liviu- Mrass and air, Tin. ,.i„.. raid li-i.t of ]rat-,.ntai.-l..d Lraiiis, I'om.d its iiitrns.. yi't .s..]f-,„nflirtiii- spued' ^"•••iii luH.a.N.d int.) .,1,,. aerial mass" \Vlii,.I, dn.wi.s il... sen>e. Within tl.o orl. itself, J illowed u|i.)n its alahastt.p arms. I-iI< W W irlirc till' ;4r(at sea t'vcii as a fluid i- frd. 285 iii)>(' vapniirs cliitlir taitli's iiioiiarrli iiiouiitaiii-tnps \\ itli kiii^lv, ciiiiiiif sii()\ Til.' 1 M'aiiis ash oil. And iiiakt; appciir tlu; iiu laiiclioly ruins ( )i' caniidU'd cyiKs : ancliors, licaks of ships ; riiiiUs turned to niarlilc ; quivers, ludnis, and si)oars, And ^or-ondicaded targes, and the wheels 291 ( )t' scvthed chariots, ;'nd the enililazonry ( )l' trophies, standards, and armorial beasts. Koiind whicli Death hiuf^hed, sepulchred endjlenis ( )t" dead destruetion, ruin within inin I 295 The wreeks heside of many a eitv va.-^t. \y Tl lose I">I )n hiti ion whiidi the earth ^rew over ;is luori il, hut not human ; sei", they lie, th skelet( leir monstrous works, and uncouth skt )ns. 'I'lieir statues, homes and fanes : |iiodi;^ious shapes ;UJt) Huddled in L;ray annihihitioti, split, dammi'd in the hard, black deep: and, over these, TI le anatomies o f unl viiown w'in";i'( It! imi And tishes which were isles of livinv no all our o-reen ind m-„,„^ ,^n-*ii and a/ure universe Threatenedst to sendinjr muffle round with black destructi on, 340 ritOMETIIKVS UNBOUND 137 i A solid cloud to rain hot thunder-stones, And s})linter and knead down my children's bones, All I l)rinij forth, to one void mass luittcriug and bleniling ; Until each crag-like tower, and storied column, Palace, and obelisk, ami temple solemn, 345 My imperial mountains crowned with cloud, and snow, and fire : My sea-like forests, every blade and blossom Which fin(' a grave or cradle in my bosom. Were stamped by thy strong hate into a lifeless mire. How art thou sunk, withdrawn, covered, drunk "1^ 350 By thirsty nothing, as die brackish cup Drained by a desert-troop, a little drop for all ; And from beneath, around, within, above, Filling thy void annihilation, love liursts in like light on caves cloven by the thunder- ball I 355 The Moox The snow upon my lifeless mountains Ts loosened into living fountains, My solid oceans flow, and sing, and shine: A spirit from my heart bursts forth, It clothes with unex])ected birth 360 My cold bare bosom : Oh. it must be thine On mine, on mine I ' 1 1;. (lazing on thee. I feel, I know. Green stalks burst forth, and bright flowers grow. And living shaj)es uj'on my bosom move: 305 138 V. I !t!i I'noMKTiirArs UN no und ^Insic is in the .sea and air, ^\ in^c.l clouds soar here and there Dark with the raiu new l.u.ls are dreamin T is love, all love .' J? of; TlIK Eaktii It interpenetrates .ny graiiite mass, g-^ Through tan<,W.3d roots anast to souie warm cleft ^i rocks, through which the n.ight of healing springs IS poured, — '^ llien wlien it wauders home with rosv sn.ilo riiOMETHEVs uMiouyn 139 Unconscious, and its niotlier foais awliilo It is a spirit, tlien, weeps on her cliilil restored : Man, oh, not men ! a chain of linked thought, Of love and inii;ht to he divided not, 395 C'Maiyelling the elements with adamantine stress; As the sun rtdes, even with a tyrant's gaze, The luupiiet rei)nl)lic of the snaze Of i)lanets, struggling lieree towards heaven's free wilderness: t ! ia jNIan, one harmonious soul of many a soid, 400 Whose nature is its own divine control. Where all things flow to all, as rivers to the sea; Familiar acts are l)e;uitiful through love ; Labour, and pain, and grief, in life's green grovo Sport like tame beasts, none knew how gentle they could be I 405 His will, with all mean passions, bad delights, Antl selfish cares, its trend)ling satellites, A spirit ill to guide, but mighty to obey. Is as a tempest-winged ship, whose helm Love rules through waves which dare not over- whelm, 410 Forcing life's wildest shores to own its sovereign sway. All things confess his strength. ThrouL-h the cold mass Of marble and of colour his dreams pass ; liright threads whence inotiiers weave the robes their children wear ; Languagt' is a perpetual orjihic song, 416 ■( I I'll lill . Pt )e- 1-^0 rUOMETIIEUS VXli(jUXl) WlnVlM.ul..switlMla..lalJmnn<,nv a throng Of tl.o,.,l.ts an.l fonus, ulu-c-l, .Ise senseless and sha, less wore. ^ The li^l.tnin^ is Ins slave: Leaven's ntrnost deep (xives up lier stars, and like a Hoek .,f sheep J hey pass before his eye, are nnnd.ered, .-, nd roll on ! 4'0 Jhe ten.pest .s his steed, he strides the air • And the abyss shouts from her de]>th lai.l hare, Heaven, hast thou secrets? Man unveils nie ; I have none. TiiK jroox The shadow of white death has juast iMom my path in heaven at last A ='li»gin^^ shroud of solid frost and sleep- nd throuoh my newly-woven bowers, ' W under hapjiy i)araniours. Less miyhty, b.it as mild as those who keep Thy vales more deep. Thi: Eakth As the dissolvino; warmth of dawn n,nv fold A half ,nf,.ozen dew-.lobe. green, nn.lgold. And erystalhne, till it becomes a win-ed mist And wanders up the vault of the blue day ' Outhves the noon, and on the sun's last ,",V Hangs oer the sea, a fleeee <.f fi,. and an.ethyst. 125 430 435 Thk :\roox Thou art folded, thou art Iving III the light which is undving " Of thine own joy, and heaveu's'sndle divine; AJl suns and (•oiisteIl''*!'.!'s •■' -- riiOMKTHE U S UNB UND 141 w On tliee a liglit, a life, a power Wliic'h (lotli array thy spear ; tliou pourest thine On mine, on mine I 'I'mi: E.viiTir I spin bencatli my i)yrami(l of iiii;lit, Which i)()ints into the heavens, (lre:i!nin!f deliL^it, 1 15 INIurnuiring victorious joy in my enchanted sleep ; As a youth lulled in love-dreams faintly sighing, Under the shadow of his beauty lying. Which round his rest a watch of light and warmth doth keep. The IMooN As in the soft and sweet eclipse, 450 When soul meets soul on lovers' lips. High hearts are calm, and brightest eves are dull : So when thy shadow frdls on me, Then am I mnte and still, by thee Covered; of thy love. Orb most beautiful, 455 Full, oh, too full ! * * Thou art speeding ronnd the sun. Brightest world of many a one ; (jreen and azure sphere which shiiiest With a light which is divinest Among all the lamj)s of heaven To whom life and liiilit is ffiven. ], thy crystal paramour. Borne beside thee bv a ])ower Like the ])olar paiadisc. Magnet-like, of lovers' eyes ; I, a most enamoured maiden W liose weak brain is overladen 4GU 4()5 !lMi i nil . I n 142 rnoMKTiii:i-.s r.v/>or.v/^ "\Vitli tlic ploasun' of hw lovo, Maniac-Iiko aroiiiid tiicr move (iaziii_<,s an iiisatiat*; \mih\ On tliy form from c'V(>rv side Like a Ma'uad, round tlie cup ^Vlu'tdi Agave liftud up In the weird Cadinean forests. Brother, wheresoe'er thou soarost I must luirry, wliirl and follow TJu-ou-h the heavens wide and hollow, Sheltered by the wai-ni emhraee Of thy soul from hungry space, Drinking from thy sense and sight Beauty, majesty, and might, As a lover or cameleon (Jrows like what it looks upon ; As a violet's gentle eye (iazes on the azure sky Until its hue grows like "what it beholds, Asa giay and watery mist Glows like solid amethyst Athwart the western mountain it enfolds, When the sunset sleeps Upon us snow. 'I'm: KAitTH And the weak day wee])s That it should be so. O gentle Moon, the voice of thy delight Falls on me like thy clear and tendeHight Soothing the seaman, borne the summer night 'I'lirough isles for ev(>r calm : O gentle Moon, thy crystal accents pierce The caverns of my j)ride's deep universe, 470. 475 480 4S5 490 495 500 V ROM ETHEL'S UN HOUND 143 Charniiin; tin' tij^er joy, wliose tiainplings fierce Miule vvotiiuls \vlii(;li need thy balm. I'antmka I rise as from a bath of sparkling water, A bath of azure light, among dark roeks, ( )iit of the stream of sound. loNE Ah me I sweet sister, 505 The stream of sound has ebbed away from us, And you pretend to rise out of its wave, Ut'canse your words fall like the clear, soft dew Shaken from a bathing wood-nymph's lindjs and hair. Pea Pa XT hi: A ace I ])eace I A mighty Powei-, which is as dark- ness, 510 Is rising out of Earth, and from the sky Is showered like night, and fioin within the air linrsts, like eclipse which had been gathered up Into the pores of sunlight: the bright visions, AVlierein the singing s])irits rode and shone, (ileam like pale meteors through a watery night. luNK There is a sense of words upon mine ear. Pa XT hi: A An universal sound like words: Oh, list! I)K>1(> I!oa„tir„l „rl, : „„t .i„j, ,„ t|,„„ ,,,,^j ,.,^1, II"- I..V. wl,i.l, paves .l,v pati, al„„j; ti.e skios: Tin: FvMtin 1 liear; I am as a dr.,,, „f ,|,>u. tlmt dies. I)K.M(»(i(ii;(i(,x r\unu M,.on, whicd, j^az.st on tl.c- ,u\rhtly Earth n irh wonder, as it -azes upon tluM- : r,,^ W lulst each to „,en, and Leasts, and the swift birth Of birds, is beauty, love, cahn, harmony: Tmi: Moox I hear: lama leaf shaken by thee ! I)i;.M(;(;()i;(;().v Ye kings ..f suns and Stars! Daemons and Gods, .l.thereal Dcmnnations ! who possess 5.30 i^lysian, windless, fortunate abodc-s Beyond Heaven's constellate \'<>i iV. \Ve 1 icar tl IV words waken Ol )livion. 530 I)kmo(;ok(;o\ Spirits, whose homes are Hesh : ye beasts and birds, Ve worms, and lish ; ye living leaves and buds ; Tilf) Lit'litnin"- and wind ; and ve untameable herds, Meteors and mists, which throng air's solitudes: A Voi< K Thy voice to us is wind among still woods. DKMOOOlKiOX Man, who wert once a despot and a slave; A dupe and a deceiver ; a decay; 650 A traveller from the cradle to the grave Through the dim night of this immortal day : All Speak I thy strong words may never pass away. Dkmogorgox This is the day, which down the void abysm At the Earth-born's spell yawns for Heaven's despot- ism, •"'•'»5 And Conquest is dragged ca])tive through the deep: Tjovc. from its p.wful thr'>ne '^f ontient ixuver In the wise heart, from the last giddy hour ( \ lie \ \ X i !'fl . II n [ \ rnOMETllKVS [ -.v IK) I W I) Of .iivM.I .■ii.Iur.ui.v, In.iM tlu^ >li|.iM.ry, stccj), An.l ..;,in,\v v...-v ,.f ,t;.--1,U,. :,-ony, spriii-s Aii.l folds over tilt; woil.l it.s lie;iliii;r\viii.rs/^ rm) (i.nllrtlcss \'i,tur, WiMl,,,,., .■,.1,1 Kri.I.M-Mnoo, 'lli'M- an. thr seals <,f that i.i..st, li,„, assura.-icG ^^ U'u'U hars til,' pit „v,.,. l),.stnicti,)irs streii^^th; And if, witii infir,,, 1,;|,„|, KtiMiity, " '555 Mnt]H'.v ,)f many acts aii,l Iioms, .sii,)iiM fre,; ^ Til,. s,.i|„.„t that uouM .-lasp her with his lon-th -TIk-so are th.- spdls l,y which in iv-assuinc An empire o'er the disentaiii-led doom. To suffer woes which Hope thinks infinite; To for-iye wron-s ,larker than death or ni'-ht: To dety Power, which seenis oni-iijjotent ; To love, and hear: to hope till IIopo creatc's From its ,>wn wreck the thin- it conte.nj.lates ; Neither to chan-e, nor falter, nor repent; This, hke thy -lory, Titan, is to be (iood, great and joyous, heautifnl and free; Tins is alone Life, Joy, Empire, and Victory! r>70 fi 70 Tin-: M(><>.\ 147 THK WORLDS WANDKIIKKS Tki.I, iih', tlum st.ir, wliosr wiiii^'s (if li^lit Spfcd I liri' in t li\- licT\' tli'^lit, I M U ll.ll I'.l vein (it t lie lli^lit Will t liv jiiiiitiiis clnx' now'.' I (11 iiic, iiioDii, limn pale and ^ray IMli^frim of Iicavfii's lioiiich'ss way, III what (Icptli of iii^lit or dav St'L'kest t Ik 111 repose now? Weary wind, who wanderest Like the worhl's r<>jeeted j^iiest, Hast tlion slill some secret nest On tlie tree or billow? ISUO. THK WANING MOON Axi> like a dyin<; ki'b'' ^'''^" '^'"^ pale, Mho totters forth, wrajit in a gauzy veil, Out of her ehainber, led I)}' the insane And feehle wamlerinj^s of her fadiii;^ hrain, The moon arose u]) in the murky East, A white and shapeless mass. 10 TO THE MOON Art thou pale for weariness Of cliiMhint^ heaven, and gazing on the earth. Wandering eompanionless Among the stars that have a different birth, — 1 : i:i- . .. -• ...1 , That iiuds no object worth its constancy? 1 I 11 f 148 .sr>.vc; (iOOl) NKIHr (; lioiii- is ill Wliicli sfvns tlinsc it >liniili unite: Iji't, US I'cniain tontilirr still. Tli'n it will \>v ijiintl niL;iit. lli>\v can I fall the loiu> nii;lit t;i>()(l, 6 ThoiiLili lliy swcft wislifs winj; its {li«,'lit? lie it not saiil, tiionulu, understood, Then it will l»e ijnod ni^^lit. To hearts which near each other move From eveniiifjj elo.se to moininj; light The nii;ht is ^ood : hecausi-. my love, Thcv never .sf/// <^ood night. 1820. 10 b. xr, IvAUKLV, rarely, eoniest thon, Spirit of Delight: "Wheiefore hast thou left me now Many a day and night? Many a weary night and day 'T is sinee thou art Hed away. How shall ever one like mo AVin thee baek again '! With the joyous and the free Thou wilt scoff at ]>ain. Rnirit fiilse ! tlioii liast forirot All but those who need thee not. 10 \ SOS a As a li/.:inl with thr sliado Of a tifiiiWlmi; luiavi-(l KvcM the si-lis (.f Mr'uf n'.> 15 Ucproai • 1, (lire, that tlioii ait not near. Ami rtj)i<»a( h thuii will not lie;ir. Lot in«' --('t my mourn fill aitty '!'(• a Jiii'MV nn'a>uro t iicwr fonif ti>r pity, TlL.ti wilt rouie fni' l.lrasuic hou w 11 ritv then will cut away Those cruel wings, and thou wi lit stay. 20 10 I love all that tliou lovest, Spirit of lKlii;lit. The fresh Harth in new And the starry ni-ht loaves drcst, Autumn evfiun< AVhen the golden mi.^ls are born and the morn I. 30 I love snow, am Of the radiant frost 1 all the fuiins 1 winds, and storms, I love waves, am Everything almost AVhieh is Nature's, and may Untainted hy man's misery. 1)0 36 10 I love tvanqnil solitude, And sueh society As is (piiet. wise, a Between thee and m lU 1 unod 40 What difference '.' The thinus I sor'ic But thou dost possess .ni less. •■^a '^i.'j^. 150 ! snxc; or-- rnosEurixE I lovo L()V(i — tlioiiL:]! lie lixs \viii"-s, And like lii^ht can Hcc, r>ut, al)()ve all other tliiiurs, spirit, I love tlieo — Thou art love and life! () come, Make once more my heart thy home! TO I VK\n thy kisses. <,a'ntlo maiden, — Thou needest not tear mine ; My spirit is too deeply laden Ever to l)urthen thine. I fear thy mien, thy tones, thy motion. Thou needest not fear mine; Innocent is the lieart's devotion With which I woiship thine. 45 SONG OF PROSERPINE Win^.ST GATHEKIN( FLOWKUS OX TllK I'LAIX OF EN'XA SaCKKD Goddess. Mother Earth, Thou from whoye inunortal bosom Gods, and men, and beasts have birth, Leaf and blade, and bud and bk)ssom, Breathe thine influence most divine On thine own cjiild, I'roser])ine. If with, mists of evenin^^ dew xi.„vi ..;t.;.-ji, »i./,ii i.iii tiit.-n; \otlil^ iioWCI'S l\ AUTUMN Till tlioy J^i'ow, in scent nnd hue Fiiirest children of the Hours, Hrcathc thine intiueace most divine On thine own child, Pioserpiue. 1820. AUTU^IN 151 10 III i'^ A iJlliCiE TlIK warm sun is failing, the hleak wind is wailin^^. The bare boughs are sighiuL;', the i)ale ilowers are dying ; And the year On the earth, her death-bed, in a shroud of leaves dead, Is Iving. 5 Come, months, come away, From \ovend)er to ^la}', In your saddest array ; Follow the bier Of the dead cold year, 10 And like dim shadows watch by her sepulchre. The chill rain is falling, the nipped worm is crawling, The rivers are swelling, the thunder is knelling For the year : The blithe swallows are tlown, and the lizards each gone 15 To his dwelling. Come, months, come away; Put on white, black, and gray ; J-iet your liglit sisters play — Ye, follow the bier 20 Of the dead cold year. And make her grave green with tear on (ear. \s-20. tl . 152 THE (QUESTION TliK QUESTION I DUKAMKI) tli.'it, as I war lered by tlie way. Haro wiiiti'i- siuldt'iily \ is clianged to spring', And geiitlo odours led my steps astray, Mixed with a sound of waters luurniuring Along a shelving l)ank of turf, which lay 5 I'nder a copse, and hardly dared to fling Its green arms '-ound tlu' l)osom of tht; stream, JJut kissed it and then fled, as thou mightest in dream. There grew pied wind-flowers and violets ; Daisies, those ])earled Arctnri of the earth; 10 The constellated flower that never sets ; Faint oxlips; tender hluehells, at whose birth The sod scarce heaved : and that tall flower that wets — Like a eluld, half in tenderness and mirth — Its mother's face with heaven-collected tears. 15 AVhen tlu! low wind, its playuiate's voii-e. it hears. And in the warm hedge grew lush eglantine, (ireen cowl)ind and the moonlight-coloured may. And cherry-olossoms, and white cups, whose wine Was the bright dew yet drained not by the Day ; JO And wild roses, and ivy serpentine, With its dark buds aiul leaves, wandering astray ; And flowers azure, black, and streaked with gold, Fair(!r than any wakened eyes behold. And nearer to the river's trembling edge 25 There grew broad flag-flowers, purple prankt with white : And starry river-buds among the sedge: And tioatimx water lilies, hroad and bright, ;\ UYM.! OF AI'OLLO 153 10 15 Wliich lit the oak that ovorliuiiij the h('(1<:;e \\'ith nioonlii^ht heaius of their own watery light ; 30 And Imli-uslies, ami reeds of sneh deep green As s(U)thed the dazzled eye with soIht sheen. Mctlionght that of these visionary flowers 1 madt! a nosegay, bound in sueh a way riiat the same hues, whleh in their natuial bowers 35 Were mingled or ojjposed, the like array Kept these imprisoned ehildi'en of the Hours Within my hand, — and then, elate and gay, I hastened to the spot whence I had come, That 1 might there present it! — O, to whom? 1S20. 40 HYMN OF APOLLO TllK sle(>pless Hours who watch me. as I lie Curtained with star-inwoven tapi-stries From the broad mooidight of the sky, Fanning the busy dreams from my dim eyes, — Waken me when their Mother, the gray Dawn, 5 Fells them that dreams and that the moon is gone. Then I arise, and climbing Heaven's Idue dome, I walk over the mountains and tlic waves, Leaving my robe upon the ocean-foam : My footsteps pave the clouds with tire: the caves 10 Are filled with my bri^■ht ])resence : and the air Leaves the green eartli to my embraces bare. Tlic sunbrains arc mv shafts, with wliich T kill Deceit, that loves the night and fears the day ; All men who do or even imagine ill 15 Fly me. and fiom tlie L;iory of my ray 1 m 154 iiyM.\ OF r.i.y (iO(,«i minds ;iii(l o|»rii actions take new nii"lit, Until tliniini.-. jd l)y the lei-n of ni;;ht. I teed the clouds, the rainlxjus, and the flowers, \\ ith their a'tliereal e(»loii!'s : the Moon's <'lobe 20 And the pure stars in their eternal bowers Are cinctured with my i)ower as with a robe; ^\ hatever lami)s on Karth or Heaven niav shino Are portions of one power, which is mine. I stand at noon upon the peak of Heaven : 25 Then with nnwillimj;- steps I wander down Inti» the clouds of the Atlantic even : For grief that I depart they weep and frown : A\ hat look is more deli-htful than the smile "\\ ith which I soothe them from the western isle? 3U I am the eye witli which the universe Jieholds itself and knows itself divine; All harmony of instrument or verse, All proj)hecy. all medicine, ai'e mine. All light of art or nature : — to my song Victory and praise in their own ri«rht belon': 18211. 35 H Y.M.N OF J'AN FuOM (he foH'sts and highlands A\'e come, we come ; From the river-girt islands, ^\ here loud waves are dumb Listening to my sweet pipings. The wind in the rt'cds an.l tlie rushes, 'I'l... 1 ^ .... .1. 1 !1 ,• . T - — ^^„ .... ^..^ .jv.!.., >/i iiijiiiu, JIVM.X OF /'.LV The birds on the invitk'-bnshcs. Tl w ('icaltj abovt; m thu Jiiiit', And thi! lizards l.t h i)\v in tliL' "^rass. w CIV as silent as uvor old Tniol us was, List fninjj;- to my swet't jiij)ing\s. O,) 10 3U 'S Liquid Pcniiis was flowing, And all dark Tcnipc lay In Pulion's shadow. outin!;s. The Sileni, and Sylvans, and Fauns, And the Nymphs of the woods and wiives, To the edge of the moist river-lawns, 20 And the briidv of the dewy eaves, And all that did then attend and follow, W ere silent with love, as you now, Aj)ollo, \\ ith envy of my sweet jiipings. . i 35 I sang of the dancing stars, 25 I sang of the (hedal Earth, And of I leaven — and the giant wars, And Love, and Death, and Jiirth ; — And then 1 changed my ])i))ings, — Singing how down the vale of Ma-nahis 30 I pursued a maiden and clasped a reed : Gods and men, we are all deluded thus! It breaks in our bosom, and the.i we l^leed : All wept, as I thiidi both ye now would. If envy or age liad not frozen your blood, 35 At the .sorrow of my sweet pipings, is'jo. ''I 156 Ai:i:Ti{rsA 11 • t| I i ARKTHrSA Aui.i iirsA :i!()so From licr coiicli ot' snows In tin- Acroi ••raiiiii.ui iiioniitaius, — From (-lord and from rra^, "With many a jas.^, 5 Sln'lilierdiiiu' lu'i- liri<,dit fonntaiiis. SIic It-apt down tlif rocks, Witli lier rainljow locks Streaming among tlie streams : Her stt'i)s j)ave(l with green 10 The (lownwai-(l ravine "Which slopes to the western gleams: And gliding and springing, She Went, ever singing In murmurs as soft as sleep. I.'j The l^arth seemed to love her. And Heaven smiled al)ove her, As she lingered towards the deep. Then Ali)hens bold, On his glacier cold, 20 With his tri(l(Mit the mountains strook ; And opened a cha-ini In the I'ocks : — with the spasm All Ervmanihus shook. And the blade south wind 25 It concealed behind The ui'us of the silent snow. And eartlupiake and thunder Did render in sunder Ti. - 1 f ^1... ,,,>,.;,.,.•.■ iw.i.^^v- an I'he beard and the hair Of f'u> > ' •■(-I'-ii-dil wi-re ARETIIUSA ir>i Seen st's iiiylit: ( )iit^|iccilinL; the >liark. -\ii(| tlic sword-lish daiU, I iKlcr t lie (>(•( ail foam. And >i|i tlimiiL;ii tlif I'ifts 70 ( )t' tin- iiiipiiiilaiii-clilts llicy passed (o tluir l)()ii;iii lioiiie. And How fidiii tli('ir fountains In Knna's nKuintains, Down one vale wlicie tlio morning basks, 7") Ld\e friends oncf paitcil (irown siiiL;l('-lieaite(l, They ])Iy tlieir watery ta.sks. At sunri>e tlicy leap From tlieir cradles steep 80 In the eave of the shelving l,ill ; At noontide they How Through the woods below, And the meadows of asphodel; xVnd at uiglit tluy^ sleep 85 In the rocking deep Beneath the Ortygian shore; — Like spirits that lie In the azure si When they love but live no more. 90 1820. I HRIXd frt'sh showers for the thirsting flo Fi'om th(! seas and the stitMUis: 1 bea.r liL''!!t sliadi^ for tlic h'.'ivi"^ '-■.!!!■?>. Ir-'-l In their i.ooii !, v dreams. wers, '^ Tin: rj.ori) ir.i) Fi'Dtn mv wine:-; •'"■'' '^ii:ili''M tlic dews tliiit wiikon 5 'I'lii' sweet ImkU e\er\ one, W'lieii i()(liv:itln-. fn.iii tlic lit soa lit'iicatli. Its aidoiirs of rest anil of love, 49 And tlic ciim^oii |)all of eve niav fall l''i<>m tiu! (Irptli of licavcn aliovo, \\ itli \vin'4s folded I rest, on mine airv nest. As still as ri hroodin" dove. That oi'lied inaidi'ii, with wlutc flro laden, 40 Whom mortals call the moon. Glides i;limmeiin<,' o'er my fiecee-like floor, By the midnii;ht I)i'eezes strewn ; And \\h. I'er the heat of her unseen feet, W Inch only the ani^cls hear, 50 May have hioken the woof of my tent's thin roof, The stars jjeep hidiind her and jieer ; And I lauj^h to see tluMu whirl and flee, Like a swarm of Ljolden hees, When I widen the rent in my wind-built tent, Sfi Till the ealm rivers, lakes, and seas. Like strips of the sky fallen through me on liio-h, Are each paved with the moon and these. I bind the sun's throne with a bnrninir zone. Antl the moon's with a i^iidle of pearl ; fiO The voleanoes are dim. and tlie stars reel and swim, AVhen the whirlwinds my banner unfurl. From cape to cape, with a bridye-like shape, Over a toricnt sea. Sunbeam-proof, I hani;- likt,' a roof, 65 The mountains its eolumns be. J be tl'liimnlinl rireli tliroimli »»'lii With hurricane, fire, and snow. TO A shVLAUK IGl •;ii AVlicii tl\t' ])()\v<'i's of flic air arc chained to my cliair, Is tlic inillioii-coloiircd 1 )C)\V 70 'I'lic sphere llic ahovc its suit coldnrs wove A\ liile the iiKtist caith was laii"hiiiLr l»cl ow. 1 4r. 50 I .1111 till'