POEMS WRITTEN IN 1820:
THE SENSITIVE PLANT.
THE SENSITIVE PLANT.
Shelley
sound 1870; omitted here 1824;
printed as 'A Song,' 1824, page 217.
_34, _35 dawn Bathe Mrs. Shelley (later editions); dawn, Bathed 1824, 1839.
_63 shunned Boscombe manuscript; spurned 1824, 1839.
_70 Of. . . interspersed Boscombe manuscript;
Of grassy paths and wood, lawn-interspersed 1824;
wood-lawn-interspersed 1839.
_84 form]frown 1824.
_93 light. . . beam]light upon the chariot beam; 1824.
_96 it omitted 1824.
_109 thunder Boscombe manuscript; thunders 1824; thunder's 1839.
_112 greet Boscombe manuscript; meet 1824, 1839.
_129 conqueror or conqueror's cj. A. C. Bradley.
_131-_134 See Editor's Note.
_158 while Boscombe manuscript; omitted 1824, 1839.
_167 And. . . dance 1839 To seek, to [ ], to strain 1824.
_168 Seeking 1839; Limping 1824.
_188 canst, Mrs. Shelley 1824, 1839, 1847.
_189 forborne! ' 1824, 1839, 1847.
_190 Feature, (of my thought aware); Mrs. Shelley 1847.
_188-_190 The punctuation is A. C. Bradley's.
_202 nutriment Boscombe manuscript; sentiment 1824, 1839.
_205 Stain]Stained 1824, 1839.
_235 Said my 1824, 1839; Said then my cj. Forman.
_238 names which the 1839: name the 1824.
_252 how]now cj. Forman.
_260 him 1839; omitted 1824.
_265 singled for cj. Forman.
_280 See Editor's Note.
_281, _282 Even. . . then Boscombe manuscript; omitted 1824, 1839.
_296 camest Boscombe manuscript; comest 1824, 1839.
_311 season Boscombe manuscript; year's dawn 1824, 1839.
_322 the Boscombe manuscript; her 1824, 1839.
_334 woke cj. A. C. Bradley; wake 1824, 1839. Cf. _296, footnote.
_361 Of. . . and Boscombe manuscript; Out of the deep cavern with 1824, 1839.
_363 Glided Boscombe manuscript; She glided 1824, 1839.
_377 in Boscombe manuscript; to 1824.
_422 The favourite song, Stanco di pascolar le pecorelle,
is a Brescian national air. --[MRS. SHELLEY'S NOTE. ]
_464 early]aery cj. Forman.
_475 awe Boscombe manuscript; care 1824.
_486 isle Boscombe manuscript; vale 1824.
_497 sate like vultures Boscombe manuscript; rode like demons 1824.
_515 those]eyes cj. Rossetti.
_534 Wrought Boscombe manuscript; Wrapt 1824.
THE COMPLETE
POETICAL WORKS
OF
PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY
VOLUME 2
OXFORD EDITION.
INCLUDING MATERIALS NEVER BEFORE
PRINTED IN ANY EDITION OF THE POEMS.
EDITED WITH TEXTUAL NOTES
BY
THOMAS HUTCHINSON, M. A.
EDITOR OF THE OXFORD WORDSWORTH.
1914.
CONTENTS.
EARLY POEMS [1814, 1815]:
STANZA, WRITTEN AT BRACKNELL.
STANZAS. --APRIL, 1814.
TO HARRIET.
TO MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT GODWIN.
TO --. 'YET LOOK ON ME'.
MUTABILITY.
ON DEATH.
A SUMMER EVENING CHURCHYARD.
TO --. 'OH! THERE ARE SPIRITS OF THE AIR'.
TO WORDSWORTH.
FEELINGS OF A REPUBLICAN ON THE FALL OF BONAPARTE
LINES: 'THE COLD EARTH SLEPT BELOW'
NOTE ON THE EARLY POEMS, BY MRS. SHELLEY.
POEMS WRITTEN IN 1816:
THE SUNSET.
HYMN TO INTELLECTUAL BEAUTY.
MONT BLANC.
CANCELLED PASSAGE OF MONT BLANC.
FRAGMENT: HOME.
FRAGMENT OF A GHOST STORY.
NOTE ON POEMS OF 1816, BY MRS. SHELLEY.
POEMS WRITTEN IN 1817:
MARIANNE'S DREAM.
TO CONSTANTIA, SINGING.
THE SAME: STANZAS 1 AND 2.
TO CONSTANTIA.
FRAGMENT: TO ONE SINGING.
A FRAGMENT: TO MUSIC.
ANOTHER FRAGMENT TO MUSIC.
'MIGHTY EAGLE'.
TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR.
TO WILLIAM SHELLEY.
FROM THE ORIGINAL DRAFT OF THE POEM TO WILLIAM SHELLEY.
ON FANNY GODWIN.
LINES: 'THAT TIME IS DEAD FOR EVER'.
DEATH.
OTHO.
FRAGMENTS SUPPOSED TO BE PARTS OF OTHO.
'O THAT A CHARIOT OF CLOUD WERE MINE'.
FRAGMENTS:
TO A FRIEND RELEASED FROM PRISON.
SATAN BROKEN LOOSE.
IGNICULUS DESIDERII.
AMOR AETERNUS.
THOUGHTS COME AND GO IN SOLITUDE.
A HATE-SONG.
LINES TO A CRITIC.
OZYMANDIAS.
NOTE ON POEMS OF 1817, BY MRS. SHELLEY.
POEMS WRITTEN IN 1818.
TO THE NILE.
PASSAGE OF THE APENNINES.
THE PAST.
TO MARY --.
ON A FADED VIOLET.
LINES WRITTEN AMONG THE EUGANEAN HILLS.
SCENE FROM "TASSO".
SONG FOR "TASSO".
INVOCATION TO MISERY.
STANZAS WRITTEN IN DEJECTION, NEAR NAPLES.
THE WOODMAN AND THE NIGHTINGALE.
MARENGHI.
SONNET: 'LIFT NOT THE PAINTED VEIL'.
FRAGMENTS:
TO BYRON.
APOSTROPHE TO SILENCE.
THE LAKE'S MARGIN.
'MY HEAD IS WILD WITH WEEPING'.
THE VINE-SHROUD.
NOTE ON POEMS OF 1818, BY MRS. SHELLEY.
POEMS WRITTEN IN 1819:
LINES WRITTEN DURING THE CASTLEREAGH ADMINISTRATION.
SONG TO THE MEN OF ENGLAND.
SIMILES FOR TWO POLITICAL CHARACTERS OF 1819.
FRAGMENT: TO THE PEOPLE OF ENGLAND.
FRAGMENT: 'WHAT MEN GAIN FAIRLY'.
A NEW NATIONAL ANTHEM.
SONNET: ENGLAND IN 1819.
AN ODE WRITTEN OCTOBER, 1819.
CANCELLED STANZA.
ODE TO HEAVEN.
ODE TO THE WEST WIND.
AN EXHORTATION.
THE INDIAN SERENADE.
CANCELLED PASSAGE.
TO SOPHIA [MISS STACEY].
TO WILLIAM SHELLEY, 1.
TO WILLIAM SHELLEY, 2.
TO MARY SHELLEY, 1.
TO MARY SHELLEY, 2.
ON THE MEDUSA OF LEONARDO DA VINCI.
LOVE'S PHILOSOPHY.
FRAGMENT: 'FOLLOW TO THE DEEP WOOD'S WEEDS'.
THE BIRTH OF PLEASURE.
FRAGMENTS:
LOVE THE UNIVERSE TO-DAY.
'A GENTLE STORY OF TWO LOVERS YOUNG'.
LOVE'S TENDER ATMOSPHERE.
WEDDED SOULS.
'IS IT THAT IN SOME BRIGHTER SPHERE'.
SUFFICIENT UNTO THE DAY.
'YE GENTLE VISITATIONS OF CALM THOUGHT'.
MUSIC AND SWEET POETRY.
THE SEPULCHRE OF MEMORY.
'WHEN A LOVER CLASPS HIS FAIREST'.
'WAKE THE SERPENT NOT'.
RAIN.
A TALE UNTOLD.
TO ITALY.
WINE OF THE FAIRIES.
A ROMAN'S CHAMBER.
ROME AND NATURE.
VARIATION OF THE SONG OF THE MOON.
CANCELLED STANZA OF THE MASK OF ANARCHY.
NOTE BY MRS. SHELLEY.
POEMS WRITTEN IN 1820:
THE SENSITIVE PLANT.
CANCELLED PASSAGE.
A VISION OF THE SEA.
THE CLOUD.
TO A SKYLARK.
ODE TO LIBERTY.
CANCELLED PASSAGE.
TO --. 'I FEAR THY KISSES, GENTLE MAIDEN'.
ARETHUSA.
SONG OF PROSERPINE.
HYMN OF APOLLO.
HYMN OF PAN.
THE QUESTION.
THE TWO SPIRITS. AN ALLEGORY.
ODE TO NAPLES.
AUTUMN: A DIRGE.
THE WANING MOON.
TO THE MOON.
DEATH.
LIBERTY.
SUMMER AND WINTER.
THE TOWER OF FAMINE.
AN ALLEGORY.
THE WORLD'S WANDERERS.
SONNET: 'YE HASTEN TO THE GRAVE! '.
LINES TO A REVIEWER.
FRAGMENT OF A SATIRE ON SATIRE.
GOOD-NIGHT.
BUONA NOTTE.
ORPHEUS.
FIORDISPINA.
TIME LONG PAST.
FRAGMENTS:
THE DESERTS OF DIM SLEEP.
'THE VIEWLESS AND INVISIBLE CONSEQUENCE'.
A SERPENT-FACE.
DEATH IN LIFE.
'SUCH HOPE, AS IS THE SICK DESPAIR OF GOOD'.
'ALAS THIS IS NOT WHAT I THOUGHT LIFE WAS'.
MILTON'S SPIRIT.
'UNRISEN SPLENDOUR OF THE BRIGHTEST SUN'.
PATER OMNIPOTENS.
TO THE MIND OF MAN.
NOTE ON POEMS OF 1820, BY MRS SHELLEY.
POEMS WRITTEN IN 1821:
DIRGE FOR THE YEAR.
TO NIGHT.
TIME.
LINES: 'FAR, FAR AWAY'.
FROM THE ARABIC: AN IMITATION.
TO EMILIA VIVIANI.
THE FUGITIVES.
TO --. 'MUSIC, WHEN SOFT VOICES DIE'.
SONG: 'RARELY, RARELY, COMEST THOU'.
MUTABILITY.
LINES WRITTEN ON HEARING THE NEWS OF THE DEATH OF NAPOLEON.
SONNET: POLITICAL GREATNESS.
THE AZIOLA.
A LAMENT.
REMEMBRANCE.
TO EDWARD WILLIAMS.
TO --. 'ONE WORD IS TOO OFTEN PROFANED'.
TO --. 'WHEN PASSION'S TRANCE IS OVERPAST'.
A BRIDAL SONG.
EPITHALAMIUM.
ANOTHER VERSION OF THE SAME.
LOVE, HOPE, DESIRE, AND FEAR.
FRAGMENTS WRITTEN FOR "HELLAS".
FRAGMENT: 'I WOULD NOT BE A KING'.
GINEVRA.
EVENING: PONTE AL MARE, PISA.
THE BOAT ON THE SERCHIO.
MUSIC.
SONNET TO BYRON.
FRAGMENT ON KEATS.
FRAGMENT: 'METHOUGHT I WAS A BILLOW IN THE CROWD'.
TO-MORROW.
STANZA: 'IF I WALK IN AUTUMN'S EVEN'.
FRAGMENTS:
A WANDERER.
LIFE ROUNDED WITH SLEEP.
'I FAINT, I PERISH WITH MY LOVE'.
THE LADY OF THE SOUTH.
ZEPHYRUS THE AWAKENER.
RAIN.
'WHEN SOFT WINDS AND SUNNY SKIES'.
'AND THAT I WALK THUS PROUDLY CROWNED'.
'THE RUDE WIND IS SINGING'.
'GREAT SPIRIT'.
'O THOU IMMORTAL DEITY'.
THE FALSE LAUREL AND THE TRUE.
MAY THE LIMNER.
BEAUTY'S HALO.
'THE DEATH KNELL IS RINGING'.
'I STOOD UPON A HEAVEN-CLEAVING TURRET'.
NOTE ON POEMS OF 1821, BY MRS. SHELLEY.
POEMS WRITTEN IN 1822:
THE ZUCCA.
THE MAGNETIC LADY TO HER PATIENT.
LINES: 'WHEN THE LAMP IS SHATTERED'.
TO JANE: THE INVITATION.
TO JANE: THE RECOLLECTION.
THE PINE FOREST OF THE CASCINE NEAR PISA.
WITH A GUITAR, TO JANE.
TO JANE: 'THE KEEN STARS WERE TWINKLING'.
A DIRGE.
LINES WRITTEN IN THE BAY OF LERICI.
LINES: 'WE MEET NOT AS WE PARTED'.
THE ISLE.
FRAGMENT: TO THE MOON.
EPITAPH.
NOTE ON POEMS OF 1822, BY MRS. SHELLEY.
***
EARLY POEMS [1814, 1815].
[The poems which follow appeared, with a few exceptions, either in the
volumes published from time to time by Shelley himself, or in the
"Posthumous Poems" of 1824, or in the "Poetical Works" of 1839, of
which a second and enlarged edition was published by Mrs. Shelley in
the same year. A few made their first appearance in some fugitive
publication--such as Leigh Hunt's "Literary Pocket-Book"--and were
subsequently incorporated in the collective editions. In every case the
editio princeps and (where this is possible) the exact date of
composition are indicated below the title. ]
***
STANZA, WRITTEN AT BRACKNELL.
[Composed March, 1814. Published in Hogg's "Life of Shelley", 1858. ]
Thy dewy looks sink in my breast;
Thy gentle words stir poison there;
Thou hast disturbed the only rest
That was the portion of despair!
Subdued to Duty's hard control, _5
I could have borne my wayward lot:
The chains that bind this ruined soul
Had cankered then--but crushed it not.
***
STANZAS. --APRIL, 1814.
[Composed at Bracknell, April, 1814. Published with "Alastor", 1816. ]
Away! the moor is dark beneath the moon,
Rapid clouds have drank the last pale beam of even:
Away! the gathering winds will call the darkness soon,
And profoundest midnight shroud the serene lights of heaven.
Pause not! The time is past! Every voice cries, Away! _5
Tempt not with one last tear thy friend's ungentle mood:
Thy lover's eye, so glazed and cold, dares not entreat thy stay:
Duty and dereliction guide thee back to solitude.
Away, away! to thy sad and silent home;
Pour bitter tears on its desolated hearth; _10
Watch the dim shades as like ghosts they go and come,
And complicate strange webs of melancholy mirth.
The leaves of wasted autumn woods shall float around thine head:
The blooms of dewy spring shall gleam beneath thy feet:
But thy soul or this world must fade in the frost that binds the dead, _15
Ere midnight's frown and morning's smile, ere thou and peace may meet.
The cloud shadows of midnight possess their own repose,
For the weary winds are silent, or the moon is in the deep:
Some respite to its turbulence unresting ocean knows;
Whatever moves, or toils, or grieves, hath its appointed sleep. _20
Thou in the grave shalt rest--yet till the phantoms flee
Which that house and heath and garden made dear to thee erewhile,
Thy remembrance, and repentance, and deep musings are not free
From the music of two voices and the light of one sweet smile.
NOTE:
_6 tear 1816; glance 1839.
***
TO HARRIET.
[Composed May, 1814. Published (from the Esdaile manuscript) by Dowden,
"Life of Shelley", 1887. ]
Thy look of love has power to calm
The stormiest passion of my soul;
Thy gentle words are drops of balm
In life's too bitter bowl;
No grief is mine, but that alone _5
These choicest blessings I have known.
Harriet! if all who long to live
In the warm sunshine of thine eye,
That price beyond all pain must give,--
Beneath thy scorn to die; _10
Then hear thy chosen own too late
His heart most worthy of thy hate.
Be thou, then, one among mankind
Whose heart is harder not for state,
Thou only virtuous, gentle, kind, _15
Amid a world of hate;
And by a slight endurance seal
A fellow-being's lasting weal.
For pale with anguish is his cheek,
His breath comes fast, his eyes are dim, _20
Thy name is struggling ere he speak,
Weak is each trembling limb;
In mercy let him not endure
The misery of a fatal cure.
Oh, trust for once no erring guide! _25
Bid the remorseless feeling flee;
'Tis malice, 'tis revenge, 'tis pride,
'Tis anything but thee;
Oh, deign a nobler pride to prove,
And pity if thou canst not love. _30
***
TO MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT GODWIN.
[Composed June, 1814. Published in "Posthumous Poems", 1824. ]
1.
Mine eyes were dim with tears unshed;
Yes, I was firm--thus wert not thou;--
My baffled looks did fear yet dread
To meet thy looks--I could not know
How anxiously they sought to shine _5
With soothing pity upon mine.
2.
To sit and curb the soul's mute rage
Which preys upon itself alone;
To curse the life which is the cage
Of fettered grief that dares not groan, _10
Hiding from many a careless eye
The scorned load of agony.
3.
Whilst thou alone, then not regarded,
The . . . thou alone should be,
To spend years thus, and be rewarded, _15
As thou, sweet love, requited me
When none were near--Oh! I did wake
From torture for that moment's sake.
4.
Upon my heart thy accents sweet
Of peace and pity fell like dew _20
On flowers half dead;--thy lips did meet
Mine tremblingly; thy dark eyes threw
Their soft persuasion on my brain,
Charming away its dream of pain.
5.
We are not happy, sweet! our state _25
Is strange and full of doubt and fear;
More need of words that ills abate;--
Reserve or censure come not near
Our sacred friendship, lest there be
No solace left for thee and me. _30
6.
Gentle and good and mild thou art,
Nor can I live if thou appear
Aught but thyself, or turn thine heart
Away from me, or stoop to wear
The mask of scorn, although it be _35
To hide the love thou feel'st for me.
NOTES:
_2 wert 1839; did 1824.
_3 fear 1824, 1839; yearn cj. Rossetti.
_23 Their 1839; thy 1824.
_30 thee]thou 1824, 1839.
_32 can I 1839; I can 1824.
_36 feel'st 1839; feel 1824.
***
TO --.
[Published in "Poetical Works", 1839, 2nd edition. See Editor's Note. ]
Yet look on me--take not thine eyes away,
Which feed upon the love within mine own,
Which is indeed but the reflected ray
Of thine own beauty from my spirit thrown.
Yet speak to me--thy voice is as the tone _5
Of my heart's echo, and I think I hear
That thou yet lovest me; yet thou alone
Like one before a mirror, without care
Of aught but thine own features, imaged there;
And yet I wear out life in watching thee; _10
A toil so sweet at times, and thou indeed
Art kind when I am sick, and pity me. . .
***
MUTABILITY.
[Published with "Alastor", 1816. ]
We are as clouds that veil the midnight moon;
How restlessly they speed, and gleam, and quiver,
Streaking the darkness radiantly! --yet soon
Night closes round, and they are lost for ever:
Or like forgotten lyres, whose dissonant strings _5
Give various response to each varying blast,
To whose frail frame no second motion brings
One mood or modulation like the last.
We rest. --A dream has power to poison sleep;
We rise. --One wandering thought pollutes the day; _10
We feel, conceive or reason, laugh or weep;
Embrace fond woe, or cast our cares away:
It is the same! --For, be it joy or sorrow,
The path of its departure still is free:
Man's yesterday may ne'er be like his morrow; _15
Nought may endure but Mutability.
NOTES:
_15 may 1816; can Lodore, chapter 49, 1835 (Mrs. Shelley).
_16 Nought may endure but 1816;
Nor aught endure save Lodore, chapter 49, 1835 (Mrs. Shelley).
***
ON DEATH.
[For the date of composition see Editor's Note.
printed as 'A Song,' 1824, page 217.
_34, _35 dawn Bathe Mrs. Shelley (later editions); dawn, Bathed 1824, 1839.
_63 shunned Boscombe manuscript; spurned 1824, 1839.
_70 Of. . . interspersed Boscombe manuscript;
Of grassy paths and wood, lawn-interspersed 1824;
wood-lawn-interspersed 1839.
_84 form]frown 1824.
_93 light. . . beam]light upon the chariot beam; 1824.
_96 it omitted 1824.
_109 thunder Boscombe manuscript; thunders 1824; thunder's 1839.
_112 greet Boscombe manuscript; meet 1824, 1839.
_129 conqueror or conqueror's cj. A. C. Bradley.
_131-_134 See Editor's Note.
_158 while Boscombe manuscript; omitted 1824, 1839.
_167 And. . . dance 1839 To seek, to [ ], to strain 1824.
_168 Seeking 1839; Limping 1824.
_188 canst, Mrs. Shelley 1824, 1839, 1847.
_189 forborne! ' 1824, 1839, 1847.
_190 Feature, (of my thought aware); Mrs. Shelley 1847.
_188-_190 The punctuation is A. C. Bradley's.
_202 nutriment Boscombe manuscript; sentiment 1824, 1839.
_205 Stain]Stained 1824, 1839.
_235 Said my 1824, 1839; Said then my cj. Forman.
_238 names which the 1839: name the 1824.
_252 how]now cj. Forman.
_260 him 1839; omitted 1824.
_265 singled for cj. Forman.
_280 See Editor's Note.
_281, _282 Even. . . then Boscombe manuscript; omitted 1824, 1839.
_296 camest Boscombe manuscript; comest 1824, 1839.
_311 season Boscombe manuscript; year's dawn 1824, 1839.
_322 the Boscombe manuscript; her 1824, 1839.
_334 woke cj. A. C. Bradley; wake 1824, 1839. Cf. _296, footnote.
_361 Of. . . and Boscombe manuscript; Out of the deep cavern with 1824, 1839.
_363 Glided Boscombe manuscript; She glided 1824, 1839.
_377 in Boscombe manuscript; to 1824.
_422 The favourite song, Stanco di pascolar le pecorelle,
is a Brescian national air. --[MRS. SHELLEY'S NOTE. ]
_464 early]aery cj. Forman.
_475 awe Boscombe manuscript; care 1824.
_486 isle Boscombe manuscript; vale 1824.
_497 sate like vultures Boscombe manuscript; rode like demons 1824.
_515 those]eyes cj. Rossetti.
_534 Wrought Boscombe manuscript; Wrapt 1824.
THE COMPLETE
POETICAL WORKS
OF
PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY
VOLUME 2
OXFORD EDITION.
INCLUDING MATERIALS NEVER BEFORE
PRINTED IN ANY EDITION OF THE POEMS.
EDITED WITH TEXTUAL NOTES
BY
THOMAS HUTCHINSON, M. A.
EDITOR OF THE OXFORD WORDSWORTH.
1914.
CONTENTS.
EARLY POEMS [1814, 1815]:
STANZA, WRITTEN AT BRACKNELL.
STANZAS. --APRIL, 1814.
TO HARRIET.
TO MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT GODWIN.
TO --. 'YET LOOK ON ME'.
MUTABILITY.
ON DEATH.
A SUMMER EVENING CHURCHYARD.
TO --. 'OH! THERE ARE SPIRITS OF THE AIR'.
TO WORDSWORTH.
FEELINGS OF A REPUBLICAN ON THE FALL OF BONAPARTE
LINES: 'THE COLD EARTH SLEPT BELOW'
NOTE ON THE EARLY POEMS, BY MRS. SHELLEY.
POEMS WRITTEN IN 1816:
THE SUNSET.
HYMN TO INTELLECTUAL BEAUTY.
MONT BLANC.
CANCELLED PASSAGE OF MONT BLANC.
FRAGMENT: HOME.
FRAGMENT OF A GHOST STORY.
NOTE ON POEMS OF 1816, BY MRS. SHELLEY.
POEMS WRITTEN IN 1817:
MARIANNE'S DREAM.
TO CONSTANTIA, SINGING.
THE SAME: STANZAS 1 AND 2.
TO CONSTANTIA.
FRAGMENT: TO ONE SINGING.
A FRAGMENT: TO MUSIC.
ANOTHER FRAGMENT TO MUSIC.
'MIGHTY EAGLE'.
TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR.
TO WILLIAM SHELLEY.
FROM THE ORIGINAL DRAFT OF THE POEM TO WILLIAM SHELLEY.
ON FANNY GODWIN.
LINES: 'THAT TIME IS DEAD FOR EVER'.
DEATH.
OTHO.
FRAGMENTS SUPPOSED TO BE PARTS OF OTHO.
'O THAT A CHARIOT OF CLOUD WERE MINE'.
FRAGMENTS:
TO A FRIEND RELEASED FROM PRISON.
SATAN BROKEN LOOSE.
IGNICULUS DESIDERII.
AMOR AETERNUS.
THOUGHTS COME AND GO IN SOLITUDE.
A HATE-SONG.
LINES TO A CRITIC.
OZYMANDIAS.
NOTE ON POEMS OF 1817, BY MRS. SHELLEY.
POEMS WRITTEN IN 1818.
TO THE NILE.
PASSAGE OF THE APENNINES.
THE PAST.
TO MARY --.
ON A FADED VIOLET.
LINES WRITTEN AMONG THE EUGANEAN HILLS.
SCENE FROM "TASSO".
SONG FOR "TASSO".
INVOCATION TO MISERY.
STANZAS WRITTEN IN DEJECTION, NEAR NAPLES.
THE WOODMAN AND THE NIGHTINGALE.
MARENGHI.
SONNET: 'LIFT NOT THE PAINTED VEIL'.
FRAGMENTS:
TO BYRON.
APOSTROPHE TO SILENCE.
THE LAKE'S MARGIN.
'MY HEAD IS WILD WITH WEEPING'.
THE VINE-SHROUD.
NOTE ON POEMS OF 1818, BY MRS. SHELLEY.
POEMS WRITTEN IN 1819:
LINES WRITTEN DURING THE CASTLEREAGH ADMINISTRATION.
SONG TO THE MEN OF ENGLAND.
SIMILES FOR TWO POLITICAL CHARACTERS OF 1819.
FRAGMENT: TO THE PEOPLE OF ENGLAND.
FRAGMENT: 'WHAT MEN GAIN FAIRLY'.
A NEW NATIONAL ANTHEM.
SONNET: ENGLAND IN 1819.
AN ODE WRITTEN OCTOBER, 1819.
CANCELLED STANZA.
ODE TO HEAVEN.
ODE TO THE WEST WIND.
AN EXHORTATION.
THE INDIAN SERENADE.
CANCELLED PASSAGE.
TO SOPHIA [MISS STACEY].
TO WILLIAM SHELLEY, 1.
TO WILLIAM SHELLEY, 2.
TO MARY SHELLEY, 1.
TO MARY SHELLEY, 2.
ON THE MEDUSA OF LEONARDO DA VINCI.
LOVE'S PHILOSOPHY.
FRAGMENT: 'FOLLOW TO THE DEEP WOOD'S WEEDS'.
THE BIRTH OF PLEASURE.
FRAGMENTS:
LOVE THE UNIVERSE TO-DAY.
'A GENTLE STORY OF TWO LOVERS YOUNG'.
LOVE'S TENDER ATMOSPHERE.
WEDDED SOULS.
'IS IT THAT IN SOME BRIGHTER SPHERE'.
SUFFICIENT UNTO THE DAY.
'YE GENTLE VISITATIONS OF CALM THOUGHT'.
MUSIC AND SWEET POETRY.
THE SEPULCHRE OF MEMORY.
'WHEN A LOVER CLASPS HIS FAIREST'.
'WAKE THE SERPENT NOT'.
RAIN.
A TALE UNTOLD.
TO ITALY.
WINE OF THE FAIRIES.
A ROMAN'S CHAMBER.
ROME AND NATURE.
VARIATION OF THE SONG OF THE MOON.
CANCELLED STANZA OF THE MASK OF ANARCHY.
NOTE BY MRS. SHELLEY.
POEMS WRITTEN IN 1820:
THE SENSITIVE PLANT.
CANCELLED PASSAGE.
A VISION OF THE SEA.
THE CLOUD.
TO A SKYLARK.
ODE TO LIBERTY.
CANCELLED PASSAGE.
TO --. 'I FEAR THY KISSES, GENTLE MAIDEN'.
ARETHUSA.
SONG OF PROSERPINE.
HYMN OF APOLLO.
HYMN OF PAN.
THE QUESTION.
THE TWO SPIRITS. AN ALLEGORY.
ODE TO NAPLES.
AUTUMN: A DIRGE.
THE WANING MOON.
TO THE MOON.
DEATH.
LIBERTY.
SUMMER AND WINTER.
THE TOWER OF FAMINE.
AN ALLEGORY.
THE WORLD'S WANDERERS.
SONNET: 'YE HASTEN TO THE GRAVE! '.
LINES TO A REVIEWER.
FRAGMENT OF A SATIRE ON SATIRE.
GOOD-NIGHT.
BUONA NOTTE.
ORPHEUS.
FIORDISPINA.
TIME LONG PAST.
FRAGMENTS:
THE DESERTS OF DIM SLEEP.
'THE VIEWLESS AND INVISIBLE CONSEQUENCE'.
A SERPENT-FACE.
DEATH IN LIFE.
'SUCH HOPE, AS IS THE SICK DESPAIR OF GOOD'.
'ALAS THIS IS NOT WHAT I THOUGHT LIFE WAS'.
MILTON'S SPIRIT.
'UNRISEN SPLENDOUR OF THE BRIGHTEST SUN'.
PATER OMNIPOTENS.
TO THE MIND OF MAN.
NOTE ON POEMS OF 1820, BY MRS SHELLEY.
POEMS WRITTEN IN 1821:
DIRGE FOR THE YEAR.
TO NIGHT.
TIME.
LINES: 'FAR, FAR AWAY'.
FROM THE ARABIC: AN IMITATION.
TO EMILIA VIVIANI.
THE FUGITIVES.
TO --. 'MUSIC, WHEN SOFT VOICES DIE'.
SONG: 'RARELY, RARELY, COMEST THOU'.
MUTABILITY.
LINES WRITTEN ON HEARING THE NEWS OF THE DEATH OF NAPOLEON.
SONNET: POLITICAL GREATNESS.
THE AZIOLA.
A LAMENT.
REMEMBRANCE.
TO EDWARD WILLIAMS.
TO --. 'ONE WORD IS TOO OFTEN PROFANED'.
TO --. 'WHEN PASSION'S TRANCE IS OVERPAST'.
A BRIDAL SONG.
EPITHALAMIUM.
ANOTHER VERSION OF THE SAME.
LOVE, HOPE, DESIRE, AND FEAR.
FRAGMENTS WRITTEN FOR "HELLAS".
FRAGMENT: 'I WOULD NOT BE A KING'.
GINEVRA.
EVENING: PONTE AL MARE, PISA.
THE BOAT ON THE SERCHIO.
MUSIC.
SONNET TO BYRON.
FRAGMENT ON KEATS.
FRAGMENT: 'METHOUGHT I WAS A BILLOW IN THE CROWD'.
TO-MORROW.
STANZA: 'IF I WALK IN AUTUMN'S EVEN'.
FRAGMENTS:
A WANDERER.
LIFE ROUNDED WITH SLEEP.
'I FAINT, I PERISH WITH MY LOVE'.
THE LADY OF THE SOUTH.
ZEPHYRUS THE AWAKENER.
RAIN.
'WHEN SOFT WINDS AND SUNNY SKIES'.
'AND THAT I WALK THUS PROUDLY CROWNED'.
'THE RUDE WIND IS SINGING'.
'GREAT SPIRIT'.
'O THOU IMMORTAL DEITY'.
THE FALSE LAUREL AND THE TRUE.
MAY THE LIMNER.
BEAUTY'S HALO.
'THE DEATH KNELL IS RINGING'.
'I STOOD UPON A HEAVEN-CLEAVING TURRET'.
NOTE ON POEMS OF 1821, BY MRS. SHELLEY.
POEMS WRITTEN IN 1822:
THE ZUCCA.
THE MAGNETIC LADY TO HER PATIENT.
LINES: 'WHEN THE LAMP IS SHATTERED'.
TO JANE: THE INVITATION.
TO JANE: THE RECOLLECTION.
THE PINE FOREST OF THE CASCINE NEAR PISA.
WITH A GUITAR, TO JANE.
TO JANE: 'THE KEEN STARS WERE TWINKLING'.
A DIRGE.
LINES WRITTEN IN THE BAY OF LERICI.
LINES: 'WE MEET NOT AS WE PARTED'.
THE ISLE.
FRAGMENT: TO THE MOON.
EPITAPH.
NOTE ON POEMS OF 1822, BY MRS. SHELLEY.
***
EARLY POEMS [1814, 1815].
[The poems which follow appeared, with a few exceptions, either in the
volumes published from time to time by Shelley himself, or in the
"Posthumous Poems" of 1824, or in the "Poetical Works" of 1839, of
which a second and enlarged edition was published by Mrs. Shelley in
the same year. A few made their first appearance in some fugitive
publication--such as Leigh Hunt's "Literary Pocket-Book"--and were
subsequently incorporated in the collective editions. In every case the
editio princeps and (where this is possible) the exact date of
composition are indicated below the title. ]
***
STANZA, WRITTEN AT BRACKNELL.
[Composed March, 1814. Published in Hogg's "Life of Shelley", 1858. ]
Thy dewy looks sink in my breast;
Thy gentle words stir poison there;
Thou hast disturbed the only rest
That was the portion of despair!
Subdued to Duty's hard control, _5
I could have borne my wayward lot:
The chains that bind this ruined soul
Had cankered then--but crushed it not.
***
STANZAS. --APRIL, 1814.
[Composed at Bracknell, April, 1814. Published with "Alastor", 1816. ]
Away! the moor is dark beneath the moon,
Rapid clouds have drank the last pale beam of even:
Away! the gathering winds will call the darkness soon,
And profoundest midnight shroud the serene lights of heaven.
Pause not! The time is past! Every voice cries, Away! _5
Tempt not with one last tear thy friend's ungentle mood:
Thy lover's eye, so glazed and cold, dares not entreat thy stay:
Duty and dereliction guide thee back to solitude.
Away, away! to thy sad and silent home;
Pour bitter tears on its desolated hearth; _10
Watch the dim shades as like ghosts they go and come,
And complicate strange webs of melancholy mirth.
The leaves of wasted autumn woods shall float around thine head:
The blooms of dewy spring shall gleam beneath thy feet:
But thy soul or this world must fade in the frost that binds the dead, _15
Ere midnight's frown and morning's smile, ere thou and peace may meet.
The cloud shadows of midnight possess their own repose,
For the weary winds are silent, or the moon is in the deep:
Some respite to its turbulence unresting ocean knows;
Whatever moves, or toils, or grieves, hath its appointed sleep. _20
Thou in the grave shalt rest--yet till the phantoms flee
Which that house and heath and garden made dear to thee erewhile,
Thy remembrance, and repentance, and deep musings are not free
From the music of two voices and the light of one sweet smile.
NOTE:
_6 tear 1816; glance 1839.
***
TO HARRIET.
[Composed May, 1814. Published (from the Esdaile manuscript) by Dowden,
"Life of Shelley", 1887. ]
Thy look of love has power to calm
The stormiest passion of my soul;
Thy gentle words are drops of balm
In life's too bitter bowl;
No grief is mine, but that alone _5
These choicest blessings I have known.
Harriet! if all who long to live
In the warm sunshine of thine eye,
That price beyond all pain must give,--
Beneath thy scorn to die; _10
Then hear thy chosen own too late
His heart most worthy of thy hate.
Be thou, then, one among mankind
Whose heart is harder not for state,
Thou only virtuous, gentle, kind, _15
Amid a world of hate;
And by a slight endurance seal
A fellow-being's lasting weal.
For pale with anguish is his cheek,
His breath comes fast, his eyes are dim, _20
Thy name is struggling ere he speak,
Weak is each trembling limb;
In mercy let him not endure
The misery of a fatal cure.
Oh, trust for once no erring guide! _25
Bid the remorseless feeling flee;
'Tis malice, 'tis revenge, 'tis pride,
'Tis anything but thee;
Oh, deign a nobler pride to prove,
And pity if thou canst not love. _30
***
TO MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT GODWIN.
[Composed June, 1814. Published in "Posthumous Poems", 1824. ]
1.
Mine eyes were dim with tears unshed;
Yes, I was firm--thus wert not thou;--
My baffled looks did fear yet dread
To meet thy looks--I could not know
How anxiously they sought to shine _5
With soothing pity upon mine.
2.
To sit and curb the soul's mute rage
Which preys upon itself alone;
To curse the life which is the cage
Of fettered grief that dares not groan, _10
Hiding from many a careless eye
The scorned load of agony.
3.
Whilst thou alone, then not regarded,
The . . . thou alone should be,
To spend years thus, and be rewarded, _15
As thou, sweet love, requited me
When none were near--Oh! I did wake
From torture for that moment's sake.
4.
Upon my heart thy accents sweet
Of peace and pity fell like dew _20
On flowers half dead;--thy lips did meet
Mine tremblingly; thy dark eyes threw
Their soft persuasion on my brain,
Charming away its dream of pain.
5.
We are not happy, sweet! our state _25
Is strange and full of doubt and fear;
More need of words that ills abate;--
Reserve or censure come not near
Our sacred friendship, lest there be
No solace left for thee and me. _30
6.
Gentle and good and mild thou art,
Nor can I live if thou appear
Aught but thyself, or turn thine heart
Away from me, or stoop to wear
The mask of scorn, although it be _35
To hide the love thou feel'st for me.
NOTES:
_2 wert 1839; did 1824.
_3 fear 1824, 1839; yearn cj. Rossetti.
_23 Their 1839; thy 1824.
_30 thee]thou 1824, 1839.
_32 can I 1839; I can 1824.
_36 feel'st 1839; feel 1824.
***
TO --.
[Published in "Poetical Works", 1839, 2nd edition. See Editor's Note. ]
Yet look on me--take not thine eyes away,
Which feed upon the love within mine own,
Which is indeed but the reflected ray
Of thine own beauty from my spirit thrown.
Yet speak to me--thy voice is as the tone _5
Of my heart's echo, and I think I hear
That thou yet lovest me; yet thou alone
Like one before a mirror, without care
Of aught but thine own features, imaged there;
And yet I wear out life in watching thee; _10
A toil so sweet at times, and thou indeed
Art kind when I am sick, and pity me. . .
***
MUTABILITY.
[Published with "Alastor", 1816. ]
We are as clouds that veil the midnight moon;
How restlessly they speed, and gleam, and quiver,
Streaking the darkness radiantly! --yet soon
Night closes round, and they are lost for ever:
Or like forgotten lyres, whose dissonant strings _5
Give various response to each varying blast,
To whose frail frame no second motion brings
One mood or modulation like the last.
We rest. --A dream has power to poison sleep;
We rise. --One wandering thought pollutes the day; _10
We feel, conceive or reason, laugh or weep;
Embrace fond woe, or cast our cares away:
It is the same! --For, be it joy or sorrow,
The path of its departure still is free:
Man's yesterday may ne'er be like his morrow; _15
Nought may endure but Mutability.
NOTES:
_15 may 1816; can Lodore, chapter 49, 1835 (Mrs. Shelley).
_16 Nought may endure but 1816;
Nor aught endure save Lodore, chapter 49, 1835 (Mrs. Shelley).
***
ON DEATH.
[For the date of composition see Editor's Note.
