Shelley, 1819
CONTENTS
JUVENILIA.
VERSES ON A CAT.
FRAGMENT: OMENS.
EPITAPHIUM.
IN HOROLOGIUM.
A DIALOGUE.
TO THE MOONBEAM.
THE SOLITARY.
TO DEATH.
LOVE’S ROSE.
EYES: A FRAGMENT.
BIGOTRY’S VICTIM.
ON AN ICICLE THAT CLUNG TO THE GRASS OF A GRAVE.
LOVE.
ON A FETE AT CARLTON HOUSE: FRAGMENT.
TO A STAR.
TO MARY WHO DIED IN THIS OPINION.
A TALE OF SOCIETY AS IT IS: FROM FACTS, 1811.
TO THE REPUBLICANS OF NORTH AMERICA.
TO IRELAND.
ON ROBERT EMMET’S GRAVE.
THE RETROSPECT: CWM ELAN, 1812.
FRAGMENT OF A SONNET.
TO HARRIET.
TO A BALLOON LADEN WITH KNOWLEDGE.
ON LAUNCHING SOME BOTTLES FILLED WITH KNOWLEDGE INTO THE BRISTOL CHANNEL.
FAREWELL TO NORTH DEVON.
ON LEAVING LONDON FOR WALES.
THE WANDERING JEW’S SOLILOQUY.
EVENING. TO HARRIET.
TO IANTHE.
SONG FROM THE WANDERING JEW.
FRAGMENT FROM THE WANDERING JEW.
TO THE QUEEN OF MY HEART.
EARLY POEMS 1814-1815.
STANZA, WRITTEN AT BRACKNELL.
STANZAS. — APRIL, 1814.
TO HARRIET.
TO MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT GODWIN.
TO — .
MUTABILITY.
ON DEATH.
A SUMMER EVENING CHURCHYARD.
LECHLADE, GLOUCESTERSHIRE.
TO — .
DAKRTSI DIOISO POTMON ‘APOTMON.
TO WORDSWORTH.
FEELINGS OF A REPUBLICAN ON THE FALL OF BONAPARTE.
LINES.
POEMS WRITTEN IN 1816.
THE SUNSET.
HYMN TO INTELLECTUAL BEAUTY.
MONT BLANC.
LINES WRITTEN IN THE VALE OF CHAMOUNI.
CANCELLED PASSAGE OF MONT BLANC.
HOME. (FRAGMENT)
FRAGMENT OF A GHOST STORY.
NOTE ON POEMS OF 1816, BY MRS. SHELLEY.
POEMS WRITTEN IN 1817.
MARIANNE’S DREAM.
TO CONSTANTIA, SINGING.
STANZAS 1 AND 2.
TO CONSTANTIA.
TO ONE SINGING. (FRAGMENT)
A FRAGMENT: TO MUSIC. (FRAGMENT)
ANOTHER FRAGMENT: TO MUSIC. (FRAGMENT)
MIGHTY EAGLE’.
SUPPOSED TO BE ADDRESSED TO WILLIAM GODWIN.
TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR.
TO WILLIAM SHELLEY.
FROM THE ORIGINAL DRAFT OF THE POEM TO WILLIAM SHELLEY.
ON FANNY GODWIN.
LINES.
DEATH.
OTHO.
FRAGMENTS SUPPOSED TO BE PARTS OF OTHO.
O THAT A CHARIOT OF CLOUD WERE MINE’.
TO A FRIEND RELEASED FROM PRISON. (FRAGMENT)
SATAN BROKEN LOOSE. (FRAGMENT)
“IGNICULUS DESIDERII”. (FRAGMENT)
“AMOR AETERNUS”. (FRAGMENT)
THOUGHTS COME AND GO IN SOLITUDE. (FRAGMENT)
A HATE-SONG.
LINES TO A CRITIC.
OZYMANDIAS.
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’.
MADDALO, A COURTIER. MALPIGLIO, A POET. PIGNA, A MINISTER. ALBANO, AN USHER.
SONG FOR ‘TASSO’.
INVOCATION TO MISERY.
STANZAS WRITTEN IN DEJECTION, NEAR NAPLES.
THE WOODMAN AND THE NIGHTINGALE.
MARENGHI.
SONNET.
TO BYRON. (FRAGMENT)
APOSTROPHE TO SILENCE. (FRAGMENT)
THE LAKE’S MARGIN. (FRAGMENT)
MY HEAD IS WILD WITH WEEPING. (FRAGMENT)
THE VINE-SHROUD. (FRAGMENT)
POEMS WRITTEN IN 1819.
LINES WRITTEN DURING THE CASTLEREAGH ADMINISTRATION.
SONG TO THE MEN OF ENGLAND.
SIMILES FOR TWO POLITICAL CHARACTERS OF 1819.
TO THE PEOPLE OF ENGLAND. (FRAGMENT)
WHAT MEN GAIN FAIRLY. (FRAGMENT)
A NEW NATIONAL ANTHEM.
SONNET: ENGLAND IN 1819.
AN ODE, WRITTEN OCTOBER, 1819, BEFORE THE SPANIARDS HAD RECOVERED THEIR LIBERTY.
CANCELLED STANZA.
ODE TO HEAVEN.
CHORUS OF SPIRITS:
CANCELLED FRAGMENTS OF THE ODE TO HEAVEN.
ODE TO THE WEST WIND.
AN EXHORTATION.
THE INDIAN SERENADE.
CANCELLED PASSAGE.
TO SOPHIA (MISS STACEY).
TO WILLIAM SHELLEY.
TO WILLIAM SHELLEY.
TO MARY SHELLEY.
TO MARY SHELLEY.
ON THE MEDUSA OF LEONARDO DA VINCI IN THE FLORENTINE GALLERY.
LOVE’S PHILOSOPHY.
FOLLOW TO THE DEEP WOOD’S WEEDS. (FRAGMENT)
THE BIRTH OF PLEASURE.
LOVE THE UNIVERSE TO-DAY. (FRAGMENT)
A GENTLE STORY OF TWO LOVERS YOUNG. (FRAGMENT)
LOVE’S TENDER ATMOSPHERE. (FRAGMENT)
WEDDED SOULS. (FRAGMENT)
IS IT THAT IN SOME BRIGHTER SPHERE. (FRAGMENT)
SUFFICIENT UNTO THE DAY. (FRAGMENT)
YE GENTLE VISITATIONS OF CALM THOUGHT. (FRAGMENT)
MUSIC AND SWEET POETRY. (FRAGMENT)
THE SEPULCHRE OF MEMORY. (FRAGMENT)
WHEN A LOVER CLASPS HIS FAIREST. (FRAGMENT)
WAKE THE SERPENT NOT. (FRAGMENT)
RAIN. (FRAGMENT)
A TALE UNTOLD. (FRAGMENT)
TO ITALY. (FRAGMENT)
WINE OF THE FAIRIES. (FRAGMENT)
A ROMAN’S CHAMBER. (FRAGMENT)
ROME AND NATURE. (FRAGMENT)
VARIATION OF THE SONG OF THE MOON.
PROMETHEUS UNBOUND”, ACT 4.)
CANCELLED STANZA OF THE MASK OF ANARCHY.
POEMS WRITTEN IN 1820.
THE SENSITIVE PLANT.
PART 1.
PART 2.
PART 3.
CONCLUSION.
CANCELLED PASSAGE.
A VISION OF THE SEA.
THE CLOUD.
TO A SKYLARK.
ODE TO LIBERTY.
CANCELLED PASSAGE OF THE ODE TO LIBERTY.
TO — .
ARETHUSA.
SONG OF PROSERPINE WHILE GATHERING FLOWERS ON THE PLAIN OF ENNA.
HYMN OF APOLLO.
HYMN OF PAN.
THE QUESTION.
THE TWO SPIRITS: AN ALLEGORY.
ODE TO NAPLES.
STROPHE 1.
STROPHE 2.
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.
LINES TO A REVIEWER.
FRAGMENT OF A SATIRE ON SATIRE.
GOOD-NIGHT.
BUONA NOTTE.
ORPHEUS.
FIORDISPINA.
TIME LONG PAST.
THE DESERTS OF DIM SLEEP. (FRAGMENT)
THE VIEWLESS AND INVISIBLE CONSEQUENCE. (FRAGMENT)
A SERPENT-FACE. (FRAGMENT)
DEATH IN LIFE. (FRAGMENT)
SUCH HOPE, AS IS THE SICK DESPAIR OF GOOD. (FRAGMENT)
ALAS! THIS IS NOT WHAT I THOUGHT LIFE WAS. (FRAGMENT)
MILTON’S SPIRIT. (FRAGMENT)
UNRISEN SPLENDOUR OF THE BRIGHTEST SUN. (FRAGMENT)
PATER OMNIPOTENS. (FRAGMENT)
TO THE MIND OF MAN. (FRAGM
ENT)
POEMS WRITTEN IN 1821.
DIRGE FOR THE YEAR.
TO NIGHT.
TIME.
LINES.
FROM THE ARABIC: AN IMITATION.
TO EMILIA VIVIANI.
THE FUGITIVES.
TO — .
SONG.
MUTABILITY.
LINES WRITTEN ON HEARING THE NEWS OF THE DEATH OF NAPOLEON.
SONNET: POLITICAL GREATNESS.
THE AZIOLA.
A LAMENT.
REMEMBRANCE.
TO EDWARD WILLIAMS.
TO — .
TO — .
A BRIDAL SONG.
EPITHALAMIUM.
ANOTHER VERSION OF THE PRECEDING.
ANOTHER VERSION OF THE SAME.
LOVE, HOPE, DESIRE, AND FEAR.
FRAGMENTS WRITTEN FOR HELLAS.
I WOULD NOT BE A KING. (FRAGMENT)
GINEVRA.
THE DIRGE.
EVENING: PONTE AL MARE, PISA
THE BOAT ON THE SERCHIO.
MUSIC.
SONNET TO BYRON.
FRAGMENT ON KEATS.
ON KEATS, WHO DESIRED THAT ON HIS TOMB SHOULD BE INSCRIBED —
METHOUGHT I WAS A BILLOW IN THE CROWD. (FRAGMENT)
TO-MORROW.
STANZA.
A WANDERER. (FRAGMENT)
LIFE ROUNDED WITH SLEEP. (FRAGMENT)
I FAINT, I PERISH WITH MY LOVE!. (FRAGMENT)
THE LADY OF THE SOUTH. (FRAGMENT)
ZEPHYRUS THE AWAKENER. (FRAGMENT)
RAIN. (FRAGMENT)
WHEN SOFT WINDS AND SUNNY SKIES. (FRAGMENT)
AND THAT I WALK THUS PROUDLY CROWNED. (FRAGMENT)
THE RUDE WIND IS SINGING. (FRAGMENT)
GREAT SPIRIT. (FRAGMENT)
O THOU IMMORTAL DEITY. (FRAGMENT)
THE FALSE LAUREL AND THE TRUE. (FRAGMENT)
MAY THE LIMNER. (FRAGMENT)
BEAUTY’S HALO. (FRAGMENT)
THE DEATH KNELL IS RINGING. (FRAGMENT)
I STOOD UPON A HEAVEN-CLEAVING TURRET. (FRAGMENT)
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.
TO THE MOON. (FRAGMENT)
EPITAPH.
Mary Shelley, (née Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin; 1797–1851) was an English novelist, short story writer, dramatist, essayist, biographer and travel writer. After her husband’s death, Mary was instrumental is establishing Shelley’s poetic reputation.
JUVENILIA.
VERSES ON A CAT.
(Published by Hogg, “Life of Shelley”, 1858; dated 1800.)
1.
A cat in distress,
Nothing more, nor less;
Good folks, I must faithfully tell ye,
As I am a sinner,
It waits for some dinner 5
To stuff out its own little belly.
2.
You would not easily guess
All the modes of distress
Which torture the tenants of earth;
And the various evils, 10
Which like so many devils,
Attend the poor souls from their birth.
3.
Some a living require,
And others desire
An old fellow out of the way; 15
And which is the best
I leave to be guessed,
For I cannot pretend to say.
4.
One wants society,
Another variety, 20
Others a tranquil life;
Some want food,
Others, as good,
Only want a wife.
5.
But this poor little cat 25
Only wanted a rat,
To stuff out its own little maw;
And it were as good
SOME people had such food,
To make them HOLD THEIR JAW! 30
FRAGMENT: OMENS.
(Published by Medwin, “Shelley Papers”, 1833; dated 1807.)
Hark! the owlet flaps his wings
In the pathless dell beneath;
Hark! ‘tis the night-raven sings
Tidings of approaching death.
EPITAPHIUM.
(LATIN VERSION OF THE EPITAPH IN GRAY’S ELEGY.)
(Published by Medwin, “Life of Shelley”, 1847; dated 1808-9.)
1.
Hic sinu fessum caput hospitali
Cespitis dormit juvenis, nec illi
Fata ridebant, popularis ille
Nescius aurae.
2.
Musa non vultu genus arroganti 5
Rustica natum grege despicata,
Et suum tristis puerum notavit
Sollicitudo.
3.
Indoles illi bene larga, pectus
Veritas sedem sibi vindicavit, 10
Et pari tantis meritis beavit
Munere coelum.
4.
Omne quad moestis habuit miserto
Corde largivit lacrimam, recepit
Omne quod coelo voluit, fidelis 15
Pectus amici.
5.
Longius sed tu fuge curiosus
Caeteras laudes fuge suspicari,
Caeteras culpas fuge velle tractas
Sede tremenda. 20
6.
Spe tremescentes recubant in illa
Sede virtutes pariterque culpae,
In sui Patris gremio, tremenda
Sede Deique.
IN HOROLOGIUM.
(Published by Medwin, “Life of Shelley”, 1847; dated 1809.)
Inter marmoreas Leonorae pendula colles
Fortunata nimis Machina dicit horas.
Quas MANIBUS premit illa duas insensa papillas
Cur mihi sit DIGITO tangere, amata, nefas?
A DIALOGUE.
(Published (without title) by Hogg, “Life of Shelley”, 1858; dated 1809. Included in the Esdaile manuscript book.)
DEATH:
For my dagger is bathed in the blood of the brave,
I come, care-worn tenant of life, from the grave,
Where Innocence sleeps ‘neath the peace-giving sod,
And the good cease to tremble at Tyranny’s nod;
I offer a calm habitation to thee, — 5
Say, victim of grief, wilt thou slumber with me?
My mansion is damp, cold silence is there,
But it lulls in oblivion the fiends of despair;
Not a groan of regret, not a sigh, not a breath,
Dares dispute with grim Silence the empire of Death. 10
I offer a calm habitation to thee, —
Say, victim of grief, wilt thou slumber with me?
MORTAL:
Mine eyelids are heavy; my soul seeks repose,
It longs in thy cells to embosom its woes,
It longs in thy cells to deposit its load, 15
Where no longer the scorpions of Perfidy goad, —
Where the phantoms of Prejudice vanish away,
And Bigotry’s bloodhounds lose scent of their prey.
Yet tell me, dark Death, when thine empire is o’er,
What awaits on Futurity’s mist-covered shore? 20
DEATH:
Cease, cease, wayward Mortal! I dare not unveil
The shadows that float o’er Eternity’s vale;
Nought waits for the good but a spirit of Love,
That will hail their blest advent to regions above.
For Love, Mortal, gleams through the gloom of my sway, 25
And the shades which surround
me fly fast at its ray.
Hast thou loved? — Then depart from these regions of hate,
And in slumber with me blunt the arrows of fate.
I offer a calm habitation to thee. —
Say, victim of grief, wilt thou slumber with me? 30
MORTAL:
Oh! sweet is thy slumber! oh! sweet is the ray
Which after thy night introduces the day;
How concealed, how persuasive, self-interest’s breath,
Though it floats to mine ear from the bosom of Death!
I hoped that I quite was forgotten by all, 35
Yet a lingering friend might be grieved at my fall,
And duty forbids, though I languish to die,
When departure might heave Virtue’s breast with a sigh.
O Death! O my friend! snatch this form to thy shrine,
And I fear, dear destroyer, I shall not repine. 40
TO THE MOONBEAM.
(Published by Hogg, “Life of Shelley”, 1858: dated 1809.
Included in the Esdaile manuscript book.)
1.
Moonbeam, leave the shadowy vale,
To bathe this burning brow.
Moonbeam, why art thou so pale,
As thou walkest o’er the dewy dale,
Where humble wild-flowers grow? 5
Is it to mimic me?
But that can never be;
For thine orb is bright,
And the clouds are light,
That at intervals shadow the star-studded night. 10
2.
Now all is deathy still on earth;
Nature’s tired frame reposes;
And, ere the golden morning’s birth
Its radiant hues discloses,
Flies forth its balmy breath. 15
But mine is the midnight of Death,
And Nature’s morn
To my bosom forlorn
Brings but a gloomier night, implants a deadlier thorn.
3.
Wretch! Suppress the glare of madness 20
Struggling in thine haggard eye,
For the keenest throb of sadness,
Pale Despair’s most sickening sigh,
Is but to mimic me;
And this must ever be, 25
When the twilight of care,
And the night of despair,
Seem in my breast but joys to the pangs that rankle there.
THE SOLITARY.
(Published by Rossetti, “Complete Poetical Works of P. B. S.”, 1870; dated 1810. Included in the Esdaile manuscript book.)
1.
Dar’st thou amid the varied multitude
To live alone, an isolated thing?
To see the busy beings round thee spring,
And care for none; in thy calm solitude,
A flower that scarce breathes in the desert rude 5
To Zephyr’s passing wing?
2.
Not the swart Pariah in some Indian grove,
Lone, lean, and hunted by his brother’s hate,
Hath drunk so deep the cup of bitter fate
Percy Bysshe Shelley - Delphi Poets Series Page 20