Can break a spirit already more than bent. Turns the mind's poison into food, Its medicine is tears, its evil good. III Therefore, if now I see you seldomer. Dear friends, dear friend! know that I only fly Griefs that should sleep, and hopes that cannot die: I scarce can bear, yet I, So deeply is the arrow gone, Should quickly perish if it were withdrawn. IV When I return to my cold home, you ask You spoil me for the task Of acting a forced part in life's dull scene,— Of wearing on my brow the idle mask Of author, great or mean, In the world's carnival. I sought Peace thus, and but in you I found it not. V Full half an hour, to-day, I tried my lot With various flowers, and every one still said, And if this meant a vision long since fled- To speak what you may know too well: Still there was truth in the sad oracle. VI The crane o'er seas and forests seeks her home; The sleepless billows on the ocean's breast And thus at length find rest: Where my weak heart and all its throbs will cease. VII I asked her, yesterday, if she believed That I had resolution. One who had 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 18 Dear friends, dear friend Trelawny MS., 1839, 2nd ed.; Dear gentle friend 1834, 1839, 1st ed. 26 ever] lately Trelawny MS. 28 in Trelawny MS.; on 1834, edd. 1839. 43 When 1839, 2nd ed.; Whence 1834, 1839, 1st ed. 1834. 1839, 1st ed. 48 will 1839, 2nd ed.; shall His heart with words,-but what his judgement bade These verses are too sad To send to you, but that I know, ΤΟ [Published by Mrs. Shelley, Posthumous Poems, 1824.] I can give not what men call love, 15 [Published by Mrs. Shelley, Posthumous Poems, 1824. There is a Boscombe MS.] [Published by Mrs. Shelley, Posthumous Poems, 1824.] I THE golden gates of Sleep unbar Kindle their image like a star down, look - Darkness, weep thy holiest dew,Never smiled the inconstant moon On a pair so true. were Trelawny MS. Το 5 Let eyes not see their own delight;- II Fairies, sprites, and angels, keep her! O joy! O fear! what will be done 53 unrelieved Trelawny MS., 1839, 2nd ed.; unreprieved 1834, 1839, 1st ed. 15 54 are] -15 form Boscombe MS.; for edd. 1824, 1839. EPITHALAMIUM ANOTHER VERSION OF THE PRECEDING [Published by Medwin, Life of Shelley, 1847.] NIGHT. with all thine eyes look | Lest eyes see their own delight! Hence, swift hour! and thy loved down! Darkness shed its holiest dew! When ever smiled the inconstant flight ANOTHER VERSION OF THE SAME 30 Come along! [Published by Rossetti, Complete P. W. of P. B. S., 1870, from the Trelawny MS. of Edward Williams's play, The Promise: or, A Year, a Month, and a Day.] Chorus. The golden gate of Sleep unbar, Kindle their image, like a star AND 25 LOVE, HOPE, DESIRE, AND FEAR many there were hurt by that His name, they said, was Pleasure, 30 Between Desire and Fear thou wert A wretched thing, poor heart! Sad was his life who bore thee in his breast, 30 Wild bird for that weak nest. Till Love even from fierce Desire it bought, And from the very wound of tender thought Drew solace, and the pity of sweet FRAGMENTS WRITTEN FOR HELLAS FRAGMENT: 'I WOULD NOT BE A KING' [Published by Mrs. Shelley, P. W., 1839, 2nd ed.] I WOULD not be a king-enough The path to power is steep and And tempests reign above. I would not climb the imperial throne; 5 "Tis built on ice which fortune's sun Thaws in the height of noon. Then farewell, king, yet were I one, Care would not come so soon. Would he and I were far away Keeping flocks on Himalay! GINEVRA [Published by Mrs. Shelley, Posthumous Poems, 1824, and dated 'Pisa, 1821.'] WILD, pale, and wonder-stricken, even as one Fancying strange comments in her dizzy brain 10 5 |