The Complete Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley Part 184

TO THE EDITOR OF THE 'EXAMINER.'

'Sir,

'Having heard that a poem ent.i.tled "Queen Mab" has been surrept.i.tiously published in London, and that legal proceedings have been inst.i.tuted against the publisher, I request the favour of your insertion of the following explanation of the affair, as it relates to me.

'A poem ent.i.tled "Queen Mab" was written by me at the age of eighteen, I daresay in a sufficiently intemperate spirit--but even then was not intended for publication, and a few copies only were struck off, to be distributed among my personal friends. I have not seen this production for several years. I doubt not but that it is perfectly worthless in point of literary composition; and that, in all that concerns moral and political speculation, as well as in the subtler discriminations of metaphysical and religious doctrine, it is still more crude and immature. I am a devoted enemy to religious, political, and domestic oppression; and I regret this publication, not so much from literary vanity, as because I fear it is better fitted to injure than to serve the sacred cause of freedom. I have directed my solicitor to apply to Chancery for an injunction to restrain the sale; but, after the precedent of Mr. Southey's "Wat Tyler" (a poem written, I believe, at the same age, and with the same unreflecting enthusiasm), with little hope of success.

'Whilst I exonerate myself from all share in having divulged opinions hostile to existing sanctions, under the form, whatever it may be, which they a.s.sume in this poem, it is scarcely necessary for me to protest against the system of inculcating the truth of Christianity or the excellence of Monarchy, however true or however excellent they may be, by such equivocal arguments as confiscation and imprisonment, and invective and slander, and the insolent violation of the most sacred ties of Nature and society.

'SIR,

'I am your obliged and obedient servant,

'PERCY B. Sh.e.l.lEY.

'Pisa, June 22, 1821.'

[Of the following pieces the "Original Poetry by Victor and Cazire", the Poems from "St. Irvyne, or The Rosicrucian", "The Posthumous Fragments of Margaret Nicholson" and "The Devil's Walk", were published by Sh.e.l.ley himself; the others by Medwin, Rossetti, Forman and Dowden, as indicated in the several prefatory notes.]

VERSES ON A CAT.

[Published by Hogg, "Life of Sh.e.l.ley", 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, "Sh.e.l.ley 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 Sh.e.l.ley", 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 Sh.e.l.ley", 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 t.i.tle) by Hogg, "Life of Sh.e.l.ley", 1858; dated 1809. Included in the Esdaile ma.n.u.script 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 sh.o.r.e? _20