[Published by Leigh Hunt (with the signature E) in The Literary Pocket-Book, 1822. Reprinted by Mrs. Shelley, Posthumous Poems, 1824. Copies exist in the Harvard MS. book, amongst the Boscombe MSS., and amongst the Ollier MSS.] I I DREAMED that, as I wandered by the way, And gentle odours led my steps astray, Mixed with a sound of waters murmuring Along a shelving bank of turf, which lay Under a copse, and hardly dared to fling Its green arms round the bosom of the stream, But kissed it and then fled, as thou mightest in dream. II There grew pied wind-flowers and violets, 5 Daisies, those pearled Arcturi of the earth, The constellated flower that never sets; Faint oxslips; tender bluebells, at whose birth 10 The sod scarce heaved; and that tall flower that wets— Its mother's face with Heaven's collected tears, When the low wind, its playmate's voice, it hears. III And in the warm hedge grew lush eglantine, Green cowbind and the moonlight-coloured may, 15 The Question-14 Like... mirth Harvard MS., Boscombe MS.; wanting in Ollier MS., 1822, 1824, 1839. 15 Heaven's collected Harvard MS., Ollier MS., 1822; Heaven-collected 1824, 1889. And cherry-blossoms, and white cups, whose wine With its dark buds and leaves, wandering astray; IV And nearer to the river's trembling edge There grew broad flag-flowers, purple pranked with white, And starry river buds among the sedge, And floating water-lilies, broad and bright, Which lit the oak that overhung the hedge With moonlight beams of their own watery light; And bulrushes, and reeds of such deep green V Methought that of these visionary flowers That the same hues, which in their natural bowers SHELLEY THE TWO SPIRITS: AN ALLEGORY And that is day! And the moon will smile with gentle light But if the whirlwinds of darkness waken X 20 25 30 35 40 5 10 15 See, the bounds of the air are shaken- The red swift clouds of the hurricane Yon declining sun have overtaken, The clash of the hail sweeps over the plain- Second Spirit. I see the light, and I hear the sound; Which makes night day: And thou, when the gloom is deep and stark, Some say there is a precipice Where one vast pine is frozen to ruin And that the languid storm pursuing That winged shape, for ever flies Round those hoar branches, aye renewing Some say when nights are dry and clear, Which make night day: And a silver shape like his early love doth pass And when he awakes on the fragrant grass, ODE TO NAPLES1 [Composed at San Juliano di Pisa, August 17-25, 1820; published in Posthumous Poems, 1824. There is a copy, for the most part neat and legible,' amongst the Shelley MSS. at the Bodleian Library. See Mr. C. D. Locock's Examination, &c., 1903, pp. 14-18.] EPODE Ia I STOOD within the City disinterred 2; And heard the autumnal leaves like light footfalls Of spirits passing through the streets; and heard 31 moon-like 1824; moonlight 1839. 44 make] makes 1824, 1839. The Author has connected many recollections of his visit to Pompeii and Baiae with the enthusiasm excited by the intelligence of the proclamation of a Constitutional Government at Naples. This has given a tinge of picturesque and descriptive imagery to the introductory Epodes which depicture these scenes, and some of the majestic feelings permanently connected with the scene of this animating event.-[SHELLEY'S NOTE.] ' Pompeii.-[SHELLLY'S NOTE.] 20 25 30 35 40 45 The Mountain's slumberous voice at intervals The oracular thunder penetrating shook The listening soul in my suspended blood; I felt that Earth out of her deep heart spoke I felt, but heard not:-through white columns glowed A plane of light between two heavens of azure! Because the crystal silence of the air Weighed on their life; even as the Power divine EPODE II a Then gentle winds arose With many a mingled close Of wild Aeolian sound, and mountain-odours keen; And where the Baian ocean Within, above, around its bowers of starry green, It bore me, like an Angel, o'er the waves Of sunlight, whose swift pinnace of dewy air I sailed, where ever flows Of the dead Kings of Melody. Shadowy Aornos darkened o'er the helm The horizontal aether; Heaven stripped bare Its depth over Elysium, where the prow Made the invisible water white as snow; From that Typhaean mount, Inarime, There streamed a sunbright vapour, like the standard Of some aethereal host; Whilst from all the coast, Louder and louder, gathering round, there wandered Over the oracular woods and divine sea 25 odours B.; odour 1824. 42 depth B.; depths 1824. bright B.; sunlit 1824. Homer and Virgil.-[SHELLEY'S NOTE.] 45 sun 5 ΙΟ 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 Prophesyings which grew articulate They seize me-I must speak them!-be they fate! STROPHE I Naples! thou Heart of men which ever pantest Elysian City, which to calm enchantest The mutinous air and sea! they round thee, even Metropolis of a ruined Paradise Long lost, late won, and yet but half regained! Bright Altar of the bloodless sacrifice, Which armed Victory offers up unstained To Love, the flower-enchained! Thou which wert once, and then didst cease to be, Now art, and henceforth ever shalt be, free, If Hope, and Truth, and Justice can avail,— STROPHE II Thou youngest giant birth Which from the groaning earth Leap'st, clothed in armour of impenetrable scale! Last of the Intercessors! Who 'gainst the Crowned Transgressors Pleadest before God's love! Arrayed in Wisdom's mail, Wave thy lightning lance in mirth Though from their hundred gates the leagued Oppressors Hail, hail, all hail! ANTISTROPHE I a What though Cimmerian Anarchs dare blaspheme 50 55 60 65 70 75 To make their blind slaves see, and with fierce gleam 80 A new Actaeon's error Shall theirs have been-devoured by their own hounds! 85 Killing thy foe with unapparent wounds! ANTISTROPHE II a From Freedom's form divine, From Nature's inmost shrine, Strip every impious gawd, rend Error veil by veil; 90 |