The Complete Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley Part 148

NOTES: _12 Of more than ever]Of love that never 1833.

_46 woods Trelawny ma.n.u.script, 1839, 2nd edition; winds 1832, 1833, 1839, 1st edition.

_58 this Trelawny ma.n.u.script, 1839, 2nd edition; that 1832, 1833, 1839, 1st edition.

_61 thine own Trelawny ma.n.u.script, 1839, 2nd edition; its own 1832, 1833, 1839, 1st edition.

_76 on Trelawny ma.n.u.script, 1839, 2nd edition; in 1832, 1833, 1839, 1st edition.

_90 Jane Trelawny ma.n.u.script; friend 1832, 1833, editions 1839.

TO JANE: 'THE KEEN STARS WERE TWINKLING'.

[Published in part (lines 7-24) by Medwin (under the t.i.tle, "An Ariette for Music. To a Lady singing to her Accompaniment on the Guitar"), "The Athenaeum", November 17, 1832; reprinted by Mrs. Sh.e.l.ley, "Poetical Works", 1839, 1st edition. Republished in full (under the t.i.tle, To --.), "Poetical Works", 1839, 2nd edition. The Trelawny ma.n.u.script is headed "To Jane". Mr. C.W. Frederickson of Brooklyn possesses a transcript in an unknown hand.]

1.

The keen stars were twinkling, And the fair moon was rising among them, Dear Jane!

The guitar was tinkling, But the notes were not sweet till you sung them _5 Again.

2.

As the moon's soft splendour O'er the faint cold starlight of Heaven Is thrown, So your voice most tender _10 To the strings without soul had then given Its own.

3.

The stars will awaken, Though the moon sleep a full hour later, To-night; _15 No leaf will be shaken Whilst the dews of your melody scatter Delight.

4.

Though the sound overpowers, Sing again, with your dear voice revealing _20 A tone Of some world far from ours, Where music and moonlight and feeling Are one.

NOTES: _3 Dear *** 1839, 2nd edition.

_7 soft]pale Fred. ma.n.u.script.

_10 your 1839, 2nd edition.; thy 1832, 1839, 1st edition, Fred. ma.n.u.script.

_11 had then 1839, 2nd edition; has 1832, 1839, 1st edition; hath Fred. ma.n.u.script.

_12 Its]Thine Fred. ma.n.u.script.

_17 your 1839, 2nd edition; thy 1832, 1839, 1st edition, Fred. ma.n.u.script.

_19 sound]song Fred. ma.n.u.script.

_20 your dear 1839, 2nd edition; thy sweet 1832, 1839, 1st edition; thy soft Fred. ma.n.u.script.

A DIRGE.

[Published by Mrs. Sh.e.l.ley, "Posthumous Poems", 1824.]

Rough wind, that moanest loud Grief too sad for song; Wild wind, when sullen cloud Knells all the night long; Sad storm whose tears are vain, _5 Bare woods, whose branches strain, Deep caves and dreary main,-- Wail, for the world's wrong!

NOTE: _6 strain cj. Rossetti; stain edition 1824.

LINES WRITTEN IN THE BAY OF LERICI.

[Published from the Bos...o...b.. ma.n.u.scripts by Dr. Garnett, "Macmillan's Magazine", June, 1862; reprinted, "Relics of Sh.e.l.ley", 1862.]

She left me at the silent time When the moon had ceased to climb The azure path of Heaven's steep, And like an albatross asleep, Balanced on her wings of light, _5 Hovered in the purple night, Ere she sought her ocean nest In the chambers of the West.

She left me, and I stayed alone Thinking over every tone _10 Which, though silent to the ear, The enchanted heart could hear, Like notes which die when born, but still Haunt the echoes of the hill; And feeling ever--oh, too much!-- _15 The soft vibration of her touch, As if her gentle hand, even now, Lightly trembled on my brow; And thus, although she absent were, Memory gave me all of her _20 That even Fancy dares to claim:-- Her presence had made weak and tame All pa.s.sions, and I lived alone In the time which is our own; The past and future were forgot, _25 As they had been, and would be, not.

But soon, the guardian angel gone, The daemon rea.s.sumed his throne In my faint heart. I dare not speak My thoughts, but thus disturbed and weak _30 I sat and saw the vessels glide Over the ocean bright and wide, Like spirit-winged chariots sent O'er some serenest element For ministrations strange and far; _35 As if to some Elysian star Sailed for drink to medicine Such sweet and bitter pain as mine.

And the wind that winged their flight From the land came fresh and light, _40 And the scent of winged flowers, And the coolness of the hours Of dew, and sweet warmth left by day, Were scattered o'er the twinkling bay.

And the fisher with his lamp _45 And spear about the low rocks damp Crept, and struck the fish which came To wors.h.i.+p the delusive flame.

Too happy they, whose pleasure sought Extinguishes all sense and thought _50 Of the regret that pleasure leaves, Destroying life alone, not peace!

NOTES: _11 though silent Relics 1862; though now silent Mac. Mag. 1862.

_31 saw Relics 1862; watched Mac. Mag. 1862.

LINES: 'WE MEET NOT AS WE PARTED'.

[Published by Dr. Garnett, "Relics of Sh.e.l.ley", 1862.]

1.

We meet not as we parted, We feel more than all may see; My bosom is heavy-hearted, And thine full of doubt for me:-- One moment has bound the free. _5

2.

That moment is gone for ever, Like lightning that flashed and died-- Like a snowflake upon the river-- Like a sunbeam upon the tide, Which the dark shadows hide. _10

3.

That moment from time was singled As the first of a life of pain; The cup of its joy was mingled --Delusion too sweet though vain!

Too sweet to be mine again. _15

4.

Sweet lips, could my heart have hidden That its life was crushed by you, Ye would not have then forbidden The death which a heart so true Sought in your briny dew. _20

5.

Methinks too little cost For a moment so found, so lost! _25

THE ISLE.

[Published by Mrs. Sh.e.l.ley, "Posthumous Poems", 1824.]

There was a little lawny islet By anemone and violet, Like mosaic, paven: And its roof was flowers and leaves Which the summer's breath enweaves, _5 Where nor sun nor showers nor breeze Pierce the pines and tallest trees, Each a gem engraven;-- Girt by many an azure wave With which the clouds and mountains pave _10 A lake's blue chasm.