第2章

Ittookthemotheramonthtogetbackherfullforce，vigor，andeffect；

thisbringsustoJuly27thandthedeadlyCornelia。Ifawifeofeighteenisstudyingwithherhusbandandhegetssmittenwithanotherwoman，isn’thelikelytoloseinterestinhiswife’sstudiesforthatreason，andisnothiswife’sinterestinherstudieslikelytolanguishforthesamereason？Wouldnotthemeresightofthosebooksofherssharpenthepainthatisinherheart？Thissuddenbreakingdownofamutualintellectualinterestoftwoyears’standingiscoincidentwithShelley’sre-encounterwithCornelia；andweareallowedtogatherfromthattimeforthfornearlytwomonthshedidallhisstudyinginthatperson’ssociety。WefeelatlibertytoruleoutCountNo。2fromtheindictmentagainstHarriet。

Shelley’shappinessinhishomehadbeenwoundedandbruisedalmosttodeath，thirdly，becauseHarriet’swalkswithHoggcommonlyledtosomefashionablebonnet-shop。Ioffernopalliation；Ionlyaskwhythedispassionate，impartialjudgedidnotofferonehimself——merely，Imean，tooffsethisleniencyinasimilarcaseortwowherethegirlwhoranawaywithHarriet’shusbandwastheshopper。Thereareseveraloccasionswheresheinterestedherselfwithshopping——amongthembeingwalkswhichendedatthebonnet-shop——yetinnoneofthesecasesdoesshegetawordofblamefromthegoodjudge，whileinoneofthemhecoversthedeedwithajustifyingremark，shedoingtheshoppingthattimetofindeasementforhermind，herchildhavingdied。

Shelley’shappinessinhishomehadbeenwoundedandbruisedalmosttodeath，fourthly，bytheintroductionthereofawet-nurse。Thewet-nursewasintroducedatthetimeoftheEdinburghsojourn，immediatelyafterShelleyhadbeenenjoyingthetwomonthsofstudywithCorneliawhichbrokeuphiswife’sstudiesanddestroyedhispersonalinterestinthem。

Why，bythistime，nothingthatShelley’swifecoulddowouldhavebeensatisfactorytohim，forhewasinlovewithanotherwoman，andwasnevergoingtobecontentedagainuntilhegotbacktoher。Ifhehadbeenstillinlovewithhiswifeitisnoteasilyconceivablethathewouldcaremuchwhonursedthebaby，providedthebabywaswellnursed。

Harriet’sjealousywasassuredlyvoicingitselfnow，Shelley’sconsciencewasassuredlynagginghim，pesteringhim，persecutinghim。Shelleyneededexcusesforhisalteredattitudetowardshiswife；Providencepitiedhimandsentthewet-nurse。IfProvidencehadsenthimacottondoughnutitwouldhaveansweredjustaswell；allhewantedwassomethingtofindfaultwith。

Shelley’shappinessinhishomehadbeenwoundedandbruisedalmosttodeath，fifthly，becauseHarrietnarrowlywatchedasurgicaloperationwhichwasbeingperformeduponherchild，and，\"totheastonishmentoftheoperator，\"whowaswatchingHarrietinsteadofattendingtohisoperation，shebetrayed\"notthesmallestsignofemotion。\"Theauthorofthisbiographywasnotashamedtosetdownthatexultantslander。

Hewasapparentlynotawarethatitwasasmallbusinesstobringintohiscourtawitnesswhosenamehedoesnotknow，andwhosecharacterandveracitythereisnonetovouchfor，andallowhimtostrikethisblowatthemother-heartofthisfriendlessgirl。Thebiographersays，\"WemaynotinferfromthisthatHarrietdidnotfeel\"——whyputitin，then？——

\"butwelearnthatthoseabouthercouldbelievehertobehardandinsensible。\"Whowerethosewhowereabouther？Herhusband？Hehatedhernow，becausehewasinloveelsewhere。Hersister？Ofcoursethatisnotcharged。Peacock？Peacockdoesnottestify。Thewet-nurse？Shedoesnottestify。Ifanyothersweretherewehavenomentionofthem。

\"Thoseabouther\"arereducedtooneperson——herhusband。Whoreportsthecircumstance？ItisHogg。Perhapshewasthere——wedonotknow。

Butifhewas，hestillgothisinformationatsecond-hand，asitwastheoperatorwhonoticedHarriet’slackofemotion，nothimself。HoggisnotgiventosayingkindthingswhenHarrietishissubject。Hemayhavesaidthemthetimethathetriedtotempthertosoilherhonor，butafterthathementionsherusuallywithasneer。\"Amongthosewhowereabouther\"wasonewitnesswellequippedtosilencealltongues，abolishalldoubts，setourmindsatrest；onewitness，notcalled，andnotcallable，whoseevidence，ifwecouldbutgetit，wouldoutweightheoathsofwholebattalionsofhostileHoggsandnamelesssurgeons——thebaby。Iwishwehadthebaby’stestimony；andyetifwehadititwouldnotdousanygood——afurtiveconjecture，aslyinsinuation，apious\"if\"ortwo，wouldbesmuggledin，hereandthere，withasolemnairofjudicialinvestigation，anditspositivenesswouldwiltintodubiety。

ThebiographersaysofHarriet，\"Ifwordsoftenderaffectionandmotherlyprideprovedtherealityoflove，thenundoubtedlyshelovedherfirstbornchild。\"Thatis，ifmereemptywordscanproveit，itstandsproved——andinthisway，withoutcommittinghimself，hegivesthereaderachancetoinferthatthereisn’tanyextantevidencebutwords，andthathedoesn’ttakemuchstockinthem。Howseldomheshowshishand！

Heisalwayslurkingbehindanon-committal\"if\"orsomethingofthatkind；alwaysglidinganddodgingaround，distributingcolorlesspoisonhereandthereandeverywhere，butalwaysleavinghimselfinapositiontosaythathislanguagewillbefoundinnocuousiftakentopiecesandexamined。Heclearlyexhibitsasteadyandnever-relaxingpurposetomakeHarrietthescapegoatforherhusband’sfirstgreatsin——butitisinthegeneralviewthatthisisrevealed，notinthedetails。Hisinsidiousliteratureislikebluewater；youknowwhatitisthatmakesitblue，butyoucannotproduceandverifyanydetailofthecloudofmicroscopicdustinitthatdoesit。Youradversarycandipupaglassfulandshowyouthatitispurewhiteandyoucannotdenyit；andhecandipthelakedry，glassbyglass，andshowthateveryglassfuliswhite，andproveittoanyone’seye——andyetthatlakewasblueandyoucanswearit。Thisbookisblue——withslanderinsolution。

Letthereaderexamine，forexample，theparagraphofcommentwhichimmediatelyfollowsthelettercontainingShelley’sself-exposurewhichwehavebeenconsidering。Thisisit。Oneshouldinspecttheindividualsentencesastheygoby，thenpasstheminprocessionandreviewthecake-walkasawhole：

\"Shelley’shappinessinhishome，asisevidentfromthispatheticletter，hadbeenfatallystricken；itisevident，also，thatheknewwheredutylay；hefeltthathispartwastotakeuphisburden，silentlyandsorrowfully，andtobearithenceforthwiththequietnessofdespair。Butwecanperceivethathescarcelypossessedthestrengthandfortitudeneedfulforsuccessinsuchanattempt。AndclearlyShelleyhimselfwasawarehowperilousitwastoacceptthatrespiteofblissfuleasewhichheenjoyedintheBoinvillehousehold；forgentlevoicesanddewylooksandwordsofsympathycouldnotfailtoremindhimofanidealoftranquillityorofjoywhichcouldneverbehis，andwhichhemusthenceforthsternlyexcludefromhisimagination。\"

Thatparagraphcommitstheauthorinnoway。Takensentencebysentenceitassertsnothingagainstanybodyorinfavorofanybody，pleadsfornobody，accusesnobody。Takendetailbydetail，itisasinnocentasmoonshine。Andyet，takenasawhole，itisadesignagainstthereader；

itsintentistoremovethefeelingwhichthelettermustleavewithhimifletalone，andputadifferentoneinitsplace——toremoveafeelingjustifiedbytheletterandsubstituteonenotjustifiedbyit。Theletteritselfgivesyounouncertainpicture——nolecturerisneededtostandbywithastickandpointoutitsdetailsandletontoexplainwhattheymean。Thepictureistheveryclearandremorsefullyfaithfulpictureofafallenandfetteredangelwhoisashamedofhimself；anangelwhobeatshissoiledwingsandcries，whocomplainstothewomanwhoenticedhimthathecouldhavebornehiswaywardlot，hecouldhavestoodbyhisdutyifithadnotbeenforherbeguilements；anangelwhorailsatthe\"boundlessoceanofabhorredsociety，\"andragesathispoorjudicioussister-in-law。Ifthereisanydignityaboutthisspectacleitwillescapemostpeople。

Yetwhentheparagraphofcommentistakenasawhole，thepictureisfullofdignityandpathos；wehavebeforeusablamelessandnoblespiritstrickentotheearthbymalignpowers，butnotconquered；

tempted，butgrandlyputtingthetemptationaway；enmeshedbysubtlecoils，butsternlyresolvedtorendthemandmarchforthvictorious，atanyperiloflifeorlimb。Curtain——slowmusic。

WasitthepurposeoftheparagraphtotakethebadtasteofShelley’sletteroutofthereader’smouth？Ifthatwasnotit，goodinkwaswasted；withoutthat，ithasnorelevancy——themultiplicationtablewouldhavepaddedthespaceasrationally。

Wehaveinspectedthesixreasonswhichweareaskedtobelievedroveamanofconspicuouspatience，honor，justice，fairness，kindliness，andironfirmness，resolution，andsteadfastness，fromthewifewhomhelovedandwholovedhim，toarefugeinthemephiticparadiseofBracknell。

Thesearesixinfinitelylittlereasons；butthereweresixcolossalones，andthesethecounselforthedestructionofHarrietShelleypersistsinnotconsideringveryimportant。

Moreover，thecolossalsixprecededthelittlesixandhaddonethemischiefbeforetheywereborn。Letusdouble-columnthetwelve；thenweshallseeataglancethateachlittlereasonisinturnansweredbyaretortingreasonofasizetoovershadowitandmakeitinsignificant：

1。Harrietsetsupcarriage。1。CORNELIATURNER。

2。Harrietstopsstudying。2。CORNELIATURNER。

3。Harrietgoestobonnet-shop。3。CORNELIATURNER。

4。Harriettakesawet-nurse。4。CORNELIATURNER。

5。Harriethastoomuchnerve。5。CORNELIATURNER。

6。Detestedsister-in-law。fi。6。CORNELIATURNER。

AssoonaswecomprehendthatCorneliaTurnerandtheItalianlessonshappenedbeforethelittlesixhadbeendiscoveredtobegrievances，weunderstandwhyShelley’shappinessinhishomehadbeenwoundedandbruisedalmosttodeath，andnoonecanpersuadeusintolayingitonHarriet。ShelleyandCorneliaaretheresponsiblepersons，andwecannotinhonoranddecencyallowthecrueltieswhichtheypractisedupontheunoffendingwifetobepushedasideinordertogiveusachancetowastetimeandtearsoversixsentimentaljustificationsofanoffencewhichthesixcan’tjustify，norevenrespectablyassistinjustifying。

Six？Therewereseven；butincharitytothebiographertheseventhoughtnottobeexposed。Still，hehungitouthimself，andnotonlyhungitout，butthoughtitwasagoodpointinShelley’sfavor。FortwoyearsShelleyfoundsympathyandintellectualfoodandallthatathome；

therewasenoughforspiritualandmentalsupport，butnotenoughforluxury；andso，attheendofthecontentedtwoyears，thislatterdetailjustifieshimingoingbagandbaggageovertoCorneliaTurnerandsupplyingtherestofhisneedinthewayofsurplussympathyandintellectualpieunlawfully。Bythesamereasoningamaninmerelycomfortablecircumstancesmayrobabankwithoutsin。

III

Itis1814，itisthe16thofMarch，Shelleyhas，writtenhisletter，hehasbeenintheBoinvilleparadiseamonth，hisdesertedwifeisinherhusbandlesshome。Mischiefhadbeenwrought。Itisthebiographerwhoconcedesthis。WegreatlyneedsomelightonHarriet’ssideofthecasenow；weneedtoknowhowsheenjoyedthemonth，butthereisnowaytoinformourselves；thereseemstobeastrangeabsenceofdocumentsandlettersanddiariesonthatside。Shelleykeptadiary，theapproachingMaryGodwinkeptadiary，herfatherkeptone，herhalf-sisterbymarriage，adoption，andthedispensationofGodkeptone，andtheentiretribeandallitsfriendswroteandreceivedletters，andtheletterswerekeptandareproduciblewhenthisbiographyneedsthem；butthereareonlythreeorfourscrapsofHarriet’swriting，andnodiary。

Harrietwroteplentyofletterstoherhusband——nobodyknowswheretheyare，Isuppose；shewroteplentyofletterstootherpeople——apparentlytheyhavedisappeared，too。Peacocksaysshewrotegoodletters，butapparentlyinterestedpeoplehadsagacityenoughtomislaythemintime。

Afterallherindustryshewentdownintohergraveandliessilentthere——silent，whenshehassomuchneedtospeak。Wecanonlywonderatthismystery，notaccountforit。

No，thereisnowayoffindingoutwhatHarriet’sstateoffeelingwasduringthemonththatShelleywasdisportinghimselfintheBracknellparadise。Wehavetofallbackuponconjecture，asourfabulistdoeswhenhehasnothingmoresubstantialtoworkwith。ThenweeasilyconjecturethatasthedaysdraggedbyHarriet’sheartgrewheavierandheavierunderitstwoburdens——shameandresentment：theshameofbeingpointedatandgossipedaboutasadesertedwife，andresentmentagainstthewomanwhohadbeguiledherhusbandfromherandnowkepthiminadisreputablecaptivity。Desertedwives——desertedwhetherforcauseorwithoutcause——findsmallcharityamongthevirtuousandthediscreet。

Weconjecturethatoneafteranothertheneighborsceasedtocall；thatoneafteranothertheygottobeing\"engaged\"whenHarrietcalled；thatfinallytheyoneaftertheothercutherdeadonthestreet；thatafterthatshestayedinthehousedaytimes，andbroodedoverhersorrows，andnighttimesdidthesame，therebeingnothingelsetodowiththeheavyhoursandthesilenceandsolitudeandthedrearyintervalswhichsleepshouldhavecharitablybridged，butdidn’t。

Yes，mischiefhadbeenwrought。Thebiographerarrivesatthisconclusion，anditisamostjustone。Then，justasyoubegintohalfhopeheisgoingtodiscoverthecauseofitandlaunchhotboltsofwrathattheguiltymanufacturersofit，youhavetoturnawaydisappointed。Youaredisappointed，andyousigh。Thisiswhathesays——theitalics[’’]aremine：

\"Howeverthemischiefmayhavebeenwrought——’andatthisdaynoonecanwishtoheapblameananyburiedhead’——\"

SoitispoorHarriet，afterall。Sternjusticemusttakeitscourse——

justicetemperedwithdelicacy，justicetemperedwithcompassion，justicethatpitiesaforlorndeadgirlandrefusestostrikeher。Exceptintheback。Willnotbeignobleandsaytheharshthing，butonlyinsinuateit。Sternjusticeknowsaboutthecarriageandthewet-nurseandthebonnet-shopandtheotherdarkthingsthatcausedthissadmischief，andmaynot，mustnotblinkthem；soitdeliversjudgmentwherejudgmentbelongs，butsoftenstheblowbynotseemingtodeliverjudgmentatall。

Toresume——theitalicsaremine：

\"Howeverthemischiefmayhavebeenwrought——andatthisdaynoonecanwishtoheapblameonanyburiedhead——’itiscertainthatsomecauseorcausesofdeepdivisionbetweenShelleyandhiswifewereinoperationduringtheearlypartoftheyear1814’。\"

Thisshowspenetration。Nodeductioncouldbemoreaccuratethanthis。

Therewereindeedsomecausesofdeepdivision。Butnextcomesanotherdisappointingsentence：

\"Toguessattheprecisenatureofthesecafes，intheabsenceofdefinitestatement，wereuseless。\"

Why，hehasalreadybeenguessingatthemforseveralpages，andwehavebeentryingtooutguesshim，andnowallofasuddenheistiredofitandwon’tplayanymore。Itisnotquitefairtous。However，hewillgetoverthisby-and-by，whenShelleycommitshisnextindiscretionandhastobeguessedoutofitatHarriet’sexpense。

\"WemayrestcontentwithShelley’sownwords\"——inaChancerypaperdrawnupbyhimthreeyearslater。Theywerethese：\"Delicacyforbidsmetosaymorethanthatweweredisunitedbyincurabledissensions。\"

Asforme，Idonotquiteseewhyweshouldrestcontentwithanythingofthesort。Itisnotaverydefinitestatement。Itdoesnotnecessarilymeananythingmorethanthathedidnotwishtogointothetediousdetailsofthosefamilyquarrels。Delicacycouldquiteproperlyexcusehimfromsaying，\"IwasinlovewithCorneliaallthattime；mywifekeptcryingandworryingaboutitandupbraidingmeandbeggingmetocutmyselffreefromaconnectionwhichwaswrongingheranddisgracingusboth；andIbeingstungbythesereproachesretortedwithfierceandbitterspeeches——foritismynaturetodothatwhenIamstirred，especiallyifthetargetofthemisapersonwhomIhadgreatlylovedandrespectedbefore，aswitnessmyvariousattitudestowardsMissHitchener，theGisbornes，Harriet’ssister，andothers——andfinallyIdidnotimprovethisstateofthingswhenIdesertedmywifeandspentawholemonthwiththewomanwhohadinfatuatedme。\"

No，hecouldnotgointothosedetails，andweexcusehim；but，nevertheless，wedonotrestcontentwiththisblandpropositiontopuffawaythatwholelongdisreputableepisodewithasinglemean，meaninglessremarkofShelley’s。

Wedoadmitthat\"itiscertainthatsomecauseorcausesofdeepdivisionwereinoperation。\"Wewouldadmititjustthesameifthegrammarofthestatementwereasstraightasastring，forwedriftintoprettyindifferentgrammarourselveswhenweareabsorbedinhistoricalwork；butwehavetodeclinetoadmitthatwecannotguessthosecauseorcauses。

Butguessingisnotreallynecessary。Thereisevidenceattainable——

evidencefromthebatchdiscreditedbythebiographerandsetoutatthebackdoorinhisappendix-basket；andyetacourtoflawwouldthinktwicebeforethrowingitout，whereasitwouldbeahardypersonwhowouldventuretoofferinsuchaplaceagoodpartofthematerialwhichisplacedbeforethereadersofthisbookas\"evidence，\"andsotreatedbythisdaringbiographer。Amongsomeletters（intheappendix-basket）

fromMrs。Godwin，detailingtheGodwinianshareintheShelleyaneventsof1814，shetellshowHarrietShelleycametoherandherhusband，agitatedandweeping，toimplorethemtoforbidShelleythehouse，andpreventhisseeingMaryGodwin。

\"SherelatedthatlastNovemberhehadfalleninlovewithMrs。

TurnerandpaidhersuchmarkedattentionsMr。Turner，thehusband，hadcarriedoffhiswifetoDevonshire。\"

Thebiographerfindsatechnicalfaultinthis；\"theShelleyswereinEdinburghinNovember。\"Whatofthat？Thewomanisrecallingaconversationwhichismorethantwomonthsold；besides，shewasprobablymoreintentuponthecentralandimportantfactofitthanuponitsunimportantdate。Harriet’squotedstatementhassomesenseinit；forthatreason，iffornoother，itoughttohavebeenputinthebodyofthebook。Still，thatwouldnothaveanswered；eventhebiographer’senemycouldnotbecruelenoughtoaskhimtoletthisrealgrievance，thiscompactandsubstantialandpicturesquefigure，thisrawhead-and-

bloody-bones，comestridinginthereamongthosepaleshams，thosericketyspectreslabeledWET-NURSE，BONNET-SHOP，andsoon——no，thefatherofallmalicecouldnotaskthebiographertoexposehispatheticgoblinstoacompetitionlikethat。

Thefabulistfindsfaultwiththestatementbecauseithasatechnicalerrorinit；andhedoesthisatthemomentthatheisfurnishingusanerrorhimself，andofagraversort。Hesays：

\"IfTurnercarriedoffhiswifetoDevonshirehebroughtherbackandShelleywasstayingwithherandhermotherontermsofcordialintimacyinMarch，1814。\"

Weacceptthe\"cordialintimacy\"——itwastheverythingHarrietwascomplainingof——butthereisnothingtoshowthatitwasTurnerwhobroughthiswifeback。Thestatementisthrowninasifitwerenotonlytrue，butwasproofthatTurnerwasnotuneasy。Turner’smovementsareproofofnothing。NothingbutastatementfromTurner’smouthwouldhaveanyvaluehere，andhemadenone。

SixdaysafterwritinghisletterShelleyandhiswifeweretogetheragainforamoment——togetremarriedaccordingtotheritesoftheEnglishChurch。

Withinthreeweeksthenewhusbandandwifewereapartagain，andtheformerwasbackinhisodorousparadise。Thistimeitisthewifewhodoesthedeserting。ShefindsCorneliatoostrongforher，probably。

Atanyrate，shegoesawaywithherbabyandsister，andwehaveaplayfulflingatherfromgoodMrs。Boinville，the\"mysteriousspinnerMaimuna\"；shewhose\"facewasasadamsel’sface，andyetherhairwasgray\"；sheofwhomthebiographerhassaid，\"Shelleywasindeedcaughtinanalmostinvisiblethreadspunaroundhim，butunconsciously，bythissubtleandbenignantenchantress。\"ThesubtleandbenignantenchantresswritestoHogg，April18：\"Shelleyisagainawidower；hisbeauteoushalfwenttotownonThursday。\"

ThenShelleywritesapoem——achantofgriefoverthehardfatewhichobligeshimnowtoleavehisparadiseandtakeupwithhiswifeagain。

Itseemstointimatethattheparadiseiscoolingtowardshim；thatheiswarnedoffbyacclamation；thathemustnotevenventuretotemptwithonelasttearhisfriendCornelia’sungentlemood，forhereyeisglazedandcoldanddaresnotentreatherlovertostay：

ExhibitE

\"Pausenot！thetimeispast！Everyvoicecries’Away！’

Temptnotwithonelasttearthyfriend’sungentlemood；

Thylover’seye，soglazedandcold，daresnotentreatthystay：

Dutyandderelictionguidetheebacktosolitude。\"

Backtothesolitudeofhisnowemptyhome，thatis！

\"Away！away！tothysadandsilenthome；

Pourbittertearsonitsdesolatedhearth。\"……

Buthewillhaverestinthegraveby-and-by。Untilthattimecomes，thecharmsofBracknellwillremaininhismemory，alongwithMrs。

Boinville’svoiceandCorneliaTurner’ssmile：

\"Thouinthegraveshaltrest——yet，tillthephantomsfleeWhichthathouseandhearthandgardenmadedeartotheeerewhile，ThyremembranceandrepentanceanddeepmusingsarenotfreeFromthemusicoftwovoicesandthelightofonesweetsmile。\"

WecannotwonderthatHarrietcouldnotstandit。Anyofuswouldhaveleft。Wewouldnotevenstaywithacatthatwasinthiscondition。

EventheBoinvillescouldnotendureit；andso，aswehaveseen，theygavethisonenotice。

\"EarlyinMay，ShelleywasinLondon。HedidnotyetdespairofreconciliationwithHarriet，norhadheceasedtoloveher。\"

Shelley’spoemsareagooddealoftroubletohisbiographer。Theyareconstantlyinsertedas\"evidence，\"andtheymakemuchconfusion。Assoonasoneofthemhasprovedonething，anotheronefollowsandprovesquiteadifferentthing。ThepoemjustquotedshowsthathewasinlovewithCornelia，butamonthlaterheisinlovewithHarrietagain，andthereisapoemtoproveit。

\"InthispiteousappealShelleydeclaresthathehasnownogriefbutone——thegriefofhavingknownandlosthiswife’slove。\"

ExhibitF

\"ThylookoflovehaspowertocalmThestormiestpassionofmysoul。\"

Butwithoutdoubtshehadbeenreservingherlooksofloveagoodpartofthetimefortenmonths，now——eversincehebegantolavishhisownonCorneliaTurnerattheendofthepreviousJuly。HedoesreallyseemtohavealreadyforgottenCornelia’smeritsinonebriefmonth，forheeulogizesHarrietinawaywhichrulesallcompetitionout：

\"Thouonlyvirtuous，gentle，kind，Amidaworldofhate。\"

Hecomplainsofherhardness，andbegshertomaketheconcessionofa\"slightendurance\"——ofhiswaywardness，perhaps——forthesakeof\"afellow-being’slastingweal。\"Butthemainforceofhisappealisinhisclosingstanza，andisstronglyworded：

\"Otractforoncenoerringguide！

Bidtheremorselessfeelingflee；

’Tismalice，’tisrevenge，’tispride，’Tisanythingbutthee；

Ideignanoblerpridetoprove，Andpityifthoucanstnotlove。\"

ThisisinMay——apparentlytowardstheendofit。HarrietandShelleywerecorrespondingallthetime。Harrietgotthepoem——acopyexistsinherownhandwriting；shebeingtheonlygentleandkindpersonamidaworldofhate，accordingtoShelley’sowntestimonyinthepoem，wearepermittedtothinkthatthedailyletterswouldpresentlyhavemeltedthatkindandgentleheartandbroughtaboutthereconciliation，iftherehadbeentimebuttherewasn’t；forinaveryfewdays——infact，beforethe8thofJune——Shelleywasinlovewithanotherwoman。

Andso——perhapswhileHarrietwaswalkingthefloornights，tryingtogetherpoembyheart——herhusbandwasdoingafreshone——fortheothergirl——MaryWollstonecraftGodwin——withsentimentsliketheseinit：

ExhibitG

Tospendyearsthusandberewarded，Asthou，sweetlove，requitedmeWhennonewerenear……thylipsdidmeetMinetremblingly；……，\"Gentleandgoodandmildthouart，NorcanIliveifthouappearAughtbutthyself。\"……

Andsoon。\"BeforethecloseofJuneitwasknownandfeltbyMaryandShelleythateachwasinexpressiblydeartotheother。\"Yes，Shelleyhadfoundthischildofsixteentohisliking，andhadwooedandwonherinthegraveyard。Butthatisnothing；itwasbetterthanwooingherinhernursery，atanyrate，whereitmighthavedisturbedtheotherchildren。

However，shewasachildinyearsonly。FromthedaythatshesethermasculinegriponShelleyhewastofrisknomore。IfshehadoccupiedtheonlykindandgentleHarriet’splaceinMarchitwouldhavebeenathrillingspectacletoseeherinvadetheBoinvillerookeryandreadtheriotact。ThatholidayofShelley’swouldhavebeenofshortduration，andCornelia’shairwouldhavebeenasgrayashermother’swhentheserviceswereover。

HoggwenttotheGodwinresidenceinSkinnerStreetwithShelleyonthat8thofJune。TheypassedthroughGodwin’slittledebt-factoryofabook-

shopandwentup-stairshuntingfortheproprietor。Nobodythere。

Shelleystrodeabouttheroomimpatiently，makingitscrazyfloorquakeunderhim。Thenadoor\"waspartiallyandsoftlyopened。Athrillingvoicecalled’Shelley！’Athrillingvoiceanswered，’Mary！’Andhedartedoutoftheroomlikeanarrowfromthebowofthefar-shootingKing。Averyyoungfemale，fairandfair-haired，pale，indeed，andwithapiercinglook，wearingafrockoftartan，anunusualdressinLondonatthattime，hadcalledhimoutoftheroom。\"

ThisisMaryGodwin，asdescribedbyHogg。ThethrillofthevoicesshowsthattheloveofShelleyandMarywasalreadyupwardofafortnightold；thereforeithadbeenbornwithinthemonthofMay——bornwhileHarrietwasstilltryingtogetherpoembyheart，wethink。ImustnotbeaskedhowIknowsomuchaboutthatthrill；itismysecret。ThebiographerandIhaveprivatewaysoffindingoutthingswhenitisnecessarytofindthemoutandthecustomarymethodsfail。

ShelleyleftLondonthatday，andwasgonetendays。ThebiographerconjecturesthathespentthisintervalwithHarrietinBath。Itwouldbejustlikehim。Totheendofhisdayshelikedtobeinlovewithtwowomenatonce。HewasmoreinlovewithMissHitchenerwhenhemarriedHarrietthanhewaswithHarriet，andtoldtheladysowithsimpleandunostentatiouscandor。HewasmoreinlovewithCorneliathanhewaswithHarrietintheendof1813andthebeginningof1814，yethesuppliedbothofthemwithlovepoemsofanequaltemperaturemeantime；

helovedMaryandHarrietinJune，andwhilegettingreadytorunoffwiththeone，itisconjecturedthatheputinhisoddtimetryingtogetreconciledtotheother；by-and-by，whilestillinlovewithMary，hewillmakelovetoherhalf-sisterbymarriage，adoption，andthevisitationofGod，throughthemediumofclandestineletters，andshewillanswerwithlettersthatarefornoeyebuthisown。

WhenShelleyencounteredMaryGodwinhewaslookingaroundforanotherparadise。Hehad，tastesofhisown，andtherewerefeaturesabouttheGodwinestablishmentthatstronglyrecommendedit。Godwinwasanadvancedthinkerandanablewriter。Oneofhisromancesisstillread，buthisphilosophicalworks，oncesoesteemed，areoutofvoguenow；

theirauthoritywasalreadydecliningwhenShelleymadehisacquaintance——thatis，itwasdecliningwiththepublic，butnotwithShelley。TheyhadbeenhismoralandpoliticalBible，andtheywerethatyet。ShelleytheinfidelwouldhimselfhaveclaimedtobelessaworkofGodthanaworkofGodwin。Godwin’sphilosophieshadformedhismindandinterwoventhemselvesintoitandbecomeapartofitstexture；heregardedhimselfasGodwin’sspiritualson。Godwinwasnotwithoutself-appreciation；

indeed，itmaybeconjecturedthatfromhispointofviewthelastsyllableofhisnamewassurplusage。Helivedsereneinhisloftyworldofphilosophy，farabovethemeanintereststhatabsorbedsmallermen，andonlycamedowntothegroundatintervalstopassthehatforalmstopayhisdebtswith，andinsultthemanthatrelievedhim。Severalofhisprincipleswereoutoftheordinary。Forexample，hewasopposedtomarriage。Hewasnotawarethathispreachingsfromthistextwerebuttheoryandwind；hesupposedhewasinearnestinimploringpeopletolivetogetherwithoutmarrying，untilShelleyfurnishedhimaworkingmodelofhisschemeandapracticalexampletoanalyze，byapplyingtheprincipleinhisownfamily；themattertookadifferentandsurprisingaspectthen。ThelateMatthewArnoldsaidthatthemaindefectinShelley’smake-upwasthathewasdestituteofthesenseofhumor。ThisepisodemusthaveescapedMr。Arnold’sattention。

Butwehavesaidenoughabouttheheadofthenewparadise。Mrs。Godwinisdescribedasbeinginseveralwaysaterror；andevenwhenhersoulwasinreposesheworegreenspectacles。ButIsuspectthathermainunattractivenesswasbornofthefactthatshewrotethelettersthatareoutintheappendix-basketinthebackyard——letterswhichareanoutrageandwhollyuntrustworthy，fortheysaysomekindthingsaboutpoorHarrietandtellsomedisagreeabletruthsaboutherhusband；andthesethingsmakethefabulistgrithisteethagooddeal。

NextwehaveFannyGodwin——aGodwinbycourtesyonly；shewasMrs。

Godwin’snaturaldaughterbyaformerfriend。Shewasasweetandwinninggirl，butshepresentlyweariedoftheGodwinparadise，andpoisonedherself。

LastinthelistisJane（orClaire，asshepreferredtocallherself）

Clairmont，daughterofMrs。Godwinbyaformermarriage。Shewasveryyoungandprettyandaccommodating，andalwaysreadytodowhatshecouldtomakethingspleasant。AfterShelleyranoffwithherpart-sisterMary，shebecametheguestofthepair，andcontributedanaturalchildtotheirnursery——Allegra。LordByronwasthefather。

WehavenamedtheseveralmembersandadvantagesofthenewparadiseinSkinnerStreet，withitscrazybook-shopunderneath。Shelleywasallrightnow，thiswasabetterplacethantheother；morevarietyanyway，andmoredifferentkindsoffragrance。Onecouldturnoutpoetryherewithoutanytroubleatall。

Thewaythenewlove-matchcameaboutwasthis：

ShelleytoldMaryallhisaggravationsandsorrowsandgriefs，andaboutthewet-nurseandthebonnetshopandthesurgeonandthecarriage，andthesister-in-lawthatblockedtheLondongame，andaboutCorneliaandhermamma，andhowtheyhadturnedhimoutofthehouseaftermakingsomuchofhim；andhowhehaddesertedHarrietandthenHarriethaddesertedhim，andhowthereconciliationwasworkingalongandHarrietgettingherpoembyheart；andstillhewasnothappy，andMarypitiedhim，forshehadhadtroubleherself。ButIamnotsatisfiedwiththis。

Itreadstoomuchlikestatistics。Itlackssmoothnessandgrace，andistooearthyandbusiness-like。Ithasthesordidlookofatrades-unionprocessionoutonstrike。Thatisnottherightformforit。Thebookdoesitbetter；wewillfallbackonthebookandhaveacake-walk：

\"Itwaseasytodivinethatsomerestlessgriefpossessedhim；

Maryherselfwasnotunlearnedintheloreofpain。Hisgenerouszealinherfather’sbehalf，hisspiritualsonshiptoGodwin，hisreverenceforhermother’smemory，wereguaranteeswithMaryofhisexcellence。——[Whatshewasafterwasguaranteesofhisexcellence。Thathestoodreadytodeserthiswifeandchildwasoneofthem，apparently。]——Thenewfriendscouldnotlacksubjectsofdiscourse，andunderneaththeirwordsaboutMary’smother，and’PoliticalJustice，’and’RightsofWoman，’weretwoyounghearts，eachfeelingtowardstheother，eachperhapsunaware，tremblinginthedirectionoftheother。Thedesiretoassuagethesufferingofonewhosehappinesshasgrownprecioustousmaybecomeahungerofthespiritaskeenasanyother，andthishungernowpossessedMary’sheart；whenhereyesrestedunseenonShelley，itwaswithalookfulloftheardorofa’soothingpity。’\"

Yes，thatisbetterandhasmorecomposure。Thatisjustthewayithappened。Hetoldheraboutthewet-nurse，shetoldhimaboutpoliticaljustice；hetoldheraboutthedeadlysister-in-law，shetoldhimabouthermother；hetoldheraboutthebonnet-shop，shemurmuredbackabouttherightsofwoman；thenheassuagedher，thensheassuagedhim；thenheassuagedhersomemore，nextsheassuagedhimsomemore；thentheybothassuagedoneanothersimultaneously；andsotheywentonbythehourassuagingandassuagingandassuaging，untilatlastwhatwastheresult？

Theywereinlove。Itwillhappensoeverytime。

\"Hehadmarriedawomanwho，ashenowpersuadedhimself，hadnevertrulylovedhim，wholovedonlyhisfortuneandhisrank，andwhoprovedherselfishnessbydesertinghiminhismisery。\"

IthinkthatthatisnotquitefairtoHarriet。WehavenocertaintythatsheknewCorneliahadturnedhimoutofthehouse。HewentbacktoCornelia，andHarrietmayhavesupposedthathewasashappywithherasever。Still，itwasjudicioustobegintolayonthewhitewash，forShelleyisgoingtoneedmanyacoatofitnow，andthesoonerthereaderbecomesusedtotheintrusionofthebrushthesoonerhewillgetreconciledtoitandstopfrettingaboutit。

AfterShelley’s（conjectured）visittoHarrietatBath——8thofJuneto18th——\"itseemstohavebeenarrangedthatShelleyshouldhenceforthjointheSkinnerStreethouseholdeachdayatdinner。\"

Nothingcouldbehandierthanthis；thingswillswimalongnow。

\"AlthoughnowShelleywascomingtobelievethathisweddedunionwithHarrietwasathingofthepast，hehadnotceasedtoregardherwithaffectionateconsideration；hewrotetoherfrequently，andkeptherinformedofhiswhereabouts。\"

WemustnotgetimpatientoverthesecuriousinharmoniousnessesandirreconcilabilitiesinShelley’scharacter。Youcanseebythebiographer’sattitudetowardsthemthatthereisnothingobjectionableaboutthem。Shelleywasdoinghisbesttomaketwoadoringyoungcreatureshappy：hewasregardingtheonewithaffectionateconsiderationbymail，andhewasassuagingtheotheroneathome。

\"UnhappyHarriet，residingatBath，hadperhapsneverdesiredthatthebreachbetweenherselfandherhusbandshouldbeirreparableandcomplete。\"

Ifindnofaultwiththatsentenceexceptthatthe\"perhaps\"isnotstrictlywarranted。Itshouldhavebeenleftout。Insupport——orshallwesayextenuation？——ofthisopinionIsubmitthatthereisnotsufficientevidencetowarranttheuncertaintywhichitimplies。Theonly\"evidence\"offeredthatHarrietwashardandproudandstandingoutagainstareconciliationisapoem——thepoeminwhichShelleybeseechesherto\"bidtheremorselessfeelingflee\"and\"pity\"ifshe\"cannotlove。\"Wehavejustthatas\"evidence，\"andoutofitsmeagrematerialsthebiographerbuildsacobhouseofconjecturesasbigastheColiseum；

conjectureswhichconvincehim，theprosecutingattorney，butoughttofallfarshortofconvincinganyfair-mindedjury。

Shelley’slove-poemsmaybeverygoodevidence，butweknowwellthattheyare\"goodforthisdayandtrainonly。\"Weareabletobelievethattheyspokethetruthforthatoneday，butweknowbyexperiencethattheycouldnotbedependedontospeakitthenext。TheverysupplicationforarewarmingofHarriet’schilledlovewasfollowedsosuddenlybythepoet’splungeintoanadoringpassionforMaryGodwinthatifithadbeenacheckitwouldhavelostitsvaluebeforealazypersoncouldhavegottentothebankwithit。

Hardness，stubbornness，pride，vindictiveness——thesemaysometimesresideinayoungwifeandmotherofnineteen，buttheyarenotchargedagainstHarrietShelleyoutsideofthatpoem，andonehasnorighttoinsertthemintohercharacteronsuchshadowy\"evidence\"asthat。PeacockknewHarrietwell，andshehasaflexibleandpersuadablelook，aspaintedbyhim：

\"Hermannersweregood，andherwholeaspectanddemeanorsuchmanifestemanationsofpureandtruthfulnaturethattobeonceinhercompanywastoknowherthoroughly。Shewasfondofherhusband，andaccommodatedherselfineverywaytohistastes。

Iftheymixedinsociety，sheadornedit；iftheylivedinretirement，shewassatisfied；iftheytravelled，sheenjoyedthechangeofscene。\"

\"Perhaps\"shehadneverdesiredthatthebreachshouldbeirreparableandcomplete。Thetruthis，wedonotevenknowthattherewasanybreachatallatthistime。Weknowthatthehusbandandwifewentbeforethealtarandtookanewoathonthe24thofMarchtoloveandcherisheachotheruntildeath——andthismayberegardedasasortofreconciliationitself，andawipingoutoftheoldgrudges。ThenHarrietwentaway，andthesister-in-lawremovedherselffromhersociety。ThatwasinApril。

Shelleywrotehis\"appeal\"inMay，butthecorrespondingwentrightalongafterwards。Wehavearighttodoubtthatthesubjectofitwasa\"reconciliation，\"orthatHarriethadanysuspicionthatsheneededtobereconciledandthatherhusbandwastryingtopersuadehertoit——asthebiographerhassoughttomakeusbelieve，withhisColiseumofconjecturesbuiltoutofawaste-basketofpoetry。Forwehave\"evidence\"now——notpoetryandconjecture。WhenShelleyhadbeendiningdailyintheSkinnerStreetparadisefifteendaysandcontinuingthelove-matchwhichwasalreadyafortnightoldtwenty-fivedaysearlier，heforgottowriteHarriet；forgotitthenextdayandthenext。DuringfourdaysHarrietgotnoletterfromhim。Thenherfrightandanxietyrosetoexpression-heat，andshewrotealettertoShelley’spublisherwhichseemstorevealtousthatShelley’sletterstoherhadbeenthecustomaryaffectionatelettersofhusbandtowife，andhadcarriednoappealsforreconciliationandhadnotneededto：

\"BATH（postmarkJuly7，1814）。

\"MYDEARSIR，——YouwillgreatlyobligemebygivingtheenclosedtoMr。Shelley。Iwouldnottroubleyou，butitisnowfourdayssinceIhaveheardfromhim，whichtomeisanage。Willyouwritebyreturnofpostandtellmewhathasbecomeofhim？asIalwaysfancysomethingdreadfulhashappenedifIdonothearfromhim。IfyoutellmethatheiswellIshallnotcometoLondon，butifIdonothearfromyouorhimIshallcertainlycome，asIcannotendurethisdreadfulstateofsuspense。Youarehisfriendandyoucanfeelforme。

\"Iremainyourstruly，\"H。S。\"

EvenwithoutPeacock’stestimonythat\"herwholeaspectanddemeanorweremanifestemanationsofapureandtruthfulnature，\"weshouldholdthistobeatruthfulletter，asincereletter，alovingletter；itbearsthosemarks；Ithinkitisalsotheletterofapersonaccustomedtoreceivinglettersfromherhusbandfrequently，andthattheyhavebeenofawelcomeandsatisfactorysort，too，thislongtimeback——eversincethesolemnremarriageandreconciliationatthealtarmostlikely。

ThebiographerfollowsHarriet’sletterwithaconjecture。

Heconjecturesthatshe\"wouldnowgladlyhaveretracedhersteps。\"

Whichmeansthatitisproventhatshehadstepstoretrace——provenbythepoem。Well，ifthepoemisbetterevidencethantheletter，wemustletitstandatthat。

ThenthebiographerattacksHarrietShelley’shonor——byauthorityofrandomandunverifiedgossipscavengeredfromagroupofpeoplewhoseverynamesmakeapersonshudder：MaryGodwin，mistresstoShelley；herpart-sister，discardedmistressofLordByron；Godwin，thephilosophicaltramp，whogathershisshareofitfromashadow——thatistosay，fromapersonwhomheshirksoutofnaming。Yetthebiographerdignifiesthissorryrubbishwiththenameof\"evidence。\"

Nothingremotelyresemblingadistinctchargefromanamedpersonprofessingtoknowisofferedamongthisprecious\"evidence。\"

1。\"Shelleybelieved\"soandso。

2。Byron’sdiscardedmistresssaysthatShelleytoldMaryGodwinsoandso，andMarytoldher。

3。\"Shelleysaid\"soandso——andlater\"admittedoverandoveragainthathehadbeeninerror。\"

4。TheunspeakableGodwin\"wrotetoMr。Baxter\"thatheknewsoandso\"fromunquestionableauthority\"——namenotfurnished。

How-anymaninhisrightmindcouldbringhimselftodefilethegraveofashamefullyabusedanddefencelessgirlwiththesebaselessfabrications，thismanufacturedfilth，isinconceivable。Howanyman，inhisrightmindoroutofit，couldsitdownandcoldlytrytopersuadeanybodytobelieveit，orlistenpatientlytoit，or，indeed，doanythingbutscoffatitandderideit，isastonishing。

Thechargeinsinuatedbytheseodiousslandersisoneofthemostdifficultofalloffencestoprove；itisalsoonewhichnomanhasarighttomentioneveninawhisperaboutanywoman，livingordead，unlessheknowsittobetrue，andnoteventhenunlesshecanalsoproveittobetrue。Thereisnojustificationfortheabominationofputtingthisstuffinthebook。

AgainstHarrietShelley’sgoodnamethereisnotonescrapoftarnishingevidence，andnotevenascrapofevilgossip，thatcomesfromasourcethatentitlesittoahearing。

Onthecreditsideoftheaccountwehavestrongopinionsfromthepeoplewhoknewherbest。Peacocksays：

\"IfeelitduetothememoryofHarriettostatemymostdecidedconvictionthatherconductasawifewasaspure，astrue，asabsolutelyfaultless，asthatofanywhoforsuchconductareheldmostinhonor。\"

ThorntonHunt，whohadpickedandpublishedslightflawsinHarriet’scharacter，says，asregardsthisallegedlargeone：

\"ThereisnotatraceofevidenceorawhisperofscandalagainstherbeforehervoluntarydeparturefromShelley。\"

Trelawneysays：

\"IwasassuredbytheevidenceofthefewfriendswhoknewbothShelleyandhiswife——Hookham，Hogg，Peacock，andoneoftheGodwins——thatHarrietwasperfectlyinnocentofalloffence。\"

Whatexcusewasthereforrakingupaparceloffoulrumorsfrommaliciousanddiscreditedsourcesandflingingthematthisdeadgirl’shead？Herverydefencelessnessshouldhavebeenherprotection。Thefactthatallletterstoherorabouther，withalmosteveryscrapofherownwriting，hadbeendiligentlymislaid，leavinghercasedestituteofavoice，whileeverypen-strokewhichcouldhelpherhusband’ssidehadbeenasdiligentlypreserved，shouldhaveexcusedherfrombeingbroughttotrial。Herwitnesseshavealldisappeared，yetweseehersummonedinhergrave-clothestopleadforthelifeofhercharacter，withoutthehelpofanadvocate，beforeadisqualifiedjudgeandapackedjury。

HarrietShelleywroteherdistressedletteronthe7thofJuly。Onthe28thherhusbandranawaywithMaryGodwinandherpart-sisterClairetotheContinent。Hedesertedhiswifewhenherconfinementwasapproaching。SheborehimachildattheendofNovember，hismistressborehimanotheronesomethingovertwomonthslater。ThetruantswerebackinLondonbeforeeitheroftheseeventsoccurred。

Ononeoccasion，presently，Shelleywassopressedformoneytosupporthismistresswiththathewenttohiswifeandgotsomemoneyofhisthatwasinherhands——twentypounds。Yetthemistresswasnotmovedtogratitude；forlater，whenthewifewastroubledtomeetherengagements，themistressmakesthisentryinherdiary：

\"Harrietsendshercreditorshere；nastywoman。Nowweshallhavetochangeourlodgings。\"

Thedesertedwifeborethebitternessandobloquyofhersituationtwoyearsandaquarter；thenshegaveup，anddrownedherself。Amonthafterwardsthebodywasfoundinthewater。ThreeweekslaterShelleymarriedhismistress。

Imustherebeallowedtoitalicizearemarkofthebiographer’sconcerningHarrietShelley：

\"ThatnoactofShelley’sduringthetwoyearswhichimmediatelyprecededherdeathtendedtocausetherashactwhichbroughtherlifetoitscloseseemscertain。\"

Yetherhusbandhaddesertedherandherchildren，andwaslivingwithaconcubineallthattime！Whyshouldapersonattempttowritebiographywhenthesimplestfactshavenomeaningtohim？Thisbookislitteredwithascrassstupiditiesasthatone——deductionsbythepagewhichbearnodiscoverablekinshiptotheirpremises。

Thebiographerthrowsoffthatextraordinaryremarkwithoutanyperceptibledisturbancetohisserenity；forhefollowsitwithasentimentaljustificationofShelley’sconductwhichhasnotapangofconscienceinit，butissilkyandsmoothandundulatingandpious——

acake-walkwithallthecoloredbrethrenattheirbest。Theremaybepeoplewhocanreadthatpageandkeeptheirtemper，butitisdoubtful。

Shelley’slifehastheoneindelibleblotuponit，butisotherwiseworshipfullynobleandbeautiful。Itevenstandsoutindestructiblygraciousandlovelyfromtheruckofthesedisastrouspages，inspiteofthefactthattheyexposeandestablishhisresponsibilityforhisforsakenwife’spitifulfate——aresponsibilitywhichhehimselftacitlyadmitsinalettertoElizaWestbrook，whereinhereferstohistakingupwithMaryGodwinasanactwhichEliza\"mightexcusablyregardasthecauseofhersister’sruin。\"