ThereisnotillAdonaisthatnoteofpersonalbereavementwhichwailsthroughTennyson’s’InMemoriam’orCowley’s’OdeontheDeathofMr。Hervey’。Much，especiallyintheearlierstanzas，iscommonform。TheMuseUraniaissummonedtolament，andahostofpersonifiedabstractionsflitbeforeus，\"likepageantryofmistonanautumnalstream\"——
\"DesiresandAdorations，WingedPersuasions，andveiledDestinies，SplendoursandGlooms，andglimmeringIncarnationsOfHopesandFears，andtwilightFantasies。\"
Atfirsthescarcelyseemstoknowwhatitisthathewantstosay，butasheproceedshewarmstohiswork。ThepoetsgatherroundAdonais’bier，andinfouradmirablestanzasShelleydescribeshimselfas\"aphantomamongmen，\"who\"HadgazedonNature’snakedloveliness，Actaeon-like；andnowhefledastrayWithfeeblestepso’ertheworld’swilderness，AndhisownthoughtsalongthatruggedwayPursued，likeraginghounds，theirfatherandtheirprey。\"
TheQuarterlyReviewerisnextchastised，andatlastShelleyhasfoundhiscue。Thestrainrisesfromthoughtsofmortalitytotheconsolationsoftheeternal：
’Peace，peace！heisnotdead，hedothnotsleep！
Hehathawakenedfromthedreamoflife。
’Tiswe，who，lostinstormyvisions，keepWithphantomsanunprofitablestrife。\"
Keatsismade\"onewithNature\"；heisaparceofthatpower\"Whichwieldstheworldwithneverweariedlove，Sustainsitfrombeneath，andkindlesitabove。\"
Itisoncemorethesameconviction，theoffspringofhisphilosophyandofhissuffering，thatwenoticedinHellas，onlyherethepathosismoreacute。Sostrongisthesenseofhisownmisery，thepremonitionofhisowndeath，thatwescarcelyknow，nordoesitmatter，whetheritisinthepersonofKeatsorofhimselfthatheislamentingtheimpermanenceofearthlygood。Hisspiritwashasteningtoescapefrom\"thelastcloudsofcoldmortality\"；hisbarkisdriven\"Farfromtheshore，farfromthetremblingthrongWhosesailswerenevertothetempestgiven。\"
Ayearlaterhewasdrowned。
WhilethebeautyofAdonaisiseasilyappreciated，’Epipsychidion’，writteninthesameyear，muststrikemanyreadersasmeremoonshineandmadness。In’Alastor’，thepoet，attheopeningofhiscareer，hadpursuedinvainthroughthewildernessoftheworldavisionofidealloveliness；itwouldnowseemthatthisvisionisatlastembodiedin\"thenobleandunfortunateLadyEmiliaViviani，\"towhom’Epipsychidion’isaddressed。Shelleybeginsbyexhausting，intheefforttoexpressherperfection，allthemetaphorsthatrapturecansuggest。Hecallsherhisadorednightingale，aspirit-wingedheart，aseraphofheaven，sweetbenedictionintheeternalcurse，moonbeyondtheclouds，starabovethestorm，\"thouWonderandthouBeautyandthouTerror！ThouHarmonyofNature’sart！\"Sheisasweetlamp，a\"wellofsealedandsecrethappiness，\"astar，atone，alight，asolitude，arefuge，adelight，alute，aburiedtreasure，acradle，aviolet-shadedgrave，anantelope，amoonshiningthroughamistofdew。Butallhis\"worldoffancies\"isunequaltoexpressher；hebreaksoffindespair。Acalmerpassageofgreatinterestthenexplainshisphilosophyoflove：
\"Thatbestphilosophy，whosetasteMakesthiscoldcommonhell，ourlife，adoomAsgloriousasafierymartyrdom，\"
andtellshowhe\"neverwasattachedtothatgreatsect，\"whichrequiresthateveryoneshouldbindhimselfforlifetoonemistressorfriend；forthesecretoftrueloveisthatitisincreased，notdiminished，bydivision；likeimagination，itfillstheuniverse；thepartsexceedthewhole，andthisisthegreatcharacteristicdistinguishingallthingsgoodfromallthingsevil。Wethenhaveashadowyrecordoflove’sdealingswithhim。Inchildhoodheclaspedthevisionineverynaturalsightandsound，inverse，andinphilosophy。Thenitfled，this\"souloutofmysoul。\"Hegoesintothewintryforestoflife，where\"onewhosevoicewasvenomedmelody\"entrapsandpoisonshisyouth。Theidealissoughtinvaininmanymortalshapes，untilthemoonrisesonhim，\"thecoldchasteMoon，\"
smilingonhissoul，whichliesinadeath-liketrance，afrozenocean。Atlastthelong-soughtvisioncomesintothewintryforest；itisEmily，likethesun，bringinglightandodourandnewlife。Henceforthheisaworldruledbyandrejoicinginthesetwinspheres。\"Astorealfleshandblood，\"
hesaidinalettertoLeighHunt，\"youknowthatIdonotdealinthosearticles；youmightaswellgotoagin-shopforalegofmuttonasexpectanythinghumanorearthlyfromme。\"Yetitiscertainthatthefiguresbehindtheshiftingwebofmetaphorsarepartlyreal——thatthepoisonousenchantressishisfirstwife，andthemoonthatsavedhimfromdespairhissecondwife。Thelastpartofthepoemhymnstheblissofunionwiththeideal。Emilymustflywithhim；\"ashipisfloatingintheharbournow，\"andthereis\"anisleunderIonianskies，\"thefairestofallShelley’simaginarylandscapes，wheretheirtwosoulsmaybecomeone。Then，atthesuprememoment，thesongtremblesandstops：
\"Woeisme！
ThewingedwordsonwhichmysoulwouldpierceIntotheheightsoflove’srareuniverse，Arechainsofleadarounditsflightoffire——
Ipant，Isink，Itremble，Iexpire。\"
WehavenowtakensomeviewofthechiefofShelley’slongerpoems。Mostofthesewerepublishedduringhislife。Theybroughthimlittleapplauseandmuchexecration，butifhehadwrittennothingelsehisfamewouldstillbesecure。Theyare，however，lessthanhalfoftheversethatheactuallywrote。
Besidesmanycompletedpoems，itremainedforhiswifetodecipher，fromscrapsofpaper，scribbledover，interlined，anderased，ahostoffragments，allvaluable，andmanyofthemgemsofpurestray。Wemustnowattemptageneralestimateofthiswholeoutput。
ChapterIIIThePoetofRebellion，ofNature，andofLoveItmayseemstrangethatsomuchspacehasbeenoccupiedinthelasttwochaptersbyphilosophicalandpoliticaltopics，andthisalthoughShelleyisthemostpurelylyricalofEnglishpoets。ThefactisthatinnearlyallEnglishpoetsthereisastrongmoralandphilosophicalstrain，particularlyinthoseoftheperiod1770-1830。Theyaredeeplyinterestedinpolitical，scientific，andreligiousspeculationsinaestheticquestionsonlysuperficially，ifatallShelley，withthetap-rootsofhisemotionsstrikingdeepintopoliticsandphilosophy，isonlyanextremeinstanceofanationaltrait，whichwasunusuallyprominentintheearlypartofthenineteenthcenturyowingtothestateofourinsularpoliticsatthetimethoughitmustbeadmittedthatEnglishartistsofallperiodshaveaninherenttendencytomoralisewhichhassometimesbeenaweakness，andsometimeshasgiventhemsurprisingstrength。
LiketheotherpoetsoftheRomanticMovementShelleyexpendedhisemotiononthreemainobjects——politics，nature，andlove。
Ineachofthesesubjectshestruckanotepeculiartohimself，buthissingularityisperhapsgreatestinthesphereofpolitics。ItmaybesummedupintheobservationthatnoEnglishimaginativewriterofthefirstrankhasbeenequallyinspiredbythosedoctrinesthathelpedtoproducetheFrenchRevolution。Thatallmenarebornfreeandequal；thatbyacontractenteredintoinprimitivetimestheysurrenderedasmuchoftheirrightsaswasnecessarytothewell-beingofthecommunity，thatdespoticgovernmentsandestablishedreligions，beingviolationsoftheoriginalcontract，areencroachmentsonthoserightsandthecausesofallevil；thatinequalitiesofrankandpowercanbeabolishedbyreasoning，andthatthen，sincemenarenaturallygood，thegoldenagewillreturn——thesearepositionswhichtheEnglishmind，withitsdislikeofthe’apriori’，willnotreadilyaccept。TheEnglishUtilitarians，whoexertedagreatinfluenceonthecourseofaffairs，andtheclassicalschoolofeconomiststhatderivedfromthem，didindeedholdthatmenwerenaturallygood，inasense。Theirtheorywasthat，ifpeoplewerelefttothemselves，andiftherestraintsimposedbyauthorityonthoughtandcommercewereremoved，theoperationofordinaryhumanmotiveswouldproducethemostbeneficentresults。Buttheirtheorywasquiteempirical；workedoutinvariouswaysbyAdamSmith，Bentham，andMill，itadmirablysuitedthenativeindependenceoftheEnglishcharacter，andwasjustifiedbythefactthat，attheendoftheeighteenthcentury，governmentsweresobadthatanimmenseincreaseofwealth，intelligence，andhappinesswasboundtocomemerelyfrommakingacleansweepofobsoleteinstitutions。Shelley’sRadicalismwasnotofthisdrabhue。
Hewasincapableofsoberlystudyingtheconnectionsbetweencausesandeffectsanincapacitywhichcomesoutinthedistastehefeltforhistory——andhisconceptionoftheidealatwhichthereformershouldaimwasvagueandfantastic。Inboththeserespectshisshortcomingswereduetoignoranceofhumannatureproceedingfromignoranceofhimself。
Andfirstastothenatureofhisideals。Whileallgoodmenmustsympathisewiththesincerityofhispassiontoremouldthissorryschemeofthings\"nearertotheheart’sdesire，\"fewwillfindthemodel，asitappearsinhispoems，veryexhilarating。Itischieflyexpressedinnegatives：therewillbenopriests，nokings，nomarriage，nowar，nocruelty——manwillbe\"tribelessandnationless。\"Thoughtheearthwillteemwithplentybeyondourwildestimagination，thegeneraleffectisinsipid；or，iftherearecoloursinthescene，theyarehectic，unnaturalcolours。Hiscouplesoflovers，isolatedinbowersofbliss，readingPlatoandeatingvegetables，arepoorsubstitutesfortherichvarietyofhumanemotionswhichtherealworld，withallitsadmixtureofevil，actuallyadmits。
HenceShelley’stoneirritateswhenheshrillysummonsustoadorehisNewJerusalem。Reflectingonthenarrownessofhisidealsweareapttoseehimasanignorantandfanaticalsectary，andtodetectanunpleasantflavourinhisverse。Andweperceivethat，aswithallhonestfanatics，hisnarrownesscomesfromignoranceofhimself。ThestoryofMrs。Southey’sbunsistypical。WhenhevisitedSoutheytherewerehotbutteredbunsfortea，andhesomuchoffendedMrs。Southeybycallingthemcoarse，disgustingfoodthatshedeterminedtomakehimtrythem。Heatefirstone，thenanother，andendedbyclearingofftwoplatesoftheuncleanthing。Activelyconsciousofnothinginhimselfbutaspirationstowardsperfection，heneversawthat，likeeveryoneelse，hewasacockpitofordinaryconflictinginstincts；or，ifthistumultoflowermovementsdidemergeintoconsciousness，hewouldjudgeittobewhollyevil，sinceithadnoconnection，exceptasahindrance，withhisactivitiesasareformer。Similarlytheworldatlarge，fullasitwasofnightmareoppressionsofwrong，fellforhimintotwosharplyopposedspheresoflightanddarknessononesidetheradiantarmiesofright，ontheothertheperverseoppositionofdevils。
Withthishystericallyover-simplifiedviewoflife，fosteredbylackofself-knowledge，wasconnectedacorrespondingmistakeastothemeansbywhichhisendscouldbereached。
Oneofthefirstobservationswhichgenerousspiritsoftenmakeisthattheunsatisfactorystateofsocietyisduetosomeverysmallkinkorflawinthedispositionsofthemajorityofpeople。Thisperception，whichitdoesnotneedmuchexperiencetoreach，isthesourceofthecommonerrorofyouththateverythingcanbeputrightbysomesimpleremedy。Ifonlysometinychangecouldbemadeinmen’sattitudetowardsoneanotherandtowardstheuniverse，whatafloodofevilcouldbedammed；theslightnessofthecauseisasstrikingastheimmensityoftheeffect。Thosewhoridiculetheyoungdonot，perhaps，alwaysseethatthisisperfectlytrue，thoughofcoursetheyarerightindenouncingtheinferencesooftendrawn——andherelayShelley’sfundamentalfallacy——thattherequiredtinychangedependsonaneffortofthewill，andthatthewillonlydoesnotmaketheeffortbecausefeelingispervertedandintelligencedimmedbyconventiontraditions，prejudices，andsuperstitions。Itiscertain，foronething，thatwillonlyplaysasmallpartinournature，andthatbythemselvesactsofwillcannotmaketheworldperfect。Mostmenarehelpedtothislessonbyobservationofthemselves；
theyseethattheirhighresolvesareineffectivebecausetheircharactersaremixed。Shelleyneverlearntthis。Hesaw，indeed，thathiseffortswerefutileevenmischievous；but，beingcertain，andrightly，ofthenobilityofhisaims，hecouldneverseethathehadactedwrongly，thatheoughttohavecalculatedtheresultsofhisactionsmorereasonably。
Everthwarted，andnevernearerthehappinesshedesiredforhimselfandothers，hedidnot，likeordinarymenattainajusternotionoftherelationbetweengoodandillinhimselfandintheworld；helapsedintoaplaintivebewilderedmelancholy，translatingtheinexplicableconflictofrightandwrongintothetranscendentalviewthat\"Life，likeadomeofmany-colouredglass，StainsthewhiteradianceofEternity。\"
Buthisfailureistheworld’sgain，forallthatisbestinhispoetryisthisexpressionoffrustratedhope。Hehasindeed，whenheismovedsimplybypublicpassion，somewonderfultrumpet-notes；whathateandindignationcando，hesometimesdoes。Andhisrapturousdreamsoffreedomcanstirtheintellect，ifnottheblood。Butitmustberemarkedthatpoetryinspiredsolelybyrevolutionaryenthusiasmisliabletoonefatalweakness：itdegeneratestooeasilyintorhetoric。
Toavoidbeingadidactictreatiseithastodealinhigh-flownabstractions，andinShelleyfear，famine，tyranny，andtherest，sometimeshavealltheemptinessoftheclassicalmanner。
Theyappearnowasbrothers，nowasparents，nowassistersofoneanother；thetaskofunravellingtheirgenealogywouldbeasdifficultasitispointless。IfShelleyhadbeenmerelythesingerofrevolution，theintensityandsincerityofhisfeelingwouldstillhavemadehimabetterpoetthanByron；buthewouldnothavebeenagreatpoet，partlybecauseoftheinherentdrawbacksofthesubject，partlybecauseofhisstrainedandfalseviewof\"themoraluniverse\"andofhimself。
Hissong，intreatingofmenascitizens，asgovernorsandgoverned，couldneverhavetouchedsuchaheightasBurns’\"A
man’samanfora’that。\"
Fortunatelyforourliterature，Shelleydidmorethanarraigntyrants。TheRomanticMovementwasnotmerelyanewwayofconsideringhumanbeingsintheirpubliccapacity；itmeantalsoanewkindofsensitivenesstotheirenvironment。Ifweturn，say，fromPope’s’TheRapeoftheLock’toWordsworth’s’ThePrelude’，itisasifwehavepassedfromasalooncrowdedwithabewiggedandpaintedcompany，wittilyconversinginanatmospherethathasbecomeratherstuffy，intothefreshnessofastarlitnight。Andjustas，onsteppingintotheopenair，thesplendoursofmountain，sky，andseamayenlargeourfeelingswithwonderanddelight，soacorrespondingchangemayoccurinouremotionstowardsoneanother；inthissettingofauniversewithwhichwefeelourselvesnowrapturously，nowcalmly，united，welovewithlessartifice，withgreaterimpetuosityandself-abandonment。\"ThomsonandCowper，\"saysPeacock，\"lookedatthetreesandhillswhichsomanyingeniousgentlemenhadrhymedaboutsolongwithoutlookingatthem，andtheeffectoftheoperationonpoetrywaslikethediscoveryofanewworld。\"TheRomanticpoetstendedtobeabsorbedintheirtreesandhills，butwhentheyalsolookedinthesamespiritontheirownhearts，thatoperationaddedyetanotherworldtopoetry。InShelleytheabsorptionoftheselfinnatureiscarriedtoitsfurthestpoint。IfthepassiontowhichnaturemovedhimislessdeeplymeditatedthaninWordsworthandColeridge，itsexuberanceiswilder；andinhisbestlyricsitisinseparablymingledwiththepassionwhichputshimamongtheworld’stwoorthreegreatestwritersoflove-poems。
Ofallhisverse，itisthesesongsaboutnatureandlovethateveryoneknowsandlikesbest。And，infact，manyofthemseemtosatisfywhatisperhapstheultimatetestoftruepoetry：theysometimeshavethepower，whichmakespoetryakintomusic，ofsuggestingbymeansofwordssomethingwhichcannotpossiblybeexpressedinwords。Obviouslythetestisimpossibletousewithanyobjectivecertainty，but，forareasonwhichwillappear，itseemscapableofafairlystraightforwardapplicationtoShelley’swork。
Firstwemayobservethat，justasthesightofsomerealscene——notnecessarilyasunsetoraglacier，butaploughedfieldorastreet-corner——maycallupemotionswhich\"lietoodeepfortears\"andcannotbeputintowords，thissameeffectcanbeproducedbyunstudieddescriptions。Wordsworthoftenproducesit：
\"IwanderedlonelyasacloudThatfloatsonhigho’ervalesandhills，WhenallatonceIsawacrowd，Ahostofgoldendaffodils。\"
Now，inthedescriptionofnaturalscenesthatkindofeffectisbeyondShelley’sreach，thoughhehasmanypictureswhicharebothdetailedandemotional。Consider，forinstance，theselinesfrom’TheInvitation’（1822）。HecallstoJaneWilliamstocomeaway\"tothewildwoodsandtheplains，\"
\"Wherethelawnsandpasturesbe，Andthesandhillsofthesea；——
Wherethemeltinghoar-frostwetsThedaisy-starthatneversets，Andwind-flowers，andviolets，Whichyetjoinnotscenttohue，Crownthepaleyearweakandnew；
WhenthenightisleftbehindInthedeepeast，dunandblind，Andthebluemoonisoverus，AndthemultitudinousBillowsmurmuratourfeet，Wheretheearthandoceanmeet，AndallthingsseemonlyoneIntheuniversalsun。\"
Thishasawonderfullightnessandradiance。Andhereisapassageofcarefuldescriptionfrom’Evening：PonteaMare，Pisa’：
\"Thesunisset；theswallowsareasleep；
Thebatsareflittingfastinthegrayair；
Theslowsofttoadsoutofdampcornerscreep，Andevening’sbreath，wanderinghereandthereOverthequiveringsurfaceofthestream，Walkesnotoneripplefromitssummerdream。
Thereisnodewonthedrygrassto-night，Nordampwithintheshadowofthetrees；
Thewindisintermitting，dryandlight；
AndintheinconstantmotionofthebreezeThedustandstrawsaredrivenupanddown，Andwhirledaboutthepavementofthetown。\"
Evidentlyhewasagoodobserver，inthesensethathesawdetailsclearly——unlikeByron，whohadfornaturebutavagueandapreoccupiedeye——andevidently，too，hisobservationissteepedinstrongfeeling，andisexpressedinmostmelodiouslanguage。Yetwegettheimpressionthatheneithersawnorfeltanythingbeyondexactlywhathehasexpressed；thereisnosuggestion，asthereshouldbeingreatpoetry，ofsomethingbeyondallexpression。And，curiouslyenough，thisseemstobetrueevenofthosefancifulpoemssoespeciallycharacteristicofhim，suchas’TheCloud’and’Arethusa’，wherehehasdashedtogetheronhispalettethemoststartlingcoloursinnature，andcomposedoutofthemanextravagantlyimaginativewhole：
\"Thesanguinesunrise，withhismeteoreyes，Andhisburningplumesoutspread，Leapsonthebackofmysailingrack，Whenthemorningstarshinesdead，AsonthejagofamountaincragWhichanearthquakerocksandswings，AneaglealitonemomentmaysitInthelightofitsgoldenwings。
And，whensunsetmaybreathe，fromthelitseabeneath，Itsardoursofrestandoflove，AndthecrimsonpallofevemayfallFromthedepthsofheavenabove，WithwingsfoldedIrest，onmyairynest，Asstillasabroodingdove。\"
Canhekeepitup，wewonder，thismanipulationofeaglesandrainbows，ofsunsetandmoonshine，ofsprayandthunderandlightning？Weholdourbreath；itissuperhuman，miraculous；
butheneverfalters，sovehementistheimpulseofhisdelight。Itisonlyafterwardsthatweaskourselveswhetherthereisanythingbeyondthemeredelight；andrealisingthat，thoughwehavebeenraptfarabovetheearth，wehavehadnodisturbingglimpsesofinfinity，weareleftwithaslightflatnessofdisappointment。
Butdisappointmentvanisheswhenweturntothepoemsinwhichecstasyisshotthroughwiththatstrainofmelancholywhichwehavealreadynoticed。HeinvokesthewildWestWind，notsomuchtoexultimpersonallyintheforcethatchariotsthedecayingleaves，spreadstheseedsabroad，wakestheMediterraneanfromitsslumber，andcleavestheAtlantic，astocryoutinthepainofhisownhelplessnessandfailure：
\"Ohlifemeasawave，aleaf，acloud！
Ifalluponthethornsoflife！Ibleed！
AheavyweightofhourshaschainedandbowedOnetoolikethee：tameless，andswift，andproud。\"
OranautumndayintheEuganeanhills，growingfrommistymorningthroughbluenoontotwilight，brings，ashelooksover\"thewavelessplainofLombardy，\"ashortrespite：
\"ManyagreenisleneedsmustbeInthedeepwideseaofmisery；
OrtheMariner，wornandwan，Ne’erthuscouldvoyageon。\"
Thecontrastbetweenthepeacefullovelinessofnatureandhisownmiseryisapiteouspuzzle。OnthebeachnearNaples\"Thesuniswarm，theskyisclear，Thewavesaredancingfastandbright，BlueislesandsnowymountainswearThepurplenoon’stransparentmight。\"
But\"Alas！Ihavenorhopenorhealth，Norpeacewithinnorcalmaround，NorthatcontentsurpassingwealthThesageinmeditationfound，Andwalkedwithinwardglorycrowned——
Norfame，norpower，norlove，norleisure。
OthersIseewhomthesesurround——
Smilingtheylive，andcalllifepleasure；——
Tomethatcuphasbeendealtinanothermeasure\"；
sothat\"Icouldliedownlikeatiredchild，Andweepawaythelifeofcare。\"
Theachingwearinessthatthrobsinthemusicoftheseversesisnotmeresentimentalself-pity；itisthecryofasoulthathasknownmomentsofblisswhenithasbeenabsorbedintheseaofbeautythatsurroundsit，onlythemomentspass，andthereunion，eversought，seemsevermorehopeless。OverandoveragainShelley’ssonggivesusboththefugitiveglimpsesandthemysteryoffrustration。
\"Isangofthedancingstars，IsangofthedaedalEarth，AndofHeaven——andthegiantwars，AndLove，andDeath，andBirth，——
AndthenIchangedmypipings，——
SinginghowdownthevaleofMenalusIpursuedamaidenandclasp’dareed：
Godsandmen，wearealldeludedthus！
Itbreaksinourbosomandthenwebleed：
Allwept，asIthinkbothyenowwould，Ifenvyoragehadnotfrozenyourblood，Atthesorrowofmysweetpipings。\"
Whyisitthatheisequaltothehighestofficeofpoetryinthesesad’crisdecoeur’ratherthananywhereelse？Thereisonepoem——perhapshisgreatestpoem——whichmaysuggesttheanswer。Inthe’SensitivePlant’（1820）agardenisfirstdescribedonwhicharelavishedallhispowersofweavinganimaginarylandscapeoutofflowersandlightandodour。Alltheflowersrejoiceinoneanother’sloveandbeautyexcepttheSensitivePlant，\"FortheSensitivePlanthasnobrightflower；
Radianceandodourarenotitsdower；
Itloves，evenlikeLove，itsdeepheartisfull，Itdesireswhatithasnot，thebeautiful。\"
Nowtherewas\"apowerinthissweetplace，anEveinthisEden。\"\"ALady，thewonderofherkind，\"tendedtheflowersfromearliestspring，throughthesummer，\"and，erethefirstleaflookedbrown，shedied！\"Thelastpartofthepoem，apendanttothefirst，isfullofthehorrorsofcorruptionanddecaywhenthepowerofgoodhasvanishedandthepowerofevilistriumphant。Cruelfrostcomes，andsnow，\"Andanorthernwhirlwind，wanderingaboutLikeawolfthathadsmeltadeadchildout，Shooktheboughsthusladen，andheavyandstiff，Andsnappedthemoffwithhisrigidgriff。
WhenwinterhadgoneandspringcamebackTheSensitivePlantwasaleaflesswreck；
Butthemandrakes，andtoadstools，anddocks，anddarnels，Roselikethedeadfromtheirruinedcharnels。\"
Thenthereisanepiloguesayingquitebaldlythatperhapswemayconsoleourselvesbybelievingthat\"InthislifeOferror，ignorance，andstrife，Wherenothingis，butallthingsseem，Andwetheshadowsofthedream，Itisamodestcreed，andyetPleasantifoneconsidersit，Toownthatdeathitselfmustbe，Likealltherest，amockery。
Thatgardensweet，thatladyfair，Andallsweetshapesandodoursthere，Intruthhaveneverpassedaway：
’Tiswe，’tisours，arechanged；notthey。
Forlove，andbeauty，anddelight，Thereisnodeathnorchange：theirmightExceedsourorganswhichendureNolight，beingthemselvesobscure。\"
ThefactisthatShelley’smelancholyisintimatelyconnectedwithhisphilosophicalideas。ItisthecreedofthestudentofBerkeley，ofPlato，ofSpinoza。Whatisrealandunchangingistheonespiritwhichinterpenetratesandupholdstheworldwith\"loveandbeautyanddelight，\"andthisspirit——thevisionwhichAlastorpursuedinvain，the\"UnseenPower\"ofthe’OdetoIntellectualBeauty’——iswhatisalwayssuggestedbyhispoetryatitshighestmoments。Thesuggestion，initsfulness，isofcourseineffable；onlyinthecaseofShelleysomeapproachcanbemadetonamingit，becausehehappenedtobesteepedinphilosophicalwaysofthinking。Theformsinwhichhegaveitexpressionarepredominantlymelancholy，becausethiskindofidealism，withitsinsistenceontheunrealityofevil，istherecoilfromlifeofanunsatisfiedanddisappointedsoul。
Hisphilosophyofloveisbutaspecialcaseofthisall-embracingdoctrine。Wesawhowin’Epipsychidion’herejectedmonogamicprinciplesonthegroundthattrueloveisincreased，notdiminished，bydivision，andwecannowunderstandwhyhecallsthistheoryan\"eternallaw。\"For，inthislifeofillusion，itisinpassionatelovethatwemostnearlyattaintocommunionwiththeeternalreality。Hencethemoreofitthebetter。Themorewedivideandspreadourlove，themorenearlywillthefragmentsofgoodnessandbeautythatareineachofusfindtheirtruefruition。Thisdoctrinemaybeinconvenientinpractice，butitisfarremovedfromvulgarsensualism，ofwhichShelleyhadnotatrace。Hoggsaysthathewas\"pre-eminentlyaladies’man，\"meaningthathehadthatchildlikehelplessnessandsinceritywhichgostraighttotheheartsofwomen。Tothisyouth，preachingsublimemysteries，andneedingtobemotheredintothebargain，theywereasirontothemagnet。TherewasalwaysanEveinhisEden，andeachwasthe\"wonderofherkind\"；butwhoevershewas——HarrietGrove，HarrietWestbrook，ElizabethHitchener，CorneliaTurner，MaryGodwin，EmiliaViviani，orJaneWilliams——shewasneveraDonJuan’smistress；shewasanincarnationofthesouloftheworld，amomentarymirroroftheeternal。Suchanattitudetowardstheleastcontrollableofpassionshasseveraldrawbacks：itinvolvesacertaininhumanity，anditisonlypossibleforlongtoonewhoremainsignorantofhimselfandcannotseethatpartoftheforceimpellinghimisblindattractiontowardsaprettyface。Italsohastheresultthat，iftheloverisapoet，hislove-songswillbesad。Obsessedbytheideaofcommunionwithsomedivineperfection，hemustneedsbeoftencastdown，notonlybyfindingthat，Ixion-like，hehasembracedacloud（asShelleysaidofhimselfandEmilia），butbecause，evenwhentheobjectofhisaffectionisworthy，completecommunioniseasiertodesirethantoattain。
ThusShelley’slove-songsarejustwhatmightbeexpected。Ifhedoesstraintothemomentofingressintothedivinebeing，itistoswoonwithexcessofbliss，asattheendof’Epipsychidion’，orasinthe’IndianSerenade’：
\"Ohliftmefromthegrass！
Idie！Ifaint！Ifail！\"
Moreoftenheexhalespuremelancholy：
\"SeethemountainskisshighheavenAndthewavesclasponeanother；
Nosister-flowerwouldbeforgivenIfitdisdaineditsbrother。
Andthesunlightclaspstheearth，Andthemoonbeamskissthesea：
WhatisallthissweetworkworthIfthoukissnotme？\"
Herethefailureisforeseen；heknowsshewillnotkisshim。
Sometimeshissadnessisfaintandrestrained：
\"Ifearthykisses，gentlemaiden，Thouneedestnotfearmine；
MyspiritistoodeeplyladenEvertoburthenthine。\"
Atothertimesitflowswiththefulnessofdespair，asin\"Icangivenotwhatmencalllove，ButwiltthouacceptnotTheworshiptheheartliftsaboveAndtheHeavensrejectnot，Thedesireofthemothforthestar，Ofthenightforthemorrow，ThedevotiontosomethingafarFromthesphereofoursorrow？\"
orin\"WhenthelampisshatteredThelightinthedustliesdead——
WhenthecloudisscatteredTherainbow’sgloryisshed。
Whentheluteisbroken，Sweettonesarerememberednot；
Whenthelipshavespoken，Lovedaccentsaresoonforgot。\"
Theveryraptureoftheskylarkopens，ashelistens，thewoundathisheart：
\"Welookbeforeandafter，Andpineforwhatisnot：
OursincerestlaughterWithsomepainisfraughtOursweetestsongsarethosethattellofsaddestthought。\"
Istheassertioncontainedinthislastlineuniversallytrue？
Perhaps。AtanyrateitistrueofShelley。Hissaddestsongsarethesweetest，andthereasonisthatinthem，ratherthaninthoseverseswherehemerelyuttersecstaticdelight，orcalmpleasure，orbitterindignation，heconveysineffablesuggestionsbeyondwhatthebarewordsexpress。
Itremainstopointoutthatthereisonemeansofconveyingsuchsuggestionswhichwasoutsidethescopeofhisgenius。
Oneofthemethodswhichpoetrymostoftenusestosuggesttheineffableisbytheartfulchoiceandarrangementofwords。A
word，simplybybeingcunninglyplacedandgivenacertaincolour，can，inthehandsofagoodcraftsman，openupindescribablevistas。ButKeats，when，inreplytoaletterofcriticism，hewrotetohim，\"Youmightcurbyourmagnanimity，andbemoreofanartist，andloadeveryriftofyoursubjectwithore，\"wasgivinghimadvicewhich，thoughadmirable，itwasimpossiblethatheshouldfollow。Shelleywasnotmerelynotacraftsmanbynature，hewasnottheleastinterestedinthosematterswhicharecoveredbytheclumsynameof\"technique。\"Itischaracteristicofhimthat，whilemostgreatpoetshavebeenfertilecoinersofnewwords，hisonlyadditiontothelanguageistheugly\"idealism\"inthesenseof\"idealobject。\"Heseemstohavestrayedfromthecurrentvocabularyonlyintwoothercases，bothinfelicitous——\"glode\"
for\"glided，\"and\"blosmy\"for\"blossomy。\"Hedidnot，likeKeats，lookonfinephraseswiththeeyeofalover。Histastewastheconventionaltasteofthetime。ThushesaidofByron’s’Cain’，\"Itisapocalyptic，itisarevelationnotbeforecommunicatedtoman\"；andhethoughtByronandTomMoorebetterpoetsthanhimself。Asregardsart，hecheapenedMichaelAngelo，andtheonlythingsaboutwhichhewasenthusiasticinItaly，exceptthefragmentsofantiquitywhichhelovedfortheirassociations，werethepaintingsofRaphaelandGuidoReni。Nordowefindinhimanyofthosenewmetricaleffects，thosesublimeinventionsinprosody，withwhichthegreatmastersastonishus。Blankverseisatestofpoetsinthisrespect，andShelley’sblankverseislimpandcharacterless。
Thosetriumphs，again，whichconsistinthebeautyofcomplicatedwholes，wereneverhis。Heissupreme，indeed，insimpleoutburstswherethereisnoquestionofform，butineffortsoflongerbreath，wherearchitectureisrequired，hetoooftensprawlsandfumblesbeforetheinspirationcomes。
Yethisversehasmeritswhichseemtomakesuchcriticismsvain。Wemaytraceinitallkindsof’arrierespensees’，philosophicalandsociological，thatanartistoughtnottohave，andwemayevendislikeitsdominatingconceptionofavaguespiritthatpervadestheuniverse；butwemustadmitthatwhenhewroteitwasasifseizedandsweptawaybysome\"unseenpower\"thatfelluponhimunpremeditated。Hisemotionswereofthatfatalviolencewhichdistinguishessomanyillustriousbutunhappysoulsfromthemassofpeaceablemankind。IntheearlypartoflastcenturyasetofillustrationstoFaustbyRetzchusedtobegreatlyadmired；
aboutoneofthem，apictureofFaustandMargaretinthearbour，Shelleysaysinalettertoafriend：\"Theartistmakesoneenvyhishappinessthathecansketchsuchthingswithcalmness，whichIonlydaredlookupononce，andwhichmademybrainswimroundonlytotouchtheleafontheoppositesideofwhichIknewthatitwasfigured。\"Soslightweretheoccasionsthatcouldaffecthimeventovertigo。When，fromwhatevercause，thefrenzytookhim，hewouldwritehastily，leavinggaps，notcaringaboutthesense。Afterwardshewouldworkconscientiouslyoverwhathehadwritten，buttherewasnothingleftforhimtodobuttocorrectincoldblood，makeplainthemeaning，andreducealltosuchorderashecould。
Oneresultofthismethodwasthathisversepreservedanunparallelledrushandspontaneity，whichisperhapsasgreataqualityasanythingattainedbythemorebee-liketoilofbetterartists。
BIBLIOGRAPHICALNOTE
TheliteraturedealingwithShelley’sworkandlifeisimmense，andnoattemptwillbemadeeventosummariseithere。A
convenientone-volumeeditionofthepoemsisthateditedbyProfessorEdwardDowdenforMessrs。Macmillan（1896）；itincludesMaryShelley’svaluablenotes。Thereisagoodselectionofthepoemsinthe\"GoldenTreasurySeries，\"
compiledbyA。StopfordBrooke。TheProseWorkshavebeencollectedandeditedbyMr。H。BuxtonFormaninfourvolumes（1876-1880）。OfthelettersthereisaneditionbyMr。RogerIngpen（2vols。，1909）。AnumberofletterstoElizabethHitchenerwerepublishedbyMr。BertramDobellin1909。
Forafirst-handknowledgeofapoet’slifeandcharacterthestudentmustalwaysgototheaccountsofcontemporaries。InShelley’scasethesearecopious。ThereareT。L。Peacock，s’Memoirs’（editedbyE。F。B。Brett-Smith，1909）；Peacock’s’NightmareAbbey’containsanamusingcaricatureofShelleyinthepersonofScythrops；andinatleasttwoofhernovelsMaryShelleyhasleftdescriptionsofherhusband：AdrianEarlofWindsor，in’TheLastMan’，isaportraitofShelley，and’Lodore’containsanaccountofhisestrangementfromHarriet。
HiscousinTomMedwin’s’Life’（1847）isabadbook，fullofinaccuracies。ButShelleyhadoneuniquepieceofgoodfortune：twofriendswrotebooksabouthimthataremasterpieces。T。J。Hogg’s’Life’isespeciallyvaluablefortheearlierperiod，andE。J。Trelawny’s’RecordsofShelley，Byron，andtheAuthor’，describeshiminthelastyearbeforehisdeath。Hogg’s’Life’hasbeenrepublishedinacheapeditionbyMessrs。Routledge，andthereisacheapeditionofTrelawny’s’Records’inMessrs。Routledge’s\"NewUniversalLibrary。\"Butboththesebooks，whiletheygiveincomparablyvividpicturesofthepoet，areramblingandunconventional，andshouldbesupplementedbyProfessorDowden’s’LifeofShelley’（2vols。，1886），whichwillalwaysremainthestandardbiography。Ofotherrecentlives，Mr。A。Clutton-Brock’s’Shelley：theManandthePoet’（1910）mayberecommended。
OftheinnumerablecriticalestimatesofShelleyandhisplaceinliterature，themostnoteworthyareperhapsMatthewArnold’sEssayinhis’EssaysinCriticism’，andFrancisThompson’s’Shelley’（1909）。Vol。iv。\"NaturalisminEngland，\"ofDr。
GeorgeBrandes’’MainCurrentsinNineteenthCenturyLiterature’（1905），maybereadwithinterest，thoughitisnotveryreliable；andProf。OliverElton’s’ASurveyofEnglishLiterature’，1780-1830（1912），shouldbeconsulted。
Whoeverwishestofollowthefortunes，afterthefireoftheirliveswasextinguishedbyShelley’sdeath，ofMaryShelley，ClaireClairmont，andtherest，shouldread，besidesTrelawny’s’Records’alreadymentioned，’TheLifeandLettersofMaryWollstonecraftShelley’，byMrs。JulianMarshall（2vols。，1889），and’TheLettersofE。J。Trelawny_，editedbyMr。H。
BuxtonForman（1910）。