LINES WRITTEN ON HEARING THE NEWS OF THE DEATH OF NAPOLEON WHAT! alive and so bold, O Earth? Art thou not over-bold? What! leapest thou forth as of old Are not the limbs still when the ghost is fled, How! is not thy quick heart cold? What spark is alive on thy hearth? Of that most fiery spirit, when it fled; "Who has known me of old," replied Earth, It is thou who art over-bold." All my sons when their knell is knolled, Lines written on hearing the News of the Death of Napoleon. Mrs. Shelley, 18391 | Written on hearing the News of the Death of Napoleon, Shelley, 1821. Published with Hellas, 1821. ii. 8 dost thou, Rossetti. And so with living motion all are fed, And the quick spring like weeds out of the dead. "Still alive and still bold," shouted Earth, Till by the spirit of the mighty dead I feed on whom I fed. "Ay, alive and still bold," muttered Earth, 66 Napoleon's fierce spirit rolled, In terror, and blood, and gold, A torrent of ruin to death from his birth. And weave into his shame, which like the dead SONNET POLITICAL GREATNESS NOR happiness, nor majesty, nor fame, Nor peace, nor strength, nor skill in arms or arts, Shepherd those herds whom tyranny makes tame; Verse echoes not one beating of their hearts, Sonnet. Political Greatness, Mrs. Shelley, 1824 || Sonnet to the Republic of Benevento, Harvard MS. Published by Mrs. Shelley, History is but the shadow of their shame, A BRIDAL SONG I THE golden gates of sleep unbar Where strength and beauty, met together, Kindle their image like a star In a sea of glassy weather! Night, with all thy stars look down ; Darkness, weep thy holiest dew; Never smiled the inconstant moon On a pair so true. Let eyes not see their own delight; Haste, swift hour, and thy flight Oft renew. II Fairies, sprites, and angels, keep her! And return to wake the sleeper, A Bridal Song. Published by Mrs. Shelley, 1824. O joy! O fear! what will be done EPITHALAMIUM NIGHT, with all thine eyes look down! When ever smiled the inconstant moon Hence, coy hour! and quench thy light, Hence, swift hour! and thy loved flight BOYS O joy! O fear! what may be done In the absence of the sun? Come along! The golden gates of sleep unbar! When strength and beauty meet together, Kindles their image like a star In a sea of glassy weather. Hence, coy hour! and quench thy light, Hence, swift hour! and thy loved flight Oft renew. GIRLS O joy! O fear! what may be done In the absence of the sun? Come along! Epithalamium. Published by Medwin, Life of Shelley, 1847. Fairies! sprites! and angels keep her! Hence, swift hour! and quench thy light, BOYS AND GIRLS O joy! O fear! what will be done In the absence of the sun? Come along! ANOTHER VERSION BOYS SING NIGHT! with all thine eyes look down! Haste, coy hour! and quench all light, Haste, swift hour! and thy loved flight GIRLS SING Fairies, sprites, and angels, keep her! O joy! O fear! there is not one Another Version. Published by Rossetti, 1870. |