FAUST

Oh, what delight! what woe! I cannot turn My looks from her sweet piteous countenance. How strangely does a single blood-red line, Not broader than the sharp edge of a knife, Adorn her lovely neck!

MEPHISTOPHELES

Ay, she can carry

Her head under her arm upon occasion;

Perseus has cut it off for her. These pleasures End in delusion. Gain this rising ground,

Quite a new piece, the last of seven, for 'tis
The custom now to represent that number.
'Tis written by a Dilettante, and

The actors who perform are Dilettanti ;
Excuse me, gentlemen; but I must vanish.
I am a Dilettante curtain-lifter.

JUVENILIA

The Juvenilia were published in part by Shelley, but mainly by Medwin, Rossetti and Dowden, as shown by the footnotes. In this division all verse earlier than Queen Mab is included, except what is placed under DOUBTFUL, LOST AND UNPUBLISHED POEMS.

VERSES ON A CAT

I

A CAT in distress,

Nothing more, nor less;
Good folks, I must faithfully tell ye,
As I am a sinner,

It waits for some dinner
To stuff out its own little belly.

II

You would not easily guess

All the modes of distress
Which torture the tenants of earth;

And the various evils,

Which like so many devils,
Attend the poor souls from their birth.

III

Some a living require,

And others desire

An old fellow out of the way;
And which is the best

I leave to be guessed,
For I cannot pretend to say.

IV

One wants society,

Another variety,

Verses on a Cat. Published by Hogg, Life of Shelley, 1858, and

dated 1800.

Others a tranquil life;
Some want food,

Others, as good,

Only want a wife.

V

But this poor little cat
Only wanted a rat,
To stuff out its own little maw;
And it were as good

Some people had such food,
To make them hold their jaw!

OMENS

HARK! the owlet flaps his wings
In the pathless dell beneath;
Hark! 'tis the night-raven sings
Tidings of approaching death.

EPITAPHIUM

LATIN VERSION OF THE EPITAPH IN GRAY'S ELEGY

I

HIC sinu fessum caput hospitali
Cespitis dormit juvenis; nec illi
Fata ridebant, popularis ille

Nescius auræ.

Omens. Published by Medwin, Shelley Papers, 1833, dated 1807. Epitaphium. Published by Medwin, Life of Shelley, 1847, dated

1808-9.