LINES WRITTEN ON HEARING THE NEWS OF THE DEATH OF NAPOLEON Published with Hellas, 1821. WHAT! alive and so bold, O Earth? What! leapest thou forth as of old How is not thy quick heart cold? What spark is alive on thy hearth? Who has known me of old,' replied 'Or who has my story told? All my sons when their knell is knolled, 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, 'I grow bolder, and still more bold. The dead fill me ten thousand-fold Fuller of speed, and splendor, and mirth. I was cloudy, and sullen, and cold, Like a frozen chaos uprolled, Till by the spirit of the mighty dead My heart grew warm. I feed on whom I fed. 'Ay, alive and still bold,' muttered Earth, Napoleon's fierce spirit rolled, In terror, and blood, and gold, A torrent of ruin to death from his birth. Leave the millions who follow to mould The metal before it be cold; And weave into his shame, which like the dead Shrouds me, the hopes that from his glory fled.' SONNET POLITICAL GREATNESS Published by Mrs. Shelley, Posthumous Poems, 1824. NOR happiness, nor majesty, nor fame, Nor peace, nor strength, nor skill in arms or arts, Shepherd those herds whom tyranny makes tame; a Verse echoes not one beating of their hearts, History is but the shadow of their shame, Art veils her glass, or from the pageant starts As to oblivion their blind millions fleet, Staining that Heaven with obscene imagery Of their own likeness. What are numbers knit By force or custom? Man who man would be Must rule the empire of himself; in it. Must be supreme, establishing his throne On vanquished will, quelling the anarchy, Of hopes and fears, being himself alone. A BRIDAL SONG The poem was composed for insertion in a projected play of Williams, The Promise, or a Year, a Month, and a Day. Published by Mrs. Shelley, Posthumous Poems, 1824. I THE golden gates of sleep unbar Where strength and beauty, met together, Kindle their image like a star On a pair so true. Let eyes not see their own delight; - II Fairies, sprites, and angels, keep her! Come along! |