(17) SIMILES OF THOUGHT-30 similes. Compared to Shadows, 1668, 1671, 1672. Light, 1673, 1676. (18) SIMILES OF NUMBER--25 similes. Basis of Comparison. (To denote a multitude.) Leaves, 1688, 1689, 1699, 1704, 1705, 1711. ference in presentation in each case.) (Note the dif Sand, 1690, 1693. Waves, 1691, 1692, 1702. Clouds, 1695, 1697, 1706. Summer flies, 1700, 1709. Gnats, 1701, 1703, 1708. Ants, 1712. Mist, 1721. This category on examination will show how Shelley's originality enabled him to escape the bounds of conventionality. For no class of similes has such an artificial array of examples established by literary tradition, since Homer first numbered the hosts of wellgreaved Achaians. "So stood they in the flowery Scamandrian plain, unnumbered as are leaves and flowers in their season. Even as the many tribes of thick flies that hover about a herdsman's steading in the spring season, when milk drencheth the pails, even in like number stood the flowing-haired Achaians upon the plain in face of the Trojans, eager to rend them asunder' or the following,-"Of a truth have I oft ere now entered into battles of the warriors, yet have I never seen so goodly a host, and so great; for in the very likeness of the leaves of the forest or the sands of the sea, are they marching along the plain to fight against the city." The Bible also is a treasure-house for such similes, and the danger of conventional usage is therefore evident. The following only may be considered conventional, 1688, 1689, 1690, 1691, 1693, 1699, 1700, 1703; whereas in the other examples the poet's subtle powers of perception are exercised to derive the appropriate imagery from the field of Nature. FLOWER SIMILES. It only now remains to refer to the numerous flower similes or references that are scattered through the various categories. Many of these are extremely careful and delicate studies. Flowers in General,-15, 75, 132, 164, 165, 169, 174, 190, 243, 333, 353, 378, 391, 396, 400, 401-2-3-4, 559, 593, 636, 639, 640, 643, 683, 684, 747, 754, 825, 852, 906, 908, 968, 980, 986, 1006, 1016, 1020, 1022, 1031, 1042, 1065, 1075, 1103, 1109, 1112, 1114, 1130, 1135, 1148, 1149, 1195, 1312, 1392, 1401, 1405, 1424, 1436, 1444, 1649. Roses, 33, 341, 362, 370, 397, 605, 646, 753, 1089, 1090, 1423. Lilies, 352, 393, 729, 1178, 1332, 1422. Hyacinth, 536, 554, 886. Violet, 624, 637, 638, 1023. Snowdrop, 638. Daisy, 1333. Lemonflower, 641. Magnolia, 1380. Sensitive Plant, 1454. SIMILES OF COLOUR AND LIGHT. 1 (a) CLOUD COLOUR (AND MIST). The pyramids Of the tall cedar overarching, frame 2 Even as a vapour fed with golden beams 3 Its shape reposed within: slight as some cloud 4 Bright as that fibrous woof when stars indue Human eye hath ne'er beheld A shape so wild, so bright, so beautiful, As that which o'er the maiden's charmèd sleep, Waving a starry wand, Hung like a mist of light -Alast. 433f. -Alast. 633f. -D. W. 59. -D. W. 70. 5 Thou must have marked the billowy mountain clouds, Edged with intolerable radiancy, Towering like rocks of jet Above the burning deep -D. W. 197. When those far clouds of feathery purple gleam -D. W. 201. 7 And walked as free as light the clouds among, L. & C. Ded. 8 Even like the dayspring, poured on vapours dank, 9 The beams of that one Star did shoot and quiver Thro' my benighted mind-and were extinguished never. -L. & C. I. 41. at night, methought in dream A Shape of speechless beauty did appear: Of golden clouds which shook the atmosphere; -L. & C. I. 42. -L. & C. II. 16. Bright in the outspread morning's radiancy, 11 She moved upon this earth a shape of brightness, 12 -L. & C. II. 23. the twilight's gloom Lay like a charnel's mist within the radiant dome. -L. & C. V. 22. 13 She stood beside me like a rainbow braided Within some storm, when scarce its shadows vast From the blue paths of the swift sun have faded, 14 15 for now A power, a thirst, a knowledge, which below Beneath the golden stars of the clear azure air. -L. & C. V. 24. —L. & C. VI. 30. as an autumnal blossom —L. & C. VI. 55. 16 And the white clouds of noon which oft were sleeping, In the blue heaven so beautiful and fair, Like hosts of ghastly shadows hovering there; -L. & C. VII. 15. 17 My eye and voice grew firm, calm was my mind, And piercing, like the morn, now it has darted Its lustre on all hidden things, behind Yon dim and fading clouds which load the weary wind. 18 -L. & C. VII. 30. the day was dying: Sudden, the sun shone forth, its beams were lying In the red Heaven, like wrecks in a tempestuous sea. 19 It was a stream of living beams, whose bank −L. & C. XI. 2. −L. & C. XI. 3. -20 21 when bright, like dawning day, The Spectre of the Plague before me flew. and hope and peace On all who heard him did abide, Raining like dew from his sweet talk, As where the evening star may walk, Along the brink of the gloomy seas, Liquid mists of splendour quiver. 22 And in that dark and evil day Did all desires and thoughts, that claim The earth takes hues obscure and strange, 23 On my faint eyes and limbs did dwell As a frail cloud wandering o'er the moon, Is seen when it folds its grey wings again I lived and saw, and the gathering soul, -24 There is no lament for him Like a sunless vapour, dim 25 Gathering round with wings all hoar, Thro' the dewy mist they soar Like grey shades, till the Eastern heaven 26 Bursts, and then, as clouds of even, In the unfathomable sky, Follow down the dark steep streaming, -27 From the sea a mist has spread, 28 Noon descends around me now: -L. & C. XII. 25. -R. & H. 641. -R. & H. 724. -R. & H. 1039. --Eug. H. 61. -Eug. H. 74. -Eug. H. 210. Gives grace and truth to life's unquiet dream. -H. I. B. III. 32 Look, sister, ere the vapour dim thy brain : With azure waves which burst in silver light, and the light 33 Which fills this vapour, as the aerial hue Of fountain-gazing roses fills the water,] Flows from thy mighty sister 34 Child of Light! thy limbs are burning Thro' the clouds ere they divide them; 35 The elements obey me not. I sink -Prom. II. iii. 18. -Prom. II. v. 11. -Prom. II. v. 54. -Prom. III. ii. 80. 36 Its wheels are solid clouds, azure and gold, Such as the genii of the thunder storm -Prom. IV. 214. 37 The joy, the triumph, the delight, the madness! The boundless, overflowing, bursting gladness, The vaporous exultation not to be confined! Ha ha! the animation of delight Which wraps me, like an atmosphere of light, And bears me as a cloud is borne by its own wind. |