634
POEMS WRITTEN IN 1821
III
As a lizard with the shade
Of a trembling leaf,
Thou with sorrow art dismayed; 15
Even the sighs of grief
Reproach thee, that thou art not near,
And reproach thou wilt not hear.
As a lizard with the shade
Of a trembling leaf,
Thou with sorrow art dismayed; 15
Even the sighs of grief
Reproach thee, that thou art not near,
And reproach thou wilt not hear.
IV
Let me set my mournful ditty
To a merry measure; 20
Thou wilt never come for pity,
Thou wilt come for pleasure;
Pity then will cut away
Those cruel wings, and thou wilt stay.
Let me set my mournful ditty
To a merry measure; 20
Thou wilt never come for pity,
Thou wilt come for pleasure;
Pity then will cut away
Those cruel wings, and thou wilt stay.
V
I love all that thou lo vest, 25
Spirit of Delight!
The fresh Earth in new leaves dressed,
And the starry night:
Autumn evening, and the morn
When the golden mists are born. 30
I love all that thou lo vest, 25
Spirit of Delight!
The fresh Earth in new leaves dressed,
And the starry night:
Autumn evening, and the morn
When the golden mists are born. 30
VI
I love snow, and all the forms
Of the radiant frost;
I love waves, and winds, and storms,
Everything almost
Which is Nature's, and may be 35
Untainted by man's misery.
I love snow, and all the forms
Of the radiant frost;
I love waves, and winds, and storms,
Everything almost
Which is Nature's, and may be 35
Untainted by man's misery.
VII
I love tranquil solitude,
And such society
As is quiet, wise, and good
Between thee and me 40
What difference? but thou dost possess
The things I seek, not love them less.
I love tranquil solitude,
And such society
As is quiet, wise, and good
Between thee and me 40
What difference? but thou dost possess
The things I seek, not love them less.
VIIII love Love—though he has wings,
And like light can flee,
But above all other things, 45
Spirit, I love thee—
Thou art love and life! Oh, come,
Make once more my heart thy home.
And like light can flee,
But above all other things, 45
Spirit, I love thee—
Thou art love and life! Oh, come,
Make once more my heart thy home.
MUTABILITY
[Published by Mrs. Shelley, Posthumous Poems, 1824. There is a fair draft amongst the Boscombe MSS.]
I
The flower that smiles to-day
To-morrow dies;
All that we wish to stay
Tempts and then flies.
What is this world's delight? 5
Lightning that mocks the night,
Brief even as bright.
The flower that smiles to-day
To-morrow dies;
All that we wish to stay
Tempts and then flies.
What is this world's delight? 5
Lightning that mocks the night,
Brief even as bright.
II
Virtue, how frail it is!
Friendship how[1] rare!
Love, how it sells poor bliss 10
For proud despair?
But we, though soon they fall,[2]
Survive their joy, and all
Which ours we call.
Virtue, how frail it is!
Friendship how[1] rare!
Love, how it sells poor bliss 10
For proud despair?
But we, though soon they fall,[2]
Survive their joy, and all
Which ours we call.
IIIWhilst skies are blue and bright, 15
Whilst flowers are gay,
Whilst eyes that change ere night
Make glad the day;
Whilst yet the calm hours creep,
Dream thou—and from thy sleep 20
Then wake to weep.
Whilst flowers are gay,
Whilst eyes that change ere night
Make glad the day;
Whilst yet the calm hours creep,
Dream thou—and from thy sleep 20
Then wake to weep.
LINES WRITTEN ON HEARING THE NEWS OF THE
DEATH OF NAPOLEON
[Published with Hellas, 1821.]
What! alive and so bold, O Earth?
Art thou not overbold?
What! leapest thou forth as of old
Art thou not overbold?
What! leapest thou forth as of old
