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4. The Shelley Memorials, edited by Lady Shelley, comes nearest to being a complete life of the poet, combining authenticity and method in the narrative portion, though only a rapid summary, with many interesting supplementary materials. It is clear that Shelley need not lack a creditable biographer on a full scale as long as the writer of the Memorials is there to undertake the office at need.

5. Trelawny's Recollections of the Last Days of Shelley and Byron. This excellent volume gives (so far as Shelley is concerned) simply what fell under Trelawny's personal observation, or was related thereto, in the last half-year or so of Shelley's life. For that brief period it is incomparably good, and shows a most affectionate, as well as vigorous and manly, appreciation of the poet's character and powers.

6. Shelley's own Poems.

7. Medwin's Life of Shelley, 2 vols. This book, first published in 1847, is neither very strong-minded nor very accurate : but it has sunk unduly out of observation-or had so sunk, being just now notified as republished in one volume. Medwin had on the whole, next to Mrs. Shelley and perhaps Mr. Hogg, the best opportunities of all the poet's biographers; and has used them with a light and slight touch, but with considerable sympathy, and to a readable result. Several matters not to be

found elsewhere at first hand are in these volumes.

8. The three articles published by Mr. Peacock in Fraser's Magazine in 1858 and 1860: the third of them consists of very valuable letters by Shelley himself. These articles are of course excellently written, and with a great deal of knowledge, and are indispensable as accompaniments to other records.

9. Leigh Hunt's Autobiography, 1860, embodies what he had said about Shelley in the work named Lord Byron and some of his Contemporaries. The record of Shelley is full of affectionate feeling, with quick though perhaps limited insight. The Correspondence of Leigh Hunt contains several letters from and to Shelley. Of the former, almost all are in the Essays and Letters.

10. The article by Mr. Thornton Hunt, entitled Shelley, by one who knew him, in the Atlantic Monthly for February 1863. There is much important matter in this brief notice, which is conspicuous for its outspoken and independent tone. It should by no means be overlooked by the biographer.

VOL. I.

m

II. Mr. Garnett's Relics of Shelley, and his article in Macmillan's Magazine for June 1860, stand alone within their own special sphere. The Relics consist principally of fragments of Shelley's poems previously unpublished: there are also a few documents, and a very able discussion by Mr. Garnett regarding the separation from Harriet, and Mr. Peacock's account of that matter.

12. Shelley and his Writings, by Mr. C. S. Middleton, 2 vols., 1858. This is principally based on Medwin, Hogg, and the notes by Mrs. Shelley. The author had no personal knowledge of the poet; yet there are some few particulars, especially with regard to his writings, not to be found elsewhere.

13. The Shelley Papers, and the Conversations of Lord Byron, by Medwin. The biographical information contained in the former small volume is wholly, or very nearly, re-produced in the Life of Shelley by the same author.

14. Moore's Life of Lord Byron contains, at first hand, a few particulars affecting Shelley as connected with his lordship.

My task here terminates. I have written of the immortal poet, and the man alike loveable and admirable, with one alldominating desire-that of stating the exact truth, as far as I can ascertain or infer it, whatever may be its bearing. Any judgment pronounced upon Shelley ought to be that of a sympathizing and grateful as well as an equitable man; sympathizing, for history records no more beautiful nature,-grateful, for how much do we not all owe him! Our sympathy and gratitude entitle us to be fearless likewise; and for myself I should have felt any slurring-over of dubious or censurable particulars to be so much derogation from my reverence for Shelley. The meaning of slurring-over (apart from motives of obligation and delicacy) is unmistakeable: it must imply that the person who adopts that course feels a little ashamed of his hero, and, to justify his professed admiration in the eyes of others, presents that hero to them as something slightly other than he really was. But I feel not at all ashamed of Shelley. He asks for no sup

After

pressions, he needs none, and from me he gets none. everything has been stated, we find that the man Shelley was worthy to be the poet Shelley,—and praise cannot reach higher than that; we find him to call forth the most eager and fervent homage, and to be one of the ultimate glories of our race and planet.

THE POETICAL WORKS

OF

PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY.

QUEEN MAB.

TO HARRIET SHELLEY.

WHOSE is the love that, gleaming through the world,
Wards off the poisonous arrow of its scorn?

Whose is the warm and partial praise,

Virtue's most sweet reward?

Beneath whose looks did my reviving soul
Riper in truth and virtuous daring grow?
Whose eyes have I gazed fondly on,
And loved mankind the more?

Harriet ! on thine :-thou wert my purer mind;

Thou wert the inspiration of my song;

Thine are these early wilding flowers,

Though garlanded by me.

Then press into thy breast this pledge of love;

And know, though time may change and years may roll,
Each floweret gathered in my heart

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