Percy Bysshe Shelley

“ Darkness more dread than night was pour’d upon the ground.
III.
Hark! ’tis the rushing of a wind that sweeps
Earth and the ocean. See! the lightnings yawn
Deluging Heaven with fire, and the lash’d deeps
Glitter and boil beneath: it rages on,
One mighty stream, whirlwind and waves upthrown,
Lightning, and hail, and darkness eddying by.
There is a pause—the sea-birds, that were gone
Into their caves to shriek, come forth, to spy
What calm has fall’n on earth, what light is in the sky. ”

“ Upon the combat shone—a light to save,
Like Paradise spread forth beyond the shadowy grave.
XXXIII.
Such is this conflict—when mankind doth strive
With its oppressors in a strife of blood,
Or when free thoughts, like lightnings, are alive;
And in each bosom of the multitude
Justice and truth with custom’s hydra brood
Wage silent war;—when priests and kings dissemble
In smiles or frowns their fierce disquietude,
When round pure hearts a host of hopes assemble,
The Snake and Eagle meet—the world’s foundations tremble! ”

“ Renewed the doubtful war—thrones then first shook,
And earth’s immense and trampled multitude
In hope on their own powers began to look,
And Fear, the demon pale, his sanguine shrine forsook.
XXXII.
Then Greece arose, and to its bards and sages,
In dream, the golden-pinion’d Genii came,
Even where they slept amid the night of ages,
Steeping their hearts in the divinest flame,
Which thy breath kindled, Power of holiest name! ”

“ Was cloven; beneath the planet sate a Form,
Fairer than tongue can speak or thought may frame,
The radiance of whose limbs rose-like and warm
Flowed forth, and did with softest light inform
The shadowy dome, the sculptures, and the state
Of those assembled shapes—with clinging charm
Sinking upon their hearts and mine—He sate
Majestic, yet most mild—calm, yet compassionate.
LVIII.
Wonder and joy a passing faintness threw
Over my brow—a hand supported me,
Whose touch was magic strength: an eye of blue
Look’d into mine, like moonlight, soothingly ”

“ Such were my thoughts, when the tide ’gan to flow;
And that strange boat like the moon’s shade did sway
Amid reflected stars that in the waters lay.
XXIII.
A boat of rare device, which had no sail
But its own curved prow of thin moonstone,
Wrought like a web of texture fine and frail,
To catch those gentlest winds which are not known
To breathe, but by the steady speed alone
With which it cleaves the sparkling sea; and now
We are embark’d—the mountains hang and frown
Over the starry deep that gleams below
A vast and dim expanse, as o’er the waves we go. ”

“ And to the clouds and waves in tameless gladness
Shriek’d, till they caught immeasurable mirth—
And laugh’d in light and music: soon, sweet madness
Was pour’d upon my heart, a soft and thrilling sadness.
XL.
Deep slumber fell on me:—my dreams were fire—
Soft and delightful thoughts did rest and hover
Like shadows o’er my brain; and strange desire,
The tempest of a passion, raging over
My tranquil soul, its depths with light did cover,
Which past; and calm, and darkness, sweeter far,
Came—then I loved; but not a human lover! ”