The Complete Poems of Percy Bysshe Shelley

  The signs of that innumerable host,

  To hear one sound of many made, the warning

  2065

  Of Earth to Heaven from its free children tossed,

  While the eternal hills, and the sea lost

  In wavering light, and, starring the blue sky

  The city’s myriad spires of gold, almost

  With human joy made mute society—

  2070

  Its witnesses with men who must hereafter be.

  XL

  To see, like some vast island from the Ocean,

  The Altar of the Federation rear

  Its pile i’ the midst; a work which the devotion

  Of millions in one night created there,

  2075

  Sudden, as when the moonrise makes appear

  Strange clouds in the east; a marble pyramid

  Distinct with steps: that mighty shape did wear

  The light of genius; its still shadow hid

  Far ships: to know its height the morning mists forbid!

  XLI

  2080

  To hear the restless multitudes for ever

  Around the base of that great Altar flow,

  As on some mountain-islet burst and shiver

  Atlantic waves; and solemnly and slow

  As the wind bore that tumult to and fro,

  2085

  To feel the dreamlike music, which did swim

  Like beams through floating clouds on waves below

  Falling in pauses, from that Altar dim

  As silver-sounding tongues breathed an aëreal hymn.

  XLII

  To hear, to see, to live, was on that morn

  2090

  Lethean joy! so that all those assembled

  Cast off their memories of the past outworn;

  Two only bosoms with their own life trembled.

  And mine was one,—and we had both dissembled;

  So with a beating heart I went, and one,

  2095

  Who having much, covets yet more, resembled;

  A lost and dear possession, which not won,

  He walks in lonely gloom beneath the noonday sun.

  XLIII

  To the great Pyramid I came: its stair

  With female choirs was thronged: the loveliest

  2100

  Among the free, grouped with its sculptures rare;

  As I approached, the morning’s golden mist,

  Which now the wonder-stricken breezes kissed

  With their cold lips, fled, and the summit shone

  Like Athos seen from Samothracia, dressed

  2105

  In earliest light, by vintagers, and one

  Sate there, a female Shape upon an ivory throne:

  XLIV

  A Form most like the imagined habitant

  Of silver exhalations sprung from dawn,

  By winds which feed on sunrise woven, to enchant

  2110

  The faiths of men: all mortal eyes were drawn,

  As famished mariners through strange seas gone

  Gaze on a burning watch-tower, by the light

  Of those divinest lineaments—alone

  With thoughts which none could share, from that fair sight

  2115

  I turned in sickness, for a veil shrouded her countenance bright.

  XLV

  And, neither did I hear the acclamations,

  Which from brief silence bursting, filled the air

  With her strange name and mine, from all the nations

  Which we, they said, in strength had gathered there

  2120

  From the sleep of bondage; nor the vision fair

  Of that bright pageantry beheld,—but blind

  And silent, as a breathing corpse did fare,

  Leaning upon my friend, till like a wind

  To fevered cheeks, a voice flowed o’er my troubled mind.

  XLVI

  2125

  Like music of some minstrel heavenly-gifted,

  To one whom fiends enthral, this voice to me;

  Scarce did I wish her veil to be uplifted,

  I was so calm and joyous.—I could see

  The platform where we stood, the statues three

  2130

  Which kept their marble watch on that high shrine,

  The multitudes, the mountains, and the sea;

  As when eclipse hath passed, things sudden shine

  To men’s astonished eyes most clear and crystalline.

  XLVII

  At first Laone spoke most tremulously:

  2135

  But soon her voice the calmness which it shed

  Gathered, and—‘Thou art whom I sought to see,

  And thou art our first votary here,’ she said:

  ‘I had a dear friend once, but he is dead!—

  And of all those on the wide earth who breathe,

  2140

  Thou dost resemble him alone—I spread

  This veil between us two, that thou beneath

  Shouldst image one who may have been long lost in death.

  XLVIII

  ‘For this wilt thou not henceforth pardon me?

  Yes, but those joys which silence well requite

  2145

  Forbid reply;—why men have chosen me

  To be the Priestess of this holiest rite

  I scarcely know, but that the floods of light

  Which flow over the world, have borne me hither

  To meet thee, long most dear; and now unite

  2150

  Thine hand with mine, and may all comfort wither

  From both the hearts whose pulse in joy now beat together,

  XLIX

  ‘If our own will as others’ law we bind,

  If the foul worship trampled here we fear;

  If as ourselves we cease to love our kind!’—

  2155

  She paused, and pointed upwards—sculptured there

  Three shapes around her ivory throne appear;

  One was a Giant, like a child asleep

  On a loose rock, whose grasp crushed, as it were

  In dream, sceptres and crowns; and one did keep

  2160

  Its watchful eyes in doubt whether to smile or weep;

  L

  A Woman sitting on the sculptured disk

  Of the broad earth, and feeding from one breast

  A human babe and a young basilisk;

  Her looks were sweet as Heaven’s when loveliest

  2165

  In Autumn eves. The third Image was dressed

  In white wings swift as clouds in winter skies;

  Beneath his feet, ’mongst ghastliest forms, repressed

  Lay Faith, an obscene worm, who sought to rise,

  While calmly on the Sun he turned his diamond eyes.

  LI

  2170

  Beside that Image then I sate, while she

  Stood, mid the throngs which ever ebbed and flowed,

  Like light amid the shadows of the sea

  Cast from one cloudless star, and on the crowd

  That touch which none who feels forgets, bestowed;

  2175

  And whilst the sun returned the steadfast gaze

  Of the great Image, as o’er Heaven it glode.

  That rite had place; it ceased when sunset’s blaze

  Burned o’er the isles. All stood in joy and deep amaze—

  —When in the silence of all spirits there

  2180

  Laone’s voice was felt, and through the air

  Her thrilling gestures spoke, most eloquently fair:—

  1

  ‘Calm art thou as yon sunset! swift and strong

  As new-fledged Eagles, beautiful and young,

  That float among the blinding beams of morning;

  2185

  And underneath thy feet writhe Faith, and Folly,

  Custom, and Hell, and mortal Melancholy—

&n
bsp; Hark! the Earth starts to hear the mighty warning

  Of thy voice sublime and holy;

  Its free spirits here assembled,

  2190

  See thee, feel thee, know thee now,—

  To thy voice their hearts have trembled

  Like ten thousand clouds which flow

  With one wide wind as it flies!—

  Wisdom! thy irresistible children rise

  2195

  To hail thee, and the elements they chain

  And their own will, to swell the glory of thy train.

  2

  ‘O Spirit vast and deep as Night and Heaven!

  Mother and soul of all to which is given

  The light of life, the loveliness of being,

  2200

  Lo! thou dost re-ascend the human heart,

  Thy throne of power, almighty as thou wert

  In dreams of Poets old grown pale by seeing

  The shade of thee:—now, millions start

  To feel thy lightnings through them burning:

  2205

  Nature, or God, or Love, or Pleasure,

  Or Sympathy the sad tears turning

  To mutual smiles, a drainless treasure,

  Descends amidst us;—Scorn, and Hate,

  Revenge and Selfishness are desolate—

  2210

  A hundred nations swear that there shall be

  Pity and Peace and Love, among the good and free!

  3

  ‘Eldest of things, divine Equality!

  Wisdom and Love are but the slaves of thee,

  The Angels of thy sway, who pour around thee

  2215

  Treasures from all the cells of human thought,

  And from the Stars, and from the Ocean brought,

  And the last living heart whose beatings bound thee:

  The powerful and the wise had sought

  Thy coming, thou in light descending

  2220

  O’er the wide land which is thine own

  Like the Spring whose breath is blending

  All blasts of fragrance into one,

  Comest upon the paths of men!—

  Earth bares her general bosom to thy ken,

  2225

  And all her children here in glory meet

  To feed upon thy smiles, and clasp thy sacred feet.

  4

  ‘My brethren, we are free! the plains and mountains,

  The gray sea-shore, the forests and the fountains,

  Are haunts of happiest dwellers;—man and woman,

  2230

  Their common bondage burst, may freely borrow

  From lawless love a solace for their sorrow;

  For oft we still must weep, since we are human.

  A stormy night’s serenest morrow,

  Whose showers are pity’s gentle tears,

  2235

  Whose clouds are smiles of those that die

  Like infants without hopes or fears,

  And whose beams are joys that lie

  In blended hearts, now holds dominion;

  The dawn of mind, which upwards on a pinion

  2240

  Borne, swift as sunrise, far illumines space,

  And clasps this barren world in its own bright embrace!

  5

  ‘My brethren, we are free! The fruits are glowing

  Beneath the stars, and the night winds are flowing

  O’er the ripe corn, the birds and beasts are dreaming—

  2245

  Never again may blood of bird or beast

  Stain with its venomous stream a human feast,

  To the pure skies in accusation steaming;

  Avenging poisons shall have ceased

  To feed disease and fear and madness,

  2250

  The dwellers of the earth and air

  Shall throng around our steps in gladness

  Seeking their food or refuge there.

  Our toil from thought all glorious forms shall cull,

  To make this Earth, our home, more beautiful,

  2255

  And Science, and her sister Poesy,

  Shall clothe in light the fields and cities of the free!

  6

  ‘Victory, Victory to the prostrate nations!

  Bear witness Night, and ye mute Constellations

  Who gaze on us from your crystalline cars!

  Thoughts have gone forth whose powers can sleep no more!

  Victory! Victory! Earth’s remotest shore,

  Regions which groan beneath the Antarctic stars,

  The green lands cradled in the roar

  Of western waves, and wildernesses

  2265

  Peopled and vast, which skirt the oceans

  Where morning dyes her golden tresses,

  Shall soon partake our high emotions:

  Kings shall turn pale! Almighty Fear

  The Fiend-God, when our charmed name he hear,

  2270

  Shall fade like shadow from his thousand fanes,

  While Truth with Joy enthroned o’er his lost empire reigns!’

  LII

  Ere she had ceased, the mists of night entwining

  Their dim woof, floated o’er the infinite throng;

  She, like a spirit through the darkness shining,

  2275

  In tones whose sweetness silence did prolong,

  As if to lingering winds they did belong,

  Poured forth her inmost soul: a passionate speech

  With wild and thrilling pauses woven among,

  Which whoso heard, was mute, for it could teach

  2280

  To rapture like her own all listening hearts to reach.

  LIII

  Her voice was as a mountain-stream which sweeps

  The withered leaves of Autumn to the lake,

  And in some deep and narrow bay then sleeps

  In the shadow of the shores; as dead leaves wake

  2285

  Under the wave, in flowers and herbs which make

  Those green depths beautiful when skies are blue,

  The multitude so moveless did partake

  Such living change, and kindling murmurs flew

  As o’er that speechless calm delight and wonder grew.

  LIV

  2290

  Over the plain the throngs were scattered then

  In groups around the fires, which from the sea

  Even to the gorge of the first mountain-glen

  Blazed wide and far: the banquet of the free

  Was spread beneath many a dark cypress-tree,

  2295

  Beneath whose spires, which swayed in the red flame,

  Reclining, as they ate, of Liberty,

  And Hope, and Justice, and Laone’s name,

  Earth’s children did a woof of happy converse frame.

  LV

  Their feast was such as Earth, the general mother,

  2300

  Pours from her fairest bosom, when she smiles

  In the embrace of Autumn;—to each other

  As when some parent fondly reconciles

  Her warring children, she their wrath beguiles

  With her own sustenance; they relenting weep:

  2305

  Such was this Festival, which from their isles

  And continents, and winds, and oceans deep,

  All shapes might throng to share, that fly, or walk, or creep,—

  LVI

  Might share in peace and innocence, for gore

  Or poison none this festal did pollute,

  2310

  But piled on high, an overflowing store

  Of pomegranates, and citrons, fairest fruit,

  Melons, and dates, and figs, and many a root

  Sweet and sustaining, and bright grapes ere yet

  Accursed fire their mild juice could transmute

  2315

  Into a mortal bane, and brown corn set

  In basket
s; with pure streams their thirsting lips they wet.

  LVII

  Laone had descended from the shrine,

  And every deepest look and holiest mind

  Fed on her form, though now those tones divine

  2320

  Were silent as she passed: she did unwind

  Her veil, as with the crowds of her own kind

  She mixed; some impulse made my heart refrain

  From seeking her that night, so I reclined

  Amidst a group, where on the utmost plain

  2325

  A festal watchfire burned beside the dusky main.

  LVIII

  And joyous was our feast; pathetic talk,

  And wit, and harmony of choral strains,

  While far Orion o’er the waves did walk

  That flow among the isles, held us in chains

  2330

  Of sweet captivity, which none disdains

  Who feels: but when his zone grew dim in mist

  Which clothes the Ocean’s bosom, o’er the plains

  The multitudes went homeward, to their rest,

  Which that delightful day with its own shadow blessed.

  CANTO VI

  I

  2335

  BESIDE the dimness of the glimmering sea,

  Weaving swift language from impassioned themes,

  With that dear friend I lingered, who to me

  So late had been restored, beneath the gleams

  Of the silver stars; and ever in soft dreams

  2340

  Of future love and peace sweet converse lapped

  Our willing fancies, till the pallid beams

  Of the last watchfire fell, and darkness wrapped

  The waves, and each bright chain of floating fire was snapped;

  II

  And till we came even to the City’s wall

  And the great gate; then, none knew whence or why,

  Disquiet on the multitudes did fall: