The Complete Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley — Complete eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,285 pages of information about The Complete Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley — Complete.

The Complete Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley — Complete eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,285 pages of information about The Complete Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley — Complete.

OCEAN: 
Henceforth the fields of heaven-reflecting sea
Which are my realm, will heave, unstained with blood,
Beneath the uplifting winds, like plains of corn 20
Swayed by the summer air; my streams will flow
Round many-peopled continents, and round
Fortunate isles; and from their glassy thrones
Blue Proteus and his humid nymphs shall mark
The shadow of fair ships, as mortals see
25
The floating bark of the light-laden moon
With that white star, its sightless pilot’s crest,
Borne down the rapid sunset’s ebbing sea;
Tracking their path no more by blood and groans,
And desolation, and the mingled voice 30
Of slavery and command; but by the light
Of wave-reflected flowers, and floating odours,
And music soft, and mild, free, gentle voices,
And sweetest music, such as spirits love.

NOTES:  22 many-peopled B; many peopled 1820. 26 light-laden B; light laden 1820.

APOLLO: 
And I shall gaze not on the deeds which make 35
My mind obscure with sorrow, as eclipse
Darkens the sphere I guide; but list, I hear
The small, clear, silver lute of the young Spirit
That sits i’ the morning star.

NOTE: 
39 i’ the B, edition 1839; on the 1820.

OCEAN: 
Thou must away;
Thy steeds will pause at even, till when farewell:  40
The loud deep calls me home even now to feed it
With azure calm out of the emerald urns
Which stand for ever full beside my throne. 
Behold the Nereids under the green sea,
Their wavering limbs borne on the wind-like stream,
45
Their white arms lifted o’er their streaming hair
With garlands pied and starry sea-flower crowns,
Hastening to grace their mighty sister’s joy.
[A SOUND OF WAVES IS HEARD.]
It is the unpastured sea hungering for calm. 
Peace, monster; I come now.  Farewell.

APOLLO: 
Farewell. 50

SCENE 3.3: 
CAUCASUS. 
PROMETHEUS, HERCULES, IONE, THE EARTH, SPIRITS, ASIA,
AND PANTHEA, BORNE IN THE CAR WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE HOUR. 
HERCULES UNBINDS PROMETHEUS, WHO DESCENDS.

HERCULES: 
Most glorious among Spirits, thus doth strength
To wisdom, courage, and long-suffering love,
And thee, who art the form they animate,
Minister like a slave.

PROMETHEUS: 
Thy gentle words
Are sweeter even than freedom long desired 5
And long delayed. 
Asia, thou light of life,
Shadow of beauty unbeheld:  and ye,
Fair sister nymphs, who made long years of pain
Sweet to remember, through your love and care: 
Henceforth we will not part.  There is a cave,
10
All overgrown with trailing odorous plants,

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
The Complete Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley — Complete from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.