Notes to The Complete Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley | Page 8

pursuits of natural philosophy and chemistry, as far

as they could be carried on as an amusement. These tastes gave truth
and vivacity to his descriptions, and warmed his soul with that deep
admiration for the wonders of Nature which constant association with
her inspired.
He never intended to publish "Queen Mab" as it stands; but a few years
after, when printing "Alastor", he extracted a small portion which he
entitled "The Daemon of the World". In this he changed somewhat the
versification, and made other alterations scarcely to be called
improvements.
Some years after, when in Italy, a bookseller published an edition of
"Queen Mab" as it originally stood. Shelley was hastily written to by
his friends, under the idea that, deeply injurious as the mere distribution
of the poem had proved, the publication might awaken fresh
persecutions. At the suggestion of these friends he wrote a letter on the
subject, printed in the "Examiner" newspaper--with which I close this
history of his earliest work.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE 'EXAMINER.'
'Sir,
'Having heard that a poem entitled "Queen Mab" has been
surreptitiously published in London, and that legal proceedings have
been instituted against the publisher, I request the favour of your
insertion of the following explanation of the affair, as it relates to me.
'A poem entitled "Queen Mab" was written by me at the age of eighteen,
I daresay in a sufficiently intemperate spirit--but even then was not
intended for publication, and a few copies only were struck off, to be
distributed among my personal friends. I have not seen this production
for several years. I doubt not but that it is perfectly worthless in point
of literary composition; and that, in all that concerns moral and political
speculation, as well as in the subtler discriminations of metaphysical
and religious doctrine, it is still more crude and immature. I am a
devoted enemy to religious, political, and domestic oppression; and I
regret this publication, not so much from literary vanity, as because I

fear it is better fitted to injure than to serve the sacred cause of freedom.
I have directed my solicitor to apply to Chancery for an injunction to
restrain the sale; but, after the precedent of Mr. Southey's "Wat Tyler"
(a poem written, I believe, at the same age, and with the same
unreflecting enthusiasm), with little hope of success.
'Whilst I exonerate myself from all share in having divulged opinions
hostile to existing sanctions, under the form, whatever it may be, which
they assume in this poem, it is scarcely necessary for me to protest
against the system of inculcating the truth of Christianity or the
excellence of Monarchy, however true or however excellent they may
be, by such equivocal arguments as confiscation and imprisonment, and
invective and slander, and the insolent violation of the most sacred ties
of Nature and society.
'SIR,
'I am your obliged and obedient servant,
'PERCY B. SHELLEY.
'Pisa, June 22, 1821.'
NOTE ON "ALASTOR", BY MRS. SHELLEY.
"Alastor" is written in a very different tone from "Queen Mab". In the
latter, Shelley poured out all the cherished speculations of his
youth--all the irrepressible emotions of sympathy, censure, and hope, to
which the present suffering, and what he considers the proper destiny
of his fellow-creatures, gave birth. "Alastor", on the contrary, contains
an individual interest only. A very few years, with their attendant
events, had checked the ardour of Shelley's hopes, though he still
thought them well-grounded, and that to advance their fulfilment was
the noblest task man could achieve.
This is neither the time nor place to speak of the misfortunes that
chequered his life. It will be sufficient to say that, in all he did, he at the
time of doing it believed himself justified to his own conscience; while

the various ills of poverty and loss of friends brought home to him the
sad realities of life. Physical suffering had also considerable influence
in causing him to turn his eyes inward; inclining him rather to brood
over the thoughts and emotions of his own soul than to glance abroad,
and to make, as in "Queen Mab", the whole universe the object and
subject of his song. In the Spring of 1815, an eminent physician
pronounced that he was dying rapidly of a consumption; abscesses
were formed on his lungs, and he suffered acute spasms. Suddenly a
complete change took place; and though through life he was a martyr to
pain and debility, every symptom of pulmonary disease vanished. His
nerves, which nature had formed sensitive to an unexampled degree,
were rendered still more susceptible by the state of his health.
As soon as the peace of 1814 had opened the Continent, he went abroad.
He visited some of the more magnificent scenes of Switzerland, and
returned to England