Percy Bysshe Shelley as a Philosopher and Reformer

Percy Bysshe Shelley as a Philosopher and Reformer

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Reformer, by Charles Sotheran This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net
Title: Percy Bysshe Shelley as a Philosopher and Reformer
Author: Charles Sotheran
Commentator: Charles W. Frederickson
Release Date: October 14, 2005 [EBook #16872]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY
AS A
PHILOSOPHER AND REFORMER.
BY
CHARLES SOTHERAN.

INCLUDING AN ORIGINAL SONNET BY
CHARLES W. FREDERICKSON

TOGETHER WITH
A PORTRAIT OF SHELLEY AND A VIEW OF HIS TOMB.

"Let us See the Truth, whatever that may be."--Shelley, 1822.

NEW YORK.
CHARLES P. SOMERBY, 139 EIGHTH STREET.
1876.

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1876,
by Charles Sotheran,
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
* * * * *

TO
CHARLES WILLIAM FREDERICKSON,
OF NEW YORK.
DEAR FRIEND:
As in ancient times, none were allowed participation in the Higher Mysteries, without having proved their fitness for the reception of esoteric truth, so in these days only those seem to be permitted to breathe the hidden essence in Shelley, who have realized the acute phases of spiritality. Among the few who have enjoyed these bi-fold gifts, none have had more fortuitous experience than yourself, to whom I now take the liberty of dedicating this volume.
Yours fraternally,
CHARLES SOTHERAN.
December, 1875.
[Illustration: VIEW OF SHELLEY'S TOMB, IN THE PROTESTANT CEMETERY, AT ROME. FROM A SKETCH BY A.J. STRUTT.]
* * * * *
"To see the sun shining on its bright grass, and hear the whispering of the wind among the leaves of the trees, which have overgrown the tomb of Cestius, and the soil which is stirring in the sun-warm earth, and to mark the tombs, mostly of women and young children, who, buried there, we might, if we were to die, desire a sleep they seem to sleep."--SHELLEY.

To the Memory
OF
PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY,
BY
CHARLES W. FREDERICKSON.
Amid the ruins of majestic Rome, That told the story of its countless years, I stood, and wondered by the silent dust Of the "Eternal Child." Oh, Shelley! To me it was not given to know thy face, Save through the mirrored pages of thy works; Those whisper'd words of wood and wave, are to mine ears, Sweet as the music of ocean's roar, that breaks on sheltered shores. Thy sterner words of Justice, Love and Truth, Will to the struggling soul a beacon prove, And barrier against the waves of tyranny and craft. Then rest, "Cor Cordium," and though thy life Was brief in point of years, its memory will outlive The column'd monuments around thy tomb.
* * * * *
NEW YORK, Nov. 25, 1875.
MY DEAR SOTHERAN:--
The copy of the lines on our Beloved-Poet, which you requested, are entirely at your service--make what use of them you please.
Yours, sincerely,
C.W. FREDERICKSON.

PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY, AS A PHILOSOPHER AND REFORMER.
A PAPER READ BEFORE THE NEW YORK LIBERAL CLUB, ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 6TH, 1875.
"Let us see the Truth, whatever that may be."--SHELLEY, 1822.
_Mr. Vice-President and Members of the Liberal Club_:
"The Blood of the Martyr is the Seed of the Church." Persecution ever fails in accomplishing its desired ends, and as a rule lays the foundations broad and deep for the triumph of the objects of and principles inculcated by the persecuted.
Driven from their homes by fanatical tyranny, not permitted to worship as they thought fit, a band of noble and earnest, yet on some points mistaken men, were, a little over two hundred and fifty years ago, landed on this continent from the good ship "Mayflower." The "Pilgrim Fathers" were, in their native land, refused liberty of conscience and freedom of discussion; their apparent loss was our gain, for if it had not been for that despotism, and the corresponding re-action, which made those stern old zealots give to others many of the inalienable rights of liberty denied to themselves, you and I could not to-night perhaps be allowed to meet face to face, without fear, to discuss metaphysical and social questions in their broadest aspects, without the civil or theological powers intervening to close our mouths.
"Fragile in health and frame; of the purest habits in morals; full of devoted generosity and universal kindness; glowing with ardor to attain wisdom; resolved at every personal sacrifice to do right; burning with a desire for affection and sympathy," a boy-under-graduate of Oxford, described as of tall, delicate, and fragile figure, with large and lively eyes, with expressive, beautiful and feminine features, with head covered with long, brown hair, of gracefulness and simplicity of manner, the heir to a title and