Percy Bysshe Shelley as a Philosopher and Reformer

Percy Bysshe Shelley as a
Philosopher and Reformer

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Philosopher and
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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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BYSSHE SHELLEY AS A ***

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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