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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PercyBysshe Shelley

AsA

Philosopherand reformer.

By

CharlesSotheran.

INCLUDING AN ORIGINAL SONNET

By

CharlesW. Frederickson

Togetherwith

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.