80
The Spirit that inhabits it;
It talks according to the wit
Of its companions; and no more
Is heard than has been felt before,
By those who tempt it to betray 85
These secrets of an elder day: 
But, sweetly as its answers will
Flatter hands of perfect skill,
It keeps its highest, holiest tone
For our beloved Jane alone. 90

NOTES: 
12 Of more than ever]Of love that never 1833.
46 woods Trelawny manuscript, 1839, 2nd edition;
    winds 1832, 1833, 1839, 1st edition.
58 this Trelawny manuscript, 1839, 2nd edition;
    that 1832, 1833, 1839, 1st edition.
61 thine own Trelawny manuscript, 1839, 2nd edition;
    its own 1832, 1833, 1839, 1st edition.
76 on Trelawny manuscript, 1839, 2nd edition;
    in 1832, 1833, 1839, 1st edition.
90 Jane Trelawny manuscript; friend 1832, 1833, editions 1839.

***

TO JANE:  ‘THE KEEN STARS WERE TWINKLING’.

[Published in part (lines 7-24) by Medwin (under the title, “An Ariette for Music.  To a Lady singing to her Accompaniment on the Guitar"), “The Athenaeum”, November 17, 1832; reprinted by Mrs. Shelley, “Poetical Works”, 1839, 1st edition.  Republished in full (under the title, To —.), “Poetical Works”, 1839, 2nd edition.  The Trelawny manuscript is headed “To Jane”.  Mr. C.W.  Frederickson of Brooklyn possesses a transcript in an unknown hand.]

1. 
The keen stars were twinkling,
And the fair moon was rising among them,
Dear Jane! 
The guitar was tinkling,
But the notes were not sweet till you sung them 5
Again.

2. 
As the moon’s soft splendour
O’er the faint cold starlight of Heaven
Is thrown,
So your voice most tender 10
To the strings without soul had then given
Its own.

3. 
The stars will awaken,
Though the moon sleep a full hour later,
To-night; 15
No leaf will be shaken
Whilst the dews of your melody scatter
Delight.

4. 
Though the sound overpowers,
Sing again, with your dear voice revealing 20
A tone
Of some world far from ours,
Where music and moonlight and feeling
Are one.

NOTES:  3 Dear *** 1839, 2nd edition. 7 soft]pale Fred. manuscript. 10 your 1839, 2nd edition.;
    thy 1832, 1839, 1st edition, Fred. manuscript.
11 had then 1839, 2nd edition; has 1832, 1839, 1st edition;
    hath Fred. manuscript.
12 Its]Thine Fred. manuscript. 17 your 1839, 2nd edition;
    thy 1832, 1839, 1st edition, Fred. manuscript.
19 sound]song Fred. manuscript. 20 your dear 1839, 2nd edition; thy sweet 1832, 1839, 1st edition;
    thy soft Fred. manuscript.