2. 
A sweet Thought, which was once the life within
This heavy heart, man a time and oft
Went up before our Father’s feet, and there 15
It saw a glorious Lady throned aloft;
And its sweet talk of her my soul did win,
So that I said, ‘Thither I too will fare.’ 
That Thought is fled, and one doth now appear
Which tyrannizes me with such fierce stress, 20
That my heart trembles—­ye may see it leap—­
And on another Lady bids me keep
Mine eyes, and says—­Who would have blessedness
Let him but look upon that Lady’s eyes,
Let him not fear the agony of sighs. 25

3. 
This lowly Thought, which once would talk with me
Of a bright seraph sitting crowned on high,
Found such a cruel foe it died, and so
My Spirit wept, the grief is hot even now—­
And said, Alas for me! how swift could flee 30
That piteous Thought which did my life console! 
And the afflicted one ... questioning
Mine eyes, if such a Lady saw they never,
And why they would... 
I said:  ’Beneath those eyes might stand for ever 35
He whom ... regards must kill with... 
To have known their power stood me in little stead,
Those eyes have looked on me, and I am dead.’

4. 
’Thou art not dead, but thou hast wandered,
Thou Soul of ours, who thyself dost fret,’ 40
A Spirit of gentle Love beside me said;
For that fair Lady, whom thou dost regret,
Hath so transformed the life which thou hast led,
Thou scornest it, so worthless art thou made. 
And see how meek, how pitiful, how staid, 45
Yet courteous, in her majesty she is. 
And still call thou her Woman in thy thought;
Her whom, if thou thyself deceivest not,
Thou wilt behold decked with such loveliness,
That thou wilt cry [Love] only Lord, lo! here 50
Thy handmaiden, do what thou wilt with her.

5. 
My song, I fear that thou wilt find but few
Who fitly shall conceive thy reasoning
Of such hard matter dost thou entertain. 
Whence, if by misadventure chance should bring 55
Thee to base company, as chance may do,
Quite unaware of what thou dost contain,
I prithee comfort thy sweet self again,
My last delight; tell them that they are dull,
And bid them own that thou art beautiful. 60

NOTE: 
C5.  Published with “Epispychidion”, 1821.—­ED.

***

MATILDA GATHERING FLOWERS.

FROM THE PURGATORIO OF DANTE, CANTO 28, LINES 1-51.

[Published in part (lines 1-8, 22-51) by Medwin, “The Angler in Wales”, 1834, “Life of Shelley”, 1847; reprinted in full by Garnett, “Relics of Shelley”, 1862.]