Another Version of the Preceding by Percy Bysshe Shelley

At its heart, this piece captures the thrill and nervousness of a romantic or sexual encounter unfolding at night, away from the gaze of the daytime world. A group of young people — divided into Boys and Girls — express through song the emotions that arise when two lovers come together after dark. The poem deliberately leaves the details vague, and that's a key aspect of its charm.

The Boys sing 'Hence, coy hour!' first, eager to move past the slow, hesitant hour so the night can unfold. The Girls respond with 'Hence, swift hour!' — they wish for the fast-moving hour to slow down or at least hope Dawn returns soon. This highlights the differing ways Boys and Girls relate to time and risk in this context.

It's intentionally unclear. The question prompts us to consider: what is possible, what is allowed, what could occur when no one is paying attention? By the last chorus, 'may' turns into 'will' — transitioning from possibility to inevitability. Shelley allows the reader to fill in the blanks of that 'what' with their own imagination.

Shelley frequently pushed back against the notion that darkness is synonymous with sin or danger. In this context, darkness is seen as holy because it shields love and desire from societal scrutiny. It's a sacred realm specifically because it exists beyond conventional boundaries. This kind of reversal—transforming the forbidden into something sacred—is characteristic of Shelley's Romantic perspective.

The Girls ask fairies and angels to watch over 'her.' This is the cherished woman at the heart of the encounter. Their perspective reveals genuine worry: while the night is thrilling, it also brings a sense of vulnerability, and they seek supernatural protection for her.

Shelley drew inspiration from Greek drama and the English masque tradition in this structure. By giving the characters distinct voices, he captures two contrasting emotional responses to the same situation — the Boys' eagerness and the Girls' protectiveness — before bringing them together in a shared, unresolved cry of 'O joy! O fear!' This approach gives the poem a sense of performance or ritual, elevating it beyond a simple private lyric.

That abruptness is purposeful. "Come along!" invites everyone without a set destination — it simply draws everyone forward into the unknown. By ending here, the poem leaves its central tension between joy and fear unresolved. The night continues; the reader remains caught in the midst of it.

It's a note highlighting a difference between what Medwin published in 1847 and what editors later thought Shelley actually wrote. 'Let eyes see their own delight' (Medwin's version) and 'Lest eyes see their own delight' (the corrected version) convey nearly opposite meanings — one encourages seeing, while the other prohibits it. Most editors favor 'Lest,' as it aligns much better with the poem's themes of concealment and secrecy.