Why do the Boys and Girls swap the words 'coy' and 'swift' in the refrain?

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.

What does 'what may be done / In the absence of the sun?' mean?

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.

Why does the poem call darkness 'holy'?

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.

Who is 'her' in the Girls' stanza?

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.

What is the significance of the choral structure — Boys, Girls, then both together?

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.

Why does the poem end so abruptly with 'Come along!'?

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.

What is the note about line 17 ('Lest' vs 'Let') telling us?

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.

The Annotated Edition

ANOTHER VERSION OF THE PRECEDING. by Percy Bysshe Shelley

Summary, meaning, line-by-line analysis & FAQ.

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This brief lyric captures a choral song about a nighttime meeting between two lovers, under the watchful gaze of the moon and the passing hours.

Poet: Percy Bysshe Shelley
Themes: fear, freedom, love

The PoemFull text

ANOTHER VERSION OF THE PRECEDING.

Percy Bysshe Shelley

[Published by Medwin, “Life of Shelley”, 1847.] Night, with all thine eyes look down! Darkness shed its holiest dew! When ever smiled the inconstant moon On a pair so true? Hence, coy hour! and quench thy light, _5 Lest eyes see their own delight! Hence, swift hour! and thy loved flight Oft renew. BOYS: O joy! O fear! what may be done In the absence of the sun? _10 Come along! The golden gates of sleep unbar! When strength and beauty meet together, Kindles their image like a star In a sea of glassy weather. _15 Hence, coy hour! and quench thy light, Lest eyes see their own delight! Hence, swift hour! and thy loved flight Oft renew. GIRLS: O joy! O fear! what may be done _20 In the absence of the sun? Come along! Fairies! sprites! and angels, keep her! Holiest powers, permit no wrong! And return, to wake the sleeper, _25 Dawn, ere it be long. Hence, swift hour! and quench thy light, Lest eyes see their own delight! Hence, coy hour! and thy loved flight Oft renew. _30 BOYS AND GIRLS: O joy! O fear! what will be done In the absence of the sun? Come along! NOTE: _17 Lest]Let 1847. ***

§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

This brief lyric captures a choral song about a nighttime meeting between two lovers, under the watchful gaze of the moon and the passing hours. Boys and girls alternate in singing about the thrill and nervousness of what unfolds when the sun sets and the daytime rules fade away. The poem concludes with everyone united, lingering in the mix of joy and fear, all hurrying toward the unknown.

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

Night, with all thine eyes look down! / Darkness shed its holiest dew!
Editor's note
The opening stanza paints a vivid scene, inviting Night to bless the moment. Night's 'eyes' are the stars, as the speaker wishes for the entire sky to bear witness. Darkness is described as 'holy,' turning the typical notion of darkness as something sinister on its head; here, it's sacred and serves as a protective veil for lovers. The speaker directly addresses the hour, asking it to conceal the light (to keep their love hidden) while also urging it to move swiftly (so their night of love can be prolonged). This contradiction — to hide the light yet hurry back — embodies the poem's core tension between secrecy and desire.
O joy! O fear! what may be done / In the absence of the sun?
Editor's note
The Boys' chorus comes alive with genuine, unfiltered emotion: a mix of joy and fear. The question 'what may be done in the absence of the sun?' is intentionally vague—it could suggest freedom, mischief, or romance. The phrase 'strength and beauty' coming together and igniting 'like a star / In a sea of glassy weather' captures one of Shelley's most beautiful images: two people uniting and brightening a tranquil, mirror-like night sky. The Boys repeat the refrain, maintaining that tension between hiding and urgency.
O joy! O fear! what may be done / In the absence of the sun?
Editor's note
The Girls' chorus echoes the same opening cry but shifts the emotional tone significantly. While the Boys celebrated the union of strength and beauty, the Girls invoke 'fairies, sprites, and angels' to safeguard 'her' — likely referring to a specific woman, possibly the beloved. Their plea, 'Holiest powers, permit no wrong!' reflects genuine vulnerability: the night that feels both free and sacred also comes with its own risks. The Girls then ask Dawn to return soon, indicating they desire the night to be short enough to remain safe. Notably, they interchange 'coy' and 'swift' in the refrain — a subtle yet meaningful change that implies a different attitude toward time and urgency.
O joy! O fear! what will be done / In the absence of the sun?
Editor's note
The final chorus brings together Boys and Girls, and the simple shift from 'may' to 'will' changes everything. 'May' suggested possibility, while 'will' conveys inevitability. Whatever was meant to unfold in the dark has now unfolded, or is currently unfolding. The poem wraps up with 'Come along!' — an open invitation without a specified destination, and that's perfect. The tension between joy and fear remains unresolved; it just continues to move forward into the night.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

The tone is giddy and slightly breathless — like a bunch of young people challenging each other to venture into the darkness. You can feel the excitement in the short, punchy lines and the repeated exclamations. Yet, beneath that joy lies real anxiety, especially in the stanza about the Girls, where protection and vulnerability take center stage. The poem doesn’t settle into a single mood; it continually swings between celebration and concern, giving it a pulse that feels vibrant instead of just beautiful.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

Night / Darkness: Night isn't a symbol of danger or evil; instead, it serves as a sacred, open space—providing a refuge where desire and freedom can thrive beyond the constraints of the daytime world.
The Sun: The sun symbolizes social visibility, the propriety of daylight, and the observant gaze of everyday life. Without it, the freedom of the night can exist.
The Hour: The Hour is described as a living entity, both 'coy' (slow to reveal) and 'swift' (quick in motion). It symbolizes time itself — the lovers wish for it to conceal them while also wanting it to come back, ensuring the night never truly concludes.
The Star in a Sea of Glassy Weather: This image of two people kindling like a star reflected in a perfectly calm sea conveys the notion of love as a sudden, brilliant light emerging from stillness — beautiful exactly because the surroundings are so quiet and clear.
Fairies, Sprites, and Angels: These supernatural guardians called upon by the Girls symbolize the desire for safety during a fragile time. They combine pagan and Christian imagery, implying that the cherished deserve all the care the world has to give.
Dawn: Dawn marks the return of social norms and expectations. The Girls call for its arrival "before too long" — not because they wish for the night to conclude, but because they want their beloved to be safe before the world stirs and begins its judgment once more.

§06Historical context

Historical context

Shelley wrote this piece as a companion to another lyric, likely tied to his broader writing circle in the early 1820s. It was published after his death in Thomas Medwin's *Life of Shelley* in 1847, twenty-five years after Shelley drowned in the Gulf of Spezia in 1822 at the age of twenty-nine. The poem features a choral structure, with boys and girls singing separately before coming together, which reflects the influences of classical Greek drama and the masque tradition in English literature—forms that Shelley was familiar with and employed in other works, most notably in *Prometheus Unbound*. The poem's candid exploration of desire, its call for protective spirits, and its mix of sacred and erotic language showcase Shelley's Romantic sensibility, which often challenged moral and social norms while still valuing beauty and vulnerability.

§07FAQ

Questions readers ask

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.

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ANOTHER VERSION OF THE PRECEDING. by Percy Bysshe Shelley

ANOTHER VERSION OF THE PRECEDING.

What this poem is about

Recurring themes

Stanza by stanza, with notes

How this poem feels

Symbols & metaphors

Historical context

Questions readers ask

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