Skip to content
Storgy

The Annotated Edition

CANCELLED PASSAGE. by Percy Bysshe Shelley

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

Read aloud in ~2 minOpen reading mode →

Shelley composes a love poem for Sophia Stacey, a young woman he encountered in Florence in 1819, celebrating her beauty, her expressive eyes, her musical talent, and the profound impact she has on him.

Poet
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Themes
beauty, identity, love
The PoemFull text

CANCELLED PASSAGE.

Percy Bysshe Shelley

[Published by W.M. Rossetti, “Complete Poetical Works”, 1870.] O pillow cold and wet with tears! Thou breathest sleep no more! *** TO SOPHIA [MISS STACEY]. [Published by W.M. Rossetti, “Complete Poetical Works”, 1870.] 1. Thou art fair, and few are fairer Of the Nymphs of earth or ocean; They are robes that fit the wearer— Those soft limbs of thine, whose motion Ever falls and shifts and glances _5 As the life within them dances. 2. Thy deep eyes, a double Planet, Gaze the wisest into madness With soft clear fire,—the winds that fan it Are those thoughts of tender gladness _10 Which, like zephyrs on the billow, Make thy gentle soul their pillow. 3. If, whatever face thou paintest In those eyes, grows pale with pleasure, If the fainting soul is faintest _15 When it hears thy harp’s wild measure, Wonder not that when thou speakest Of the weak my heart is weakest. 4. As dew beneath the wind of morning, As the sea which whirlwinds waken, _20 As the birds at thunder’s warning, As aught mute yet deeply shaken, As one who feels an unseen spirit Is my heart when thine is near it. ***

Public domain

Sourced from Project Gutenberg

§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

Shelley composes a love poem for Sophia Stacey, a young woman he encountered in Florence in 1819, celebrating her beauty, her expressive eyes, her musical talent, and the profound impact she has on him. Each stanza focuses on a distinct attribute—her physical form, her gaze, her skill with the harp, and ultimately the deep emotional stirring she ignites within him. In the concluding lines, Shelley likens his heart to dew, the sea, birds, and a person feeling the presence of a ghost—all entities moved by uncontrollable forces.

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

  1. Thou art fair, and few are fairer / Of the Nymphs of earth or ocean;

    Editor's note

    Shelley begins with a striking compliment: Sophia is more beautiful than most nymphs — those mythological spirits of nature. He mentions that her clothes fit her perfectly, but the key focus is on the way her body moves, which he portrays as continuously shifting and dancing with vitality. The term "glances" serves a dual purpose, referring to both flashes of light and quick looks, adding a playful and elusive quality to her movements.

  2. Thy deep eyes, a double Planet, / Gaze the wisest into madness

    Editor's note

    Her eyes resemble two planets — big, bright, and full of gravity. Even the smartest person, Shelley notes, can be driven to madness by their allure. The "soft clear fire" in her gaze is fueled by her gentle, caring thoughts, which he compares to light breezes softly resting on her soul like a pillow. This image feels warm and intimate, not at all threatening.

  3. If, whatever face thou paintest / In those eyes, grows pale with pleasure,

    Editor's note

    This stanza focuses on how Sophia influences those around her. Anyone who meets her gaze turns pale with pleasure, completely captivated by her attention. Her harp-playing leaves souls feeling faint. Shelley then shifts to a personal note: he tells her not to be surprised that when she talks about the weak and vulnerable, it’s his own heart that feels the impact the most. He subtly reveals that he sees himself as one of those rendered helpless by her presence.

  4. As dew beneath the wind of morning, / As the sea which whirlwinds waken,

    Editor's note

    The final stanza presents a series of similes, each depicting things influenced by unseen or powerful forces: dew moved by the wind, a sea disturbed by a whirlwind, birds frightened by thunder, a silent creature profoundly affected, and a person who feels a ghost's presence. Each image focuses on being affected rather than taking action — Shelley's heart next to Sophia's mirrors this: it trembles, responds, and cannot help but yield.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

The tone is gentle and respectful, with an undercurrent of longing. Shelley isn't in pain — he's captivated. The first two stanzas have a lightness, almost playful in how he piles on compliments, but by the fourth stanza, the mood shifts to something more vulnerable. The last similes come across as genuinely amazed rather than just flattering, as if he's attempting to describe a physical feeling that's hard to articulate.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

The double Planet (her eyes)
Planets naturally pull things toward them with their gravitational force. Referring to Sophia's eyes as a "double Planet" portrays her gaze as a powerful force that influences everyone nearby, including the poet, regardless of their desires.
The harp
The harp has long been a classical symbol of lyric poetry and the soul. Sophia not only symbolizes this but also played the harp herself. Shelley, however, uses it to imply that her music penetrates the listener's inner life, creating a sense of unease — the soul "faints" at the sound.
Dew, sea, birds, and the unseen spirit
The final group of similes illustrates objects that react to unseen influences. Collectively, they depict the poet's heart as highly sensitive—reacting to Sophia's presence just as nature responds to wind, storms, and the mysterious.
Zephyrs on the billow
Zephyrs are the softest of winds. Putting them on a wave (billow) implies that Sophia's delicate thoughts hardly ripple the surface of her soul — she remains serene, while the poet is the one being tossed around.

§06Historical context

Historical context

Shelley wrote this poem in Florence in late 1819 for Sophia Stacey, a ward of his uncle who came to visit him while he was living abroad with Mary Shelley. Sophia was a talented singer and harpist, clearly enchanting Shelley during her short stay. The poem never saw publication in his lifetime; it was published posthumously in W.M. Rossetti's 1870 edition of his complete works. 1819 was one of Shelley's most prolific years: he also wrote "Ode to the West Wind," "The Mask of Anarchy," and "Prometheus Unbound" during this time. The poem occupies an intriguing personal space—Shelley was married, and it expresses genuine infatuation rather than just a formal compliment. The "Cancelled Passage" printed above it (just two lines) likely comes from the same manuscript, hinting that the poem was revised before it reached its final form.

§07FAQ

Questions readers ask

Sophia Stacey was under the care of Shelley's uncle, Robert Parker. During the winter of 1819–1820, she visited Shelley and Mary in Florence, with a chaperone by her side. A talented singer and harpist, she inspired Shelley to write several poems during her stay. Afterward, she married, and they did not keep in touch significantly.

Read next

Poems in the same key

Similar poems

How Do I Love Thee — Elizabeth Barrett BrowningWild Nights Wild Nights — Emily DickinsonAnnabel Lee — Edgar Allan Poe

More by Percy Bysshe Shelley

Browse all Percy Bysshe Shelley poems →

Themes in this poem

Poems about beautyPoems about identityPoems about lovePoems about nature