JANUARY, 1810. by Percy Bysshe Shelley: Summary, Meaning & Analysis
This is a lighthearted letter penned by Elizabeth Shelley (Percy's sister) to their cousin Harriet Grove.
The poem
2. TO MISS — — [HARRIET GROVE] FROM MISS — — [ELIZABETH SHELLEY]. For your letter, dear — [Hattie], accept my best thanks, Rendered long and amusing by virtue of franks, Though concise they would please, yet the longer the better, The more news that’s crammed in, more amusing the letter, All excuses of etiquette nonsense I hate, _5 Which only are fit for the tardy and late, As when converse grows flat, of the weather they talk, How fair the sun shines—a fine day for a walk, Then to politics turn, of Burdett’s reformation, One declares it would hurt, t’other better the nation, _10 Will ministers keep? sure they’ve acted quite wrong, The burden this is of each morning-call song. So — is going to — you say, I hope that success her great efforts will pay [—] That [the Colonel] will see her, be dazzled outright, _15 And declare he can’t bear to be out of her sight. Write flaming epistles with love’s pointed dart, Whose sharp little arrow struck right on his heart, Scold poor innocent Cupid for mischievous ways, He knows not how much to laud forth her praise, _20 That he neither eats, drinks or sleeps for her sake, And hopes her hard heart some compassion will take, A refusal would kill him, so desperate his flame, But he fears, for he knows she is not common game, Then praises her sense, wit, discernment and grace, _25 He’s not one that’s caught by a sly looking face, Yet that’s TOO divine—such a black sparkling eye, At the bare glance of which near a thousand will die; Thus runs he on meaning but one word in ten, More than is meant by most such kind of men, _30 For they’re all alike, take them one with another, Begging pardon—with the exception of my brother. Of the drawings you mention much praise I have heard, Most opinion’s the same, with the difference of word, Some get a good name by the voice of the crowd, _35 Whilst to poor humble merit small praise is allowed, As in parliament votes, so in pictures a name, Oft determines a fate at the altar of fame.— So on Friday this City’s gay vortex you quit, And no longer with Doctors and Johnny cats sit— _40 Now your parcel’s arrived — [Bysshe’s] letter shall go, I hope all your joy mayn’t be turned into woe, Experience will tell you that pleasure is vain, When it promises sunshine how often comes rain. So when to fond hope every blessing is nigh, _45 How oft when we smile it is checked with a sigh, When Hope, gay deceiver, in pleasure is dressed, How oft comes a stroke that may rob us of rest. When we think ourselves safe, and the goal near at hand, Like a vessel just landing, we’re wrecked near the strand, _50 And though memory forever the sharp pang must feel, ’Tis our duty to bear, and our hardship to steel— May misfortunes dear Girl, ne’er thy happiness cloy, May thy days glide in peace, love, comfort and joy, May thy tears with soft pity for other woes flow, _55 Woes, which thy tender heart never may know, For hardships our own, God has taught us to bear, Though sympathy’s soul to a friend drops a tear. Oh dear! what sentimental stuff have I written, Only fit to tear up and play with a kitten. _60 What sober reflections in the midst of this letter! Jocularity sure would have suited much better; But there are exceptions to all common rules, For this is a truth by all boys learned at schools. Now adieu my dear — [Hattie] I’m sure I must tire, _65 For if I do, you may throw it into the fire, So accept the best love of your cousin and friend, Which brings this nonsensical rhyme to an end.
This is a lighthearted letter penned by Elizabeth Shelley (Percy's sister) to their cousin Harriet Grove. It brims with gossip, cheeky comments on romance, and friendly life advice. The tone captures the lively spirit of a real correspondence between teenage girls, playfully mocking small talk, love-struck boys, and the ups and downs of happiness. In the end, Elizabeth chuckles at her own seriousness, closing the letter with a warm touch of affection.
Line-by-line
For your letter, dear — [Hattie], accept my best thanks, / Rendered long and amusing by virtue of franks,
All excuses of etiquette nonsense I hate, / Which only are fit for the tardy and late,
So — is going to — you say, / I hope that success her great efforts will pay [—]
Write flaming epistles with love's pointed dart, / Whose sharp little arrow struck right on his heart,
For they're all alike, take them one with another, / Begging pardon—with the exception of my brother.
Of the drawings you mention much praise I have heard, / Most opinion's the same, with the difference of word,
So on Friday this City's gay vortex you quit, / And no longer with Doctors and Johnny cats sit—
Now your parcel's arrived — [Bysshe's] letter shall go, / I hope all your joy mayn't be turned into woe,
When we think ourselves safe, and the goal near at hand, / Like a vessel just landing, we're wrecked near the strand,
May misfortunes dear Girl, ne'er thy happiness cloy, / May thy days glide in peace, love, comfort and joy,
Oh dear! what sentimental stuff have I written, / Only fit to tear up and play with a kitten.
Now adieu my dear — [Hattie] I'm sure I must tire, / For if I do, you may throw it into the fire,
Tone & mood
Breezy and gossipy for much of its length, it takes a sudden turn into genuine melancholy in the middle before bouncing back to a self-mocking warmth. The overall feel is like reading a real letter from a clever, affectionate teenager — light on the surface, with a few genuine emotions peeking through, only to be quickly brushed off with a laugh.
Symbols & metaphors
- The letter itself — The verse letter form serves as both the subject and structure of the poem. In this context, letters symbolize genuine connections among women—longer letters indicate deeper care, as more news signifies more attention. These letters contrast with the empty social rituals (like morning calls and small talk about the weather) that permeate polite society.
- Cupid's arrow — Used satirically rather than sincerely, Elizabeth uses the familiar image of love's dart to poke fun at the clichéd language men often resort to in courtship — it reflects a performance of romance rather than true emotion.
- The vessel wrecked near the strand — A ship that sinks just as it reaches shore. It captures the harsh reality of hope crushed at the final moment—the notion that we are most at risk of loss when we feel the safest.
- Rain after sunshine — A recurring weather metaphor illustrates how happiness can be overshadowed by misfortune. This connects back to the earlier small talk about the weather in the poem, adding depth to those seemingly trivial lines.
- The kitten — A playfully deflating image. After pages of sentiment, Elizabeth pictures ripping up her own letter for a kitten to bat around — a humorous symbol of self-deprecation and a lighthearted refusal to take herself too seriously.
Historical context
Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote this poem in January 1810 when he was just seventeen, pretending to be his sister Elizabeth as she wrote to their cousin Harriet Grove. At that time, Percy and Harriet were in a romantic relationship, which eventually ended because Harriet's family disapproved of Percy's increasingly radical and irreligious views. This poem is part of a group of early works Shelley created before he was expelled from Oxford in 1811 and before he produced the major works that established his reputation. It was published in *Original Poetry by Victor and Cazire* (1810), a collection co-authored with Elizabeth. The mention of Sir Francis Burdett anchors it in the heated political debates of Regency-era reform. Today, the poem offers a fascinating glimpse into the Shelley family's home life and serves as an early indication of Percy's talent for voice, irony, and the abrupt transitions from humor to emotion.
FAQ
Percy Bysshe Shelley is the author, but it’s presented as if his sister Elizabeth is writing to their cousin Harriet Grove. This piece appeared in their collaborative collection *Original Poetry by Victor and Cazire* (1810), making the authorship a shared and playful endeavor — although most scholars credit Percy with the majority of the work in the collection.
This was a usual practice in early 19th-century publishing to safeguard the privacy of actual individuals referenced in a text. The names in brackets in this edition were added later by scholars who recognized the people based on context and family records.
Burdett was a well-known radical MP who fought for parliamentary reform and civil liberties in the early 1800s. He was a familiar figure in political discussions. Elizabeth (or Percy through her) references him as an example of the types of topics people debate during tedious morning visits—not because the poem expresses a political viewpoint, but to illustrate how social conversations unfold.
Harriet Grove was Percy's cousin, and between 1809 and 1810, they had a romantic interest in one another. Their relationship came to an end when Harriet's family grew concerned about Percy's atheism and his radical views. This poem was crafted during the peak of their connection, adding an extra layer of emotion to the affectionate closing lines.
The transition from gossip to pondering hope and misfortune is typical of Shelley, even at seventeen—he often moves effortlessly from humor to deep thought. Elizabeth, the poem's speaker, quickly recognizes and chuckles at this tendency in herself, which adds a delightful quality to the tonal shift instead of making it feel abrupt.
In Regency England, some individuals — like MPs, peers, and their families — could send letters without paying for postage by simply signing the envelope, a practice known as 'franking.' Elizabeth is suggesting that Harriet's letter was lengthy, in part, because the lack of postage costs eliminated any need to keep it short.
Not really — Shelley later distanced himself from much of his early work, and this piece is definitely an example of his apprenticeship. Its significance lies more in its biographical and historical context than in its literary merit. However, the comic timing in lines like 'with the exception of my brother' and the kitten couplet reveals a genuine wit that would evolve into the sharper irony found in his later works.
It captures the sense of being shattered just as you find safety — like a ship that sinks within sight of land. Elizabeth uses this to caution Harriet that happiness can disappear at the moment it feels secure. This is the most striking image in the poem and the one that lingers.