Skip to content
Storgy

The Annotated Edition

Translated by Medwin and Corrected by Shelley by Percy Bysshe Shelley

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

Read aloud in ~2 minOpen reading mode →

A speaker observes a bee nervously circling a rose and a moth flying dangerously into a candle flame.

Poet
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Core theme
Fear
The PoemFull text

Translated by Medwin and Corrected by Shelley

Percy Bysshe Shelley

[Published by Medwin, “Life of Shelley”, 1847, with Shelley’s corrections in ‘‘.] 1. Hast thou not seen, officious with delight, Move through the illumined air about the flower The Bee, that fears to drink its purple light, Lest danger lurk within that Rose’s bower? Hast thou not marked the moth’s enamoured flight _5 About the Taper’s flame at evening hour; ‘Till kindle in that monumental fire His sunflower wings their own funereal pyre? 2. My heart, its wishes trembling to unfold. Thus round the Rose and Taper hovering came, _10 ‘And Passion’s slave, Distrust, in ashes cold. Smothered awhile, but could not quench the flame,’— Till Love, that grows by disappointment bold, And Opportunity, had conquered Shame; And like the Bee and Moth, in act to close, _15 ‘I burned my wings, and settled on the Rose.’ ***

Public domain

Sourced from Project Gutenberg

§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

A speaker observes a bee nervously circling a rose and a moth flying dangerously into a candle flame. He then confesses that his own heart acted similarly, hovering anxiously around love until desire and opportunity triumphed over shame, leading him to give in—burning himself in the process. This brief, sincere admission captures the dual nature of falling in love, which can feel both perilous and alluring. The bee and moth serve not just as beautiful metaphors; they're warnings that the speaker is aware of but chooses to disregard.

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

  1. Hast thou not seen, officious with delight, / Move through the illumined air about the flower

    Editor's note

    The first stanza presents two parallel scenes from nature as cautionary tales. The bee circles the rose, both eager and anxious, fearing that beauty may conceal danger — the word *officious* implies it is somewhat fussily busy, as if trying to explain its own hesitation. Then the moth arrives, irresistibly attracted to the candle flame until its wings catch fire and it burns to death. The candle is described as a *monumental fire*, and the moth's wings as a *funereal pyre*, indicating that death is woven into the imagery even before the speaker reveals anything about himself. Shelley's corrections (noted in the italicized passages) enhance the language throughout.

  2. My heart, its wishes trembling to unfold. / Thus round the Rose and Taper hovering came,

    Editor's note

    The second stanza shifts from nature to personal revelation: the speaker's own heart has mirrored the actions of the bee and moth. *Distrust* — referred to here as *Passion's slave* — temporarily extinguished the flame of desire but could never snuff it out completely. Then Love, emboldened by past disappointments, joined forces with the right moment (*Opportunity*) to ultimately overcome *Shame*. The final couplet encapsulates the essence of the poem: just like the bee landing on the rose and the moth drawn to the flame, the speaker gives in to love, fully aware of the cost — *I burned my wings, and settled on the Rose.* This dual imagery captures the contrast: settling suggests tranquility, yet burning comes at a price.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

The tone is both regretful and personal — the speaker is sharing something he knows might seem silly, but he isn’t sorry about it. Beneath this self-awareness lies a subtle excitement, like someone who knowingly stepped into a fire and found it worthwhile. The formal octave structure helps manage the emotion, making the final couplet's confession hit even harder.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

The Rose
The rose embodies desire—it's beautiful, possibly dangerous, and worth the risk. The bee is wary of the poison within, but the speaker concludes the poem by *settling* on it. It symbolizes the beloved and love itself, which attracts you even in the face of caution.
The Taper (candle flame)
The candle represents the destructive side of passion—it not only draws in but also devastates. The moth's fiery demise serves as the poem's most haunting image, linking directly to the speaker's revelation that he *burned his wings*. In this context, love is more than just warmth; it embodies destruction.
The Bee
The bee symbolizes a careful longing — it circles, hesitates, desires, yet holds back in fear. This reflects the speaker's initial emotional state, where distrust and shame prevented him from fully embracing love.
The Moth
The moth symbolizes the lover who cannot help but pursue love despite understanding the risks involved. Its *funereal pyre* of wings serves as the poem's most striking image of self-destruction driven by desire, and it is the figure that the speaker ultimately relates to the most.
Burned wings
Burning one's wings is the poem's main paradox: it represents both loss and achievement. The speaker sacrifices something — maybe caution, self-protection, or even pride — yet at the same time, he *settles*, implying a sense of rest and contentment. Love demands a price, but it also leads you to a destination.

§06Form & structure

Form & structure

Meter
iambic pentameter
Rhyme
ABABAB CC ABABAB CC

§07Historical context

Historical context

This poem is a translation initially done by Thomas Medwin—who was both Shelley's cousin and a close friend—and later revised by Shelley himself. Medwin published it in his 1847 *Life of Shelley*, highlighting Shelley's corrections in the text. The original source is a Spanish or Italian lyric from the emblem-poem tradition, a style that was popular during the Renaissance and Baroque periods, using natural images like bees, moths, flames, and roses to convey moral or emotional lessons. Shelley had a deep knowledge of Italian and Spanish literature and engaged in translation throughout his career. This poem belongs to a long-standing tradition of *carpe diem* and love-risk poetry, but Shelley's revisions elevate it to a level of psychological depth that the original emblem convention typically didn’t capture. Written during the Romantic period, when Shelley was creating his most significant lyrical works, the poem showcases his typical themes of desire, danger, and the price of emotional surrender.

§08FAQ

Questions readers ask

It's a love confession hidden within a nature observation. The speaker sees a bee pause near a rose and a moth dive into a candle flame, then reveals that his own heart acted similarly — lingering near love but held back by fear and shame, until desire took over. The final line — *I burned my wings, and settled on the Rose* — delivers the impact: he faced pain, but he made it to love.

Adjacent texts in the archive

Similar poems

Ode to a Nightingale — John KeatsTo His Coy Mistress — Andrew MarvellThe Flea — John DonneLa Belle Dame Sans Merci — John Keats

More by Percy Bysshe Shelley

Browse all Percy Bysshe Shelley poems →

Themes in this poem

Poems about FearPoems about IdentityPoems about LovePoems about RosePoems about FlowerPoems about Fire

Poetry tools

Analyze another poem →Rate your own poem →Check rhyme & meter →