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Storgy

The Annotated Edition

TRANSLATED FROM THE ITALIAN. by Percy Bysshe Shelley

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

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A wife turns away from the empty chase for wealth, ambition, and trendy social circles, choosing instead the genuine joy of caring for her husband at home.

Poet
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Themes
faith, home, love
The PoemFull text

TRANSLATED FROM THE ITALIAN.

Percy Bysshe Shelley

Oh! what is the gain of restless care, And what is ambitious treasure? And what are the joys that the modish share, In their sickly haunts of pleasure? My husband’s repast with delight I spread, _5 What though ’tis but rustic fare, May each guardian angel protect his shed, May contentment and quiet be there. And may I support my husband’s years, May I soothe his dying pain, _10 And then may I dry my fast falling tears, And meet him in Heaven again.

Public domain

Sourced from Project Gutenberg

§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

A wife turns away from the empty chase for wealth, ambition, and trendy social circles, choosing instead the genuine joy of caring for her husband at home. All she desires is to share a humble life with him, offer him comfort in his final moments, and be reunited with him in the afterlife. This simple yet profound statement reveals that true domestic love surpasses all the so-called achievements the world celebrates.

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

  1. Oh! what is the gain of restless care, / And what is ambitious treasure?

    Editor's note

    The speaker begins with three rhetorical questions that challenge society's most valued pursuits: constant ambition, wealth accumulation, and the superficial joys of trendy living. The term "modish" ties these pleasures to a particular social class — the fashionable, affluent crowd — while "sickly haunts" implies that their meeting spots are unhealthy rather than luxurious. The questions aren't meant to be answered; the message is clear: none of these things are truly valuable.

  2. My husband's repast with delight I spread, / What though 'tis but rustic fare,

    Editor's note

    Having set aside the world's values, the speaker focuses on her own. She prepares her husband's meal with true joy, not out of obligation. The phrase "what though 'tis but rustic fare" serves as a casual dismissal of anyone who might judge her for serving simple food — she isn't bothered. The two closing lines of the stanza express a gentle hope: keep this home safe, keep it peaceful.

  3. And may I support my husband's years, / May I soothe his dying pain,

    Editor's note

    The final stanza shifts from the present to the future, confronting the toughest reality: death. The speaker wishes to be the one holding her husband's hand as he passes away, then to grieve, and finally — at the poem's emotional high point — to reunite with him in heaven. The journey from "support his years" to "soothe his dying pain" to their meeting in the afterlife creates a gentle, steady progression that feels more like a promise than a desire.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

The tone feels tender and subtly defiant. There's no resentment toward the wealthy or ambitious — the speaker just sees their world as irrelevant. The mood remains warm and intimate throughout, and the closing lines express a gentle, personal faith that feels more like a private prayer than a formal poem.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

Rustic fare
The simple meal embodies the entirety of the speaker's chosen domestic life. Its straightforwardness is key — it symbolizes genuine, unembellished love, contrasting with the extravagant yet empty joys of trendy society.
The shed / home
The husband's "shed" is the couple's small home. Referring to it as a shed instead of a house highlights its simplicity, yet the speaker requests angels to watch over it, making it sacred because of the love it holds.
Heaven
Heaven represents the ultimate fulfillment of the love depicted in the poem. It assures that the bond between husband and wife doesn't end with death — their reunion there is the greatest reward the speaker yearns for.
Fast falling tears
The tears the speaker envisions shedding for her husband's death symbolize grief, but they also reflect the profound love that makes that grief possible. Drying those tears doesn't mean pushing feelings away; instead, it shows the strength to move on and look forward to reunion.

§06Historical context

Historical context

Shelley crafted this piece as a translation—or a loose adaptation—from an Italian source, likely during his intense immersion in Italian literature and culture, which deepened after he relocated to Italy in 1818. The poem presents an intriguing contrast to Shelley's image as a radical, atheist, and advocate for political freedom. Here, he channels the voice of a deeply religious, domestically happy woman—a character quite different from his own restless existence. It's difficult to determine if the translation captures the original faithfully or if Shelley tailored it for his purposes, but the poem certainly embodies a trend in Romantic-era writing that romanticized rural simplicity and marital loyalty as a response to the corruptive influences of wealth and urban trends. Its short length and lyrical quality imply it might have been meant for a musical arrangement or a gift album.

§07FAQ

Questions readers ask

A wife shares her indifference toward wealth, ambition, and the allure of fashionable society. Her true desire is to nurture her husband in a humble home, to be by his side when he passes, and to reunite with him in heaven. This piece is a love poem that expresses a rejection of materialistic values.

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