REMEMBRANCE.
Percy Bysshe Shelley
[Published by Mrs. Shelley, “Posthumous Poems”, 1824, where it is
entitled “A Lament”. Three manuscript copies are extant: The Trelawny
manuscript (“Remembrance”), the Harvard manuscript (“Song”) and the
Houghton manuscript—the last written by Shelley on a flyleaf of a copy
of “Adonais”.]
1.
Swifter far than summer’s flight—
Swifter far than youth’s delight—
Swifter far than happy night,
Art thou come and gone—
As the earth when leaves are dead, _5
As the night when sleep is sped,
As the heart when joy is fled,
I am left lone, alone.
2.
The swallow summer comes again—
The owlet night resumes her reign— _10
But the wild-swan youth is fain
To fly with thee, false as thou.—
My heart each day desires the morrow;
Sleep itself is turned to sorrow;
Vainly would my winter borrow _15
Sunny leaves from any bough.
3.
Lilies for a bridal bed—
Roses for a matron’s head—
Violets for a maiden dead—
Pansies let MY flowers be: _20
On the living grave I bear
Scatter them without a tear—
Let no friend, however dear,
Waste one hope, one fear for me.
NOTES:
_5-_7 So editions 1824, 1839, Trelawny manuscript, Harvard manuscript;
As the wood when leaves are shed,
As the night when sleep is fled,
As the heart when joy is dead Houghton manuscript.
_13 So editions 1824, 1839, Harvard manuscript, Houghton manuscript.
My heart to-day desires to-morrow Trelawny manuscript.
_20 So editions 1824, 1839, Harvard manuscript, Houghton manuscript.
Sadder flowers find for me Trelawny manuscript.
_24 one hope, one fear]a hope, a fear Trelawny manuscript.
***