nuary 26, 1819, Shelley wrote to Peacock: "I consider poetry very subordinate to political science, and, if I were well, certainly I would aspire to the latter, for

ld t

was bound, and

abject, would

on. His tuneful lyre was ever at the service of the Goddess of Freedom; and he took

deas." Since man's mind is but an aggregate of ideas, man himself is capable of indefinite modification. Differences in men result wholly from differences of education. Feed a sinner on syllogisms and you can transform him into a saint. It is impossible for one to resist

the other hand, denounced all government as "an institution of the most pernicious tendency." There is only one power to which man should yield obedience and that is the decision of his own under

f his opinions. If he has just and true opinions his actions will be good; if erroneous ones, his actions will be bad. But "sound reasoning and truth adequately communicated must be victorious over error."[83] Man will always accept the truth if presented to him properly. It follows, then, that "rea

e

oul commands

a devastatin

'er it touches

nius, virtue,

men, and of t

zed autom

autocracy. His sonnet, "England in 1819," is a

lind, despised

gs of their dul

scorn-mud from

ther see, nor

to their fainti

nd in blood withou

National Anthem," and the satirical piece, "Swellfoot the Tyrant." In "Hellas" we find him advocating the caus

im the words "ruler" and "tyrant" are synonymous. A king from the very nature of his of

e wearer of

soul to abjec

nickname monarc

basest app

e Revolt of Islam. The reason for this becomes clear when one considers that th

ure republic," he writes, "may be shown, by inferences the most obvious and irresistible, to be that system of social order the fittest to produce the happiness and promote the genuine eminence of man. Yet nothing can less consist with reason or afford smaller hopes of

nishment of death defeats its own end. It is a triumphant exhibition of suffering virtue, which may inspire some with pity, admiration and sympathy. As a consequence it may incite them to emulate their works, especially the works of political agitators. Punishment of death, again, excites those emotions which are inimical

of liberty and happiness." Violence and falsehood will produce nothing but wretchedness and slavery and will make those who use them incapable of further exertion. Violence will immediately render their cause a bad one. Godwin likewise maintains that "force is an

hould ill ever

l keener pain

thren-even the

men; and to a

oer doth bu

wn broken

n writes: "The only method according to which social improvements can be carried on is when the improvement of our institutions advances in a just proportion to the illumination of the public understanding."[88] While Shelley writes in his address to the Irish people that reform "is founded on the reform of private men and without individual amendment it is vain and foolish to expect the amendment of a state or government." Although Godwin says in the first book of Pol

in which I was born, my parents, my wife and the children of my care, and to these children, this woman, this nation, it is incumbent on me to do all the benefits in my power.... You ought to love all mankind, nay every individual of mankind. You ought not to love the individuals of your domestic circle less, but to love those who exist beyond it more." Godwin says that one principle of justice is "to be no respecter of persons."[92] In a letter to Miss Hitchener, October, 1811, Shelley writes: "I ... set myself up as no respecter of persons." "The end of virtue," says Godwin, "is to add to the sum of pleasurable sensation." In the Essay on Christianity Shelley writes: "This and no other is justice: to consider under all circumstances and consequences of a particular case how the greatest quantity and purest quality of h

barous echos," "tomes of reasoned wrong glozed on by

ustice in the

oppress the we

f a national representation can make anything wrong which was not wrong before: it cannot change virtue and truth." All this is merely a repetition of Godwin's principles. "Immutable reason," he says, "is the true legislator

h earned his own living, each would be happy and contented, and crime and the temptation to crime would scarcely exist. "If two children," he writes, "were placed together in a desert island and they found some scarce fruit, would not justice dictate an equal division? If this number is multiplied to any extent of which number is capable, if these children are men, families-is not justice capable of the same extens

is virtue considers himself, with respect to the great community of mankind, as the steward and guardian of their interests in the property which he chances to possess."[101] When Shelley proposed to share his income with Elizabeth Hitchener he said that he was not doing an act of generosity, but one of justice-"bare, simple justice." Godwin says that new inventions and the refinements of luxury are inimical to the welfare of society. These mean more work for the poor while only the rich are benefited.[102] "The poor," writes Shelley, "are set to labor-for what? No

atesma

.... How

for that hap

but vir

de."[104] "There is no wealth in the world," says Godwin, "except this, the labor of man."[105] Every new luxury is a new weight thrown on the shoulders of the laborer, for which they receive no benefit. In the Notes to Queen Mab, Shelley writes: "there is no real wealth but the labor o

t of his Irish servant, Daniel Hill, for distributing the same without authority. Many propositions of the Declaration of Rights bear consi

equal participation in the commonage of nature." Proposition No. 2 of the Constituent Assembly is: "The object of every political associa

that does not expressly emanate from their will." The corresponding constituent proposition is: "The principle of all authorit

aced tyranny on the side of the government, ignorant slavishness on the side of the governed." No. 1 of the Assembly: "Men are born and remain free and equal. Social distinctions can only be founded on

the present state of society are only to be secured by some degree of coercion to be exercised on t

nly those punishments that are str

essary severity shoul

uent No. 7 declare that no man

be innocent. Government cannot make a law; it can only pronounce that which was the law before its organization, viz., the moral result of the imperishable relation of things." No. 5: "Law has only t

loodiest and most rancorous of all, spring from partiality." This corresponds to constituent No. 10: "No one should be disturbed o

les are tinsel, power a corruptor, glory a bubble, and excessive wealth a libel on its possessor." No. 6: "All citizens, being equal in the eyes of the law, are eq

the abolition of child labor and of the slave trade, the reduction and equalization of taxes, and the education of the poor. Hunt advocated the reform of military discipline, while Shelley claimed that standing armies should be abolished altogether. Hunt carried on his attacks against the evils of the time in the pages of The Examiner, which everybody read in those days. In 1813 the Hunt brothers were fined and imprisoned for an offensive article on the Prince Regent which appeared in their pape

y from Shelley and others. It must be remembered though that these men believed no man had exclusive ownership

ctioning the revolutionary schemes which were imputed to the friends of reform, and declares that its object is purely constitutional. The pamphlet advocates annual parliaments, but not universal suffrage. In it Shelley expresses himself in favor of retaining the regal and aristocratical branches of our constitution until the public mind "shall have arrived at the maturity that can disregard these symbols of its

continually among the unfortunate population, relieving the most pressing cases of distress to the best of his ability. He had a l

the preface, "was chiefly written upon the mountainous ruins of the baths of Caracalla, among the flowery glades and thickets of odoriferous blossoming trees which are extended in everwinding labyrinths upon its immense platforms and dizzy arches suspended in the air." Prometheus Unbound is considered by many to be Shelley's most important work. Mr. J. A. Symonds declares that "a

ace of Saturn. Mercury is sent to Prometheus and offers him freedom from torture on condition that he reveal the secret of averting the fall of Jupiter. This Prometheus refuses to do because it would seat the tyrant more securely on his throne. He is then left to the untender mercies of the Furies. These torture him by making him contemplate all the misery of the world and the futility of hoping for any release from it. They expose to view the w

like a cloud o

ty those the

ts to seek Asia. She is found in a lovely vale and is described as a being of exquisite beauty, "whose footsteps pave the world with loveliness." Panthea then conducted Asia to the cave of Demogorgon. This being has neither limb, nor form, nor outline; yet it is felt to be a living spirit. Asia asks it when will the destined hour arrive for the release of Prometheus. The an

, what art thou?" Demogorgon answers, "Eternity. Demand no direr name. Descend and follow me down the abyss." The secret is now revealed. Jupiter has just married Thetis and the child of this union is to destroy his father. The curse is fulfilled; Jupiter falls into the abyss. Prometheus is then released by Hercules. Strength ministers to

ask has fallen,

ree, uncircums

ed, tribeless,

e, worship, de

just, gentle,

, yet free from

his will made

tho' ruling th

and death, an

hat which else

star of unasc

im in the i

ee acts. Later on a fourth act was added, a sort of hymn of rejoicing over the fulfillment of the prophecies with regard to Prometheus. In i

gh which a political tyranny invests itself with the pomp of a false glory and which always precedes its downfall. The form of Demogorgon assumed by the child of this union undoubtedly means Revolution, that Revolution which follows the marriage of unrighteous power to arrogant display.[108] Demogorgon may be looked upon, too, as Reason; Asia, the Spirit of Love, comes in contact with Demogorgon, Reason, and moves it to action. The poet here means to im

secret mystery of creation, the redemption of Prometheus is achieved. Thus through a double process, destructive and constructive-by revolution and by love-is set free the human soul."[109] Rosset

did not write the article in question, and at the same time read him a lecture on the necessity of giving up his evil principles. Shelley felt that he was being misjudged and wr

cavalry attempted to make their way through the multitude to arrest the ringleaders. When it was found that they could not reach the platform a hasty order was given to three hundred hussars to disperse the crowd. They made a terrific charge, which resulted in the killing of six people and in the wounding of fifty or sixty others. The news of this affair roused in Shelley violent emotions of indignation and compassion. Writing to his publisher, Mr. Ollier, he thus comments on the affair: "The same

ht that the public at large had not become sufficiently discerning to do justice to the sincerity and kind-heartedness of the spirit that walked in this flaming robe of verse." In this poem

thes, and fi

rampled m

ntries th

rvation

gland no

ough peaceful methods. He tells them to oppose meekness and

turn wi

e from whic

od thus she

shes on th

s states that Shelley's spirit appeared to Owen at a spiritualistic seance, and that Owen exclaimed, "Oh, there is my old friend, Shelley." It is certain at any

ler who would publish an octavo volume, entitled a Philosophical View of Reform. The plan of the work was to include chapters on: (1) The sentiment of the necessity of change; (2) its causes and its objects; (3) practicability and

as symbols of domination and imposture; and a system of liberality and equality, for such was the system preached by that great reformer, was perverted to support oppression." He eulogizes the philosophers of the eighteenth century and sees in the Government of the United States the first fruits of their teaching. Two conditions are necessary to a perf

ew order has its basis in fraud, as the old had its basis in force. It includes attorneys, excisem

uld abolish the national debt, the standing army, and tithes, due regard had to vested interests. He would grant comp

, economy, skill, genius or any similar powers honorably and innocently exerted. "But there is another species of property which has its foundation in usurpation or imposture, or violence." "Of this

t be tried instead. Mr. Bentham and other writers have urged the admission of females to the right of suffrage. "This attempt," Shelley writes, "seems somewhat immature." The

ple of "the natural equality of man, not a

iend of mankind and of his country can desire that such a crisis should arrive." "If reform shall be begun by the existing government, let us be contented with a limited beginning with any whatsoever opening. Nothing is more idle than to reject a limited benefit because we cannot without great sacri

the public opinion of their weakness on those political forms, of which no government but an absolute despotism is devoid. They divest themselves of their usurped distinctions, and the public tranquillity is not disturbed by the revolution." The true patriot, then, should endeavor t

lightenment, will usually suffice to bring about the desired reforms. It is better to gain what we demand by a process of negotiation which w

sequences of war. "War waged from whatever motive exting

"The wise man is satisfied with nothing. Finite things must be perpetually capable of increase and advancement; it would argue, therefore, extreme folly to rest in any given state of improvement and imagine we had attained our summit."[111] In a letter to E. Hitchener, July 25, 1811, S

and corruption have consequently followed on the liberty and innocence of primitive times. But as man is perfectible this condition of things cannot last. The diffusion of knowledge together with the discoveries and inventions recently made, have already been productive of great progress. Humanity is now fairly started on a career of conquest; the emancipation of the mind is rapidly advancing. Soon morality itself will come to be rati

anguish, melancholy or resentment."[113] The sun of reason will of itself disperse all the mists of ignorance and the pestilential vapors of vice. It will bring

rth, reali

its thou pure

sorrow, impot

and ignorance da