The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-08

ltttcfS uuu ART Oh tnat peTlOu.
1t has been possible to trace only one
copy of the suppressed volume, that sold in
the Frederickson sale in May, 1897, where it
was described as very rare.
DAILY issued two Shelley editions in 1889;
one in 16mo and the other in 24mo, both of
which Cunningham edited, although his name
is not carried on the smaller title page.
Standfast was not chosen as the illustrator
OF the smaller edition, the workmanship of
the portrait and engraved title being from
the hand of some artist far superior. The
larger edition carries the name of the
printer; the smaller does not give it.
Preface to One Edition.
These seems to be a considerable differ
ence textually in the various editions, and
large number when compared with that
issued by Moxon for Mrs. Shelley. But the
main points of difference are in the prefaces
Of the two editions Of 1899.
In the 12mo the preface reads: "The
poetry of Percy Bysshe Shelley, of which
new and carefully collated edition is here
presented to the reader, displays the greatest
depth of feeling combined with an excess of
refinement sometimes beyond the apprehen-
sion of ordinary readers. His command Of
language. was perhaps as great as that Of
ahy putt Dut tHe innate dDSITactel-
ness of his mind often betrayed him into
obseurities of expression which not all the
efforts of the reader can at times penetrate.
He seems in many instances to have had a
most refined ear for all the touching music
of versification, and yet many of his best
poems for their moral instructiveness and
chasteness of imagination would be exceed
lngly valuable even in prose. There is a
charm about his writings not easily de-
scribed, which redeems the errors more OBJ
vious to criticism, and which will even rem
der him favorite with the lover of genu-
inc poetry, though he may never be an OBJ
Ject of universal admiration, as well by
occasional obscurity, as by certain senti.
ments which do not accord with prevailing
opinions Yet it is at least honest and be,
coming in an editor not to anticipate the
public taste and obtrude his own, by culling
from the bouquet such flowers as he NAV
deem noxious or unsightly. 1t is the prov.
ince of the public to select from a complete
edition what may best suit every variety of
taste and opinion. Had the brief span of
Shelley's life been heightened, there can be
no doubt that the efforts of his more ma.
tured years would have outshone in bril-
nancy even those of his contemporary rivals
in the art; and yet the sublimty of MANY
of his ideas, the rich vein of deep thought
and powerful feeling running through most
of his productions. may render them perfect
studies for the poet.
"The poem of Queen Mab,' which has
been styled his glory as a poet and his
shame as man., was written at the early
age of IS. 1t contains many parts written
in the most gorgeous and mastery style:
and Tor descriptive power is perhaps not
excelled by any poem ever produced; but (as
has been well observed) 'the titles of the
Divine Being are so often indecorously
sported with in such outrageous paradoxes,
coupled with much that is decidedly vile and
detestable, that it may be safely asserted no
individual retaining a spark of religious
feeling can ever have that spark extin.
guished by perusal of the poems this
IS an additional reason for retaining it in
the present volume; it also contains pecu.
liar and transcendant beauties which it
might be deemed culpable to destroy"
A Harsher Introduction.
The preface to the 24mo reads: "The
poetry of Percy Bysshe Shelley, of which,
for the first time in this country, q NINA.
ture has in the following pages been made,
displays the greatest depth of feeling, al
ternating with puerile conceit, and common.
place defamation. His command of Ian
guage was, perhaps, as great as that Of
any modern poet; but either carelessness or
want of sustained power continually
plunged his ideas into impenetrable obscur-
tiles of expression, FROM which not all the
efforts made by the reader can at times
extricate them. He seems in many instances
to have had most refined ear for all the
If