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THE VIATORIAN 3Jt'a.r tt §;ptra
APRIL, 1914 Number 7
Volume 31
SHELLEY'S LYRICS (( 0 for a 111use of fire, that would ascend The brightest heaven of invention/' Has been the passionate desire of n1any a poet whether he ever expressed it or ·not. Some poets never needed to offer up such a prayer; to them, the Muse had been bounteous in her gifts. Such favorite poets have been at all times preciously rare. Shelley, I think, was such a favored poet, for in him are found all . of those great qualities which distinguish the born poet. The lyrical fervor, rich imagination, intensity, harmony, genius for n1etaphor, rhythm, poetic diction-all of these were his. These he used as one inspired, and it is but natural that he should be considered the greatest English lyric poet. Of hin1 it might well be said that he sailed "with supreme don1inion through the azure deep of airs." His world was one of dreams, of visions, of light elusive things, "with brede ethereal wove," changing and vanishing like the cloud of one of his most lyrical of lyrics. These visions glowed within his soul, · and he pours them forth in .magical in1agery that envelops us V.rith its dazzling splendor. He dings to "the whistling name of every wind;" he clangs "his chariot 'thwart a heaven, plashy with flying lightnings, and so~ring like his own skylark." ((Hiqher still and higher . Front the earth thou springest J.J· L,o.• Like a cloud of fi1~e; The blue deep thou wingest And singing still dost soar, and soaring e·v er singest.''
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