Proserpine and Midas E-Book

Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

• Herausgeber: Youcanprint
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018

Beschreibung

The Hours have oped the palace of the dawn And through the Eastern gates of Heaven, Aurora Comes charioted on light, her wind-swift steeds, Winged with roseate clouds, strain up the steep She loosely holds the reins, her golden hair, Its strings outspread by the sweet  orning breeze[,] Blinds the pale stars. Our rural tasks begin; The young lambs bleat pent up within the fold, The herds low in their stalls, & the blithe cock Halloos most loudly to his distant mates. But who are these we see? these are not men, Divine of form & sple[n]didly  rrayed, They sit in solemn conclave. Is that Pan, Our Country God, surrounded by his Fauns? And who is he whose crown of gold & harp Are attributes of high Apollo?

Leseprobe

Table of Contents

PREFATORY NOTE.

INTRODUCTION.

I.

II.

PROSERPINE.A DRAMA IN TWO ACTS.

PROSERPINE.

ACT I.

ACT II

MIDAS.A DRAMA IN TWO ACTS.

MIDAS.

ACT I.

ACT II

Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

Proserpine and Midas

First digital edition 2018 by Anna Ruggieri

PREFATORY NOTE.

The editor came across the unpublished texts included in thisvolume as early as 1905. Perhaps he ought to apologize for delayingtheir appearance in print. The fact is he has long been afraid ofoverrating their intrinsic value. But as the great Shelleycentenary year has come, perhaps this little monument of hiswife’s collaboration may take its modest place among thetributes which will be paid to his memory. For Mary Shelley’smythological dramas can at least claim to be the propersetting forsome of the most beautiful lyrics of the poet, which so far havebeen read in undue isolation. And even as a literary sign of thosetimes, as an example of that classical renaissance which theromantic period fostered, they may not be altogethernegligible.

These biographical and literary points have been dealt with inan introduction for which the kindest help was long ago receivedfrom the late Dr. Garnett and the late Lord Abinger. Sir WalterRaleigh was also among the first to give both encouragement andguidance. My friends M. Emile Pons and Mr. Roger Ingpen have readthe book in manuscript. The authorities of the Bodleian Library andof the Clarendon Press have been as generously helpful as is theirwell-known wont. To all the editor wishesto record hisacknowledgements and thanks.

STRASBOURG.

INTRODUCTION.

I.

‘The compositions published in Mrs. Shelley’slifetime afford but an inadequate conception of the intensesensibility and mental vigour of this extraordinarywoman.’

Thus wrote Dr. Garnett, in 1862 (Preface to his Relics ofShelley). The words of praise may have sounded unexpectedly warm atthat date. Perhaps the present volume will make the reader morewilling to subscribe, or less inclined to demur.