Obstacles have long existed to my presenting the public with a perfectedition of Shelley's Poems. These being at last happily removed, Ihasten to fulfil an important duty,—that of giving the productions of asublime genius to the world, with all the correctness possible, and of,at the same time, detailing the history of those productions, as theysprang, living and warm, from his heart and brain. I abstain from anyremark on the occurrences of his private life, except inasmuch as thepassions which they engendered inspired his poetry. This is not the timeto relate the truth; and I should reject any colouring of the truth. Noaccount of these events has ever been given at all approaching realityin their details, either as regards himself or others; nor shall Ifurther allude to them than to remark that the errors of actioncommitted by a man as noble and generous as Shelley, may, as far as heonly is concerned, be fearlessly avowed by those who loved him, in thefirm conviction that, were they judged impartially, his character wouldstand in fairer and brighter light than that of any contemporary.Whatever faults he had ought to find extenuation among his fellows,since they prove him to be human; without them, the exalted nature ofhis soul would have raised him into something divine.
The qualities that struck any one newly introduced to Shelleywere,—First, a gentle and cordial goodness that animated hisintercourse with warm affection and helpful sympathy. The other, theeagerness and ardour with which he was attached to the cause of humanhappiness and improvement; and the fervent eloquence with which hediscussed such subjects. His conversation was marked by its happyabundance, and the beautiful language in which he clothed his poeticideas and philosophical notions. To defecate life of its misery and itsevil was the ruling passion of his soul; he dedicated to it every powerof his mind, every pulsation of his heart. He looked on politicalfreedom as the direct agent to effect the happiness of mankind; and thusany new-sprung hope of liberty inspired a joy and an exultation moreintense and wild than he could have felt for any personal advantage.Those who have never experienced the workings of passion on general andunselfish subjects cannot understand this; and it must be difficult ofcomprehension to the younger generation rising around, since they cannotremember the scorn and hatred with which the partisans of reform wereregarded some few years ago, nor the persecutions to which they wereexposed. He had been from youth the victim of the state of feelinginspired by the reaction of the French Revolution; and believing firmlyin the justice and excellence of his views, it cannot be wondered that anature as sensitive, as impetuous, and as generous as his, should putits whole force into the attempt to alleviate for others the evils ofthose systems from which he had himself suffered. Many advantagesattended his birth; he spurned them all when balanced with what heconsidered his duties. He was generous to imprudence, devoted toheroism.
These characteristics breathe throughout his poetry. The struggle forhuman weal; the resolution firm to martyrdom; the impetuous pursuit, theglad triumph in good; the determination not to despair;—such were thefeatures that mar