The Masque of Anarchy

A Poem

Percy Bysshe Shelley

• Publisher: Ragged Hand - Read & Co.
• Year: 2014
• Print ISBN: 9781445529738
• eBook ISBN: 9781473393073
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Political Literary Criticism
• Index: Literature

This vintage book contains Percy Bysshe Shelley's seminal 1819 poem, "Masque of Anarchy". The poem, though written in a relaxed and familiar manner, is highly characteristic of Shelly's other works. It has the usual ardour of his tone, the unbounded sensibility by which he combines the most domestic with the most remote and fanciful images, as well as his signature patience. This volume is highly recommended for all poetry-lovers, and is a must-read for fans of Shelley's work. It comes complete with a specially commissioned biography of the author.

THE
MASQUE
OF ANARCHY

I

As I lay asleep in Italy,

There came a voice from over the sea,

And with great power it forth led me

To walk in the visions of Poesy.

II

I met Murder on the way—

He had a mask like Castlereagh—

Very smooth he look’d, yet grim;

Seven bloodhounds followed him:

III

All were fat; and well they might

Be in admirable plight,

For one by one, and two by two,

He tossed them human hearts to chew,

Which from his wide cloak he drew.

IV

Next came Fraud, and he had on,

Like Lord E——, an ermined gown;

His big tears, for he wept well,

Turned to mill-stones as they fell;

V

And the little children,

who Round his feet played to and fro,

Thinking every tear a gem,

Had their brains knocked out by them.

VI

Clothed with the * * as with light,

And the shadows of the night,

Like * * * next, Hypocrisy,

On a crocodile rode by.

VII

And many more Destructions played

In this ghastly masquerade,

All disguised, even to the eyes,

Like bishops, lawyers, peers, or spies.

VIII

Last came Anarchy; he rode

On a white horse, splashed with blood;

He was pale even to the lips,

Like Death in the Apocalypse.

IX

And he wore a kingly crown;

And in his grasp a sceptre shone;

And on his brow this mark I saw—

“I am God, and King, and Law!”

X

With a pace stately and...

Table of contents

• Percy Bysshe Shelley
• PREFACE
• I