SHELLEY

Knight-errant of the Never-ending

Quest,

And Minstrel of the Unfulfilled Desire;

For ever tuning thy frail earthly lyre

To some unearthly music, and possessed

With painful passionate longing to invest

The golden dream of Love's immortal fire

In mortal robes of beautiful attire,

And fold perfection to thy throbbing breast!

What wonder, Shelley, if the restless wave

Should claim thee and the leaping flame con- sume

Thy drifted form on Viareggio's beach?

Fate to thy body gave a fitting grave,

And bade thy soul ride on with fiery plume,

Thy wild song ring in ocean's yearning speech!