CHAPTER XXIII.

Shelley's continued residence at Pisa-An excursion to Spezia-Shelley proposes building a yacht-Lord Byron's dinner parties-Shelley's neglect of his artProposes writing "Charles the First"-Its slow progress-Character of this uncompleted work.

THE events just narrated bring us to the close of the year 1821. It had been a year of varied excitement to Shelley, chequered as usual with the sunshine and shadow of health. Rich in poetry, not from the number of things he had produced, for they were scanty compared to the labours of former years; but rich in the increasing splendour of his conceptions and the maturity of his judgment; rich also in the many friendships that had grown up around him, with all those

pleasurable associations which enabled him the better to tolerate the pain that continually followed him, and which served to chase the clouds of despondency that hung over his fine intellect, and sometimes darkened his brilliant imagination.

He grew more and more attached to the spot on which chance seemed to have cast him, and sometimes projected taking a farm situate on the height of one of the near hills, surrounded by chesnut and pine woods, and overlooking a wide extent of country; or of settling still farther, in the Maritime Apennines, at Massa.*

But his passion for boating still predominated, and, while he entertained such projects, he regretted that his summers were not spent on the shores of the sea, instead of among the hills of Pisa.

Naples, Leghorn, Monte Nero, and Viareggio, alternately presented themselves to his mind, but without producing any impression; and, with some vague, undefined idea, he at length proposed an excursion to Spezia, to see whether it was possible to pass a summer there.

The passion for boating was fostered by his * Mrs. Shelley's Notes.

present associations. Byron had already entered into the project of building a schooner (the Bolivar), which Captain Roberts, R.N., had undertaken to superintend, at Genoa.

Shelley and his friend Williams had formed a resolution to imitate this example; and Captain Roberts' services were called into requisition to build one for them also. Meanwhile, the winter, if winter the divine climate of Pisa might be called, glided along pleasantly enough.

Accident brought many English to Pisa this season; and the charm of Byron's and Shelley's society induced them mostly to prolong their stay. Under the humanising influence of female society, Byron became more domesticated; and, altogether, a more social being than hitherto.

He now, for the first time in his life, indulged in the luxury of giving frequent dinner-parties, over which La Guiccioli presided, and formed in herself no small attraction. To these, and to the morning conversaziones at the Casa Lanfranchi, Shelley was a constant and ever-welcome guest; and, though his tastes and habits of life were opposed to the luxuries of the table, the social qualities of his mind shone out to great

advantage, while his health and spirits revived under the genial influence of the more tended circles of society in which he freely mingled.

His literary labours were considerably interrupted by this new mode of existence; and it may be truly said that he was now living a life of pleasure.

His studies were only pursued in such brief moments as could be snatched from the daily round of amusement, and even these were constantly broken in upon by the assiduity of those who learned to appreciate his powers, and desired to cultivate his friendship.

The study of Calderon, and the philosophy of Kant, seem at this period mostly to have engaged his attention; but, for original composition, he tells us himself that he did "nothing but by fits."

There is a fable which tells us that birds will sometimes pine with envy at each other's singing; and so it may be said of Shelley, that his Muse languished in the presence of Byron's.

Shelley's Muse was a coy maiden, who, in the soft repose of uninterrupted seclusion and solitude,

could concentrate her energies, and pour forth a rich flood of melody, giving utterance to such splendid thoughts that they seem to remind us. of a brighter and a better sphere; but who, with excess of modesty, shrank instinctively from a too close contact with the world, and bowed in meek humility before the ascendant star of a rival genius.

The poet, however, appears at this time once more to have taken up a work which had many times previously engaged his attention, and had as often been thrown aside. Many years ago the subject of Charles the First had presented itself to his mind, as one well-fitted for a tragedy; it is, indeed, exceedingly capable of being adapted to dramatic purposes.

The great contrast in the domestic and political character of Charles, the stormy incidents of his reign, and its tragic end, offer great scope for the display of power, as well as the development of human character, in all its variety of light and shade.

As far back as the year 1818, Shelley had urged this subject on his wife, as one well-fitted for the exercise of her eminent talents, deeming