before the printer's devil had quitted the room, and holding out a copy with both hands, ran about in an ecstasy of delight and satisfaction, gazing at the superb title-page. hote

The first poem in the collection was Shelley's own composition, but had been adapted for the occasion. It is spoken of as poor "puling trash ;" and its object to condemn war in the lump. The MS. had been confided to him by some rhymester, and was put forth in its present shape to astonish a weak mind. It contained sundry odes, and other pieces, professing an ardent attachment to freedom, and proposing to stab all who were less enthusiastic than the supposed authoress. These, with a panegyrice on Charlotte Corday, made up the collection. A few copies were sent to some trusty friends, and the remaining copies sold rapidly at Oxford, at the aristocratical price of half-a-crown for half-adozen pages.

Such is Mr. Hogg's relation of this hoax, who tells us :

They used to meet gownsmen in High Street, reading the goodly volume as they walked pensive with a grave and sage delight,

some of them, perhaps, more pensive because it seemed to portend the instant overthrow of all royalty, from a king to a court card.

What a strange delusion," he says, “to admire our stuff; the concentrated essence of non

It was indeed, a kind of fashion to be seen reading it in public, as a mark of nice discernment; of a delicate and fastidious taste in poetry, and the very criterion of a choice spirit.

Without enquiring into the merits of the poems, which doubtless were indifferent enough, as they have not come down to us, it is sufficient to reflect upon the dulness of those who could read burlesque pieces, and mistake them for serious compositions. It does not impress us with a very exalted opinion of the intellect that illuminated the university, which a boy of eighteen could play so successful a hoax upon.

CHAPTER XIII.

Shelley's speculative Theories-College life-Youthful Associations Disappointments

Merits-Eccentric

Dialogue - Political discussions -Election of Lord

Granville

Teachers

Shelley unpopular-The capacity of his
His studious seclusion

Poetry-Academical progress.

- Metaphysics

It will be remembered that while yet at Eton, he had already entered upon his career as a bold and fearless speculator, pushing his enquiries to the extreme of prudence, so far as regarded his own position, often baffling the ingenuity of his opponents, with his subtle propositions; and on one occasion provoking the unmanly threat of an angry and ignorant correspondent.

In investigating the nature of solids and fluids, the young philosopher had proceeded to reduce

་

the infinitely varied combinations of matter to a certain number of gases; and had thence so far refined upon his theory, as to reduce these again to the electric fluid; thus arriving, like Spinosa, upon the verge of the material universe-it was but a bound to the regions of the spiritual.

True, it was but a glimpse he had obtained of the great mystery; but it was such as could be presented only to a child of genius. He had lifted up the veil that hung over the face of truth, and the confused mass of splendid images that there pressed upon his sight aroused that vigorous faculty, which when once set into action can never again find rest.

On his entry at Oxford he was delighted at the prospect of being able to prosecute his studies with greater diligence, in the retreat and quietude of a college life.

An earnest student, cradled amidst classical associations, regards every edifice where learning is fostered and encouraged, with a peculiar reverence; it can present itself only to him, as clustered about with the ideal olive, and watched over by that tutelary goddess, to whom its peaceful shade is sacred. He loves truth for its own

sake; and desires liberty for the free discussion and exercise of his thoughts. He desires a guide to assist, or if not a prompting hand to impel or curb him in the too eager pursuit of his darling object; and has every right to expect that they whose sacred duty it is to guide his footsteps into the sanctuary of the temple of wisdom, will have cast aside as an unclean robe, unworthy of their position, all trivial things that dwarf men's minds, and cover the face of truth with a cloud.

If such were the visions Shelley entertained, they were destined soon to be dispelled, for very shortly after his arrival, in a conversation with his collegiate friend, after long musing, he remarked with a deep sigh:

"They are dull people here. A little man sent for me this morning, and told me in an almost inaudible whisper, that I must read.

"You must read, you must read,' he said many times, in his small voice.

"I answered, I had no objection; he persisted; so, to satisfy him, for he did not appear to believe me, I told him I had some books in my pocket, and began to take them out.