[bdgak] SHELLEY'S DEBT TO XVIIL CENTURY THOUGHT 199 



in which all things are contained. Such contemplations as these 

 materialism and the popular philosophy of mind and matter alike for- 

 bid; they are only consistent with the intellectual system.'^ 



There are few instances in the history of genius of such a rapid 

 unfolding of new powers as Shelley's brief life affords. He died at 

 twenty-nine, and already he had lived through many philosophies. But 

 more important than the knowledge gained from the world of books 

 was the wisdom that came to him from his more normal jrelations with 

 the world of men. History was no longer for him a mere hideous record 

 of crime and blood. His fragment of a drama on Charles I., so quick 

 and sympathetic in its insight into the past, is sufficient proof of this. 



Those theories, too, which liad come down to him from his earlier 

 days underwent a noticeable modification. The frigid necessarianism 

 which once held undisputed sway is now shorn of a portion of its 

 power. In Prometheus Unbound Demogorgon the tremendous gloom, 

 who represents immutable destiny, controls all things save the sovereign 

 v/ili of man. 



And, the tirst effort of the supreme human will must be directed 

 towards a mastery of the unbridled passions of our lower nature: 



" Man who man would be. 

 Must rule the empire of himself, in it 

 Must be supreme, establishing his throne 

 On vanquished will, quelling the anarchy 

 Of hopes and fears, being himself alone." 



Xor was Shelley, as his ideas matured, held captive by the fallacy 

 of Godwin and his French precursors, that laws alone are responsible 

 for the ills of mankind, and that the removal of all restraint would 

 inaugurate the reign of perpetual joy. In the Prometheus Unbound 

 we might be led erroneously to that conclusion. But the peace for 

 which the earth has yearned is not reached until through suffering the 

 mighty Titan who represents mankind has attained the mastery of 

 himself: 



" To suffer woes which Hope thinks infinite ; 

 To forgive wrongs darker than death or night; 



To defy Power, which seems omnipotent; 

 To love and bear; to hope till Hope creates 

 From its own wreck the thing it contemplates; 



Neither to change, nor falter, nor repent; 

 This, like thy glory. Titan, is to be 

 Good, great and joyous, beautiful and free; 

 This is alone Life, Joy, Empire and Victory." 



