The Complete Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley (ed. Hutchinson, 1914)/To Jane: 'The keen stars were twinkling'

by Percy Bysshe Shelley

TO JANE: 'THE KEEN STARS WERE TWINKLING'

[Published in part (ll. 7-24) by Medwin (under the title, An Ariette for Music. To a Lady singing to her Accompaniment on the Guitar), The Athenæum, Nov. 17, 1832; reprinted by Mrs. Shelley, P. W., 1839, 1st ed. Republished in full (under the title, To ——— ), P. W., 1839, 2nd ed. The Trelawny MS. is headed To Jane. Mr. C. W. Frederickson of Brooklyn possesses a transcript in an unknown hand.]

IThe keen stars were twinkling,And the fair moon was rising among them,Dear Jane!^[1]The guitar was tinkling,But the notes were not sweet till you sung them 5Again.

IIAs the moon's soft^[2] splendourO'er the faint cold starlight of HeavenIs thrown,So your^[3] voice most tender 10To the strings without soul had then^[4] givenIts^[5] own.

IIIThe stars will awaken,Though the moon sleep a full hour later.To-night; 15No leaf will be shakenWhilst the dews of your^[6] melody scatterDelight.

IVThough the sound^[7] overpowers,Sing again, with your dear^[8] voice revealing 20A toneOf some world far from ours,Where music and moonlight and feelingAre one.

1. 3 Dear * * * 1839, 2nd ed.
2. 7 soft] pale Fred. MS.
3. 10 your 1839, 2nd ed.; thy 1832, 1839, 1st ed., Fred. MS.
4. 11 had then 1839, 2nd ed.; has 1832, 1839, 1st ed.; hath Fred. MS.
5. 12 Its] Thine Fred. MS.
6. 17 your 1839, 2nd ed.; thy 1832, 1839, 1st ed., Fred. MS.
7. 19 sound] song Fred. MS.
8. 20 your dear 1839, 2nd ed.; thy sweet 1832, 1839, 1st ed.; thy soft Fred. MS.