: [Peter Bell the Third was written some time between May and November, 1819; for we learn from Mrs. Shelley that the suggestion of it arose from the Examiner's review of Reynolds's and Wordsworth's poems entitled Peter Bell, which review appeared in the numbers for the 26th of April and 3rd of May; and on the 2nd of November the poem was sent from Florence to Leigh Hunt for publication, in a letter of which a portion is printed opposite by way of preface. The dedication, however, bears the date "December 1st, 1819," and was therefore, probably, an afterthought it may have been sent in the letter to Mr. Ollier dated "December 15th, 1819," (Shelley Memorials, pp. 122-3) wherein we read-"Pray what have you done with Peter Bell Ask Mr. Hunt for it, and for some other pieces of a similar character I sent him to give you to publish. I think Peter not bad in his way; but perhaps no one will believe in anything in the shape of a joke from me." The dedication may have gone to Hunt with those "other pieces": what they were I know not; nor do I know why the projected volume was not published as directed by Shelley,-unless Mr. Ollier decided that it would not sell, and acted on the possibly implied withdrawal of the order to print contained in Shelley's letter to him of the 14th of May, 1820 (Shelley Memorials, pp. 138-9), wherein we read-" you can best judge if it will sell or no, and there would be no other reason for printing such a trifle." It appeared for the first time in Mrs. Shelley's second collected edition. The origin of it was very curious. While Wordsworth's Peter Bell was under announcement, John Hamilton Reynolds, afterwards Hood's coadjutor in Odes and Addresses to Great People, issued a pamphlet entitled Peter Bell, a Lyrical Ballad, of which no less than three editions were printed in the year 1819, and which I give in the appendix, because it is not only extremely good, but almost necessary to a full understanding of Peter Bell the Third. I have also added a few stanzas on this subject from another of Reynolds's books, The Fancy. I am not aware that any complete MS. of Peter Bell the Third exists: Mr. Garnett tells me he has seen a rough draft of a portion of it among Sir Percy Shelley's MSS., but that it is too immature to authorize alterations of the text.-H. B. F.] EXTRACT FROM SHELLEY'S LETTER TO LEIGH HUNT ENCLOSING PETER BELL THE THIRD. Now, I only send you a very heroic poem, which I wish you to give to Ollier, and desire him to print and publish immediately, you being kind enough to take upon yourself the correction of the press-not, however, with my name; and you must tell Ollier that the author is to be kept a secret, and that I confide in him for this object as I would confide in a physician or lawyer, or any other man whose professional situation renders the betraying of what is entrusted a dishonour. My motive in this is solely not to prejudge myself in the present moment, as I have only expended a few days in this party squib, and, of course, taken little pains. The verses and language I have let come as they would, and I am about to publish more serious things this winter; afterwards, that is next year, if the thing should be remembered so long, I have no objection to the author being known, but not now. I should like well enough that it should both go to press and be printed very quickly; as more serious things are on the eve of engaging both the public attention and mine. Next post day you will hear from me again, as I have many things to say, and expect to have to announce Mary's 1 This letter, dated" Florence, Nov. 2, 1819," is printed in Mr. Garnett's Relics of Shelley, pp. 103—4. 2 This caution is repeated in Shelley's letter to Mr. Ollier, dated May 14th, 1820 (Shelley Memorials, pp. 138-9) wherein we read "If Peter Bell be printed..., attend, I pray you, particularly to completely concealing the author." new work, now in the press. She has written out, as you will observe, my Peter, and this is, I suspect, the last thing she will do before the new birth. Affectionately yours, My Dear Friend, P. B. S. [It ought not to be necessary to inform the reader that the stanza given as a motto on the opposite page is really by Wordsworth; but as Mr. Rossetti states that it is "not to be found" in Wordsworth's Peter Bell, and presumes "that the real author's name is 'P. B. Shelley,"" I am constrained to clear Shelley of that charge by recording that the stanza is to be found in Wordsworth's poem, if we look in the editions which, alone, Shelley can have seen when he wrote his poem,-namely the first and second. I do not think it reappeared in later editions. The only important liberty Shelley seems to have taken with it is the suppression of a note of interrogation at the end of the first line, and the introduction of the long pause before damned. The impression of drollery made on Shelley's mind by Wordsworth's Poem does not seem to have worn off immediately; for after the composition of The Witch of Atlas in August, 1820, we find him, in his Lines "to Mary,” concerning that poem, again jocular at the expense of Wordsworth.-H. B. F.] PETER BELL THE THIRD. BY MICHING MALLECHO, ESQ. Is it a party in a parlour, Crammed just as they on earth were crammed, But, as you by their faces see, All silent, and all- -damned! Peter Bell, by W. WORDSWORTH.1 OPHELIA. What means this, my lord? HAMLET.-Marry, this is Miching Mallecho; it means mischief. DEDICATION. SHAKSPEARE. TO THOMAS BROWN, ESQ., THE YOUNGER,1 H.F. DEAR TOM, Allow me to request you to introduce Mr. Peter Bell to the respectable family of the Fudges; although he may fall short of those very considerable The nom de plume under which Tom Moore published The Twopenny Post-Bag and The Fudge Family. Mr. Garnett suggested to Mr. Rossetti that "H. F." is meant to stand for Historian of the Fudges. This seems likely. |