The Complete Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley

1.

Sing, Muse, the son of Maia and of Jove,

The Herald-child, king of Arcadia

And all its pastoral hills, whom in sweet love

Having been interwoven, modest May

Bore Heaven's dread Supreme. An antique grove _5

Shadowed the cavern where the lovers lay

In the deep night, unseen by Gods or Men,

And white-armed Juno slumbered sweetly then.

2.

Now, when the joy of Jove had its fulfilling,

And Heaven's tenth moon chronicled her relief, _10

She gave to light a babe all babes excelling,

A schemer subtle beyond all belief;

A shepherd of thin dreams, a cow-stealing,

A night-watching, and door-waylaying thief,

Who 'mongst the Gods was soon about to thieve, _15

And other glorious actions to achieve.

3.

The babe was born at the first peep of day;

He began playing on the lyre at noon,

And the same evening did he steal away

Apollo's herds;¿the fourth day of the moon _20

On which him bore the venerable May,

From her immortal limbs he leaped full soon,

Nor long could in the sacred cradle keep,

But out to seek Apollo's herds would creep.