by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792 - 1822)
Translation by Jaroslav Vrchlický (1853 - 1912)
Nor happiness, nor majesty, nor fame
Language: English
Nor happiness, nor majesty, nor fame, Nor peace, nor strength, nor skill in arms or arts, Shepherd those herds whom Tyranny makes tame; Verse echoes not one beating of their hearts; History is but the shadow of their shame; Art veils her glass, or from the pageant starts, As to Oblivion their millions fleet Staining that Heaven with obscene imagery Of their own likeness. What are numbers knit By force or custom? Man, who man would be, Must rule the empire of himself; in it Must be supreme, establishing his throne On vanquish'd will, quelling the anarchy Of hopes and fears, -- being himself alone.
About the headline (FAQ)
Published by Mrs. Shelley, "Posthumous Poems", 1824.Text Authorship:
- by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792 - 1822), "Sonnet: Political greatness", written 1821 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Leonard J[ordan] Lehrman (b. 1949), "Sonnetina #4", op. 32 no. 1 (1971) [ soprano, mezzo-soprano, or tenor with piano ], from Two Shelley songs, no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Leonard J[ordan] Lehrman (b. 1949), "Man who man would be", op. 84 [ bass and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CZE Czech (Čeština) (Jaroslav Vrchlický) , "Politická velkost", Prague, J. Otto, first published 1901
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2010-09-16
Line count: 14
Word count: 104
Politická velkost
Language: Czech (Čeština) after the English
Ni štěstí, majestát, klid, sláva, poesie, ni síla s obratností v umu, zbrani, stád nejsou pastýři, jež krotí tyranie, rytm verše srdce jich se netkne ani, stín hanby jejich jest jen historie, skla svoje umění před průvodem jich sklání, co slepé davy spějí v zapomnění przníce nebe rysy pochmurnými jich vlastních podob. Jistě k nesečtení jsou davy těch, jež síla či zvyk svými v jho spíná pouty. Člověk v ryzím chtění buď svrchovaný a svůj trůn vztyč tam nad vládou nadějí i strachy zlými, je zdeptaje buď vládcem sebou sám.
Confirmed with SHELLEY, P. B. Výbor lyriky, translated by Jaroslav Vrchlický, Praha: J. Otto, 1901, page 117.
Text Authorship:
- by Jaroslav Vrchlický (1853 - 1912), "Politická velkost", Prague, J. Otto, first published 1901 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792 - 1822), "Sonnet: Political greatness", written 1821
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this page: Andrew Schneider [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2019-07-25
Line count: 14
Word count: 90