The Prose Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley, Vol. 1 [of 2]Shelley, Percy Bysshe
General
The Prose Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley, Vol. 1 [of 2]
Shelley, Percy Bysshe
English prose literature
V. The news of the death of the Princess Charlotte, and of the
execution of Brandreth, Ludlam, and Turner, arrived nearly at the same
time. If beauty, youth, innocence, amiable manners, and the exercise
of the domestic virtues could alone justify public sorrow when they
are extinguished for ever, this interesting Lady would well deserve
that exhibition. She was the last and the best of her race. But there
were thousands of others equally distinguished as she, for private
excellences, who have been cut off in youth and hope. The accident
of her birth neither made her life more virtuous nor her death more
worthy of grief. For the public she had done nothing either good or
evil; her education had rendered her incapable of either in a large
and comprehensive sense. She was born a Princess; and those who are
destined to rule mankind are dispensed with acquiring that wisdom and
that experience which is necessary even to rule themselves. She was
not like Lady Jane Grey, or Queen Elizabeth, a woman of profound and
various learning. She had accomplished nothing, and aspired to nothing,
and could understand nothing respecting those great political questions
which involve the happiness of those over whom she was destined to
rule. Yet this should not be said in blame, but in compassion: let
us speak no evil of the dead. Such is the misery, such the impotence
of royalty--Princes are prevented from the cradle from becoming
anything which may deserve that greatest of all rewards next to a good
conscience, public admiration and regret.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account