Lift Not The Painted Veil Which Those Who Live

Percy Bysshe Shelley

Lift not the painted veil which those who live 
Call Life: though unreal shapes be pictured there, 
And it but mimic all we would believe 
With colours idly spread,—behind, lurk Fear 
And Hope, twin Destinies; who ever weave 
Their shadows, o’er the chasm, sightless and drear. 
I knew one who had lifted it—he sought, 
For his lost heart was tender, things to love, 
But found them not, alas! nor was there aught 
The world contains, the which he could approve. 
Through the unheeding many he did move, 
A splendour among shadows, a bright blot 
Upon this gloomy scene, a Spirit that strove 
For truth, and like the Preacher found it not.

Next 10 Poems

• Percy Bysshe Shelley : Lines
• Percy Bysshe Shelley : Lines Written Among The Euganean Hills
• Percy Bysshe Shelley : Lines Written In The Bay Of Lerici
• Percy Bysshe Shelley : Love's Philosophy
• Percy Bysshe Shelley : Mont Blanc
• Percy Bysshe Shelley : Mont Blanc: Lines Written In The Vale Of Chamouni
• Percy Bysshe Shelley : Music, When Soft Voices Die
• Percy Bysshe Shelley : Mutability
• Percy Bysshe Shelley : Night
• Percy Bysshe Shelley : Ode To The West Wind

Previous 10 Poems

• Percy Bysshe Shelley : Julian And Maddalo ( Excerpt )
• Percy Bysshe Shelley : Invocation
• Percy Bysshe Shelley : I Arise From Dreams Of Thee
• Percy Bysshe Shelley : Hymn To Intellectual Beauty
• Percy Bysshe Shelley : Hymn Of Pan
• Percy Bysshe Shelley : Hellas
• Percy Bysshe Shelley : Good-night
• Percy Bysshe Shelley : From The Arabic ( An Imitation )
• Percy Bysshe Shelley : From Adonais, 49-52
• Percy Bysshe Shelley : Fragment: To The Moon