Italy

Abstract

Shelley’s health fluctuated with the seasons almost as surely as a plant’s, and was generally at its lowest ebb from December to February. In 1817 he was already ill by the end of September and showed no signs of improving as autumn hardened into winter. So he was ready to listen when the doctors urged him to abandon the river-valley damps of Marlow and spend the next winter in a warmer climate. There were three other motives to speed him on his way. First there was the problem of Clare’s daughter Allegra. Byron had now settled in Venice, which was so co-operative in hiding his lameness, and Allegra would obviously be better off under his protection than at Marlow, where she was exposed to vexing local gossip about her parentage. Then there were Shelley’s own children, William and Clara, whom he still half expected would be stolen from him by the Chancery Court, for Eldon had not yet pronounced his final judgement. The third motive was financial. Most of Shelley’s friends were also his pensioners, and distance would attenuate their ever-growing demands. Also in Italy living was cheap. In short, everything pointed

the promised land Lies at my feet in all its loveliness.

Rogers, Italy