Shelley’s speaker watches two fragile dramas: a bee afraid to land on a rose, sensing hidden danger in its beauty, and a moth circling a candle flame until its own wings catch fire. These insects mirror the speaker’s heart as it hovers around love—full of unspoken wishes, paralyzed by distrust. The impulse to draw close keeps getting smothered by cold doubt, but the ache of longing only grows stronger with each disappointment. Eventually, bold love joins forces with opportunity to trample shame, and the speaker gives in. The mood is suspended between fear and exhilaration, a breath-held moment before the dive. There is no regret, only the quiet recognition that some desires are worth getting burned for: the wings catch light, and the heart finds its rose.
Stanzas From Calderon's Cisma De Inglaterra — Summary
TRANSLATED BY MEDWIN AND CORRECTED BY SHELLEY.
Hast thou not seen, officious with delight, Move through the illumined air about the flower The Bee, that fears to drink its purple light, Lest danger lurk within that Rose's bower? Hast thou not marked the moth's enamoured flight About the Taper's flame at evening hour; 'Till kindle in that monumental fire His sunflower wings their own funereal pyre?
My heart, its wishes trembling to unfold. Thus round the Rose and Taper hovering came, 'And Passion's slave, Distrust, in ashes cold. Smothered awhile, but could not quench the flame,'-- Till Love, that grows by disappointment bold, And Opportunity, had conquered Shame; And like the Bee and Moth, in act to close, 'I burned my wings, and settled on the Rose.'