CHAPTER I.

THE SHELLEY OF ROMANTIC BIOGRAPHY 1

Creators of The Romantic Shelley--Clint's Fanciful Composition--The Poet's Personal Appearance--His Little Turn-up Nose--His Ancestral Quality--Sussexisms of his Speech and Poetry--His Phenomenal Untruthfulness--His Temperance and Intemperance--A Victim of Domestic Persecution--Was _The Necessity of Atheism_ a mere Squib?--Lord Eldon's Decree--The Slaughter of Reputations--The Poet's Character--His Treatment of his familiar Friend--Biographic Fictions--Extravagances of Shelleyan Enthusiasm.