ABSTRACT
Written in ink in Nbk 12, these lines are a translation from Calderón's El príncipe constante (The Constant Prince) identified by Eunice Joiner Gates, ‘Shelley and Calderon’, PQ xvi (1937) 49–58 (44). They must have been written after 25 July 1819, when S. remarked to Hogg that ‘The “Principe Constante” they say is also very fine’ (L ii 105) which suggests that, while aware of its reputation, S. had not read the play by that date. But in a letter to Maria Gisborne of 16 November 1819 (L ii 154), he refers to having reading it with her. This reading must have taken place before the end of September (see headnote to And in that deathlike [ ] cave (no. 232)) and it is likely, given its position in Nbk 12, that this translation was made between 30 September and 10 November and probably after And in that deathlike [ ] cave, her dress/Antique and strange and beautiful (no. 233) and I more esteem (see headnote to I more esteem (no. 234)). S.’s phrase ‘out-Calderonizing Muley’, in a letter to the Gisbornes of 6 November 1819 (L ii 150), is a reference to the tenor of the language of the King of Fez's general in this play. These lines were written at the same time as a transcription of their source, in ink in a similar hand, above, on the same page: Ã florecer las rosas madrugaron Y para envejecerse florecieron, Cuna e sepulcro in un boton hallaron
