Poet Of Liberty

The NBC University of the Air presents We Came This Way, a new historical series for our listeners at home and overseas. With Clifton Utley as narrator, we present Chapter 15, Poet of Liberty, in We Came This Way.

England, the beginning of the 19th century. Only a few short years ago the idealists of England looked hopefully across the Channel to France. They saw in the French Revolution a flame that would light the world.

But now the French Republic has been betrayed, and a dictator named Napoleon grinds Europe under the boots of his marching armies. George III is on the throne in England. A tired old Tory. Frightened by the democratic movement in America, and by the French revolt, he sternly suppresses liberty of thought at home and strives to keep England a right little, tight little island.

But as always the idealists are undaunted. Tom Paine, Wordsworth, Corrid, Sothe, still sing of an ideal republic. And in a shabby bedroom on Poland Street, London, young Percy Shelley, just expelled from Oxford, pounds the table with his fist.

I tell you Thomas, my pen shall be my sword. Splendid Shelley, but I shall use my pen to crush all the enemies of mankind. You better use it to write your paytors of money. You haven't a penny, you know.

Yes, I know. Now in tolerance, Thomas. In tolerance can wait till tomorrow. Right there, let us shall eat. Or you don't eat. You got my letter, Father? Of course I got it. Why do you think I came down London?

I hope. Now look here, Percy. You've certainly got yourself in a mess. Expelled from Oxford, you wrote. Yes, sir. I... Well, I... I'm prepared to help you. If you'll be perfectly frank with me. What's her name, Percy?