Thisitwaswhich，inspiteofhisessentiallymoderncharacterasasinger，qualifiedShelleytobethepoetofPrometheusUnbound，foritmadehim，inthetruestsenseoftheword，amythologicalpoet。
Thischildlikequalityassimilatedhimtothechildlikepeoplesamongwhommythologieshavetheirrise。ThoseNaturemythswhich，accordingtomany，arethebasisofallmythology，arelikewisetheverybasisofShelley\'spoetry。Thelarkthatisthegossipofheaven，thewindsthatpluckthegreyfromthebeardsofthebillows，thecloudsthataresnortedfromthesea\'sbroadnostril，alltheelementalspiritsofNature，takefromhisverseperpetualincarnationandreincarnation，passinathousandglorioustransmigrationsthroughtheradiantformsofhisimagery。
Thus，butnotintheWordsworthiansense，heisaveritablepoetofNature。ForwithNaturetheWordsworthianswilladmitnotampering:
theyexactthedirectinterpretativereproductionofher;thatthepoetshouldfollowherasamistress，notuseherasahandmaid。TosuchfollowingofNature，Shelleyfeltnocall。Hesawinhernotapicturesetforhiscopying，butapalettesetforhisbrush;notahabitationpreparedforhisinhabiting，butaColiseumwhencehemightquarrystonesforhisownpalaces。Eveninhisdescriptivepassagesthedream—characterofhissceneryisnotorious;itisnottheclear，recognisablesceneryofWordsworth，butalandscapethathoversathwarttheheatandhazearisingfromhiscracklingfantasies。ThematerialsforsuchvisionaryEdenshaveevidentlybeenaccumulatedfromdirectexperience，buttheyarerecomposedbyhimintosuchscenesasneverhadmortaleyebeheld。\"Don\'tyouwishyouhad？\"asTurnersaid。TheonejustificationforclassingShelleywiththeLakepoetisthathelovedNaturewithaloveevenmorepassionate，thoughperhapslessprofound。Wordsworth\'sNightingaleandStockdovesumsupthecontrastbetweenthetwo，asthoughithadbeenwrittenforsuchapurpose。Shelleyisthe\"creatureofebullientheart，\"whoSingsasifthegodofwineHadhelpedhimtoavalentine。
Wordsworth\'sisthe—Lovewithquietblending，Slowtobeginandneverending，the\"seriousfaithandinwardglee。\"