more on the Regency

I have been doing some reserach on Byron and Shelley this past week and some of their work. Here is a few examples of Byron's work:

She Walks in Beauty

She walks in beauty like the night of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that's best of dark and bright meets in her aspect and her eyes: Thus mellow'd to that tender light which heaven to gaudy day denies. One shade the more, one ray the less, had half impair'd the nameless grace which waves in every raven tress, or softly lightens o'er her face - where thoughts serenely sweet express how pure, how dear their dwelling - place. And on that cheek, and o'er that brow, so soft, so calm, yet eloquent, the smiles that win, the tints that glow, but tells in days of goodness spent, a mind at peace with all below, a heart whose love is innocent. and one by Shelley: LOVE'S  PHILOSOPHY By  Percy Shelley  1819  &/\&/\& The fountains mingle with the river And the rivers with the Ocean, The winds of Heaven mix for ever With a sweet emotion; Nothing in the world is single; All things by a law divine In one spirit meet and mingle. Why not I with thine? ---    See the mountains kiss high heaven, And the waves clasp one another; No sister-flower would be forgiven If it disdained its brother; And the sunlight clasps the earth, And the moonbeams kiss the sea: What is all this sweet work worth If thou kiss not me?  I have also read about these two poets personal lives which in itself is very interesting.In fact tehre was a short summer in which a group of writers including these two and Mary Shelley, Percy Shelley's wife all spent time together in Europe and created many wonderful works. I am also looking into some of the "famous" or "infamous" people of the time, including The Duchess of Devonshire. I am interested in the fact that the rich and famous led very free lives, mostly interested in their own pleasure. They did not work for a living and almost all gentleman kept mistresses openly.  This website has very interesting information:  http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~awoodley/Regency.html