After the French Liberation of Italy Dante Gabriel Rossetti 1 By permission of the British Library On the French Liberation of Italy, 1859 Dante Gabriel Rossetti 1859? fair copy with corrections 1 small leaf One of DGR's visiting cards, with a note on the back, is gathered with this manuscript. British Library, Ashley Collection Ashley B1417 A scrap of cream laid paper J Allen [ ] / Extra [ ] 11.5 x 18 cm Commentary
Introduction

This is an early manuscript copy of the sonnet with a particularly interesting variant reading in line 3. This poem is housed in the British Library's Ashley collection along with an autograph fair copy of “Autumn Song”. In addition to the two poems, this catalog number also contains one of DGR's visiting cards, with a note that reads, "B. Morris— Please answer the inquiries put by Mr. Watts & I will meet any engagement he makes. D. G. Rossetti." The three documents do not seem to have any significant relation to each other.

Textual History: Composition

Textual History: Revision

Production History

Reception History

Iconographic

Printing History

Pictorial

Historical

Literary

Translation

Autobiographical

Bibliographic

Burnett, <hi rend="i"> <xref doc="a.">The Ashley Catalogue</xref> </hi> p. 84.

On the French Liberation of Italy, 1859 As When the last of the long warm joys of love Has come and gone; and with a single kiss I'the neck, and with one laugh of thankful bliss, The wearied man a minute rests above The wearied woman, no more urged to move In those long throes of longing; till they glide, Now lightlier clasped, each to the other's side, In joys past acting, not past dreaming of:— So Europe now beneath this paramour Lies for a little out of use,—full oft Submissive to his lust, a loveless whore. He wakes, she sleeps, the breath falls slow & soft. Wait: the bought body holds a birth within, An harlot's child, to scourge her for her sin.