The SonnetDante Gabriel Rossetti1By permission of The British LibraryThe Sonnet (British Library, fair copy manuscript)Dante Gabriel Rossetti1880fair copy manuscript with corrections and alternate readings1 small leafBritish Library, Ashley CollectionAshley 3857One side of a quarto leaf of ruled white paper.J ALLEN & SONS / SUPER FINEOn the verso are various pencil doodles in different letter forms.
Commentary
Introduction
This is an early fair copy of the poem, later titled Introductory Sonnet.
Textual History: Composition
Textual History: Revision
Production History
Reception History
Iconographic
Printing History
Pictorial
Historical
Literary
Translation
Autobiographical
Bibliographic
Bookplate with standing female angel blowing trumpet and seated female
angel. Between the two figures is a flowing banner on which is inscribed the
owner's name. Below the figures and the ower's name is an inscribed poem.
THOMAS JAMES WISE HIS BOOK
BOOKS BRING ME FRIENDSWHERE'ER ON EARTH I BE.SOLACE OF SOLITUDE&BONDS OF SOCIETY!At the lower left of the manuscript DGR gives three alternate readings for the
end of line 13.The SonnetA Sonnet is a moment's monument, —Memorial from thy soul's eternityTo one dead deathless hour. Look that it be,Whether for lustral rite or dire portent,Of its own intricate fulness reverent:Carve it in ivory or in ebony,As Day or Night prevail; and let Time seeIts flowering crest impearled and orient.A sonnet is a coin, whose face revealsThyself, and its reverse, to whomsoul; — its rear-type to what Power 'tis due : —Whether for tribute to the august appealsOf Life, or dower in Love's high retinue,It serve; or, 'mid the dark wharf's cavernous breath,In Charon's palm it pay the toll to Death.
travailing breath shuddering labouring difficult
On the back of the manuscript, DGR has scribbled various letter forms in pencil.