The Question (for a Design) (corrected copy) Dante Gabriel Rossetti 1 Courtesy of the Oxford University Press The Question<lb/> (for a Design) Dante Gabriel Rossetti 1882 April corrected copy Hall Caine DGR Oxford University Press Archives Frederick Page files unruled white (folded) 8 7/8 x 7 in. Commentary
Introduction

This is the only known manuscript of the sonnets, which were copied on DGR's deathbed by Hall Caine from DGR's dictation and subsequently corrected by DGR. It appears that DGR composed them in his head and not on paper.

Textual History: Composition

Textual History: Revision

Production History

Reception History

Iconographic

Printing History

Pictorial

Historical

Literary

Translation

Autobiographical

Bibliographic

<hi rend="center"> The Question<lb/>(for a design)</hi> <hi rend="center">I.</hi> This sea, deep furrowed as the face of Time, Mirrors the ghost of the removed moon; The peaks stand bristling round the waste lagune, While up the difficult summit steeply climb Youth, m Manhood, Age, one triple labouring mime; And to the measure of some mystic rune Lo! Hark how the restless waters importune These echoing steeps with chime & counterchime. What seek they? Lo, upreared against the rock The Sphinx Time's visible silence, frontleted With p Psyche wings, with eagle plumes arched oer. Ah, when those everlasting lips unlock And the old riddle of the world is read, What shall man find? or seeks he Evermore? <hi rend="center">II</hi> Lo, the three seekers! Youth has sprung the first To question the Unknown: but see! he sinks Prone to the earth,—becomes himself a sphinx,— A riddle of early death no love may burst. Sorely anhungered, heavily athirst For knowledge, Manhood next to reach the Truth Peers in those eyes; till, haggard & uncouth Week Weak Eld renews that question long rehearsed. Oh! and what answer? From the sad sea brim The eyes of o' the Sphinx stare through the midnight spell, Unwavering,—man's eternal quest to quell: While round the rock-steps of her throne doth swim Through the wind-serried wave the moon's faint rim, Sole answer from the heaven invisible. D. G. Rossetti. 1882.