Rossetti Archive Textual Transcription

Document Title: The Sin of Detection
Author: Dante Gabriel Rossetti
Date of Composition: 1848
Type of Manuscript: fair copy
Scribe: DGR

The full Rossetti Archive record for this transcribed document is available.

Image of page [1r] page: [1r]
Manuscript Addition: 14
Editorial Description: number added later at top center
Manuscript Addition: this side only
Editorial Description: WMR's note at the bottom of the page
Manuscript Addition: R
Editorial Description: letter written to the left of the title
Manuscript Addition: (10 m.)
Editorial Description: Notation at the lower right indicating it was written in ten minutes.
13. The Sin of Detection
  • She bowed her face among them all, as one
  • By one they rose and went. A little scorn
  • They showed—a very little. More forlorn
  • She seemed because of that: she might have grown
  • Proud else in her turn, and have so made known
  • What she well knew—that the free-hearted corn,
  • Kissed by the hot air freely all the morn,
  • Is better than the weed which has its own
  • Foul glut in secret. Both her white breasts heaved
  • 10 Like heaving water with their weight of lace;
  • And her long tresses, full of musk and myrrh,
  • Were shaken from the braids her fingers weaved,
  • So that they hid the shame in her pale face.
  • Then I stept forth, and bowed addressing her.
G.
Electronic Archive Edition: 1
Source File: 13-1848.dukems.rad.xml
Copyright: By permission of the Special Collections Library, Duke University