Rossetti Archive Textual Transcription

Document Title: The Moonstar (corrected holograph copy, Bancroft Collection)
Author: Dante Gabriel Rossetti
Date of Composition: 1871
Type of Manuscript: holograph pen and ink fair copy
Scribe: DGR

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

Image of page [1] page: [1]
Manuscript Addition: XXIX
Editorial Description: Number added in upper right in unknown hand, giving 1881 sequence number.
The Moonstar. (H. of L)
  • Lady, I thank thee for thy loveliness,
  • Because my lady is more lovely still.
  • To all thou art Glorying I gaze, & yield with glad goodwill
  • Its uttermost To thee thy tribute; in by whose sweet-spun dress
  • Of delicate life Love labours to assess
  • My lady's absolute queendom; saying, “Lo!
  • How high this beauty is, which yet doth show
  • But as that beauty's sovereign votaress.”
  • Lady, I saw thee with her, side by side;
  • 10 And as, when night's fair fires their queen surround,
  • An emulous star too near the moon doth/may will ride,—
  • Even so thy rays within her luminous bound
  • Were traced no more; and by the light so drowned,
  • Lady, not thou but she was glorified.
Electronic Archive Edition: 1
Source File: 14-1871.delms.rad.xml
Copyright: Digital images courtesy of the Delaware Art Museum, Samuel and Mary R. Bancroft Collection.