Supreme Surrender (corrected fair copy manuscript, British Library) Dante Gabriel Rossetti 1 Reproduced with permission of the British Library. Love's Surrender Dante Gabriel Rossetti 1869 September? corrected fair copy Ashley Collection, British Library Ashley 1403 lined paper, from typical notebook, measurements: 23.3 x 17cm J ALLEN & SONS/ SUPER FINE Commentary
Introduction

This is a corrected fair copy of the earliest version of the sonnet. Before DGR had it printed in the First Trial Book early in October 1869, he made a number of important changes, including a change in the title.

Textual History: Composition

The date of composition is unclear. It was written no later than September 1869 and could have been written as early as the spring of 1868. It is the earliest of the extant manuscripts of the poem.

Textual History: Revision

DGR revised this text when he came to recopy the sonnet for its printing in the First Trial Book of the 1870 <xref doc="a.1-1870.1stedn.rad" workcode="2-1870"> <hi rend="i">Poems</hi> </xref> in September 1869.

Production History

Reception History

Iconographic

Printing History

It is printed in facsimile in Wise, <hi rend="i">The Ashley Library</hi> IV. 127 (facing page).

Pictorial

Historical

Literary

Translation

Autobiographical

Bibliographic

Burnett, <hi rend="i"> <xref doc="a.">The Ashley Catalogue</xref> </hi> ,I. 77 .

 The name Rossetti is written at the upper left corner. There is a stamp from the British Museum's Ashley Manuscript collection along the left hand margin. There is an embossed stamp at the top of the page. In the center of the paper, the collection and catalogue reference numbers are typed and written: ASHLEY A. 1403 CATALOGUE Vol. IV p. 127. Love's Surrender To all the spirits of love that wander by Along the love-sown pasture-fields of sleep My lady lies apparent; and the deep Calls to the deep; and no man sees but I. The bliss so long afar, at length so nigh, Rests there disused. Methinks proud Love must weep When Fate's one day doth from his harvest reap The sacred hour for which the years did sigh. First touched, the hand now warm beneath my neck Taught memory long to mock desire: and lo! Across my breast the entangled abandoned hair doth flow, Where neath Neath whose / Twined with one tress so long my heart did ache: And with the limbs that trembled for their sake Lie the queen-limbs in sovereign overthrow.