Eden Bower (composite draft and corrected copy manuscript, British Library)

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Document Title: Eden Bower (composite draft and corrected copy manuscript, British Library)

Author: Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Date of Composition: 1869 September

Type of Manuscript: Composite manuscript containing pencil first drafts and early corrected copy that descends directly from the pencil drafts.

Scribe: DGR

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

page: [i]

Note: 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 FRIENDS
WHERE'ER ON EARTH I BE,
SOLACE OF SOLITUDE
BONDS OF SOCIETY!

page: [ii]

Note: blank page

page: [iii]

Note: blank page

page: [iv]

Eden Bower

Note: On all pages in the front matter the text is calligraphy, probably created when the leaves were bound.

page: [v]

Note: blank page

Manuscript Addition: Ashley 1394

Editorial Description: British Library catalog number.

page: [vi]

Eden Bower

A Poem

by

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

The Original Holograph Manuscript

Written in August

1869

page: [vii]

Note: blank page

page: [1r]

Note: This page and page 4 are in compositional sequence; they contain stanzas 1, 3, 5-7, 9, 10 of the received text, and are copied (and modified) from the earlier version of those stanzas as they appear on pages 2-3.

Eden Bower

It was Lilith the wife of Adam:
( Eden Bower's in flower.)
Not a drop of her blood was human,
But her sweet she was made like a fair sweet woman.
( And it's O the day and the hour!)

In the ear of the Snake said Lilith:—
( Eden Bower's in flower.)
‘Thou art left when the rest is over;
I am a snake, do thou be my lover.
10 ( And it's O the day & the hour!)

‘Take me thou as I come from Adam:
( Eden bower's in flower.)
Tell me now, can my love subdue thee?
The past is past and I am come to thee.
( And it's O the day & the hour!)

‘Oh but Adam's love was to Lilith:
( Eden Bower's in flower.)
See, All the threads of my hair are golden,
And there in a net his heart was holden.
20 ( And it's O the day & the hour!)

page: [1v]

Note: DGR has drafted the central lines of stanza 8 on this page—specifically, received lines 29, 31, 32. They were probably added later, as DGR was going over the manuscript during the process of its composition.

What great joys had Adam & Lilith
Sweet close rings of the serpent's twining
As heart in heart we were was sighing & pining.

page: 2

Note: This is a draft, heavily corrected. It is the beginning of a composition sequence that continues for several leaves, until DGR once again begins recopying on the leaf foliated no. 1. This leaf is foliated 2, corresponding to the binding order.

Manuscript Addition: 2/ 3

Editorial Description: These are foliation numbers, not by DGR.

It was Lilith the wife of Adam:
(Time is old)
Added TextSing O the Bower in spring[?] flower
Of her blood she had one no drop human,
But all her warm white body was made like a woman
Added Text( Sing O the day and the hour! )
(The snake's a-cold)

Lilith sought the ear of the serpent At In the ear of the snake said Lilith:
30 (Time is old) Sing O the bower in [?] flower .
“With whom but thee should my shame take cover?
When I was a snake & I called thee my lover.
The snake's a-cold
Added TextSing O the day and the hour!

Here then take me again from Adam:
Sing (Othe bower in [?] flower.)
Say once more can my will love subdue thee?
The past is past and I come back to thee.”
Sing (Othe day and the hour!)

Oh Yet Adam loved but the poor snake Lilith:
40 ( Sing the bower in flower!)
See, all the threads coils of my hair are golden,
And that was the net where his heart was holden.
(Sing the day & the hour!)

page: [2v]

Note: Stanza 7 appears on this page; it is a copy made to set down a clear text from the obscure draft, heavily reworked, that appears on the facing page.

Manuscript Addition: 4

Editorial Description: Number written, uncancelled, in upper left corner. It is part of the original, now largely cancelled, page-numbering scheme.

Yea and Lilith half then loved her Adam
(Sing the bower in flower)
As all the day and the night together
His soul to my breath was a shaken feather.
(Sing the day & the hour)

page: 3

Manuscript Addition: 5 3

Editorial Description: Pagination numbering

Deleted Text

O Alas But woe for the days and the nights in Eden!
(Sing the bower in flower)
Day like day and each one night for another
Yet was a snake God [?] / And still of no manchild was mother / But [?] lust [?] woman
(Sing the day & the hour!)

Alas! the race of shadowy goodly Lilith
Added TextBright babes were born to Adam & Lilith
50 (Sing the bower in flower.)
Shapes that shook to the winds coiled in the woods and waters,
Bodiless Glittering sons and watery jewelled daughters.
(Sing the day & the hour!)

O Lord thou God, the Lord of the garden! the strange God of Eden!
(Sing the bower in flower!)
Was this fair body then good meet for no man,
That from Adam's flesh thou hast made him a woman?
(Sing the day & the hour!)

page: [3v]

Note: blank page, except for the pagination number 6

page: 4

Note: The page carries the corrected copies of stanzas drafted on other pages; stanzas 7, 9, 10 in particular.

Manuscript Addition: 7 4

Editorial Description: pagination numbers

Oh and Lilith's love was to Adam
60 ( Eden Bower's in flower)!
AsAll the day & the night together
My breath could shake his soul like a feather.
( And it's O the day & the hour!)

What bright babes had Adam & Lilith Lilith and Adam!
( Eden Bower's in flower!)
Shapes that coiled in the woods and waters,
Glittering sons & jewelled daughters.
( And it's O the day & the hour!)

O thou God, the Lord God of Eden!
70 ( Eden Bower's in flower)!
Say, was this fair body for no man,
That from Adam's flesh thou mak'st him a woman?
( And it's O the day & the hour!)

page: [4v]

Note: blank page, except for the pagination number 8

page: 5

Note: Stanzas 17 and 18 on this page were originally written as three stanzas; DGR's corrections reduced them to two.

Manuscript Addition: 9 5

Editorial Description: pagination numbers

In thy shape I'll go back to Eden;
( And it's O the bower & the [?] hour! )
In these coils that Tree will I grapple,
And bind this crowned head down by the apple.

Then shall Eve ? Lilith
Added TextLo! [?] on Eve's [?] face the [?] breath of Lilith:
(Eden bower's in flower.)
80How my heart hot heart's breath shall seem to despair [?] withdesire
Her heart's All her blood as food to its fire!

Lo! in Eve's ear the words of Lilith:
(And it's O the bower & the hour)

Deleted Text

Surely the heart of God did harden

When he withheld this tree of your garden.

Is not Eden all for thee & for Adam
(Eden bower's in flower)
What hath this fruit that ye should hate it
Added TextSee this apple—why [?] should ye hate it,
That Or Death should come be born the day that ye ate it?

Nay, but on that great day in Eden,
(And it's O the bower & the hour)
Added Text(Eden bower's in flower)
God knows well your hearts shall holpen
And to good & ill your eyes it will open.
By the help that in this fair tree is,
God knows well ye shall be as He is.

page: [5v]

Note: blank page, except for the pagination number 10

page: 6

Note: On this manuscript DGR originally wrote received stanza 20 before 19.

Manuscript Addition: 11 6

Editorial Description: Page numbering. Someone also adds the numbers of the stanzas in their received order.

90 Strong O Strong is the God of Eden / is God, the foul foe of Lilith is God the great God of Eden
(And it's O the bower & the hour!)
Over all he made he hath power;
But lend me thou thy shape for an hour.

Great Strong is God, the foul foe of Lilith / great God of Eden fould foe of Lilith
(And it's O the bower and the hour!)
[?] of us the bride of his giving
Added TextNought in heaven or earth may affright him;
Must yet be mother of all men living.
Added TextBut join thou with me & we will smite him.

Lend thy shape to thine own love for the love of Lilith
(And it's O the bower & the hour!)
100Look, my lip & my cheek are ruddy,
And thou art cold, & fire is my body.

Lend thy shape for the hate of Adam
(Eden bower's in flower)
That he may wail my joy love that forsook him
And curse the day when the bride-sleep took him
That Eve & he shall may know they are naked / That glad today may be sad tomorrow
And their hearts ache as my heart hath achèd / And all his minutes multiply sorrow

Added Text

That he may wail my joy love that forsook him

And curse the day when the bride-sleep took him

Lend thy shape that God may curse for the curse shame of Eden
(And it's O the bower and the hour)
And know find prove how weak is foe-God or foeman
110When love grows hate in the heart of a woman.

page: [6v]

Manuscript Addition: 12

Editorial Description: Page numbering.

Note: DGR drafts two lines that would eventually reappear as received lines 101-102; they correspond in this manuscript to lines 139-140.

Added Text

Lo in Eve's ear the words of Lilith

140 (And it's O the bower & the hour.)

page: 7

Manuscript Addition: 13 7

Editorial Description: Page numbering. Someone also adds the numbers of the stanzas in their received order.

Would'st thou know the deep whole thought of Lilith?
(Eden bower's in flower)
Come thou near close till thy head doth glisten
Along my breast, & lip it me & listen.

Is it sweet, O sweet Snake of Eden?
(And it's O the bower & the hour)
In thine ear Then bend ope thine ear to my warm mouth's cooing
Reveal And learn what deed remains for our doing.

Thou didst hear when God said to Adam
120 (Eden bower's in flower)
Of all my this wealth I have made thee warden;
Thou'rt free to eat of the trees of the garden:

Only of one tree eat not in Eden:
(And it's O the day bower & the hour.)
All save one I give to thy Free-will,
The tree of the knowledge of good & evil.

O my love, come nearer to Lilith!
(Eden bower's in flower)
In thy sweet folds, wind me & bend me,
130And let me feel the shape thou shalt lend me.

page: [7v]

Note: blank page, except for the pagination number 14

page: 8

Note: The variants for manuscript lines 139-140 (received lines 101-102) actually appear on manuscript page 6v.

Manuscript Addition: 15 8

Editorial Description: Page numbering. Someone also adds the numbers of the stanzas in their received order.

In thy shape I'll go back to Eden,
(And it's O the bower & the hour!)
In these coils that Tree will I grapple,
And bend stretch this crowned head down forth by the apple.

Lo! on Eve is bends to the breath of Lilith:
(Eden bower's in flower.)
O how then shall my heart desire
All her blood as food to its fire!

Lo, to Eve comes bends to the words of Lilith:
140 (And it's O the bower & the hour.)
“Nay, this Tree's fruit—why should ye hate it,
Or Death be yours born the day that ye ate it.

Nay, but on that great day in Eden,
(Eden bower's in flower.)
By the help that in this fair Tree is,
God knows well ye shall be as He is.

Then Eve shall eat & give unto Adam;
(And it's O the bower and the hour)
And in the cool of the day in the garden
God shall walk without pity or pardon.
And then they both shall know they are naked,
150And their hearts ache as my heart hath achèd

page: [8v]

Note: The page carries received lines 121-124, 131-132 as inserts that were made by DGR when he was composing on manuscript page 9r. It is paginated number 16.

Hear then Eve Eve speak, yea, list to her, Lilith!
(Eden bower's in flower)
160Hear thy heart's hope's dear word that shall sate it:
This the serpent gave & I ate it.

There While the blithe birds sang at thy wedding,
While There my tears grew thorns for thy treading.

page: 9

Manuscript Addition: 17 9

Editorial Description: Page numbering. Someone also adds the numbers of the stanzas in their received order.

Then Behold them Lo your heads Behold them hide in the trees of Eden,
(Eden bower's in flower)
As in the cool of the day in the garden
God shall walk without pity or pardon.

Lo! thou Hear your thou Eve, the [first?] man's heart of in Adam!
(And it's O the bower & the hour)
Of his bold brave words hark to the bravest:—
“This the woman gave that thou gavest.”

Yea, sweet proud Eve, cling close to thine Adam,
(Eden bower's in flower.)
Driven forth as the beasts of his naming
By the sword that for ever is flaming.

All [?] Know, thy path is known unto Lilith,
(And it's O the bower & the hour)

Deleted Text

There the glad blithe birds sang at thy wedding,

While my tears grew thorns for thy treading.

There while blithe birds sang at thy wedding

From my tears sprang thorns for thy treading.

170O my love, O love-snake of Eden!
(Eden bower's in flower.)
O to-day & the day coming to come after!
Loose me, love,—give breath to my laughter!

page: [9v]

Note: blank page, except for the pagination number 18

page: 10

Manuscript Addition: 19 10

Editorial Description: Page numbering. Someone also adds the numbers of the stanzas in their received order.

O bright Snake, the death-worm of Adam,
(And it's O the bower & the hour)
Wind thy neck with my hair's bright tether,
And wear thy my gold & my thy gold together.

O that one On that day on the skirts of Eden
(Eden bower's in flower)
180 When In thy shape shall I glide back to thee,
And in my shape for an instant view thee.

But when thou ' art thou & Lilith is Lilith,
(And it's O the bower & the hour)
In what great blind long bliss past hearing or seeing
Shall each drink deep of the other's being!

With cries of “Eve!” & “Eden!” & “Adam!”
(Eden bower's in flower)
How shall my white face woo thee & win thee,
My warm white body all wound within thee!
How shall we mingle our love's caresses,
I in thy folds & thou in my tresses!

page: [10v]

Note: The page carries part of the cancelled draft text of received stanza 39, which is composed on page 11r. The page carries pagination number 20.

Manuscript Addition: 20

Editorial Description: Page number in upper left corner.

Deleted Text

How And my woes laugh shall echo in Eden

(And it's O the bower & the hour)

As then I cry from a heart that burneth

page: 11

Note: DGR drafts received stanza 39 at the top of the page, then cancels it and drafts it again.

Manuscript Addition: 21 11

Editorial Description: Page numbering. Someone also adds the numbers of the stanzas in their received order.

Deleted Text

Added TextThen
What weak echoes shame-struck in Eden
(And it's O the bower & the hour)
Added Text(Eden bower's in flower)
As cries my joy from Shall burn that joy from my heart that burneth,
O dust he was and to dust returneth.

On that day With those names, ye echoes of Eden!
(Eden bower's in flower)
Where my joy cries Fire shall cry from my heart that burneth,
“ Lo! Dust he is and to dust returneth!”

190 Once again, hearts O Yet to-day, thou master of Lilith,
(And O the bower & the hour)
Wrap me round in the coils I'll borrow
And let me tell thee of sweet to-morrow.

In the planted garden eastward in Eden,
(Eden bower's in flower)
Where the river goes forth to water the garden,
The springs shall dry & the soil shall harden.

page: [11v]

Note: The page carries received stanzas 43 and 47 as compositional additions to the text being drafted on facing page 12r.

Manuscript Addition: 22

Editorial Description: Page number in upper left corner.

Added Text

Yea, beside the east-gate of Eden,
(Eden bower's in flower
Where God joined them & none might sever,
The sword turns this way & that for ever.

Added Text

Hold Fold me fast, O God-snake of Eden,
(Eden bower's in flower)
220What more prize than love shall should impel thee?
Grip & lip my limbs as I tell thee.

page: 12

Manuscript Addition: 23 12

Editorial Description: Page numbering. Someone also adds the numbers of the stanzas in their received order.

Yea, where the bride-sleep fell upon Adam,
(And O the bower & the hour)
200None shall hear when the storm-wind whistles
Through roses choked among thorns and thistles.

What of Adam cast out of Eden?
( Eden bower's in flower And O the bower & the hour)
Lo! with care like a shadow shaken,
He tills the hard earth whence he was taken.

210What of Eve too, cast out of Eden?
(And O the bower & the hour)
Added Text(Eden bower's in flower)
Spite of all Nay, but she, the bride of God's giving,
She Must yet be mother of all men living.

‘Lo, God's grace, by the grace of Lilith!
(Eden bower's in flower)
Added Text(And O the bower & the hour!)
To Eve's womb, from our sweet tomorrow,
God shall greatly multiply sorrow.

page: [12v]

Note: blank page, except for the pagination number 24

page: 13

Manuscript Addition: 25 13

Editorial Description: Page numbering. Someone also adds the numbers of the stanzas in their received order.

Lo! two babes for Eve & for Adam!
(And O the bower & the hour)
Lo! sweet Snake, their the travail & treasure,
Two men-children born for their pleasure:

The first is Cain & the second Abel:
(Eden bower's in flower.)
The soul of one shall be made thy brother,
And thy tongue shall lap the blood of the other.
230 (And O the bower and the hour)

page: [13v]

Note: blank page, except for the pagination number 26

page: 14

Note: Although this is page 14 in the binding sequence, it is the pencil draft of the first stanza.

Manuscript Addition: 14/ 27

Editorial Description: These are pagination numbers, not by DGR.

Eden Bower

It was Lilith the wife of Adam:
(Time is old)
One sole drop of her blood was human,
But he was a man & she was a woman.
(The Snake's a-cold.)

page: [14v]

Note: This page carries the number 28, which signals the first pagination sequence (cancelled).

Manuscript Addition: Oh thou that dwellest in no house / But walk'st in tent and Tabernacle.

Editorial Description: Two lines of verse that have no obvious reference in the text DGR was composing.

Manuscript Addition: If it is a great temptation [?] / all awful to [?] / between the [?] like a / [?] the angels.

Editorial Description: An obscurely scripted prose passage.

page: 15

Note: The two draft stanzas on this page have no refrains, but the page shows DGR sketching possible refrain lines, so that the stanzas, while they appear as triplets, were clearly written to include refrain lines.

Manuscript Addition: 29 15

Editorial Description: Page numbering.

Manuscript Addition: Sing Eden Bower / Sing Eden bower's in flower / / It's O the hour / And it's O the day and the hour / / O Eden Bower / O the day & the hour

Editorial Description: These are early trial versions of the refrain.

Lilith stood on the skirts of Eden
She was the first that thence was driven
With her was hell & with Eve was heaven

I was the fairest snake in Eden
240By the earth's will new form and feature
Made me a wife for the earth's new creature

page: [15v]

Note: blank page, except for the pagination number 30

page: 16

Note: This and the following five pages carry stanzas 1-10 in corrected fair copy. They incorporate the revisions made to the intermediate copy on pages 1 and 4 in the manuscript.

Manuscript Addition: 31 16

Editorial Description: Page numbering.

It was Lilith the wife of Adam:
( Eden B bower's in flower. )
Not a drop of her blood was human,
But she was made like a soft sweet woman.

Lilith stood on the skirts of Eden;
( And it's O the day bower & the hour! )
She was the first that thence was driven;
With her was hell and with Eve was heaven.

page: [16v]

Note: blank page, except for pagination number 32

page: 17

Manuscript Addition: 33 17

Editorial Description: Page numbering.

250In the ear of the Snake said Lilith :—
( Eden B bower's in flower. )
“To thee I come when the rest is over;
A snake was I when thou wast my lover.

“I was the fairest snake in Eden:
( And it's O the day bower & the hour! )
By the earth's will new form and feature
Made me a wife for the earth's new creature.

page: [17v]

Note: blank page, except for pagination number 34

page: 18

Manuscript Addition: 33 17

Editorial Description: Page numbering.

“Take me then thou as I come from Adam:
( Eden B bower's in flower. )
260Once again shall my love subdue thee;
The past is past and I am come to thee.

“O but Adam 's love was to was made born for Lilith:
( And it's O the day bower & the hour! )
All the threads of my hair are golden,
And there in a net his heart was holden.

“O and Lilith 's love was to was made born for Adam!

page: [18v]

Note: blank page, except for pagination number 36

page: 19

Manuscript Addition: 37 19

Editorial Description: Page numbering.

( Eden B bower's in flower. )
All the day and the night together
My breath could shake his soul like a feather.

270“What great joys had Adam and Lilith!—
( And it's O the day bower & the hour! )
Sweet close rings of the serpent's twining,
As heart in heart was sighing and pining!

“What bright babes had Lilith and Adam!—
( Eden B bower's in flower. )

page: [19v]

Note: blank page, except for pagination number 38

page: 20

Manuscript Addition: 39 20

Editorial Description: Page numbering.

Shapes that coiled in the woods & waters,
Glittering sons and jewelled daughters.

“O thou God, the Lord God of Eden!
( And it's O the day bower & the hour! )
280Say, was this fair body for no man,
That from Adam's flesh thou mak'st him a woman?

“O thou snake, the King-snake of Eden!
( Eden bower's in flower.)
God's strong will our necks are under,
But thou and I shall may cleave it in sunder.

page: [20v]

Note: blank page, except for pagination number 40

page: 21

Manuscript Addition: 41 21

Editorial Description: Page numbering.

‘Help, sweet Snake, sweet lover of Lilith!
(And it's O the bower & the hour!)
And let God learn how I loved and hated
Man and in the image of God created.

290“Help me once against Eve & Adam!
(Eden bower's in flower.)
Once for my sake one this great endeavour,
And then my love shall be thine for ever!

page: [21v]

Note: blank page

Transcription Gap: Pages 22-31 (found elsewhere)

Note: Pages 22-31 carry the text (paginated 31-40) as printed in the 1870 Poems.

Electronic Archive Edition: 1

Source File: 20-1869.blms.rad.xml