Soothsay (Princeton early fair copy manuscript) Dante Gabriel Rossetti 1 Used with permission of Princeton University. From the Princeton University Library, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections. All rights reserved. Redistribution or republication in any medium requires express written consent from Princeton University Library. Permissions inquiries should be addressed to Associate University Librarian, Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library. Commandments DGR 1871 fair copy Princeton/Troxell Collection 23277 JOYNSON1871 Commentary
Introduction

This manuscript is the earliest text of the poem. It was sent to William Bell Scott in a letter of 13 August 1871, but is now physically separated from that letter. Both documents are in the Princeton Library.

Textual History: Composition

Composed sometime around late November or early December 1878.

Textual History: Revision

Production History

Reception History

Iconographic

Printing History

DGR never published this review.

Pictorial

Historical

Literary

Translation

Autobiographical

Bibliographic

(20 Pagination added in upper right corner. Commandments. ------------- Let no man ask you of anything Not yearborn between Spring & Spring. More of all worlds than he can know Each day the single sun doth show: A trustier gloss than you can give From all wise scrolls demonstrative, The sea doth sigh and the wind sing. Let no lord awe you on any height Of earthly kingship's mouldering might. The dust his heel holds meet for your brow Has all of it been what both are now: And he and you may plague together A beggar's eyes in some dusty weather When none that is now knows sound or sight. Let no priest tell you of any home Unseen above the sky's blue dome. To have played in childhood by the sea, Or to have been young in Italy, Or anywhere in the sun or rain To have loved and been beloved again, Is nearer Heaven than he can come. -------------------