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Rossetti Archive Textual Transcription

Document Title: La Bella Mano (Princeton fair copies)
Author: Dante Gabriel Rossetti
Date of Composition: 1875
Type of Manuscript: fair copies
Scribe: DGR

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

Image of page [1] page: [1]
more about La Bella Mano. (Per un Quadro.)
La Bella Mano
  • O Bella Mano, che ti lavi e piaci
  • In quel medesmo tuo puro elemento
  • Donde la Dea dell' amoroso avvento
  • Nacque, e dall' onda s'infuocar le faci
  • Di mille inispegnabili fornaci:—
  • Come a Venere a te l'oro e l'argento
  • Offron gli Amori; e ognun riguarda attento
  • Quel labbro, sponda, ahime! di voce e baci.
  • Con dolce modo dove onor t'invii
  • 10 Vattene adorna, e porta insiem fra tante
  • Di Venere e di vergine sembiante;
  • Umilemente in luoghi onesti e pii
  • Bianca e soave ognora; infin che sii,
  • O Mano, mansueta in man d'amante.
Image of page [2] page: [2]
Manuscript Addition: 2 a.m.
Editorial Description: random note by DGR at top of the page
more about La Bella Mano. (For a Picture.)
  • O lovely hand, that thy sweet self dost lave
  • In that thy pure and proper element
  • Whence erst the Lady of Love's high advènt
  • Was born, and endless fires sprang from the wave:—
  • Even as her Loves to her their offerings gave,
  • For thee the jewelled gifts they bear; while each
  • Looks to those lips, of music-measured speech
  • The fount, and of more bliss than man may crave.
  • In royal wise ring-girt and bracelet-spann'd,
  • 10 A flower of Venus' own virginity,
  • Go shine among thy sisterly sweet band;
  • In maiden-minded converse delicately
  • Evermore white and soft; until thou be,
  • O hand, heart-handsel'd in a lover's hand.
Electronic Archive Edition: 1
Source File: 34-1875.princems.rad.xml
Copyright: 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.