La Bella Mano (Princeton fair copies) 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. La Bella Mano Dante Gabriel Rossetti 1875 fair copies DGR Princeton University Library AM21395 one small sheet Commentary
Introduction

Textual History: Composition

The pair of sonnets is fair copied on the verso and recto of a single half sheet. The text corresponds to the one DGR sent in his letter to F. G. Stephens, and not to the text that was eventually published in 1881. It is in fact the copy that DGR sent to Stephens.

Textual History: Revision

Production History

Reception History

Iconographic

Printing History

Pictorial

Historical

Literary

Translation

Autobiographical

Bibliographic

<foreign lang="italian">La Bella Mano</foreign> 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 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. 2 a.m. random note by DGR at top of the page O lovely hand, that thy sweet self dost lave In that thy pure and proper element Whence erst the Lady of Love's high advčnt 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, 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.