Venus Verticordia (corrected copy with alternate readings, British Library) Dante Gabriel Rossetti 1 By permission of the British Library Venus Verticordia Dante Gabriel Rossetti 1868 or 1869 Fair copy with some corrections and alternate readings. DGR DGR British Library Ashley 3845 unlined white laid paper none 21.9 x 17.7cm Commentary
Introduction

The text shows that this manuscript was almost certainly written either in 1868 or early in 1869. The text follows closely the version of the first printed text as it appeared in the <xref doc="a.n5054.r47.rad" workcode="4-1868.s173"> <hi rend="i">Notes on the Royal Academy Exhibition</hi> </xref> in 1868. But DGR here begins to open the poem to the variants that would eventually establish themselves in the texts publshed in 1870 and 1881.

Textual History: Composition

Textual History: Revision

Production History

Reception History

Iconographic

Printing History

Pictorial

Historical

Literary

Translation

Autobiographical

Bibliographic

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. Ashley 3845 British Library catalog number.

THOMAS JAMES WISE HIS BOOK

BOOKS BRING ME FRIENDS WHERE'ER ON EARTH I BE. SOLACE OF SOLITUDE& BONDS OF SOCIETY! The textual alternates are written at the foot of the manuscript. Venus Verticordia She hath it in her hand to give it thee, Also within her heart to hold it back; She muses, with her eyes upon the track Of some dazed moth or honey seeking bee— Haply, “He is as one of these”, saith she; ‘Now the sweet apple for his lips, alack! But brings the dart to turn his midday black, And The With wandering [?] for his feet perpetually!” A little space her glance is sad & coy; But if she give the fruit that works her spell, These Those eyes shall flame as for her Phrygian boy. Then shall her bird's strained throat the woe foretell, And her far seas moan as a single shell, And through her dark grove strike the light of Troy. ----- Alas! the apple for his lips, the dart Which follows its brief sweetness to his heart, The wandering of his feet perpetually!” And bids his feet wander perpetually. And wandering for &c. [blank page]