Rossetti Archive Textual Transcription

Document Title: Lady mine, the hour is here (draft manuscript)
Author: Dante Gabriel Rossetti
Date of Composition: 1848?
Type of Manuscript: holograph draft

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

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  • Lady mine, the hour is here;
  • The look in thine eyes is kind & dear
  • And still above thy forehead clear
  • The glossy locks are long,
  • Seize the time then, seize the day,
  • Who would be wise that could be gay,
  • 'Tis well that our youth should pass away
  • With laugh & dance & song.
  • A little space & the hour is sped
  • 10And very cold is the scanty bed
  • At the foot whereof & at the head
  • The grave-grass waketh high.
  • But now thy thoughts are young & new
  • And in thy bed there is room for two
  • And on thy lip is the honey-dew
  • And this laughter in thine eye.
  • To the light then let the vintage leap,
  • Let the kiss be long, let the draught be deep
  • We're deep down & are asleep
  • 20Forgetting & forgot:
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  • And the royal sunbeams flaunt between
  • Where the springtime never comes, I ween,
  • & the summer time is not.
  • Seize the time then, seize the day:

  • Why [?]
  • With dance & laugh & love's sweet play
  • 'Tis well that our youth sh d. pass away
  • For very short is the present day
  • And the coming night is long.
Manuscript Addition: By Gabriel / early
Editorial Description: WMR's pencil note at lower left
Electronic Archive Edition: 1
Source File: 43-1848.sangms.rad.xml
Copyright: Published with the permission of Iziko Museums of Cape Town