Priapus Higg Loquitur

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

General Description

Date: 1855 February
Rhyme: aaa
Meter: iambic pentameter
Genre: epigram

Scholarly Commentary

Introduction

DGR sent the epigram in a letter to William Bell Scott of 12 February 1855, where he describes it as “a rough recollection” of one of the epigrams of James Hannay (1827-1873) who, DGR tells Scott, is about to publish a book of epigrams titled Nettle Flowers. Hannay never published such a book and the epigram is probably DGR's own, though its reference (and the identity of Higg) is obscure. In the letter DGR says the lines are “meant for someone you know” but once again the reference is not clear. In the letter DGR also praises Hannay's 1854 Satire and Satirists. Six Lectures.

Textual History: Composition

The poem was written as part of DGR's letter, which is the only known manuscript.

Printing History

First published in William Bell Scott's Autobiographical Notes II. 32 . The epigram has never been collected.

Electronic Archive Edition: 1
Source File: 5-1855.raw.xml