Nuptial Sleep (corrected fair copy, British Library) Dante Gabriel Rossetti 1 Reproduced with permission of the British Library. Placata Venere Dante Gabriel Rossetti 1869 (possibly summer) corrected fair copy The manuscript may date from as early as the spring or summer of 1868; its terminus ad quem is August 1869. DGR DGR Ashley Library, the British Library Ashley 3846 21.9 x 18 cm There is a pencil sketch on the verso of the MS. Commentary
Introduction

This is an early manuscript of the sonnet and predates the text that was printed in the A Proofs in mid-September 1869. It may even have been written as early as 1858, which is Jan Marsh's preferred date for the composition of the sonnet, or in 1861 when the first version of DGR's drawing <xref doc="a.s127.rap"> <hi rend="i">Cassandra</hi> </xref> was done. Other possible dates are in the spring-summer of 1868 or August 1869.

The title of the poem in this manuscript is interesting. It is an ablative absolute and stands to the text of the poem as a kind of loose first line; so that the meaning (literally rendered) runs something like: “Venus having been satisfied, At length their long kiss...”.

The verso of the leaf has what appears to be a rough study for the figure of a Greek warrior—perhaps a study for Hector in the drawing <xref doc="a.s127.rap"> <hi rend="i">Cassandra</hi> </xref> .

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.

THOMAS JAMES WISE HIS BOOK

BOOKS BRING ME FRIENDS WHERE'ER ON EARTH I BE. SOLACE OF SOLITUDE- BONDS OF SOCIETY! Placatā Venere So their mouths came asunder lips clove & sundered drew asunder with fierce smart— And as like the last slow sudden drops are rain-drops shed From sparkling eaves when all the short storm has fled, So singly flagged the pulses of each heart. Then their close bosoms sundered at one start As when a flower bursts open on its bed From the knit stem; yet still their mouths, burnt red, Chirped at each other where they lay apart. Sleep sank them lower than the tide of dreams, And their dreams watched them sink, & slid away. Slowly their souls swam up again, through gleams Of watered light, & dull drowned waifs of day; Till from some wonder of new woods & streams He woke, and wondered more: for there she lay.

Pencil Sketch, 21.9 x 18 cm.