Johannes Ronge Dante Gabriel Rossetti 1 Published with the permission of Iziko Museums of Cape Town Johannes Ronge Dante Gabriel Rossetti 1847? fair copy 3 pages Library of the South African National Gallery pale blue unruled none 7 x 4 1/4 in Commentary
Introduction

This previously unknown manuscript is located among the Wahl/Rossetti papers in the library of the National Gallery of South Africa. It is closely connected with several other early DGR manuscripts in the collection, most especially with the poem “Fredericus Secundus (Rich Peace)” .

 Johannes Ronge ----- Silesian shepherd, blesed be The sequel of that history That I have read with heart elate, Entwining it with my own fate; So dear to me the visions seem That thou, oh child unknown, didst dream— In earliest days on mountain wild:— How dreadful spirits sternly smiled, And prophecied thy future days, And pointed out untrodden ways, And gave thee weapons strong & good, As the wierd lady of the Wood To young St. George. Must I compare With those dove winged guardians fair Who to the little English maid In crowded streets brief visits paid; For in the year that gave me birth Didst thou appear upon this earth: And we have wandered far & wide Seeking for truth on every side. Sweet dreadful spirits strengthed thee Into a noble destiny Sweet smiling angels sang to me Strains full of love and mystery. Yet know I not what I should do In worship of the good & true. Oh! gentle shepherd, dost thou wear Meek flowers on thy waving hair, And dost thou pipe a simple song, And love thy flock the whole day long? Or, stately shepherd, comest thou With flaming signs around thy brow And God's commandment in thy hand? And dost thou read & understand? Deliverer—for the good & true Within one day what shall we do? How shall we build the mystic shrine? What symbols shall be thine & mine? Tell, modern priest, what robes should be Emblems of richest charty? What consecrations may there be, What hope, what faith, what mystery? And wilt thou walk thy people thro', And sprinkle us with heavenly dew? And shall we from the sacred door Go forth & search the parish o'er, And mark what evil there is done, And give some remedy, each one? A cup of water, if no more. As thou hast purified before, With graceful step & action bland, Shall we, with schemes of duty planned By wisest hearts, walk daily thro' With serious step devout & true. Our spirits may in deepest rest Sleep softly on the Savior's breast. Permit it not, dear Lord, that we Should ever fall from loving thee. Countless I trust the spirits be Who rest upon thee lovingly. The holy Mary, beauteous light, Who gazes on her face aright? I think the world has yet to turn Their looks toward her eyes, & learn. There may they read of things unknown, And make rare wonders all their own. Canst thou within that house of gold, Oh! shepherd, thy poor lambkins fold? ------------