Francesca Da Rimini: Dante (fair copy manuscript)Dante Gabriel Rossetti1Reproduced with permission of the Cecil Higgins Art Gallery.Francesca da Rimini. (water colour)Dante Gabriel Rossetti1862 Septemberfair copy1 leaf, verso blankDGRDGRCecil Higgins Art Gallery
Commentary
Introduction
The manuscript is a fair copy made in 1862 to accompany the watercolor replica DGR had just made for
James Leathart. The original watercolor was
Ruskin's and was made in 1855.
Textual History: Composition
The manuscript is written on a single leaf.
Textual History: Revision
Production History
Reception History
Iconographic
Printing History
Pictorial
Historical
Literary
Translation
Autobiographical
Bibliographic
Manuscript headed with date “Sept. 1862”Francesca da Rimini. (water colour)D. G. Rossetti. Sept. 1862-------------------------------------“ When I made answer, I began: “Alas! How many sweet thoughts and how much desire Led these two onward to the dolorous pass!”— Then turned to them, as who would fain inquire, And said: “Francesca, these thine agonies Wring tears for pity and grief which they inspire: But tell me,—in the season of sweet sighs, When and what way did Love instruct you so That he in your vague longings made you wise?” Then she to me: “There is no greater woe Than the remembrance of past happy days In misery; and this thy guide doth know. But if the first beginnings to retrace Of our sad love may yield thee solace here, So will I be as one that weeps and says. “One day we read, for pastime and sweet cheer, Of Lancelot, how he found Love tyrannous: We were alone, and without any fear. Our eyes were drawn together, reading thus, Full oft, and still our cheeks would pale & glow; But one sole point it was that conquered us. For when we read of that great lover, how He kissed the smile which he had longed to win,— Then he whom nought can sever from me now For ever, kissed my mouth, all quivering. A pander was the book, and he that writ: Upon that day we read no more therein.”