Rossetti Archive Textual Transcription

Document Title: Lines from the Roman de la Rose
Author: Dante Gabriel Rossetti
Date of Composition: 1850
Type of Manuscript: holograph fair copy
Scribe: DGR

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

Image of page [1a] page: [1a]
Manuscript Addition: 11
Editorial Description: WMR's pagination number in upper right corner
  • Tendre eut la chair comme rousée,
  • Simple fut comme une épousée
  • Et blanche comme fleur de lys;
  • Visage eut bel, doux et alis;
  • Elle était grèle et alignée,
  • N'était fardée nè pignée,
  • Car elle n'avait pas métier
  • De soi farder et affaictier.
  • Les cheveux eut blonde et si longe
  • 10Quils lui battaient aux talons:
  • Elle eut bien faits nez, yeux et bouche.
  • Moult grand douleur au coeur me touche
  • Quand de sa beauté me remembre.
Roman de la Rose.
Image of page [1b] page: [1b]
Manuscript Addition: By Gabriel
Editorial Description: WMR's note below the translation.
  • Tender as dew her cheeks' warm life;
  • She was as simple as a wife,
  • She was as white as lilies are.
  • Her face was sweet & smooth & fair:
  • Slender & very straight she was,
  • And on her cheeks no paint might pass.

  • Her fair hair was so long that it
  • Shook when she walked about her feet:
  • Eyes, nose & mouth were perfect art.
  • 10 Exceeding pain is at my heart
  • When I remember me of her.
Electronic Archive Edition: 1
Source File: 9-1850.dukems.rad.xml
Copyright: By permission of the Special Collections Library, Duke University