The Athenaeum, 1875, Part II John Francis (publisher) 1 In this electronic edition, we have omitted the pages of all issues that do not contain material by or related to DGR. Unpaginated front and back matter from these issues has also been omitted. The structure of this electronic document allows for the future addition of the omitted material. The Athenaeum John Francis Edward J. Francis London 1875 July - 1875 December 1875, Part II ap4.a85 3 Commentary
Introduction

DGR's work appeared in issue number 2496 in this volume.

Textual History: Composition

Textual History: Revision

Printing History

Pictorial

Historical

Literary

Translation

Autobiographical

Bibliographic

All pages containing "Sonnets for Pictures. (Italian and English) are formatted in three columns. ----------------- ----------------- <hi rend="c">SONNETS FOR PICTURES.</hi> <lb/> <hi rend="c">(ITALIAN AND ENGLISH)</hi> <hi rend="c">PROSERPINA.</hi> LUNGI è la luce che in sù questo muro Rifrange appena, un breve istante scorta Del rio palazzo alla soprana porta: Lungi quei fiori d'Enna, O lido oscuro, Dal frutto tuo fatal che omai m' è duro: Lungi quel cielo dal tartareo manto Che quì mi cuopre: e lungi ahi lungi ahi quanto Le notti che saràn dai dì che furo. Lungi da me mi sento; e ognor sognando Cerco e ricerco, e resto ascoltatrice; E qualche cuore a qualche anima dice,— (Di cui mi giunge il suon da quando in quando, Continuamente insieme sospirando,)— “Ohime per te, Proserpina infelice!” <hi rend="c">PROSERPINA.</hi> Afar away the light that brings cold cheer Unto this wall,—one instant and no more Admitted at my distant palace-door: Afar the flowers of Enna from this drear Cold fruit, which, tasted once, must thrall me here: Afar those skies from this Tartarean grey That chills me: and afar, how far away, The nights that shall be from the days that were. Afar from mine own self I seem, and wing Strange ways in thought, and listen for a sign: And still some heart unto some soul doth pine,— (Whose sounds mine inner sense is fain to bring, Continually together murmuring),— “Woe's me for thee, unhappy Proserpine!” <hi rend="c">LA BELLA MANO.</hi> O bella Mano, che ti lavi e piaci In quel medesmo tuo puro elemento Donde la Dea dell' amoroso avvento Nacque (e dall' onda s' infuocar le faci Di mille inispegnibili fornaci):— Come a Venere a te l' oro e l' argento Offron gli Amori; e ognun riguarda attento Quel labbro, sponda, ahime! di voce e baci. Con dolce modo dove onor t' invii Vattene adorna, e porta insiem fra tante Di Venere e di vergine sembiante; Umilemente in luoghi onesti e pii Bianca e soave ognora; infin che sii, O Mano, mansueta in man d'amante. <hi rend="c">LA BELLA MANO.</hi> O lovely hand, that thy sweet self dost lave In that thy pure and proper element Whence erst the Lady of Love's high advènt Was born, and endless fires sprang from the wave;— Even as her Loves to her their offerings gave, For thee the jewelled gifts they bear; while each Looks to those lips, of music-measured speech The fount, and of more bliss than man may crave. In royal wise ring-girt and bracelet-spann'd, A flower of Venus' own virginity, Go shine among thy sisterly sweet band; In maiden-minded converse delicately Evermore white and soft; until thou be, O hand, heart-handsel'd in a lover's hand. Dante G. Rossetti. ------------ ------------