Rossetti Archive Textual Transcription
Document Title: Letter to Frederick Shields, 21 May 1880
Author: Dante Gabriel Rossetti
Date of Composition: 1880 May 21
Type of Manuscript: letter
Scribe: DGR
The full Rossetti Archive record for this transcribed document is available.
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Thanks for your loving words on the sonnet, and thanks most of all for the chance of writing
it. I subjoin a revised copy.
I write this line because I expect Mrs. Gilchrist and her son about 5 tomorrow (Saturday)
and thought I should tell you so. But I dare say you won't think this forbids work. Hoping to
see you,
Your ever affec:
D. G. R.
William Blake
(To Frederic Shields, on his sketch of Blake's work-room
and death-room, 3 Fountain Court, Strand.)
(To Frederic Shields, on his sketch of Blake's work-room
and death-room, 3 Fountain Court, Strand.)
- This is the place. Even here the dauntless soul,
- The unflinching hand, wrought on; till in that nook,
- As on that very bed, his life partook
- New birth, and passed. 'Yon river's distant shoal,
- Whereto the close-built coiling lanes unroll,
- Faced his work-window, whence his eyes would stare,
- Thought-wandering, unto nought that met them there,
- But to the unfettered irreversible goal.
- This cupboard, Holy of Holies, held the cloud
- 10 Of his soul writ and limned; this other one,
- His true wife's charge, full oft to their abode
- Yielded for daily bread the martyr's stone,
- Ere yet their food might be that Bread alone,
- The words now home-speech in the mouth of God.
Electronic Archive Edition: 1
Source File:
dgr.ltr.0547.rad.xml