Letter to Frederick Shields, 21 May 1880 Dante Gabriel Rossetti 1 Letter to Frederick Shields, 21 May 1880 Dante Gabriel Rossetti 1880 May 21 letter Frederick Shields DGR David Preston Commentary
Introduction

This letter, with the copy of the sonnet on Blake, was first published in <hi rend="i">The Manchester Quarterly</hi> (April 1910), whence it was reprinted by Doughty and Wahl, <hi rend="i">Letters</hi> , IV. 1775-1776 .

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My dear Shields,

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 <lb/>(To Frederic Shields, on his sketch of Blake's work-room<lb/>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 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. D. G. Rossetti. 20 May 1880