Letter to William Bell Scott, 13 July 1853 DGR 1 By Permission of William E. Fredeman. Letter to William Bell Scott, 13 July 1853 DGR 1853 July 13 letter 2 pages DGR University of British Columbia library Commentary
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The letter contains a copy of DGR's “The Honeysuckle” .

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Red Horse Inn Stratford on Avon Wednesday 13 July [1853] My dear Scott,

I got here yesterday evening, walking 12 miles from Kenilworth. Since I got into Warwickshire, I have walked always from place to place, & have seen some stunning things. I saw Shakspere's den last night, but it was too dark to see its inside properly, & I am eager to get at it again this morning, so this note is a very short one. You will hear from me again about my plans as soon as I am in London which will be in a day or two. Please, if any letters have come for me, send them on here at once on getting this. I feel a great deal better now, with constant walking, & the weather is splendid. I fill up the note with a master poem which I composed on the road yesterday on the occasion of plucking a honeysuckle.

I plucked a honeysuckle, where The hedge was high & set with thorn, And clambering for the prize, was torn, And fouled my feet in quag-water mire there. And by the thorns and by the wind The blossom that I took was thinned, And yet I found it sweet and fair. Then to a richer bush I came, Where, grown in mellow intercourse, The honeysuckles sprang by scores; Not harried like my single stem,— All lamplike, full of scent & dew. So from my hand that first I threw, Yet plucked not any more of them.

Remember me kindly to Mrs. Scott and Mrs. Norquoy. I expect on returning to London to find a certain amount of hair on end.

Most sincerely yours D G Rossetti