A Series of Holograph MSS 1849-1880 (Library of Congress)

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Document Title: A Series of Holograph MSS 1849-1880 (Library of Congress)

Author: Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Date of Composition: 1849-1880

Type of Manuscript: various

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

page: [i]

Editorial Note (page ornament):

Note: blank page

page: [ii]

Note: Bookplate showing the owner working at his desk under a bust of Shelley, with the inscription in two columns below the image.

The figure that you here see put
Was for H. Buxton Forman cut,
Amid his household gods to bide
And relics culled from far and wide.
This book is his on whom you look:
For Scott his graving tackle took

And etched the man to watch therein,
That none by guile the book might win.
Then siste fur! of great and small
10The world holds books enough for all.
Of roughly handling this beware
And put it in its place with care.

page: [iii]

Editorial Note (page ornament):

Note: blank page

page: [iv]

Note: Image of young man in an open-collared shirt holding a quill to paper. Manuscript dedication reads “ever affectionately yours, P.B. Shelley”

page: [v]

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

A SERIES OF

Holograph Manuscripts

including the Sonnet on

Percy Bysshe Shelley

and the glorious

“Supreme Surrender”

together with

“On the Field of Waterloo”

one of the earliest Rossetti MSS. extant.

1849-1880.

page: [vi]

Editorial Note (page ornament):

Note: blank page

page: [1]

Percy Bysshe Shelley

(Inscription for the couch, still preserved, on which he passed the last night of his life.)

Twixt those twin worlds,—the world of Sleep, which gave
No dream to warn,—the tidal world of Death,
Which the earth's sea, as the earth, replenisheth,—
Shelley, Song's orient Sun, to breast the wave,
Rose from this couch that morn. Ah! did he brave
Only the sea?—or did man's deed of hell
Engulph his bar k [?] 'mid mists impenetrable?
No eye discerned, nor any power might save.
When that mist cleared, O Shelley! What dread veil
10Was rent for thee, to whom far-darkling Truth
Was sovereign guide through thy brief oer steeps of ageless youth?
Was the Truth thy Truth, Shelley?—Hush! All Hail
(Thank God!) thou gavs't it, and in ? / in that high sphere in that thy sphere
Art first of praisers, being most praised here.

page: [2]

Note: blank page

page: [3]

Note: Type transcription of poem from previous page.

Percy Bysshe Shelley

(Inscription for the couch, still preserved, on

which he passed the last night of his life.)

Twixt those twin worlds — the world of Sleep, which gave
No dream to warn, — the tidal world of Death,
Which the earth's sea, as the earth, replenisheth, —
Shelley, Song's orient Sun, to breast the wave,
Rose from this couch that morn, Ah! did he brave
Only the Sea? — or did man's deed of hell
Engulph his bark 'mid mists impenetrable?
No eye discerned, nor any power might save.

When that mist cleared, O Shelley! What dread veil
10 Was rent for thee, to whom far-darkling Truth
Was sovereign guide o'er steeps of ageless youth?
Was the Truth thy Truth, Shelley? — Hush! All hail.
(Thank God!) thou gav'st it, and in that ...... sphere
Art first of praisers, being most praised here.

page: [4]

Note: blank page

page: [5]

William Blake.

(To Frederick 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 dusky 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
10Of 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 of the mouth of God.

Dante G. Rossetti

page: [6]

Note: blank page

page: [7]

Note: Transcription of poem from previous page.

William Blake.

To Frederick 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 dusky 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 of the mouth of God.

Dante G. Rossetti

page: [8]

Note: blank page

page: [9]

Note: Letter to Watts

I have

told Christina

that you fix Thursday

afternoon to call at

30, Torrington

Square.

Sunday.

My dear Watts

Will you dine here

again next Thursday?

I hope so - Or if

not, what later

day? I have written

another sonnet

of the intensest kind.

Not yet posted Valpys-

but must do so.

Your affec:

DGR

page: [10]

Note: blank page

page: [11]

Note: Letter to Watts

Note: Transcription of letter from previous page.

I have told Christina

that you fix Thursday

afternoon to call at

30 Torrington Square.

Sunday

My dear Watts,

Will you dine here again next

Thursday? I hope so - Or if not, what

later day? I have written another sonnet

of the intensest kind. Not yet posted

Valpy's: - but must do so.

Your affec.

D.G.R.

page: [12]

Note: blank page

page: [13]

My Lady's Gifts.

High grace, the dower of queens; and therewithal
Some wood-born wonder's sweet simplicity;
A glance like water brimming with the sky
Or hyacinth-light where forest-shadows fall;
Such thrilling pallor of cheek as doth enthral
The heart; a mouth whose passionate forms imply
All music and all silence held thereby;
Deep locks, the brows embowering coronal;
A round reared neck, meet column of Love's shrine,
10To cling to when the heart takes sanctuary;
Hands which for ever at Love's bidding be,
And soft-stirred feet still answering to his sign: —
These are her gifts, as tongue may tell them o'er.
Breathe low her name, my soul; for that saith more.

page: [14]

Note: blank page

page: [15]

Note: Transcription of poem from previous page.

My Lady's Gifts.

High grace, the dower of queens; and therewithal
Some wood-born wonder's sweet simplicity;
A glance like water brimming with the sky
Or hyacinth-light where forest-shadows fall;
Such thrilling pallor of cheek as doth enthral
The heart; a mouth whose passionate forms imply
All music and all silence held thereby;
Deep locks, the brows embowering coronal;
A round reared neck, meet column of Love's shrine,
10 To cling to when the heart takes sanctuary;
Hands which for ever at Love's bidding be,
And soft-stirred feet still answering to his sign; —
These are her gifts, as tongue may tell them o'er.
Breathe low her name, my soul; for that saith more.

page: [16]

Note: blank page

page: [17]

Note: This seems to be a copy DGR made for publication in 1881, though the Library of Congress identifies it as a printer's copy for the 1870 Poems . It is copied fair (but with one revision) from a much earlier manuscript text—a text that would have stood intermediately between the British Library manuscript and the printing in the First Trial Book (around 3 October 1869), as the text in line 2 and the revision in line 6 indicates.

Supreme Surrender

To all the spirits of love that wander by
Along the love-sown fallowfield of sleep
My lady lies apparent; and the deep
Calls to the deep; and no man sees but I.
The bliss so long afar, at length so nigh,
Rests there disused attained. Methinks proud love must weep
When Fate's one day doth from his harvest reap
The sacred hour for which the years did sigh.

First touched, The hand now warm beneath my neck
10Taught memory long to mock desire: and lo!
Across my breast the abandoned hair doth flow,
Where one shorn tress long stirred the longing ache:
And next the heart that trembled for its sake
Lies the queen-heart in sovereign overthrow.

page: [18]

Note: blank page

page: [19]

Note: Type transcription of poem on previous page, circa 1880.

Supreme Surrender

To all the spirits of love that wander by,
Along the love-sown fallowfield of sleep
My lady lies apparent; and the deep
Calls to the deep; and no man sees but I
The bliss so long afar, at length so nigh,
Rests there attained. Methinks proud love must weep
When Fate's one day doth from his harvest reap
The Sacred hour for which the years did sigh.

First touched, the hand now warm beneath my neck
10 Taught memory long to mock desire: and lo!
Across my breast the abandoned hair doth flow,
Where one shorn tress long stirred the longing ache:
And next the heart that trembled for its sake
Lies the queen-heart in sovereign overthrow.

page: [20]

Note: blank page

page: [21]

For

Spring,

By Sandro Botticelli,

in the Accademia of Florence

What masque of what old wind-withered New-Year
Honours this Lady? ^x Flora, wanton-eyed
[illegible] For birth, and with all flowrets prankt and pied:
Aurora, Zephyrus, with mutual cheer
Of clasp and kiss: the graces circling near,
'Neath bower-linked arch of white arms glorified:
And with those feathered feet which hovering glide
O'er Spring's brief bloom, Hermes the harbinger.

Birth-bare, not death-bare yet, the young stems stand,
10This Lady's temple-columns: o'er her head
Love wings this shaft. What mystery here is read
Of homage or of hope? But how command
Dead Springs to answer? And how question here
These mummers of that wind-withered New-Year?

^x The same lady, here surrounded by the masque of Spring, is evidently the subject of a portrait by Botticelli

which was formerly in the Pourtalès collection in Paris . and

which now belonging to a gentleman in London . This portrait

is inscribed “Smeralda Bandinelli.”

page: [22]

Note: blank page

page: [23]

Note: Type transcription of poem from previous page.

For Spring,

BY Sandro Botticelli ,

in the Accademia of Florence

What masque of what old wind-withered New Year
Honours this Lady?* Flora, wanton-eyed
For birth, and with all flowrets prankt and pied:
Aurora, Zephyrus, with mutual cheer
Of clasp and kiss: the Graces circling near,
'Neath bower-linked arch of white arms glorified:
And with those feathered feet which hovering glide
O'er Spring's brief bloom, Hermes the harbinger.

Birth-bare, not death-bare yet, the young stems stand,
10 This Lady's temple-columns: o'er her head
Love wings his shaft. What mystery here is read
Of homage or of hope? But how command
Dead Springs to answer? And how question here
These mummers of that wind-withered New-Year?

*The same lady, here, surrounded by the masque of

Spring, is evidently the subject of a portrait by

Botticelli formerly in the Pourtalès collection in

Paris. This portrait is inscribed “Smeralda Ban-

dinelli”.

page: [24]

Note: blank page

page: [25]

Note: Letter to Watts

Note: Bracketed date written by another hand

Tuesday

[Sept. 1 1880]

My dear Watts

I was extremely sorry

to learn how ill you

have been, as I fear

you must mean some-

-thing even more

serious than throat

inflammation. I

hope the improvement

continues steadily.

I was wishing to get

your views abt a

half proposal of

page: [25a]

Note: Letter to Watts, cont.

Leyland's (again

jointly connected

with the B ^d Dam ^l

but shall not be

seeing him again till

the Sunday after

next, when I suppose

more will be said.

Ionides came to

see his picture, but

of course in early

afternoon by worst

light. I am getting

on well with La

Pia which much

page: [25b]

Note: Letter to Watts, cont.

delighted Leyland. I

copy overpage a sonnet

written for the Day Dream,

to amuse you as

an ( doubtles I trust very

temporary) invalid.

Is there a chance of

your being able to

come on Friday Saturday

or Sunday to dinner?

Your ever affec:

DGR

page: [25c]

Note: The alternate wording noted in the manuscript with an "x" is written in the top right corner of the page, with a line drawn to the "x" at the end of line 8. Here the alternate wording is shown next to the original wording.

The Day-Dream

The thronged boughs of the shadowy sycamore
Still fledge young leaflets half the summer through;
From when the robin 'gainst the unhidden blue
Perched dark, till now, deep in the leafy core,
The embowered throstle's urgent clangours gore
The summer silence. Still the leaves come new;
Yet never rosy-sheathed as those which drew
Their spiral tongues from spring-buds heretofore. x which drew their spiral growth &c ^?
Within the branching shade of Reverie
10Dreams even may spring till Autumn; yet none be
Like woman's budding day-dream spirit-fann'd.
Lo! tow'rd deep skies, not deeper than her look;
She dreams; till now on her forgotten book
Drops the forgotten blossom from her hand.

page: [26]

Note: blank page

page: [27]

Note: Letter to Watts.

Note: Transcription of letter from previous page.

Tuesday.

Sept. 1, 1880.

My dear Watts,

I was extremely sorry to learn how ill you

have been as I fear you must mean something even more

serious than throat inflammation. I hope the improve-

ment continues steadily.

I was wishing to get your views abt. a half

proposal of Leyland's (again jointly connected with the

B ^d. Dam ^l.) but shall not be seeing him again till the Sun-

day after next, when I suppose more will be said.

Ionides came to see his picture, but of

course in early afternoon by worst light. I am getting

on well with La Pia which much delighted Leyland. I copy

overpage a sonnet written for the Day Dream, to amuse you

as an (I trust very temporary) invalid.

Is there a chance of your being able to

come on Friday Saturday or Sunday to dinner?

Your ever affec:

D.G.R.

page: [28]

Note: blank page

page: [29]

Note: Transcription of poem from previous page.

THE DAY-DREAM.

* which drew

their spiral growth &c. ^?

The thronged boughs of the shadowy sycamore
Still fledge young leaflets half the summer through,
From when the robin 'gainst the unhidden blue
Perched dark, till now, deep in the leafy core
The embowered throstle's urgent clangours gore
The summer silence. Still the leaves come new;
Yet never rosy-sheathed as those which drew
Their spiral tongues from spring-buds heretofore.*

Within the branching shade of Reverie
10 Dreams even may spring till Autumn; yet none be
Like woman's budding day-dream spirit-fann'd.
Lo! tow'rd deep skies, not deeper than her look;
She dreams; till now on her forgotten book
Drops the forgotten blossom from her hand.

page: [30]

Note: blank page

page: [31]

The Day-Dream

The full thronged boughs of the arrowy sycamore
Still fledge new young leaflets half the summer through
From when the first wing robin 'gainst the naked unhidden blue
Showed Perched dark, [?] till now, within the deep gloom's leafy tree's core
Unseen the embowered throstle's sick note full-clanging tone urgent clangours gore
The summer silence. Still the leaflets ope leaves come anew,
Yet never not now never rosy-sheathed as those which gr blew
From spring-buds In Their spiral green tongues from spring-buds heretofore.
Within the branching shade of Reverie,
10Dreams even may spring till a Autumn; yet none be
As Like woman's budding day-dream spirit-fann'd.
Lo! tow'rd deep skies, not deeper than her look,
She dreams; till now on the her forgotten book
Drops the forgotten blossom from her hand.

page: [32]

Note: blank page

page: [33]

Note: Transcription of poem from previous page.

The Day-Dream.

The thronged boughs of the arrowy sycamore
Still fledge young leaflets half the summer through
From when the robin 'gainst the unhidden blue
Perched dark, till now, within the leafy core
The embowered throstles urgent clangours gore
The summer silence. Still the leaves come new
Yet never rosy-sheathed as those which blew
Their spiral tongues from spring-buds heretofore.
Within the branching shade of Reverie,
10 Dreams even may spring till Autumn; yet none be
Like woman's budding day-dream spirit-fann'd.
Lo! tow'rd deep skies, not deeper than her look,
She dreams; till now on her forgotten book
Drops the forgotten blossom from her hand.

page: [34]

Note: blank page

page: [35]

The Day-Dream

The thronged boughs of the shadowy arrowy sycamore
Still fledge young leaflets half the summer all the May-days / half the summer through;
From when the robin 'gainst the unhidden blue
Perched dark, till now, within deep in the leafy core,
The embowered throstle's urgent clangours gore
The summer silence. Still the leaves come new.
Yet never rosy-sheathed as those which blew grew drew
Their In Their spiral tongues growth from spring-buds heretofore.
Within the branching shade of Reverie
10Dreams even may spring till Autumn; yet none be
Like woman's budding day-dream spirit-fann'd.
Lo! tow'rd deep skies, not deeper than her look;
She dreams; till now on her forgotten book
Drops the forgotten blossom from her hand.

page: [36]

Note: blank page

page: [37]

Note: Transcription of poem from previous page.

The Day-Dream.

The thronged boughs of the shadowy sycamore
Still fledge young leaflets half the summer through;
From when the robin 'gainst the unhidden blue
Perched dark, till now, deep in the leafy core
The embowered throstle's urgent clangours gore
The summer silence. Still the leaves come new;
Yet never rosy-sheathed as those which drew
Their spiral growth from spring-buds heretofore.

Within the branching shade of Reverie
10 Dreams' even may spring till Autumn; yet none be
Like woman's budding day-dream spirit-fann'd.
Lo! tow'rd deep skies, not deeper than her look,
She dreams; till now on her forgotten book
Drops the forgotten blossom from her hand.

page: [38]

Note: blank page

page: [39]

Note: Letter to Watts

Note: Bracketed date written in a different hand.

Friday

[Nov. 25. 1880]

My dear Watts

Come as early as you

can tomorrow (Sat ^y)

like a good fellow.

I sh ^d like to look with

you at the 2 copies

of the Sonnet. I hope

you will not think me

captious, but all the

changes do not seem

to me for the better, &

I fear the general theme

has lost somewhat in

clearness. Your affec:

DGR

page: [39a]

Note: blank page

page: [39b]

Note: Envelope for Letter to Watts.

W T Watts Esq

The Pines

Putney Hill SW

page: [40]

Note: blank page

page: [41]

Note: Letter to Watts. Transcription from previous page.

Friday.

Nov. 25, 1880

My dear Watts,

Come as early as you can tomorrow (Sat ^y)

like a good fellow. I sh ^d. like to look with you at

the 2 copies of the Sonnet. I hope you will not

think me captious, but all the changes do not seem to

me for the better, & I fear the general theme has

lost somewhat in clearness.

Your affec.

D. G. R.

W. T. Watts, Esq.

The Pines,

Putney Hill, S.W.

page: [42]

Note: blank page

page: [43]

Note: This is the first of two manuscripts in the collection. It is on the same type and size paper as the second manuscript.

The One Hope.

When vain desire at last and vain regret
Go hand in hand to death, and all is vain,
What shall assuage the unforgotten pain
And teach the unforgetful to forget?
Shall Peace be still a Sunk stream long unmet,—
Or may the Soul at once in a green plain
Stoop through the spray of some sweet life-fountain
And cull the dew-drenched flowering amulet?

Ah! when the wan soul in that golden air
10 Between the scriptured petals softly blown
Peers breathless for the gift of grace unknown,—
Let no such joys as other souls count fair
But only the one Hope's one name be there,—
Not less nor more, but even that word alone.

page: [44]

Note: blank page

page: [45]

Note: This second manuscript in this collection is much earlier, having been sent in a note to Swinburne in late February or early March 1870. DGR copied the text on the verso of the letter, on a small sheet of unlined paper: measurements, 4 7/16 x 7 in.

Printer's Direction: after[?] / A Superscription page 105

Editorial Description: DGR's note on placement of the poem. The page number refers to the Second Trial Book.

The One Hope.

When vain desire at last and vain regret
Go hand in hand to death, and all is vain,
What shall assuage the unforgotten pain
And teach the unforgetful to forget?
Shall Peace be still a sunk stream long unmet,—
Or may the Soul at once in a green plain
Stoop through the spray of some sweet life-fountain
And cull the dew-drenched flowering amulet?

Ah! when the wan soul in that golden air
10 Between the scriptured petals softly blown
Peers breathless for the gift of grace unknown,
Let no such joys as other souls find fair count fair
But only the one Hope's one name be there,—
Not less nor more, but even that word alone.

page: [45a]

Note: Letter to Swinburne

Note: A line is drawn between the comment at the top of the letter and the line of poetry quoted.

There is a decided objection to in the

fact that an earlier stanza rhymes

breast & rest.

Dear Swinburne

What do you say (in

Troy Town) to

Thence his arrow (or dart had) banished rest. ?

I dont like it as

well as the old one,

but might very possibly

adopt it if you did.

Overpage I copy the closing

Sonnet of the ^{<(H. of L.} series in

case it served you to

see it now.

Your affec:

DGR -

page: [46]

Note: blank page

page: [47]

Note: Transcription of poem from previous page.

The One Hope.

When vain desire at last and vain regret
Go hand in hand to death, and all is vain,
What shall assuage the unforgotten pain
And teach the unforgetful to forget?
Shall Peace be still a sunk-stream long unmet, —
Or may the soul at once in a green plain
Stoop through the spray of some sweet life-fountain
And cull the dew-drenched flowering amulet?

Ah! When the wan soul in that golden air
10 Between the scriptured petals softly blown
Peers breathless for the gift of grace unknown,
Let no such joys as other souls count fair
But only the one Hope's one name be there, —
Not less nor more, but even that word alone.

page: [48]

Note: blank page

page: [49]

Note: Letter to Swinburne

Note: Transcription of letter from previous page.

There is a decided objection in the fact

that an earlier stanza rhymes breast and rest.

Dear Swinburne,

What do you say (in Troy Town) to

Thence his arrow banished rest ?

(or

dart had)

I dont like it as well as the old one, but

might very possibly adopt it if you did.

Overpage I copy the closing sonnet

of the H. of L. series in case it served you

to see it now.

Your affec:

D.G.R.

page: [50]

Note: blank page

page: [51]

Note: Transcription of poem from previous page.

The One Hope

When vain desire at last and vain regret
Go hand in hand to death, and all is vain,
What shall assuage the unforgotten pain
And teach the unforgetful to forget?
Shall Peace be still a sunk-stream long unmet, —
Or may the soul at once in a green plain
Stoop through the spray of some sweet life-fountain
And cull the dew-drenched flowering amulet?

Ah!, When the wan soul in that golden air
10 Between the scriptured petals softly blown
Peers breathless for the gift of grace unknown,
Let no such joys as other souls count fair
But only the one Hope's one name be there, —
Not less nor more, but even that word alone.

page: [52]

Note: blank page

page: [53]

Note: Letter to Watts.

Manuscript Addition: "winter"

Editorial Description: The word "winter" is written very lightly next to the word "Sonnet" on line 13.

Wednesday.

My dear Watts

I must say I much

preferred the Star

Sonnet in the other

form, if a line or

two changed. This

does not seem

to me to amount

to a Burden, but

the reiteration seems

somewhat artificial.

The other Sonnet

seems suggestive

and capable of

page: [53a]

Note: Letter to Watts, cont.

of working well, though

not quite clear to me

at a first reading.

I want to see you

on Friday, & want

to ask your view

on business matter.

Today to my surprise

I got a note from

your friend Capt.

Burton. It relates

to my Translations

& encloses one of

his own. Of course

page: [53b]

Note: Letter to Watts, cont.

I suppose Trieste is all

the address needed in

answering.

Your affec:

D.G.R.

page: [53c]

Note: blank page

page: [53d]

Note: Envelope for Letter to Watts

W T Watts Esq

The Pines

Putney Hill

page: [54]

Note: blank page

page: [55]

Note: Letter to Watts

Note: Transcription of letter from previous page.

Wednesday.

My dear Watts,

I must say I much preferred the Star Sonnet in

the other form, if a line or two changed. This does not

seem to me to amount to a Burden, but the reiteration

seems somewhat artificial. The other Sonnet* seems sug-

gestive and capable of working well, though not quite

clear to me at a first reading.

I want to see you on Friday, & want to ask your

view on business matter.

Today to my surprise I got a note from your

friend Capt. Burton. It relates to my Translations &

encloses one of his own. Of course I suppose Trieste is

all the address needed in answering.

Your affec:

D.G.R.

W. T. Watts, Esq.

The Pines,

Putney Hill,

S.W.

*Winter.

page: [56]

Note: blank page

page: [57]

Thames Valley Sonnets

1. Winter.

How large that thrush looks on the bare thorn-tree!
A swarm of such, three little months ago,
Had hidden in the leaves and let none know
Save by the outburst of their minstrelsy.
A white flake here and there — a snow-lily
Of last night's frost — our naked flower-beds hold;
And for a rose-flower on the darkling mould
The hungry redbreast gleams. All gone, both bloom & bee. No bloom, no bee.

The current shudders to its icebound sedge:
10Nipped in their bath, the stark reeds one by one
Flash each its clinging diamond in the sun:
While swells the gale which for a [?] sovereign pledge
Added Text With 'Neath winds which for this Winter's sovereign pledge
Shall curb great king-masts to the ocean's edge
And leave memorial forest-kings o'erthrown.

page: [58]

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Thames Valley Sonnets

1. Winter.

How large that thrush looks on the bare thorn-tree!
A swarm of such, three little months ago,
Had hidden in the leaves and let none know
Save by the outburst of their minstrelsy.
A white flake here and there - a snow-lily
Of last night's frost - our naked flower-beds hold;
And for a rose-flower on the darkling mould
The hungry redbreast gleams. No bloom, no bee.

The current shudders to its icebound sedge:
10 Nipped in their bath, the stark reeds one by one
Flash each its clinging diamond in the sun:
'Neath winds which for this Winter's sovereign pledge
Shall curb great king-masts to the ocean's edge
And leave memorial forest-kings o'erthrown.

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On the Field of Waterloo.

So then, the name which travels side by side
With English life from childhood - Waterloo, -
Means this. The sun is setting. “Their strife grew
Till the sun-set, and ended”, says our guide.
It lacked the “chord” by stage use sanctified,
Yet, I believe one should have thrilled. For me,
? I bowed the assenting forehead. Certainly
These held their point, and did not turn but died;
So much was very well. “Beneath each span
10Of these ploughed fields” ('tis still the guide,) “there rot
Three nations' slain, a thousand-thousandfold”.
What shall one say? Good lack, the earth is old!
Of the whole earth there is no single spot
But all its dust is as the dust of man.

?

Oct. 1849

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Note: Transcription of poem from previous page.

On the Field of Waterloo.

So then, the name which travels side by side
With English life from childhood — Waterloo, —
Means this. The sun is setting. “Their strife grew
Till the sun-set, and ended”, says our guide.
It lacked the “chord” by stage-use sanctified,
Yet, I believe one should have thrilled. For me,
I bowed the assenting forehead. Certainly
These held their point, and did not turn but died:
So much was very well. “Beneath each span
10 Of these ploughed fields” ('tis still the guide,) “there rot
Three nations' slain, a thousand-thousandfold”.
What shall one say? Good lack, the earth is old!
Of the whole earth there is no single spot
But all its dust is as the dust of man.

Oct. 1849

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Electronic Archive Edition: 1

Source File: redvolume.lcms.rad.xml