<title level="doc">The Sonnet (Texas proof copy) Dante Gabriel Rossetti 1 ©Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center at the University of Texas at Austin. <author>DGR</author> <msprod> <date compdate="1880">1880</date> <type>presentation copy</type> <assign>To Constantine A. Ionides/ with D. G. Rossetti's/ kind regards</assign> <collation>1 page, verso blank</collation> </msprod> <scribe/> <corrector/> <provenance> <location>Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center at the Univesity of Texas, Austin</location> <recnum>MS/ Rossetti, DG/ HANLEY II</recnum> <note/> </provenance> <physicaldesc> <binding> <cover/> <endpapers/> </binding> <typography> <typeface> <point/> <font/> </typeface> <pagelines> <number/> <length/> </pagelines> <columns/> <margin type="top"/> <margin type="bottom"/> <margin type="right"/> <margin type="left"/> <note/> </typography> <paper>India paper</paper> <watermark/> <size>7 5/16 x 4 9/16 in.</size> <note/> </physicaldesc> </citnstruct> </sourcedesc> </filedesc> <encodingdesc/> <profiledesc> <commentaries> <head>Commentary</head> <section type="intro"> <head>Introduction</head> <p>This interesting document is clearly a proof copy that DGR presented to his patron Constantine Ionides in 1880. Another copy of the proof was given to William Sharp and a <xref doc="a.s258.yaleproof.rap">photocopy</xref> of it is preserved in the Yale Center for British Art.</p> </section> <section type="texthistcomp"> <head>Textual History: Composition</head> <p/> </section> <section type="texthistrev"> <head>Textual History: Revision</head> <p/> </section> <section type="prodhist"> <head>Production History</head> <p/> </section> <section type="recepthist"> <head>Reception History</head> <p/> </section> <section type="icon"> <head>Iconographic</head> <p/> </section> <section type="printhist"> <head>Printing History</head> <p/> </section> <section type="pictorial"> <head>Pictorial</head> <p/> </section> <section type="historical"> <head>Historical</head> <p/> </section> <section type="literary"> <head>Literary</head> <p/> </section> <section type="translation"> <head>Translation</head> <p/> </section> <section type="autobio"> <head>Autobiographical</head> <p/> </section> <section type="biblio"> <head>Bibliographic</head> <p/> </section> </commentaries> </profiledesc> <revisiondesc/> </ramheader> <text> <body> <page n="" image="a.s258.texasproof.tif"/> <div0 anchor="0.1" type="sonnet" n="1" title="Introductory Sonnet" id="a.1-1880" workcode="1-1880" dblwork="1-1880.s258"> <lg n="1" type="quatorzain"> <l n="1"> <hi rend="i">A Sonnet is a moment's monument,—</hi> </l> <l n="2"> <hi rend="i">Memorial from the soul's eternity</hi> </l> <l n="3"> <hi rend="i">To one dead deathless hour. Look that it be,</hi> </l> <l n="4"> <hi rend="i">Whether for lustral rite or dire portent,</hi> </l> <l n="5"> <hi rend="i">Of its own intricate fulness reverent:</hi> </l> <l n="6"> <hi rend="i">Carve it in ivory or in ebony,</hi> </l> <l n="7"> <hi rend="i">As Day or Night prevail; and let Time see</hi> </l> <l n="8"> <hi rend="i">It's flowering crest impearled and orient.</hi> </l> <l n="9"> <hi rend="i">A Sonnet is a coin: its face reveals</hi> </l> <l n="10"> <hi rend="i">The soul,—its converse, to what Power 'tis due:—</hi> </l> <l n="11"> <hi rend="i">Whether for tribute to the august appeals</hi> </l> <l n="12"> <hi rend="i">Of Life, or dower in Love's high retinue,</hi> </l> <l n="13"> <hi rend="i">It serve; or, 'mid the dark wharf's cavernous breath,</hi> </l> <l n="14"> <hi rend="i">In Charon's palm it pay the toll to Death.</hi> </l> </lg> </div0> <msadds type="add"> <trans> <lb/>To Constantine A. Ionides With DG Rosseti's kind regards</trans> <desc>DGR's ink notation in lower right corner.</desc> </msadds> <epage/> </body> </text> </ram>