Saying to her too, ‘Ease and peace thou art.’
SONNET: A TRANCE OF LOVE
Vanquish’d and weary was my soul in me,
And my heart gasp’d after its much lament,
When sleep at length the painful languor sent.
And, as I slept (and wept incessantly), -
Through the keen fixedness of memory 5
Which I had cherish’d ere my tears were spent,
I pass’d to a new trance of wonderment;
Wherein a visible spirit I could see,
Which caught me up, and bore me to a place
Where my most gentle lady was alone; 10
And still before us a fire seem’d to move,
Out of the which methought there came a moan,
Uttering, ‘Grace, a little season, grace!
I am of one that hath the wings of Love.’
SONNET: OF THE GRAVE OF SELVAGGIA, ON THE MONTE DELLA SAMBUCA
I was upon the high and blessed mound,
And kiss’d, long worshipping, the stones and grass,
There on the hard stones prostrate, where, alas!
That pure one laid her forehead in the ground.
Then were the springs of gladness seal’d and bound, 5
The day that unto Death’s most bitter pass
My sick heart’s lady turn’d her feet, who was
Already in her gracious life renown’d.
So in that place I spake to Love, and cried:
‘O sweet my god, I am one whom Death may claim 10
Hence to be his; for lo! my heart lies here.’
Anon, because my Master lent no ear,
Departing, still I call’d Selvaggia’s name.
So with my moan I left the mountain-side.
CANZONE: HIS LAMENT FOR SELVAGGIA
Ay me, alas! the beautiful bright hair
That shed reflected gold
O’er the green growths on either side the way;
Ay me! the lovely look, open and fair,
Which my heart’s core doth hold 5
With all else of that best-remember’d day;
Ay me! the face made gay
With joy that Love confers;
Ay me! that smile of hers
Where whiteness as of snow was visible 10
Among the roses at all seasons red!
Ay me! and was this well,
O Death, to let me live when she is dead?
Ay me! the calm, erect, dignified walk;
Ay me! the sweet salute,- 15
The thoughtful mind, - the wit discreetly worn;
Ay me! the clearness of her noble talk,
Which made the good take root
In me, and for the evil woke my scorn;
Ay me! the longing born 20
Of so much loveliness, -
The hope, whose eager stress
Made other hopes fall back to let it pass,
Even till my load of love grew light thereby!
These thou hast broken, as glass, 25
O Death, who makest me, alive, to die!
Ay me! Lady, the lady of all worth; -
Saint, for whose single shrine
All other shrines I left, even as Love will’d; -
Ay me! what precious stone in the whole earth, 30
For that pure fame of thine
Worthy the marble statue’s base to yield?
Ay me! fair vase fullfill’d
With more than this world’s good, -
By cruel chance and rude 35
Cast out upon the steep path of the mountains
Where Death has shut thee in between hard stones!
Ay me! two languid fountains
Of weeping are these eyes, which joy disowns.
Ay me, sharp Death! till what I ask is done 40
And my whole life is ended utterly, -
Answer - must I weep on
Even thus, and never cease to moan Ay me?
TO GUIDO CAVALCANTI
SONNET: HE OWES NOTHING TO GUIDO AS A POET
What rhymes are thine which I have ta’en from thee,
Thou Guido, that thou ever say’st I thieve?
’Tis true, fine fancies gladly I receive,
But when was aught found beautiful in thee?
Nay, I have search’d my pages diligently, 5
And tell the truth, and lie not, by your leave.
From whose rich store of web of songs I weave
Love knoweth well, well knowing them and me.
No artist I, - all men may gather it;
Nor do I work in ignorance of pride, 10
(Though the world reach alone the coarser sense:)
But am a certain man of humble wit
Who journeys with his sorrow at his side,
For a heart’s sake, alas! that is gone hence.
(I have not examined Cino’s poetry with special reference to this accusation; but there is a Canzone of his in which he speaks of having conceived an affection for another lady from her resemblance to Selvaggia. Perhaps Guido considered this as a sort of plagiarism de facto on his own change of love through Mandetta’s likeness to Giovanna.)
SONNET. HE IMPUGNS THE VERDICTS OF DANTE’S COMMEDIA
This book of Dante’s, very sooth to say,
Is just a poet’s lovely heresy,
Which by a lure as sweet as sweet can be
Draws other men’s concerns beneath its sway;
While, among stars’ and comets’ dazzling play, 5
It beats the right down, lets the wrong go free,
Shows some abased, and others in great glee,
Much as with lovers is Love’s ancient way.
Therefore his vain decrees, wherein he lied,
Fixing folks’ nearness to the Fiend their foe, 10
Must be like empty nutshells flung aside.
Yet through the rash false witness set to grow,
French and Italian vengeance on such pride
May fall, like Antony’s on Cicero.
The Poems
In 1845 Rossetti enrolled at the Antique School of the Royal Academy in London, where he studied for three years.
LIST OF POEMS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER
EARLY POEMS
MY SISTER’S SLEEP (1850 VERSION)
MARY’S GIRLHOOD
THE BLESSED DAMOZEL (1850 VERSION)
THE CARILLON
FROM THE CLIFFS: NOON (1850 VERSION)
PAX VOBIS (1850 VERSION)
WORLD’S WORTH
AN ALLEGORICAL DANCE OF WOMEN, BY ANDREA MANTEGNA IN THE LOUVRE
A VIRGIN AND CHILD, BY HANS MEMMELING IN THE ACADEMY OF BRUGES
A MARRIAGE OF ST KATHARINE, BY THE SAME IN THE HOSPITAL OF ST JOHN AT BRUGES
A VENETIAN PASTORAL, BY GIORGIONE IN THE LOUVRE (1850 VERSION)
RUGGIERO AND ANGELICA, BY INGRES
THE CARD-DEALER
SISTER HELEN
THE BURDEN OF NINEVEH
MIDDLE POEMS
THE STAFF AND SCRIP
SUDDEN LIGHT
THE PORTRAIT
AVE
A LAST CONFESSION (REGNO LOMBARDO-VENETO, 1848)
DANTE AT VERONA
ON REFUSAL OF AID BETWEEN NATIONS
A YOUNG FIR-WOOD
FOR ‘OUR LADY OF THE ROCKS’ BY LEONARDO DA VINCI
ON THE ‘VITA NUOVA’ OF DANTE
MY SISTER’S SLEEP (1870 VERSION)
PENUMBRA
THE BLESSED DAMOZEL (1870 VERSION)
THE HONEYSUCKLE
THE SEA-LIMITS (1870 VERSION)
A MATCH WITH THE MOON
STRATTON WATER
A VENETIAN PASTORAL, BY GIORGIONE IN THE LOUVRE (1870 VERSION)
LOVE’S NOCTURN
THE WOODSPURGE
BEAUTY AND THE BIRD
JENNY
EVEN SO
A NEW YEAR’S BURDEN
A LITTLE WHILE
AN OLD SONG ENDED
THE SONG OF THE BOWER
>
MY FATHER’S CLOSE
JOHN OF TOURS
DANTIS TENEBRÆ
ASPECTA MEDUSA
PLIGHTED PROMISE
VENUS VERTICORDIA
THE PASSOVER IN THE HOLY FAMILY
MARY MAGDALENE AT THE DOOR OF SIMON THE PHARISEE
CASSANDRA
PANDORA
FOR ‘THE WINE OF CIRCE’ BY EDWARD BURNE JONES
THREE TRANSLATIONS FROM FRANÇOIS VILLON, 1450
THE BALLAD OF DEAD LADIES
TO DEATH, OF HIS LADY
HIS MOTHER’S SERVICE TO OUR LADY
ONE GIRL
LOVE-LILY
FIRST LOVE REMEMBERED
TROY TOWN
EDEN BOWER
THE STREAM’S SECRET
ON THE SITE OF A MULBERRY-TREE
DOWN STREAM
THE CLOUD, CONFINES
SUNSET WINGS
THE YOUNG GIRL
LATER POEMS
A FAREWELL
THE LEAF
WINTER
SPRING
UNTIMELY LOST
PROSERPINA (ENGLISH)
PROSERPINA (ITALIAN)
LA BELLA MANO (ENGLISH)
LA BELLA MANO (ITALIAN)
FRANCESCA DA RIMINI
FOR ‘THE HOLY FAMILY’ BY MICHELANGELO IN THE NATIONAL GALLERY
LA PIA
THE BRIDE’S PRELUDE
SONG AND MUSIC
PLACE DE LA BASTILLE, PARIS
WELLINGTON’S FUNERAL
THE CHURCH PORCH I
THE CHURCH PORCH II
WORDS ON THE WINDOW-PANE
GIOVENTÛ E SIGNORIA - YOUTH AND LORDSHIP
YOUTH AND LORDSHIP
SOOTHSAY
ROSE MARY
ROSE MARY: PART I
ROSE MARY: PART II
ROSE MARY: PART III
CHIMES
A SEA-SPELL
PARTED PRESENCE
A DEATH-PARTING
THREE SHADOWS
ADIEU
ASTARTE SYRIACA
FIAMMETTA
THE WHITE SHIP: HENRY I OF ENGLAND - 25TH NOVEMBER, 1120
FIVE ENGLISH POETS
I. THOMAS CHATTERTON
II. WILLIAM BLAKE
III. SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE
IV. JOHN KEATS
V. PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY
THE DAY-DREAM
FOR ‘SPRING’ BY SANDRO BOTTICELLI IN THE ACCADEMIA OF FLORENCE
THE LAST THREE FROM TRAFALGAR AT THE ANNIVERSARY BANQUET, 21ST OCTOBER 187—
INSOMNIA
TIBER, NILE, AND THAMES
ALAS, SO LONG!
FOUND
CZAR ALEXANDER THE SECOND
THE KING’S TRAGEDY
POSSESSION
SPHERAL CHANGE
ON CERTAIN ELIZABETHAN REVIVALS
RALEIGH’S CELL IN THE TOWER
MNEMOSYNE
TO PHILIP BOURKE MARSTON, INCITING ME TO POETIC WORK
FOR ‘AN ANNUNCIATION EARLY GERMAN’
AT THE SUN-RISE IN 1848
AUTUMN SONG
THE LADY’S LAMENT
VOX ECCLESIAE, VOX CHRISTI
MEMORY
THE STAIRCASE OF NOTRE DAME, PARIS
NEAR BRUSSELS - A HALF-WAY PAUSE
THE MIRROR
DURING MUSIC
ENGLISH MAY
DAWN ON THE NIGHT-JOURNEY
TO THOMAS WOOLNER: FIRST SNOW 9 FEBRUARY 1853
THE SEED OF DAVID
DENNIS SHAND
AFTER THE FRENCH LIBERATION OF ITALY
THE ORCHARD-PIT
TO ART
ON BURNS
FIN DI MAGGIO
AFTER THE GERMAN SUBJUGATION OF FRANCE, 1871
THE QUESTION
NOTEBOOK FRAGMENTS
THE HOUSE OF LIFE
PART I. YOUTH AND CHANGE
INTRODUCTORY SONNET
LOVE ENTHRONED
BRIDAL BIRTH
REDEMPTION
LOVESIGHT
HEART’S HOPE
THE KISS
NUPTIAL SLEEP
SUPREME SURRENDER
LOVE’S LOVERS
PASSION AND WORSHIP
THE PORTRAIT
THE LOVE-LETTER
THE LOVERS’ WALK
ANTIPHONY
YOUTH’S SPRING-TRIBUTE
THE BIRTH-BOND
A DAY OF LOVE
BEAUTY’S PAGEANT
GENIUS IN BEAUTY
SILENT NOON
GRACIOUS MOONLIGHT
LOVE-SWEETNESS
HEART’S HAVEN
LOVE’S BAUBLES
PRIDE OF YOUTH
WINGED HOURS
MID-RAPTURE
HEART’S COMPASS
SOUL-LIGHT
THE MOONSTAR
LAST FIRE
HER GIFTS
EQUAL TROTH
VENUS VICTRIX
THE DARK GLASS
THE LAMP’S SHRINE
LIFE-IN-LOVE
THE LOVE-MOON
THE MORROW’S MESSAGE
SLEEPLESS DREAMS
SEVERED SELVES
THROUGH DEATH TO LOVE
HOPE OVERTAKEN
LOVE AND HOPE
CLOUD AND WIND
SECRET PARTING
PARTED LOVE
BROKEN MUSIC
DEATH-IN-LOVE
WILLOWWOOD
WITHOUT HER
LOVE’S FATALITY
STILLBORN LOVE
TRUE WOMAN
I. HERSELF
II. HER LOVE
III. HER HEAVEN
LOVE’S LAST GIFT
PART II. CHANGE AND FATE
TRANSFIGURED LIFE
THE SONG-THROE
THE SOUL’S SPHERE
INCLUSIVENESS
ARDOUR AND MEMORY
KNOWN IN VAIN
HEART OF THE NIGHT
THE LANDMARK
A DARK DAY
AUTUMN IDLENESS
THE HILL SUMMIT
THE CHOICE
OLD AND NEW ART
I. ST. LUKE THE PAINTER
II. NOT AS THESE
III. THE HUSBANDMEN
SOUL’S BEAUTY
BODY’S BEAUTY
THE MONOCHORD
FROM DAWN TO NOON
MEMORIAL THRESHOLDS
HOARDED JOY
BARREN SPRING
FAREWELL TO THE GLEN
VAIN VIRTUES
LOST DAYS
DEATH’S SONGSTERS
HERO’S LAMP*
THE TREES OF THE GARDEN
RETRO ME, SATHANA!
LOST ON BOTH SIDES
THE SUN’S SHAME
MICHELANGELO’S KISS
THE VASE OF LIFE
LIFE THE BELOVED
A SUPERSCRIPTION
HE AND I
NEWBORN DEATH
THE ONE HOPE
FROM ‘EARLY ITALIAN POETS’, 1861
FROM PART I: POETS CHIEFLY BEFORE DANTE
GUIDO GUINICELLI
OF THE GENTLE HEART
JACOPO DA LENTINO
TO HIS LADY IN HEAVEN
OF HIS LADY’S FACE
NICCOLO DEGLI ALBIZZI
WHEN THE TROOPS WERE RETURNING FROM MILAN
GIACOMINO PUGLIESI
OF HIS DEAD LADY
FRA GUITTONE D’AREZZO
TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
FAZIO DEGLI UBERTI
HIS PORTRAIT OF HIS LADY, ANGIOLA OF VERONA
FRANCO SACCHETTI
HIS TALK WITH CERTAIN PEASANT GIRLS
ON A FINE DAY
ON A WET DAY
ANONYMOUS: OF TRUE AND FALSE SINGING
FROM PART II: DANTE AND HIS CIRCLE Introduction to the Vita Nuova
DANTE ALIGHIERI’S The New Life (La Vita Nuova)
POEMS BY DANTE ALIGHIERI, GUIDO CAVALCANTI AND CINO DA PISTOIA (from Introduction to Part II)
DANTE ALIGHIERI
SONNE
T: TO BRUNETTO LATINI
SONNET: OF BEATRICE DE’ PORTINARI, ON ALL SAINTS’ DAY
SONNET: TO CERTAIN LADIES; WHEN BEATRICE WAS LAMENTING HER FATHER’S DEATH
SONNET: TO THE SAME LADIES; WITH THEIR ANSWER
BALLATA: HE WILL GAZE UPON BEATRICE
CANZONE: HE BESEECHES DEATH FOR THE LIFE OF BEATRICE
SONNET: ON THE 9TH OF JUNE, 1290
TO CINA DA PISTOIA
SONNET. HE REBUKES CINO FOR FICKLENESS
CINO DA PISTOIA TO DANTE ALIGHIERI
SONNET: HE ANSWERS DANTE, CONFESSING HIS UNSTEADFAST HEART
DANTE ALIGHIERI TO CINO DA PISTOIA
SONNET: WRITTEN IN EXILE
CINO DA PISTOIA TO DANTE ALIGHIERI
SONNET: HE ANSWERS THE FOREGOING SONNET, AND PRAYS DANTE, IN THE NAME OF BEATRICE, TO CONTINUE HIS GREAT POEM
DANTE ALIGHIERI
SONNET: OF BEAUTY AND DUTY
SESTINA: OF THE LADY PIETRA DEGLI SCROVIGNI
SONNET: TO THE LADY PIETRA DEGLI SCROVIGNI
GUIDO CAVALCANTI
SONNET TO DANTE ALIGHIERI: HE INTERPRETS DANTE’S DREAM, RELATED IN THE FIRST SONNET OF THE VITA NUOVA
SONNET: TO HIS LADY JOAN, OF FLORENCE
SONNET: HE COMPARES ALL THINGS WITH HIS LADY, AND FINDS THEM WANTING
SONNET: A RAPTURE CONCERNING HIS LADY
BALLATA: OF HIS LADY AMONG OTHER LADIES
SONNET: OF THE EYES OF A CERTAIN MANDETTA, OF THOULOUSE, WHICH RESEMBLE THOSE OF HIS LADY JOAN, OF FLORENCE
BALLATA: HE REVEALS, IN A DIALOGUE, HIS INCREASING LOVE FOR MANDETTA
DANTE ALIGHIERI TO GUIDO CAVALCANTI
SONNET: HE IMAGINES A PLEASANT VOYAGE FOR GUIDO, LAPO GIANNI, AND HIMSELF, WITH THEIR THREE LADIES
GUIDO CAVALCANTI TO DANTE ALIGHIERI
SONNET: GUIDO ANSWERS THE FOREGOING SONNET, SPEAKING WITH SHAME OF HIS CHANGED LOVE
TO DANTE ALIGHIERI
SONNET: HE REPORTS, IN A FEIGNED VISION, THE SUCCESSFUL ISSUE OF LAPO GIANNI’S LOVE
TO DANTE ALIGHIERI
SONNETHE MISTRUSTS THE LOVE OF LAPO GIANNI
SONNET: ON THE DETECTION OF A FALSE FRIEND
BALLATA: OF A CONTINUAL DEATH IN LOVE
SONNET: TO A FRIEND WHO DOES NOT PITY HIS LOVE
BALLATA: HE PERCEIVES THAT HIS HIGHEST LOVE IS GONE FROM HIM
SONNET: OF HIS PAIN FROM A NEW LOVE
GUIDO ORLANDI TO GUIDO CAVALCANTI
PROLONGED SONNET: HE FINDS FAULT WITH THE CONCEITS OF THE FOREGOING SONNET
GUIDO CAVALCANTI TO DANTE ALIGHIERI
SONNET: HE REBUKES DANTE FOR HIS WAY OF LIFE, AFTER THE DEATH OF BEATRICE
SONNET: OF AN ILL-FAVOURED LADY
BALLATA: CONCERNING A SHEPHERD-MAID
SONNET: TO A NEWLY ENRICHED MAN; REMINDING HIM OF THE WANTS OF THE POOR
BALLATA: IN EXILE AT SARZANA
CANZONE: A SONG OF FORTUNE
CANZONE: A SONG AGAINST POVERTY
CANZONE: HE LAMENTS THE PRESUMPTION AND INCONTINENCE OF HIS YOUTH
Complete Poetical Works of Dante Gabriel Rossetti Page 46
