Rossetti Archive Textual Transcription
Document Title: Life the Beloved (Delaware fair copy Manuscript)
Author: Dante Gabriel Rossetti
Date of Composition: 1873
Type of Manuscript: Fair copy
The full Rossetti Archive record for this transcribed document is available.
Paper Stock: white ruled
Note: The text is written across the ruled lines of the paper. The six words written
below the text of the sonnet appear to be cues for possible revisions to the sonnet.
- As thy friend's face, in shadow of pain or dread,
- Somewhile unto thy sight must needs have been
- Ghastly and strange, yet never so is seen
- In thought, but to all fortunate favour wed;
- As thy love's death-bound features never dead
- To memory's glass return, but contravene
- Deciduous days, and alway keep, I ween,
- Than all new life a livelier lovelihead:—
- So Life herself, thy spirit's friend and love,
- 10 Even still as Spring's authentic harbinger
- Glows with fresh hours for hope to glorify;
- Though pale she lay when in the winter grove
- Her funeral flowers were snow-flakes shed on her
- And the red wings of frost-fire rent the sky.
pall spanned
crown do:
wreath crowned
Electronic Archive Edition: 1
Source File:
8-1873.delms.rad.xml
Copyright: Digital images courtesy of the Delaware Art Museum, Samuel and Mary R.
Bancroft Collection.