CHRI STI N A RO SSETTI

A B I O GRAP HI CAL AND C RITI CAL STU D Y

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MACK EN Z I E I3ELL
'’
A UTHOR OE SPRI NG S I M M ORI AL I TY AN D OTHER PO EM S
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'

GRAKL ES WH ITEH EA D A B I OGRA P HI CAL AN D CRI TI CAL M ONOGRAP H AN D

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P I CTU RES O ETRAVEL AN D OTHER PO EM S

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WI TH SI X PO RTRAI TS AN D FI V E F ACSI M I L ES

J am i l; Q hition
i

CO M P L ETI N G TW O THO U SAND FIV E HU N D RED

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H

LON DON
THO M AS B URL EI G H
3 7 0 O X F O RD STREET
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n

3 3 1m .

5.3 6
0

Edi t i on p u b/i rked

jammry 7, I 898
Secon d Edi t i on pu bl i shed ja nu a ry 26 , I 898
I Z ird
'

Edi t i on pub/i rked F ebr ua ry I 8, t 89 8

F ou r / k Edil i an pu bl i shed N ovember I 9, 1 898

i
C o py r ght i n t h e U n i ted St at es of Amer ica
b y L I TTL E, B o w , 8: C o
n N .
, B ost on
 TO MY FRIEN D

W I LL I AM M I C HAEL RO SSETTI
I D ED I CATE A B OO K
WHI CH

WI THOU T HI S U N CEASI N G K I N DN ESS

AN D D EEP EREST I N I T
I NT

C O U LD HARD L Y HAVE B EEN WRI TTEN

 P REF AC E

THE writing of
t h is book h a s given me p eculiar
p leasure B u t far grea ter t h an t he pl e a sure O f it s com
.

p osition h as b een t h a t o f considering t h e v arious as p ects

O f C h ristina R
’
ossetti s work a nd O f contem p l a ting h er
,

c h a racter as revea led therein P erha p s my study m ay

.

serv e t o some re a ders a s a n introduction to t h e w ritings

O f C h ri stina R

q
ossetti bot h as a p oet and a s a p ros e writer .

Remem bering this I h ave for t h e most pa rt relin uish ed

t he func t ion s O f a critic and a ssum ed t h e e a si er function s

O f an ex ponent .

Wh a tever are t h e sh ortcomings of my b ook and —

n one c a n feel t h es e s h ortcomings more t h a n mys el f— it

m ay at least cl ai m t o be correct as to b iogr ap h ical fact an d

,

fu rther to b e a use ful guide to C h ristin a R ossetti s vol u

’

m inous w ritings fo r it cont a ins in a seri es O f c h ap ters

, , ,

a. d etailed an a lysis O f a ll h er books O f p oetry and

r ose I n t h ese d a ys O f h ur ry a nd hig h p ressure t h e
p .

w ork o f a w riter h owe ver eminent wh o like C h ri stina

, , ,

Ro ssetti has p roduced no fewer th an fourteen separate

,

b o oks ( irres pective o f t h e p ri v ately p rinted Verses O f

1 8 47 and O f h er
, N ew P oems and Maude b oth p u b
l i sh ed po st h umo u sly in 1 896 a nd
,
almost n eces
sa rlly fails to comm a nd a tt ention p ro port ion a te t o its

m erit if for no ot h er re ason th a n that re aders d o not

,
v iii C H RI STI N A R O SSETTI

allow the mselves ti me to examine it thorough ly I n t he .

c ase O f C hristina R ossetti there are reasons why su c h

c onsideration s should have especial weig h t I f there fo re .
, ,

q
my volume be t he mean s of increasing th e knowle d ge o f
those whose ac uaintance w ith her work is n ow im per fect ,

or O f drawing the attention of readers fo r th e fi rst ti m e to

her de p th of t h ough t ( t h e fruit O f a r are ex p erience ) a n d ,

to her beauty O f ex p ression ( t he fruit O f a ra re s p i ri t u a l

strength ) on e O f its ch ief p urpo ses wi ll be gai n ed
, .

My task could h ardly h ave been a ccom p lis h ed w it h

out the un wea ried sym p at h etic c o operation a nd n u -

va rying kindnes s O f my friend Mr W ILLIA M M IC H AE L , .

ROSSEI TI C hristina Rosset t t s litera ry exec utor ; an d I

' ‘

take thi s t h e earliest Opportunity O f ex p ressing m y

deep and a b i d ing sense O f gratit ude to him I h a v e .

al so to thank him wa rmly fo r h a ving thrice read m y

study through wit h th a t care whic h h e gives to ev e ry

q
thing I h ave av ail ed mysel f freely O f h is w ritte n
.

re p lies to my numerous in uiries as t o many p oin ts

in his sister s li fe or concerning her o p inions abou t

’

, ,

whic h I so u g h t enlighten ment from h is fuller kno wledg e .

Thus many autob iograp h ic a l a llusions e speci a lly i n ,

Ti me F lies and The F ace O f t h e D ee p h ave bee n

’ ‘
,
’

q
made clear Very O ften t o insure gre ater a cc u racy I
.
, ,

have uoted h is a ctual word s .

At his s u ggestion I have wh enever occasion arose ,

for mentioning the p oet pa inter u su a lly re ferred to -

,

D ante Gab riel R ossetti as D a nte Gab riel .

The b iograp h ical m aterial h a s generally been u sed

in order O f d ate thou gh so metimes wh en s u ch a course
, ,

seems more desira b l e it has b een a rr a nged r a t h er a s

,

t o su bject C h ristin a Ro ssetti ra rely d ated her letters

.

fully I ndeed it is O ften by intern a l evi d ence a lone th a t

.
 P RE F AC E ix

the date c an be in ferred F ortun ately it has appea red .

u n necessary to follow t he c h ronologic a l ord er ab sol u tely ,

though whenever suc h an order seemed t o conduce t o

c leam ess or to se rve a ny other good p urp ose
, it h as ,

be en adop ted w hen p ossi b le Some o f t h e lett ers .

inclu d ed m ay be d eemed by some readers t oo sligh t fo r

p u b lication ; my endeavour has b een however n ot to
excl u de anyt hing sligh t i f it seem s to p ossess person a l
or oth er interest or to hav e felicity o f p h ras e H er .

pu nctua tion h as been c a re fully p reserved .

I am inde b ted to M r F RE D ERIC SH IELD S for muc h .

assist a nce and I am under O bligations to t h e late

,

W ILLIA M M O RRIS M r TH E ODO RE W ATTS D U N TO N,

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-
,

M r H OLM AN H U N T t h e B IS HO P o f D U R H A M Mr
.
, , .

ARTHU R H U G H ES M r JOH N R CLAY TO N D r , . .

,
.

C H ARLES J H ARE t he Rev D r GROSART Messrs

.
, . .
, .

MAC M ILLAN Messrs JAM E S P AR K ER CO t h e Soci ety

, . .
,

fo r P romoting C hristi a n K now le d ge Mrs GE O RGE

H
, .

H A K E D r RIC AR D GARN ETT Mr W ILLIA M SH AR P

, .
, .
,

the R ev J J GLEN D IN N IN G N A SH t h e R
. . . ev A L F RE D , .

G U RN E Y Mr THO M ASW E B S TER Mr J

, . OH N H I N GRAM , . .
,

Mr GARRETT H O R D ER Mr F AIR F AX M U RRA Y Mr

.
, .
, .

and Mrs PATC H E TT MARTIN Mr SYD N E Y M O RSE

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,

M rs W RI G H T and oth ers t o a ll O f who m I tender

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my h eartiest th a nks I am grate ful a lso to M r JOH N

. .

P A
. N D ERSO N O f t h e B ritish Museum for the ex hau sti ve
b i b liography appended t o my volume t o wh ic h I
, ,

h ave added some items .

M AC K ENZ I E B ELL .

LO N DO N , [ m ar
o ry 1 898 .
 CON TEN TS

C HAP TER I
B I O G RAP HI C AL
( M ai n ly 1 830 1 85 3) -

P AG E
Th e Rossetti ly an d en i on men t — Ch istina s godm others P in
fam i v r r
’
, r

cess C hri sti na Bo na art e ( Lady D u dley S t uar t ) an d M iss G eo gi na r

p ,

M acgregor— P em by G abri ele Rosset ti on hi s daughte rs— C hild

o

hood — I tal ian efugees— H olme G reen —Oil on t ub l d waters

r r ro e
—Reli i us Trai ni n — E d cati n — Ea ly characte istics a d
g o
g u o r r n

r ead ing — Ear ly e ses— Ch isti a joi s d awing class co ducted

v r r n n r - n

b y F o d M ado B own — Ea ly po traits— Sits fo he b the s

’
r x r r r r r ro r

G irlh ood of M ary Vi gin —S its f r Ec ce A n cilla D mi i or o n

Mr J. oh n R C l ayt on — S i ts t
. M H lman H n t fo his Light o r. o u r

of t he World — Delicate health M au de a st y— D H are ’

, or r.

Aflec t i n f he gra dfathe — Ch ri st Ch h Al bany S t eet

'

o or r n r u rc ,
r

5 0 C ha lro tte S t reet — F amily cir c u m stan ces— F me S el wo d ro o

D r C ellin —S its t o F rd M ad x B own — S

. r o ir W i lliam Joen e r n r

F i rst offer of ma riage r

C HAP T ER I I
B I OG RAP HI C AL con ti n u ed
—

( M ai n ly 1 85 4 - 1 876 )

R et u rns t oL o n d o n — De ath f G a b ri ele R oossetti — S traitened ci cum r

st an ces — M iscellan eous wri tings— Li te ary i c me u p t 1 890 r n o o

Hastings— N ewcastle u Tyn e B rookbank S hotte mill H asle

-o - -
, r ,

m ere— C helten ham— S eco d O ffe of m a riage — F o ei gn tra el

n r r r v

S i t e lan d I taly D G ord on H ake R D Li t t l edalc

w z r — — r. — ev . r.

C ha l k d ra w i ng y b D an te G a b riel 1 866 — P e n ki l l Castle

, A yrs hi e ,
r

—R e moval t o 5 6 E uston Square w5 E n d s eigh G a dens

l no — Seri r

tion t her family— He

,

u s illness— M eads East bou n e — De

o r vo o r

Si ster s S had ow of Dan te —H

,

wn papers on Da te— Dan te s

’ ’
e r o n

L u ci fe an d M ilt on s Sata
r c trast d— He Siste s i fluen ce
’
n on e r r
’
n

up o n h er i n el ig i or
u s m a tte rs— H e sist e a n d M r Jo h n Rr sk i n r . u
 C H RIS TINA R O SSE TTI

C HAP TER I I I
B I OG RAP HI C AL—con ti n u ed
( M ai n ly 1 874- 1 886 )
P AG E
K el rnscot t M an or ouse— mova t o 30 Torri ngt on
l H Sq e— Cheyn e
uar Re
Wl B
a k — — l l un t er s or s a — ea of her sis
F e t ll D th te Maria
’
ogn or r

Lette rs t o her b ro rs— Wa

the the N e
i l t o n -o h - az — Mr F ed eric -
r

S hields—Discusses religi s p blems— H

.

e pi i f E li a b eth
ou ro r o n on o z

Ba rett Brown ing Adelaide P oc te and An n e Radcli ffe

r , r r,

Aut biographieal all sion s Time F lies M em rial wi dow t

o u
‘
o n o

Dan te Gabri el at B irchingt on design ed by M r Shi elds an d

H
, .
,

espo n de n ce w ith M S hield ab t i t — ti n s fo

co rr s o e su gg es r. u r o r

d ec rat ion of chapel at Eat o H all — I n te rest i n social q est ions

o n u

Correspondence with M r S hields especting her m ther

-
. r o
’
s

a s n s d a —
l t ill e s a d e th M Watts D n t n n her mother s
n r. - u o o
’

i n fluen ce on Christi na a d Ch ristina s i n fl en ce on her elde , n

’
u r

b roth er

C HA PTER I \ '

B I OG RAP HI CAL con ti n u ed —

( M ai n ly 1 886- 1 893 )

Lette s t M rs W M R ssetti— C
r o po de ce wi th the Re o o r res n n v

Alfred G ey— Hr h mo in lett s— Letters t M Shieldsand

.
. . .

u rn e u ur er o r.

to M W M R ssetti
r. — P em the de th of the Duke f C la en ce
o o on a o r

A ticle n T do Huse i n Lite a y O pi ion

. .

r o u r o r r n

C HAP TER V
B I O GRAP HI CA —
L fi on ti mred

( M ai n ly 1 893 - 1 894)

I I er ppa e aran ce — Wi she s t em o e t n ei gh bourhood f Roege t r v o o n

’
s

P k— Remi n iscen ces of Lo n don — M Watts Dun t n an d M

ar r. -
o
’
s r.

W M Rossett i e ma ks especti g he attit de towa d an imal

’
s r r r n r u r s s

— Desc i ti on of 0 T r i t n Sq a e — H abi ts of wo k— H
. .

p 3 r g o r ne o u r r r

hand writing— H books— He d awin g m— The ga de f er r r -

roo r n o

Torrington Sq ua e M S hield as a i t H
— t — r is G ood She phe d
r. s r s r

M rs Ga n ett M iss Lisa Wil r n — He g dda ghte M iss U s la so r o u r, r u

Hake— He opi n i as t c emati — H po litical p ocli itie

.
,

r on o r on er r v s

He c nscio sn ess f e il
r o s i ou u s —
cial system I I p actical
o v n r o er r

hab it s—H e app ecia ti f p e

r t ry
— H e ea
rdi n g o f poet y —
on oH o r r r er
 C O N TEN TS x fiI

I ’
Ab B
dm irati f A ugusta Webste s d rama T he S e n ten ce an d
’ ’
a on o r

H H
,

J ea n I g el o w — P
n e r so n a l h ab i t s— e ice — e h useh ld r vo r o o

P ayers H
r — e attit de t owar ds m usic r — Ch rist Ch u ch W b m
u r ,
o u

Squa e— I n c reasing ill ess— Relin q u ishes atte dan ce at chu ch

r n n r

Dr S te
. wa t — D r A b bo t
r A n de rso n — C l.os in g d ay s — H e r asp ect
te
af r d ea th — S i ri t al d is q iet de t wa rd s the d — W i d es prea d en
p u u u o

r eg et oc ca si n ed by her death— Lette f om the Bish p f Du ham

r o r r o o r

t o M r W M R ossetti.
—. H e fu e al
.
— P elimina y se rvice Ch istr n r r r ,
r

Ch ch W bu m Square— H ighgate Cemetery — M Theod e

ur , o r. or

Watts D t s Tw Ch istmasti des — M em rial se ice

- un o n
’
o r o rv

CH AP TER VI
G EN ERAL P O EM S
Ve rses 847—
Italian P ems Death s Chill Bet ween and ’
1 o

Heart s Chill Betwee ( Athe m m 1 848) The G erm

’
n
‘
n u

G obli M a ket a d the Poems

n The P in ce Progress a d
r n o r r
’
s n

othe r Poems A Pagean t a d other Poe ms N w Poems n e ,

’

ed it ed b y M r William M ichael Rossetti 1 896 ( c tai i ng A

.
, , on n

Triad C usin K ate an d S iste M a de e p in ted f om Go b l in

,
’
o ,
’
r u r r r

M a ket and the r Poem s — I talia Poems

r o n

CHAP TER VI I
D EVOTI O N AL P O EM S
F ro m A n us D min i n Called to be Sai ts Time Flies
o n

The Face of the Dee p G b li n M a ket an d other Poems o r

The P rin ce s Progress and the P em s ’

A Pagean t an d the o r o o r

P ems
o Ve ses ( 1 893 N ew Poem s — List f po ems mai n ly
r o ,

de ti al i cl uded eithe i he ge e ra l P em
vo on , n i h n r n r n o s,
’
n or n er

r eligi us Verses ( 1 893 )

o

CHAP TER VI I I
C HI LD REN S BO O K S AN D P ROSE STO RI ES
’

Sing Song — S peaki

-
’
ng Like esses
n C mmo onp a l ce an d o the r

Sto ri es M a de u

CHAP TER I X
D EVOTI ON AL P ROSE
An n u s Domi ni S eek an d F i d Called to be S i ts
n a n Lette r

8 0 d S pi ri t Time Fl ies Th F ace f the De p e o e

 CI I RI STI NA R O SS ETTI

C HAPTER X
CR A
I TI C L SU RVEY
P AG E
Remarks respecting vari us aspects of Christina Rossetti s work
o
’
, an d

reaso ns why it is li kely t etai it alue

o r n s v

B I B L I OG RA PHY

LI ST or PO RTRA I TS

I N DEx
 L I ST O F I LL USTRATI O N S

P LAT ES
C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
F rom t he C[t a l k D r a w i ng,r by D a n te Gabr i el Rosset t i , 1 866 .

I n ti re possessi on of II!r W M osset t i . . . R .

HEA D OF C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI

P en ci l d r a w i ng by D a n t e Ga br i el Rosset ti , 1 848 . I n t lt e
M ession of M r Sy dn ey M or se
-
. .

PO RTRA I T O P C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI

F r ont t ire oi lpa i n t i ng by 7a me: Coil i n son , 1 849, i n t ire
[assessi on f M r PV M Rorset t i a n d repr od uc ed her e f or
-
o . . .

ti e/ fr at t i me .

C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI

F r om Me ) en ei l d r a w i ng by D a n t e Gabr iel osset t i , Oc t ober R
1 85 2
. N ow i n t he possessi on of M r W M osset t i . . . R .

R pr od u ced l ur ef or tlzefi r r t t i m e
e .

C HRI STI N A R OSSETTI AN D HER M OTHER

F rom pko tog m ylt by L ew i s Ca r rol l ( Rev Cha r les L n t
’
a

H
.

mi dg e B adg r an ) t ak en i n tko g a r den cf Tnd or ou se 1 6 ,

C key ne Wa l k , Clad sea , towa rd s 1 86 3

-
I n t he [oer eu i on of .

I LL USTRATI ON S I N TEXT
P AG E
F A C SI M I L E O I PO EM BY G A B RI EL E ROSSETTI A D D RESSED
?
To HI S
DAU GH TERS M A RI A AN D C HRI STI N A
,

P O RTRA IT OF C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI

Ref r od nced d i r ec t f m t i re wa ter -c olou r by F i I i/ jo P i r t r u eei ,
ro 1 838, i n t he
f orsersi on of M r . IV M . . R
orr et t i .
 C HRI STI N A RO SS ETTI

CHAPTER X
CRI TI C L A SURVEY

Rema ks respectin g
r various as ect s of
p Ch r is t i na Ros et ti s wo
’
rk , and

reasons l ely t
why it is ik o retai n it s l
va ue

BI B L I OG RAP HY

LI ST or PO RTRAITS

I NDEN
 C H RI STI N A RO SSETTI
A
P C!

ACSI M I LE or A CO RRECTED P ROO F O P THE S o N NETs

‘

I
-

PA I N T YET P U
, RSUI NG W I THA UTHO RS C O RRE
,
’
CTI ON S
’

F Ac sm I Lc orTHE SI S . or TI I E SO N G I A1 1 D EA D ,
HY D EA REST’

FA I I L E or TH
C SI I- E TI TL E- PAG E O P 1 847

F ACSI M I LE o r P . x or A CO PY OP ‘
A N N US DO M I N I ’
HOW I N G
S
AN I NSERTED STAN zA I N M A N USC RI P T 242

FACSI M I LE or A M AN I SC RI PT PAG E O P ON E OP CHRI STI N A

'

Rossn r rxs D EYOTI O N AI WO RK S

'
'

.
 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI

CHAP TERI
B IOG RAPH I CAL

( M ai n l y I S —
3 1 85 3)
O

The Rossetti mily en v i ron men t —Christ i n a s god mo t hers Pri nce ss
’
fa an d ,

Ch i stina
r Bonaparte ( L ad y D u d ley St uart ) , an d M i ss Georgi n a
M ac gr egor— Poem by Ga bri el e Rossetti l on his d aughters— C hi dhood
— I ta li an efu ees— Hl mer G ee — Oi l o t ro u b l edrw a nt er s — R l i i
onu s o
g r g e

Trai ni ng— E d ucat i on — E arl y c ha ac t ri st ics an d ead in g— E r arly erses

e r v

C hr isti na j ins d rawi g c lass con d cted by F d M ad o B wn

o n - u or x ro

Ear y po ra
l t i ts—
r Sit s for he b t her s G i lhood f M a y Vi gi n r ro
’
r O r r

Si t s f or E c c e A n ci ll a D o m i n i — M J h n R C la y t on — S i t s to
r. o

Holman Hn t r s L g t f t e o l Deli ate heal th

.

M r. f hi u i oh h W d — o r c

Ma e ud a ,s
’
t y— D Horar e— Affec t ion fo he gra dfat he — Christ
r. r r n r

Ch c h A
ur , lbany St e 5 C l e St
t — 0 hrea t t e t — F ami l y ci c mstan ces
r o r e r u

— F me Sro el wood — D C e l l i — Sit s t o F ord M ad x B wn — Si

r. r n o ro r

W il l ia m J en e — F i st fle of ma iage
'

n r r o r rr .

N EVER does a w riter feel so kee n ly how weak are

word s — at the best i n adequate m ake shi ft s fo r expre ssi n
g
con c e t io n s or for co n veyi n g impre ssio n s — as whe he
p n

striv es t o show t o others i n some me asure the sweet n e ss

an d i r r esi stible fasci n atio n O f such a perso n alit as that

y
Of C h r i st i n a R —
ossetti a perso n ality whose u n ique charm
is wel l n i gh u n tran sl atable i n to word s
-
Time skill i n .
,

word p a i n ti n g an d above all much preparatory thou ght

-
, , ,

are n e ed ed be fore an y success ho weve r small c an be , ,

2 C H RI STINA RO SSETI I ' '

attai ned i n such an en deavour An d t he di ffic u lt y is .

n o less great whe n I turn to a n other aspec t O f my

presen t u n derta ki n g .

O n e even i n g whe n I was i n the compa ny o f C h ri sti na

Rossetti s i n timate fri en d M r F rederic Shield s the
’
, .
,

pai n ter the tal k turn ed on the relative merits o f t wo

,

other poets and D an te Gabriel Rossetti an d I ve n tu red ,

to poi n t out certai n respects i n which these poets

excelled the last n amed At first my compan ion
.

demurred e ntirely to the opi n io n s I put forward and ,

mai n tai n ed that D an te Gabriel Rossetti surpassed t hose

with whom he was bei n g compared i n all the partic u lars
I had me n tion ed Sudde n ly however he turn ed to me
.
, ,

an d exclaimed :
“ —
Y o u may be ri ght i t is so h a rd t o
criticise whe n o n e loves
I t is so hard t o c r i t I c ise w he n o n e loves ! A h
‘ ’
,

thought I that expresses exactly my chie f feeli n g as I

,

attempt a critical study of C hri sti n a R

q
osset t I 5 work .

I t i s al ways hard to critici se ade uately the wo r k ot

an y poet for whom we have perso n ally a feeli n g a k i n to

affectio n An d if thi s is true as a ge n eral ru le it is

.
, ,

particularly true i n rel ation to Chri sti n a R ossetti w ho m ,

to kn ow at all perso n ally was almost t o love .

Her li fe was outwardly u n even t ful : it is however , ,

po ssible to put too much empha si s on thi s Very rarely .

has a li fe so lac ki n g i n i n cid en t as hers bee n p assed

amid such n oteworthy surrou n di n gs an d i n such c on ,

sta n t touch w ith emi n e n t perso n s When we thi n k

.

o f the familie s wh o as familie s have e n riched E

, , n gli sh

literature duri n g the pre se n t ce n tu ry we prob ably th i n k ,

first O f the Ten n yso n s The late L aureate who by h is

.
, ,

comman di n g ge n iu s has co n quered an d domi n ated t he

,

Engli sh speaki n g people i n a way which has been

-
 THE R O SSE TTI F A M I LY 3

equ alled by n o other wri ter of the cen tu ry w ith the ,

possible exceptio n o f Si r Walter Scott is l argely ,

respon sible for this I t seldom happe n s that a family

.

w hich has produced so illu striou s a poet as the late

L aureate should i n clude amo n g it s members such poets
as M r F rederic k T
. e n n yso n an d the l ate Ch arles Ten n y
son T -
urn er both o f whom are admirable i n their degree
,

while M r F rederic k Te n n yson sh ares w ith L an dor t h e

.

almost u n paralleled di sti n ctio n O f havi n g produced a

'

volume of fin e poem s at the ve n erable age o f eighty ei ght - .

I n the c ase o f the B ro n tes al so we see co n spicuou s g i fts

we see the ge n iu s o f Ch arlotte B ron te an d the more ,

li mited ge n iu s of her si ster Emily N evertheless much .

,

mi ght be said i n favour o f the assertion th at t he Rossetti

family are i n some re spects well n i gh u n exampled -
.

Su fli c ien t time has n ow elapsed si n ce the death o f

'

Dan te Gabriel to en able u s to reali se i n a l arge measure

the legacy o f memo rable work which he has le ft t o the
world both as a poet an d as a p ai n ter M ari a F ran ce sc a
showed i n The Shadow O f D an te an d el se where rare ,
’

powers ; Willi am M ich ael by a li fe o f scholarly l abour

, ,

has wo n fo r him sel f a n ot able pla ce amo n g co n tempora ry

critics while the presen t volume i s de si gn ed t o exhibit
t he m a n y excellen ce s o f C hri sti n a as a writer i n poetry

an d i n pro se as w ell as to give a survey O f her li fe

, .

U n question ably the n atural e n dowme n ts of Chri s

,

t i na R o ssetti were very great but her powers were ,

l argely developed by the rem ar kable trai n i n g she

receiv ed an d h er ch aracter l argely i n flue n ced by her
,

circ um st an ce s Her father we are told by h is you n ger

.
,

so n, al way s spo ke I t ali an i n the family n ever E n gli sh ,

an d the childre n from the e arliest ye ars as well as h i s ,

w i fe a n swered him i n I tal i an

’
.
,
4 C H RISTIN A ROSSEI TI ‘ ‘

Thou gh some promi n e n t critics have held a co n

t rary opi n io n I clearly trace in her w riti n gs the e ffe c t

,

o f her de sce n t an d youth ful en viro n men t I t has .

e n riched her voc abulary an d i n creased that u n derlyi n g

se n suou sn e ss which is so mar ked a charact eri stic of a l l

her poetical achievemen t She was an exqui site lyri st.

,

but she was n ot d ramatic i n the sen se th at some grea t

lyri sts— for example such as B urn s ( who thou gh h e
, ,

lived i n peace ful domestic times has give n u s Sco t s ,

wha hae on e o f the supreme war son gs O f the world )

’
-
,

were dramatic M uch o f her fi n est work both i n ve rse

.

an d prose is the veiled expre ssion o f her own i n divid u

"
a l it y r She was deeply religiou s an d carried her c on
.
,

v i c t io n s i n to eve ry detail o f li fe an d her clearly d efin ed

,
-

religiou s opi n ion s gave a speci al i n terest to her reli giou s

verse Hers was emphatically a ch aracter that it was
.

n eed ful t o kn o w perso n ally i n order to u n dersta n d : I

doubt i f an yo n e who had n ot the privilege o f kn owi n g

her c an u n derstan d i n i t s ful n e ss i n all i ts sweetn ess in
, ,

i t s pro fu n dity an d i n i t s fasci n ation her person ality

, , ,

an d the e ffect o f th at perso n ality both on her poem s an d

o n her pro se She co n formed her li fe to a hi gh st an dard

.

o f duty an d co n duct an d i n the sere n e atmo sphere where

,

her soul d welt she was u n sullied by the petty mean

n e sse s an d i n her l ater ye ars at least almost i n cap able
, , ,

o f bei n g ru fil ed by the petty worrie s o f exi ste n ce But .

she was i n te n sely huma n an d full of sturdy commo n

se n se . Her habitu al seren ity had n ot come to her

n atu rally ; it had be en acquired by co n stan t thou gh ,

perhap s partly u n con sciou s e ffort An d this was on e

.

reason why the study o f her perso n ality became so

i n tere sti n g .

C hri sti n a Georgi n a R ossetti the you n ger dau ghter

,
 G AB RI EL E RO SSETTI 5

an d you n gest child O f Gabriele an d F ra n ces M ary

L avi n i a R ossetti was born on December 5 1 830 at
, , ,

3 8 C h arlotte Street Portla n d, Place L o n do n w here her , ,

pare n ts the n resided their other children bei n g M ari a

,

F ran cesc a born i n 1 82 7 ; Gabriel C harles Da n t e born

, ,

i n 1 82 8 ; an d Willi am M i c hael bo rn i n 1 829 , .

Gabriele R ossetti was emi n e n t i n more than o n e

respect B esides wi n n i n g repute as a poet an d as a
.
,

stude n t of Da n te he was an arde n t re former an d o wi n

, g , ,

to h is support o f L iberal ideas he bec ame whe n sti l l , ,

you n g O bn oxiou s to t he then Govern men t of N aples

, ,

w here at the time he lived He fled from the city u n der

.

rom an tic circum sta n ces Even tu ally he settled i n

.

L o n do n where he became a leadi n g teacher of I tali an

, ,

an d al so Pro fe ssor of I talia n at Ki n g s College

’
In .

1 82 6 he m arried F ra n c es M ary L avi n i a Polidori si ster ,

o f th at Dr Polidori so well kn o w n as phy sici an to L ord

.

B yro n.

C hri sti n a R ossetti ma n i fested an d evide n tly felt the

deepest love an d reveren ce fo r both her paren ts but the ,

ties O f affection which bou n d her to her mother were

peculi ar an d p assion ately stro n g All O f Christi n a s
.
’

bo ok s except t wo were dedicated t o her mother M rs

, , . .

Ro ssetti was more tha n u su ally gi fted in telli n g stories

to her children an d thi s i s commemorated i n C hri sti n a s
,
’

dedic atio n of Spea ki n g L i ke n esses .

’

TO M y
DEAREST M O THER ,

IN G RATEF UL REM EM B RAN C E O F THE

S TO RI ES
W I THW HI C HSHE USED TO ENTERI AI N ' ‘
HER
C HI LD REN .
 C H R I S TINA RO SSETTI

M rs . Rossettirvived u n til Apri l 1 886 an d du ri n g

su ,

fi ft y six years C hri sti n a was rarely absen t fro m her

-
.

C hri sti n a o n her father s side was wholly O f I tal i an

’

, ,

extractio n but her mother was E

, n li sh o n the mater n a l
g
side . Her father educated as a R , oman Catho l ic ,

d id n o t i n E n gl an d ope n ly abj ure that c reed Neve r .

t heless accordi n g to h is so n William i n reli gi o n ‘

, ,

he was m ai n ly a freethi n ker bu t ten di n g i n his l ate r ,

years to ward s an u n dogm atic form O f C hri st i an i t y ’

His attitude toward s Christian ity i n the later yea rs

.

O f h i s li fe i s sho wn by t he i n teresti n g an d touchi n g

volume of I t ali an reli giou s poem s called L Arpa Eva n ,

’

g e l z
'

ca T h e E va n gelic w hich he publi sh e d

i n 1 85 2 t w o years be fore h is dea t h
, His wi fe was a .

devout adheren t o f the C hurch O f En gla n d an d ,

brou ght up all her four child re n as Protestan ts H er .

you n ger d au ghter s godmotherswere Lady Dudley Stu ar t

’

an d M i ss Georgi n a M ac gre gor L ady Dudley Stu ar t .

was o n e O f the B o n ap arte family several members o f ,

which family particul arly Pri n ce Pierre B o n apa rte an d

, ,

occ asio n ally eve n Pri n ce L oui s N apoleo n a fter ward s ,

N apoleo n I I I were vi sitors i n the R ossetti househol d .

Mr W M R
. . o ssetti h as give n me some i n teresti n g
.

i n formatio n about L ady Dudley Stu art :

M y kn ow led ge of L ady Dudley Stu art is n o t mi n ute ,

but the follo w i n g i s more or less correct She was a .

d au ghter o f on e o f the brothers o f the great N apo leon

—
L uci an an d mu st ori gi n ally have bee n c alled Pri n cess
C hri sti n a B o n aparte She m arried a Swedi sh Cou n t
Arvid de Posse an d subseque n tly L ord Dudley Stuart
.
,

, .

M y father kn e w her well an d I thi n k li ked her she I, , , ,

suppose O ffered t o be godmo t her to the i n fan t bor n o n

,

December 5 1 830 an d he asse n ted She died i n 1 847

, , .
’

M i ss Georgi n a M acgregor was the d au ghter Of Si r

8 C H RIS TINA RO SSETI I ’ ‘

n arrowest Very n atu rally these compatr iot s had a

.

g r ea t fa sc i n atio n for the childre n G abriele

. R osset ti

had a hi gh estim ate O f the talen ts o f o n e O f them n amed

F ilippo P ist ru cc i a pai n ter an d teacher o f I tali an an d
, ,

al so en te rtai n ed a cordial li ki n g for t he man hi msel f .

Pist ru cc i was O ften i n mon ey strait s the result o f fa m ily

,

con ditio n s Gabriele Rossetti in some degree bec au se

.
,

O f h is sympathy fo r P ist ru cc i o n thi s accou n t i n some ,

degree bec au se of his appreciation of his powers set hi m ,

to pai n t port raits of all his childre n M ari a he pai n ted .

t wice ; D an te Gabriel twice ; William o n ce ; an d C hri sti n a

twice The portrait o f C hri sti n a a w ater colour on
.
,
-

paper was executed when she was abo ut seven years

,

O ld I t i s reproduced here an d
.
,

represe n t s a thou ght ful face a —

face eve n the n beto ke n i n g t he
qualities which made her what she
ultim ately became The lo ft i n ess .

of the bro w is perh ap s greater

th an was appare n t i n later l i fe ,

an d the mouth an d the lips a re

perh aps set with gre ater deter

CH RI STl N A mi n ation The po rtrait as a whole
.

“1 /” 5 fully j u stifie s the opi n io n o f mo st

:3?n 1fir fly 21 4 2
e
.

fay/$ 3 3; M m m “,
8
.
o f her early frie n d s that i n yo u th
C hri sti n a w as beauti ful Willi am .

B ell Scott probably about 1 860 did an etchi n g from

, ,

thi s water colour an d produced i n her you n ger brother s

'
-
, ,

j ud gmen t a sati sfactory result thou gh he thi n ks that

, ,

the upper lip is too lo n g A son O f F ilippo P ist ru cc i

.

succeeded Gabriele R o ssetti as Pro fe ssor O f I talia n at

Ki n g s C ollege L o n do n
’
, .

Promi n e n t amo n g the I talian re fu gee s who u sed to

 B EN ED ETTO SAN GI O VANNI — HO L M ER GREEN 9

freque n t Gabriele Rossetti s hou se almost every eve

’
n ngi
w as atall gau n t man n amed B e n edetto San giovan n i a ,

c ap able modeller i n clay He was a special source O f

.

i n terest to the children as it had been reported of him

, ,

w hether ri ghtly or wro n gly it i s impossible n ow to say ,

th at he had stabbed some on e i n C al abria He had .

l ived i n N aple s u n der the protectio n of M urat an d ,

a ft er the latter s down fall had come to Englan d He

’
.

d esi gn ed a little O iled cl ay letter w ei ght which stood -

a bove t h e cloc k i n C hri sti n a R ossett i s di n i n g room ’

-

a n d thi s relic she retai n ed till her death .

Amon g the great pleasures O f Chri sti n a s early ’

c h ildhood were her vi sits to the cottage o f her gran d

fa ther Gaetan o Polidori at Holmer Gree n n ear L ittl e
, , ,

M i ssen de n i n B uc ki n gham shire Thi s cottage was .

ab out thir t y miles from L o n do n an d i n th o se d ay s ,

c o uld o n ly be re ached by a stage coach journ ey O f six

hours duratio n The n ovelty o f thi s journ ey to the
’
.

to wn bred an d to wn immured little girl may be

- -

i m agi n ed more especi ally as surrou n di n g the cottage

,

w as a garden small i n actu al exte n t but large i n her

, ,

idea To her thi s garde n was a revel atio n of the beauty

.

o f n ature an d she spo ke to me freque n tly re specti n g

,

t h e exqui site deli ght she had derived from her ramble s
—
i n i t a deli ght which came to an en d before she was
n i n e ye ars old .

I n C hapter I X I shall de al with her volume T

. ime ,

F lies a R eadi n g Diary bei n g short Devotion al Essays

,

fo r ev ery d ay i n the year A n otable example of her

.
’

later prose work (it was first publi shed whe n sh e was
i n her fifty fift h year) thi s boo k co n tai n s ma n y person al
-

allu sio n s thou gh there are rarely an y defi n ite i n d ic ation s

,

as to pl ace or as to time I am able n evertheless to

.
, ,
I0 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
furn i sh particul ars con cern i n g man y of t he se a ll u

The fi rst re feren ce to Holmer Gree n i s der dat e un

M arch 4 where she tells i n a few

, , simple wo rd s of her ,

first kn ow led ge of d eat h :

So i n these groun d s perhap s i n the orchard I lighted
, ,

upon a dead mo use The dead mou se moved my .

sympathy I too k him up buried him com fortably i n a ,

mossy bed an d bo re the spot i n mi n d

, .

‘
I t may have bee n a day or t wo afterward s th at I
retu rn ed removed the moss coverlet an d loo ked
,
a ,

bl ac k i n sect emerged I fled i n horr or an d for lo n g

.
,

years en sui n g I n e ver me n tion ed thi s ghastly adve n tu re

to an yo n e .
’

She spe aks ( J uly 6 ) about t wo frogs she had seen

i n the same garde n O n e of the fro gs had st artled her
.

by jumpi n g u n expectedly while she all u n wi t ti ngly , , ,

had st artled the other frog O n the little i n cide n t sh e .

remar ks :
I s it
quite certai n that n o d ay w ill ever come whe n .

even the sm allest weakest most grotesque w r onged

, , ,

creature will n ot i n some fashio n ri se u p i n the

Jud gmen t with u s t o co n dem n u s an d so frighten u s ,

e ffectu ally on ce for all

OnJuly I 7 an d 1 8 we read how she an d an ot her

‘
little girl ( some what older i n years) watched a wild
’

straw berry gro w o n a hed ge row b an k vi siti n g it d aily -

,

t o see h ow it throve N ot the least o f her Childhood s

’
.

di sappoi n tmen ts was that which b efel her whe n she d is

covered that a sn ail had made it good for n othi n g ‘
.
’

W ith the w i sdom of m aturity she deduces the moral

th at eve n sn ail s h ave their ri ghts while man al as !fi n d s , ,
'

it con ve n ien t here to sn ap o fl a ri ght an d there to chip

away a due The little girl somewhat older i n years
.
’

,
’
,
 HOL M ER G REEN I I

was her i ter M aria an d t he hedge row ban k was at

ss ,
-

Holmer Green .

B u t i n some respect s the most i n teresti n g remi

n isc en c e o f her day s o f childhood occurs u n der d ate

Ju n e 1 9 where she says

,

‘
I kn ow a li t tle girl who n o t far from hal f a
Of

cen tury ago havi ng heard that oil calmed troubled

,

waters su ggested to her mother i t s adoptio n fo r such a

,

purpose i n case of a sea storm .

Her su ggestio n fell flat as from her it deserved t o ,

fall. Yet n owadays here is scie n ce worki n g out the ,

babyi sh hi n t of i gn ora n ce .
’

The little girl hersel f was .

M r Willi am Sharp in an admirable essay co n tributed

.
,

to T he A tl an tic M o n thly for J u n e 1 89 5 e n titled Some ,

Remi n i sce n ces of Chri sti n a Ro ssetti an essay full of

—
sympathetic di scrimi n at io n — h as n arrated how she told

him o n ce o f her fi rst vi sit to the Z oological Garde n s ,

made in the compa n y o f her brother Gabriel The .

t wo childre n amu sed them selves i n a ma n n er worth

recordi n g Chri sti n a felt th at the captive bird s should

.

be celebrated by plai n tive verses while her brother

’
,

e n tertai n ed her by lau gh able biographies of them .

M r Sh arp tell s further o f a si n gul ar dream which

.

C hri sti n a R ossetti had i n early li fe She thou ght she .

was i n R ege n t s Park at d awn while j u st as the su n

‘ ’ ’

, ,

ro se she seemed to see a wave o f yellow li ght sweep

,
‘

from the t rees I t was a multitude o f can aries thou

’ ‘
.
,

san d s o f them all the can aries i n L on don They had

,
’
.

met an d were n ow goi n g bac k to captivity Her brother

, .

Gabriel to w hom she spo ke o f her vi sion thou ght t o

, ,

ma ke a picture of it but n ever did so ,

.

Mr W M R . o ssetti i n his D an te Gabriel R

. . ossetti
,
 I 2 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
his F am ily Let ters ; w ith a M emoir gives so me dis ,
’

’
t i n c t i ve particulars respec ti n g t he childre n s am u se men ts

i n the R ossetti ho useho l d B esides t he i n evitable ro ck in g

.

’
ho rse an d t he al m ost equal ly i n evi t able bli n d m an s
,
-

"
b u fl an d pu ss i n the corn er t he ch i ld re n earl y i d en t i
’
- - -
,

fied them selve s i n a so rt o f way with the fo ur su its of

‘

c ard S ,
clubs bei n g app ro pri ated to M ari a h ear ts t o
’
,

D an te Gabriel diamon d s to C h ri st i n a an d Spa d es t o

, ,

W illi am B u t th ey we re t rai n ed to di sl i ke
’
.
g am ‘

’
bli n g an d n ever t hroughout li fe played for mon ey
,
’
.

C hri sti n a was deeply affec tio n ate an d had b esides , , ,

much fo n d n ess for a n im al s a t rait perh ap s fi rst ,

exemplified i n the l i n es O n t he D eath o f a C at : ‘

a frie n d o f mi n e aged t en years an d a h al f wri tt en ,

’

whe n sh e w as sixtee n ‘
The li n es thou gh cred i t able
.
,

e n ough w he n the author s age is remembered are ’

,

w itho u t much poetical merit Some o f the m may .

be q u oted here however as show i n g t h at ch i ld of

, , ,

g e n iu s as s he w a s C hri s ti n a Ro sse
, tti w as n o t u n duly
precociou s or u n in fluen c ed by her practical co m mon
,

pl ace surrou n di n gs I n the secon d stan za is an ex ceed

.

i n g ly n eat allu sio n to the proverb th at a cat h as n i n e

lives
C ome ye M u ses on e an d all
, , ,

C ome obed ien t t o my ( a ll ;

C ome an d mourn wi t h t u n efu l breat h
Eac h on e for a separate d eath
An d while you in n u mbers sigh
, ,

I will si ng h er el egy .

C hri sti n a s
’
mother ( ori gi n ally belon gi n g to th e
Eva n gelical School thou gh at a l ater period she adopted
,

some wh at H i h Church opi n io n s tau ht all her four

g ) g
This p em appeared i t he p i t ely p i nted lume f 1 847 short ly
o n r va r vo o

t o be men tion ed .
 E DU C ATI O N I 3

ch i ldre n the Church Catechi sm be side s imparti n g t o

,

them B iblical kn owled ge ; an d C hri sti n a soo n sho wed

d eep reli giou s feeli ng an d aspiration .

She was educated at home an d as her you n ger , ,

bro ther forcibly said to me owed w ery tl ung i n the

’

way o f early subst an tial i n stru ctio n to our mother

’
.

O n e re sult o f n ever goi n g to school was co n stan t

associ ation with her si ster an d brothers As a child her .

te m per was quic k an d it is stron g eviden ce of her

,

force o f will th at i n l ater li fe sc arcely an y trace o f thi s

qu ic kn ess o f temper seemed to rem ai n .

C hri sti n a told M r S harp th at she was the ill

.

te m pered on e o f the family an d my dear si ster u sed

to say that ska had the good se n se Willi am the good ,

n atu re Gabriel the good he art an d I the bad temper o f

, ,

our much loved father an d mother

’
-
.

I n deed it i s no more tha n the fact th at C hri sti n a had

,

n at u rally an irritable strai n i n her di spo sitio n — a ju ster

way o f putti n g it perh ap s th an to say that she was ill

, ,

tempered i n the ordi n ary sen se o f the term The irri .

table strai n m ay partly have been the result o f physical

cau ses i n later li fe it was altogether co n quered an d thi s ,

co n quest stren gt he n ed her ch aracter as moral con quests ,

eve r do stren gthe n the character .

L i ke ma n y childre n posse ssi n g i n cipie n t ge n iu s she ,

was desultory in her habit s o f study B u t thi s di sposi

.

tio n i n her case ( as i n the c ase of so m an y others

simil arly e n dowed ) was compe n sated fo r by much wid e

g e n er al re adi n g
About the age o f n i n e she appreciated H
.

on e s ’

‘
Every D ay B ook I n thi s compil ation she fi rst saw
.
’

the name o f Keat s an d re ad e x tracts from Th e Eve of

,

St A.
g n e s w hich n aturally impre ssed her I n commo n .
I 4 C HRI STI N A s-
z-ss m r

Pope s I lia d n he: h a n d s w e re

'

w as sc a n pl ac ed i : so

b oo ks descr i pt i v e of I ri sh l ife fo r . sh e read bo t h Ca rle

t on s
'

Trait s an d St o ri es of t he I r ish P a san t ry ,

’
an d

Sc o t t : ab ou t 1 5 44 she rea d A nne Rad c li ff e ,

perh aps Ch ie fiv t ha t wri t er s M x st er i s of L d o l ph o an d

' ’
’
-
c ,

a bo u t M at u ri n s st o ri e s N ev ert he l ess h er bro ther

'

. .

i n fo rms me t h at a co m pa red w i t h t h e rest o f the .

s

fam i l y sh e rea d very l t t l e and o n y w ha t h i t h er

,
i .
l

fan cy .F ro m 0 t o I 4 on e o f her most c o nst a n t c o m

a i on s was M et a st asi o t h e opera t i c t \ I i t
p n p o e v s s er
. . .

q
c an ha v e re ad v ery l it t l e o f B u rn s i n C hi l dh o o d I .

uest i o n w h et h er she rt v r k m uc h o f h im Tho u gh . .

fro m i n fan c y spea ki n g I t al ian 1 1t as w el l as E li s h

n
g ,

sh e d id n o t st u d v D an te t i l l ab ou t [ 84 83

Mr \I R .om e t i o n e sh o we d m e an ea rl
. .
y so n n et t

o f h is si st r s on Lad v M on t r e v o r i n M at u ri n s n o v e l
'
’
e

The I ri sh B ov I e m ar k i n i
’

g : G ab r . el ,

C hri st i n a a n d I w er v o u n g we used t o re ad M at u ri n s e ’
.

n ove l s o ve r an d o ver aga i n an d t he v t oo k rea t hold o f

g
He has sin ce publ i shed t he so n n et
.

o u r i magi n ati o n s

i n her po st hu m o u s N ew Poe m s w h ich he edi t ed i n

1 896 ad d i n g a v al u abl e se ri es o f n o t es t h at e l uci d at e
,
r

man y po i n t s i n re gard t o her wo rk .

I n 1 84 2 ou u rred t he w el l re m embered wa r w i t h
‘
-

C h i n a an d o n e o f M r
. Rosset t i s sc hoo lm asters .
'

I
S t u den t s o f Si r ‘VJi l t ‘
l SAM wi ll h
t at . in a tu b li xh ed let t er .

he deg t i tres
-
M at u ri n as man of gre at bu t
a
ge n i u s .

Thi s m ll cc t ion of n ew i s more tu l ix re t u rn ! t o i n Ch it n

i
-r VI .
 EARL Y VERSES

q
re uested him to write a composition on the theme
C hri sti n a kn o wi n g th at he was at w or k hersel f produced
, ,
.

a set o f verses pe n tameter i n measure c all ed The

, ,

C hi n am an These however were n ot the first verse s

.
’
, ,

she w rote fo r they were writte n l ater th an A

, pril 2 7 ,

1 842 the d ate o f the t wo st an zas commemo rative o f

,

her mother s bi rthd ay which her gran d fat her pri n ted
’

o n a card The ori gi n al M S o f these verses is n ow i n

. .

the B riti sh M u seum an d the C hildi sh n ess o f the ha n d ,

w riti n g beto kens their e arly date There is a very e arly .

att empt at humour i n a couplet quoted i n the memoi r

o f her elder brother .

C ome cheer u p my lads t is t o glory we st eer

’
, , ,

As t he soldier remarked whose post lay i n t he rear .

The late Willi am B ell Scott tell s i n h is autobiography

ho w he met Chri sti n a for the first time i n the comp an y
o f her father

By the wi n do w was a hi gh n arro w readi n g de sk at -

,

w hich stoo d writi n g a sli ght girl with a seriou s regu l ar ,

p r o file d,ar k ag ai n st the p allid w i n try li ght w ithout .

Thi s most i n teresti n g to me o f the t wo i n m ate s turn ed

o n my e n t ran ce made the most form al an d grace ful
,

c u rtsey an d resu med her writi n g an d the o ld ge n tlem an

, ,

si gn ed to a chair for my sitti n g do wn

’
.

The d ate Willi am B ell Scott s c all was probably

of
’

D ecember 1 847 or J an u ary 1 848 w he n C hri sti n a was

, ,

j u st seven teen I n the first n amed year her gra n d fath er

.
-
,

G aeta n o Polidori pri n ted privately her first volume , ,

M r Willi am R
’
e n ti tled Verse s ossetti possesses a
. .

c opy w hich i s curio u s an d e speci ally i n te re sti n g bec au se

i l l u st rated i n water colours by C hri sti n a hersel f the -

,

date of the illu stratio n s bei n g some wh at l ater thou gh ,

n o t much l ater tha n 1 847 He has dealt w ith these

, .
1 6 C HRIS TI N A RO SSETI ‘ ‘

illu stration s i n so me det ai l in h is n otes to N ew P oe m s ’

I t may be sai d h owe ver th at th ese d rawi n gs are i n

, ,

n o sen se rem arka ble ex c ept as be i n g C h ri sti n a s w or k

’
.

Per haps t he best is t hat o f t h e li n e

Lav a ki tt en b y her si d e,

in ‘
The Death of a Ca t ,dy re fe rr ed to
’
a poe m a rea l .

An other copy was gi ven by C hri sti n a whe n twe n t y four ,

-

e a rs o f age to her mo t her a d some yea rs a fter her

y . n ,

mother s deat h it was prese n ted by C h rist i n a to M r W

'

. .

M R . ossetti on h is six t y first bi rthd ay I t con tai n s a

-
.

fmn t ispiece port r ait o f t he a uthor besi d es illu str a tio n s ,

o f t he poem s by her bro t her Gab ri el .

\Ve have seen al ready t h at C hri sti n a R ossetti b e a n

g
early to pai n t i n wat er c ol ou rs an d at a some wh at l a ter
-
,

dat e we fin d her on e of F ord M adox B rown s pu p i l s ’

i n a dra wi n g cl ass he c on ducted at Camden Tow n o n

-

rather n ov el pri n cipl es — a cl ass i n wh ich t he m e m b e rs

o f the I rreraphac l ite B rot h er hood ( to w hich all u sio n

’

shall el sewhe re b e made ) we re much i n t erested D a n te .

Gabriel av erred fre que n tly th at had Sh e co n ti n u ed h er

artistic e fforts she might h ave reach ed excellen c e .

P ro bably she was Dan te Gabri el s fi rst m odel an d ’

there is a port rait of her by him ex ec uted i n 1 848 , ,

whe n she was seve n tee n I t u sed to ha n g in t he b a c k

.

a rlour at 30 T o n i n gt o n S qua re formerly her si t t i n

g
p ,

ro om I t is described by M r \V M Rossetti as t he
.
. . .
‘

v ery fi rst fi n i sh ed pai n ti n g D an te Gabriel pro d u c ed

’
.

Probably her bro ther e x ecuted it as a p relimi n ary stu d y

for her portrait i n T he G irlhood o f M ary V i rgi n
’
‘
It .

m y qu litie f be uty — h i e f mo w h ich i

ha s a n a s o a C a n g s

the lovely spiritu al exp ressio n of t he eyes an d t he ,

fi rm n ess o f the mouth reve ali n g str e n gth as well as

,
 MR . J OHN R CLAYTO N . I 7

t e
swee n ss o f character There i s al so a portrait pai n ted .

about 1 849 by Jame s Colli n so n n ow re membered mai n ly ,

by hi s associatio n with T he Germ an d the P re

raphaelite B rotherhood I t is reproduced here for the .

first t ime She sat as stated above for the V irgi n i n

.
, ,

Dan te Gabriel s picture of The G irlhood o f M ary

’

Virgi n .Thi s ori gi n ally exhibited in 1 849 i s so well

’
, ,

known an d h as bee n so O fte n spo ken o f an d reproduced

, ,

that a detailed re fere n ce to it n eed n ot be attempted .

About a year afterwards Chri sti n a agai n sat for the

Virgi n i n her brother s picture c alled E cce A ncill a
’ ‘

Domi n i better kn own perhap s as The A

’
n n u n ciatio n
’
, , , .

This picture n ow in the N ation al Gallery of B riti sh Art

, ,

iv to the n atio n by M r T ate h as bee n o fte n mi n utely

g en .
,

dwelt on an d has al so bee n reproduced

, So I need o n ly .

say th at the te n der almo st deprecati n g look mi n gled ,

with simplicity the almost childli ke beauty on the ,

Vi rgi n s face was I am i n formed by more th an on e

’
, ,

early frien d o f Christi n a Rossetti very characteri stic o f ,

her i n girlhood an d i n open in g wom an hood .

To M r John R Clayton the arti st who kn ew her

. .
, ,

well about 1 849 5 1 I am i n debted for an a n ecdote which

-
,

will be n ew to my readers At this period he was on .

very i n timate term s with D an te Gabriel an d privileged ,

to en ter the latter s studio i n N ew m an Street at an y ’

ti me When he first saw Ecce An cill a D o mi n I there

.

the head o f C hri sti n a alo n e appeared o n the can vas .

After the picture had n early reached completion ,

Mr Clayton fou n d h is frie n d bu sily e n gaged in pai n ti n g

.
,

from the sn ap dragon e ffect s o f i gn ited Spirits o f wi n e

-

in a saucer the flame s u n der the feet of the an gel

,

Gabriel The pai n ter explai n ed to M r Clayto n his

.
’
.

dilemma from the impossibility o f obtai n i n g at th at

 I 8 CHRI S TI NA RO SSETTI

t im e the year ( for it was t he mo n th of M arch ) a rea l

of

l ily from which to pai n t the flo wer symbolically re pt e

se n ted i n the han d o f the an gel M r C layt o n hav i n g
. .

n o study o f his o wn such as h i s frie n d sou ght to borrow

,

of hi m su ggested that somethi n g to se rve h is fr ie n d s

’
,

purpose might be obtai n able at F oster s artificial fl owe r ’

shop the n i n Wi gmore S

, treet H i s frie n d immed i at el y
.

we n t t here bou ght an artifici al lily for t wo shilli ng s

, ,

an d u sed it as a substitute fo r a real o ne .

M r C l ayton d iflers from the early frie n d s to who m

'

.
,

allu sio n has bee n rec e n tly made as he doe s n ot regar d ,

the portrai t of Chri sti n a in Ecce A n cill a Domi n i as a

portrait seriou sly i n te n ded or true to fact He c o nsider s .

i t merely as a deli n eatio n o f the mystery o f exp ressio n

i n the face He has poi n ted out to me as an i nsta n c e
.
,

o f the pai n ter s i n di ffere n ce to scholastic a n tiquari an

’ ‘

i sm that the a n gel i n the picture i s represe n ted as

’
,

‘
i n dicati n g B e n edictio n with t he l ef t ! i n stead o f t he
right han d .
’

Con cern i n g Chri sti n a s person al appearan ce M r

’
.
,

Watts Du n ton wrote i n The Athe n aeum ( N O

-
’
.

J an uary 5 1 89 5 ) .

I n most t hi n gs, Chri sti n a ossetti seemed to st an d R

m id way betwee n Gabriel an d th e other t wo members
o f her family, an d it was the same i n phy sic al matters .

She had G abriel eye i w hich h el d blue

’
s s, n az a n -
g y
re

were marvellou sly blen t , on e hue shi ft i n g i n to the o t her,

an sweri n g to the moveme n ts o f the t hou ghts — eyes
li ke the mother s ’
A
n d her bro wn hair, thou gh le ss
.

warm i n colour th an h is duri n g h is boyhood , was still li ke

it Whe n a you n g girl , at the time t hat she sat for t he
.

V irgi n i n the picture now i n the N ation al Galle ry , she

was, as both her mother an d Gabriel have told me ,
really lovely, with an extraordi n ary expression of pen
sive sweet n e ss She u sed to have i n the little bac k
.
20 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
u n wise to e n deavour to iden t i fy t o o
I t is ge n e rally
c losely the habits o f an author w ith the i n cide n ts d esc r ibe d

i n hi s or her wor k whe n that work is pre sum ably o f

,

fictio n B u t in the port rayal o f the he roi ne i n M au de

.

allu sio n s occur that o n e ca n n ot doubt are perso n a l .

Sometimes for exam ple Chri sti n a ma kes M aude go

, ,

to St Andrew s C hurch
‘
. probably i n te n d ed for St
’
-
.

An dre w s Well s Street Wl bec au se o f the fi n er mu si c

’

,
— ,

’
there than at her pari sh church .

B oth her bro t hers but e speci ally D an te Gab riel we re

, ,

adorers of their sister (to quote M r Clayton s phrase .

’

i n con versation with me) an d M r C layton i s con vi n ced , .

t hat it was from the fasci n ati n g myste ry an d so ft mel an

c ho ly o f hi s si ster s eye s th at Da n te Gabriel gai ned t ha t
’ ’
,

impul se toward s the sad female face so n oticeable in t he

p ictorial w or k o f h i s whole career .

I t mu st n ot be suppo sed how ever that C hri sti n a s

’
, ,

early li fe was w ithout bri ghtn ess Eve n as a child she .

had humour an d althou gh it is true that gi fted n atur es

, ,

en dowed with a sen se of humour are o fte n mel an choly ,

i n reality her youth ful years were full of quiet joy o f

variou s ki n d s .

Dr C harle s J Hare first atten ded her pro fe ssion ally

. .

i n N ovember 1 845 an d she rem ai n ed more or less

‘
,

con stan tly u n d er hi s care u n til 1 85 0 He permits me .

to quote part o f the first me moran dum he m ade

co n cern i ng her
F ully the middle stature ; appears older tha n she
—
really i s I 5 hair brown complexion i s bru n ette ; b u t
she i s n ow p ale ( a n a
e mic ) C o n formatio n good
’
. .

F rom ubseque n t memoran d a by the same ge n tleman

s

th e t wo follow i n g brie f extract s are ta ken

 D R C H ARLE S
.
J
. H ARE 21

Sh e had bee n u n der the care of several very di sti n

i h d phy sici a be fore I aw her — D L k d
g u s e n s s rs o c o c an .

Wat so n an d I thi n k Dr L ath am

, ,
I n 1 848 she had , . .

a sh arpi sh attac k O f bro n chiti s

’
.

When he was good e n ou gh to t al k t o me on the

subj ect Dr H are said th at w h at chiefly impre ssed him
, .

—
w as C hri sti n a s deep love fo r her mother a feeli n g shown
’

by every word an d loo k I n the whole course of h is .

l i fe he h ad n ever kn o wn an i n stan ce of affection more

absorbi n g i n it sel f o r more touchi n gly evi n ced Evide n tly .

i n the se e arly d ays she thou ght w ith e speci al favour o f

t h e li n es L oo ki n g F or ward fo r amo n g Dr H are s
‘ ’ ’
, .

most cheri shed po sse ssion s i s a copy of them i n her own

han d writi n g which she gave to him at the time I n .

D r Hare s opi n io n she was sweet an d i n teresti n g

.
’
,

but n ot strictly beauti ful .

As to C hri st i n a Rossetti s gran d father Gaetan o ’

,

P olidori Dr H are writes

, .

At eighty four first atten ded to hi m pro fes

-
, when I
si on al ly he was a very h ale heart y fin e loo ki n g O ld man
, , ,
-
,

full of e n thu si asm an d n ot the least so as regard s h is ,

e st imate o f the tale n ts an d ch aracter o f h i s gran dchild

C hr i sti n a
’
.

Chri sti n a
reciproc ated the affection of Gaetan o
Polidori for M r W M Rossetti
, . . . write s thu s i n h is n otes
to N ew Poem s ’

‘
To her gran d father especi ally Chri sti n a was most
w armly ttached ’
a .

Here i s Dr Hare s description of M rs .

’
. Rossetti at
t h e time of w hich we are n o w speaki n g :

Aface full of beauti ful expressio n as her heart is

fu l l faith, hO pe,
’
of an d love .

One of the most pleasin g of the poem s i n Chri sti n a

 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
Rosset t I s Poem s is that addressed To Lalla
N ew
the favourite n ame of her cousi n H
,

en rietta Polyd ore

The latter was on ly three years old when the poem
was writte n Her father He n ry Polidori had A
.
,n gli ,

c i sed h is n am e The li n es i n ciden tally poi n t the moral

.

that wi sdom of the heart i s better t han kn owledge

o f the head I t is a trite moral but rarely has it bee n
.
,

bett er expressed than here .

Read on : if you kn ew i t
have cau se to boast
You
You are much t he wi ser
Though I kn ow t he most .

Duri n g ma n y of her early years Chri sti n a Rossett i

atten ded Chri st Church Alban y Street Regen t s Park , ,
’

-
a pl ai n some what u n attractive buildi n g i n ex t ern al
,

a spect M r Clayton has told me that he frequen tly

. .

e n cou n tered her an d other members of her family after

service O n such oc casion s she would say little bu t
.
,

wh at she did say was sometime s m emorable When .

meeti ng her el sew here about the same date she would ,

sometimes spea k w ith great vi gour an d e n ergy thou gh ,

u sually she was very retice n t hardly givi n g utteran ce t o ,

more tha n the u sual common pl aces Thi s fit fu l e n ergy .

an d power i n con versatio n comi n g as a con trast to her ,

habitual reserve was on e o f the reaso n s why in my in

, ,

’
forma n t s O pi n io n she came to be regard ed even i n her
, ,

early years as a marked person ality M r C l ayton does

, . .

n ot thi n k t hat at thi s time she was lovely i n t h e ex ac t

se n se
, althou gh about her face there was always an
i n terest that excelled the charm of mere loveli n ess .

There was li kewi se an i n describable but prevaili n g sad

n e ss that co n strai n ed the o n loo ker to regard her w ith

deep atten tion Thi s sad n ess partly resulted from

.
 I LL -
H EALTH 23

several ailme n ts from which she the n su ffered an d which ,

she t he n t hou ght mi ght termi n ate fatally I n thi s co n n ec .

tio n t wo of her early poem s L oo ki n g F orward , ,

’

recen tly alluded to an d L i fe Hidde n d ated respec, ,

’

tively J u n e 8 an d July 2 3 1 849 w hich appeared first i n , ,

N ew Poem s may be re ferred to

,
’
These pathetic li n es .

from the first n amed poem give utteran ce to a mela n

-

c ho ly too deeply felt to be uttered superficially

Sweet thought t hat I may yet

live an d grow green ,

That l eaves may yet sprin g from t he wi thered root ,

An d bud s an d flowers an d b erries hal f un seen ;

Then if you haply muse upon the past
, ,

Say th is : poor child she has her wish at last ; ,

B arren through l ife bu t in d eat h bearin g frui t , .

Several of her early frie n d s say that about thi s period

a certai n de gree of re strai n t an d pride was observable

i n Chri st i n a s demean our

’
She hersel f alludes to thi s i n
.

I s an d W as writte n i n the spri n g of 1 85 0 an d first

’
, ,

p ri n ted by her brother William i n N e w Poem s He ‘

.
’

t h ere i n form s u s that a l ady told C hri sti n a She

se emed to do al l from sel f respect n ot from fellow -

,

feel i n g wi t h others or from ki n dly co n sideration for them

, .

C hri sti n a me n tion ed the rem ar k with an admi ssion th at ,

it hit a blot i n her character i n which a certai n amou n t ,

o f reserve an d di sta n ce n ot remote from ha u teu r was , ,

c ertai n ly at t hat time perceptible She laid t he hi n t to .

’
h eart an d I thi n k n ever forgot it
, , , ,

an d he adds i n a commu n ication to mysel f , Afterw rd s

a

C h ri sti n a w rote the poem an d thi s verse ,

D oin g all from el f respect

s -

’
in it .

Our i n terest i n the poem i s i n creased when we thu s

fin d it co n tai n s autobiographical touches .

I n 1 85 1 the family le ft 5 0 Charlotte Street an d we n t ,

24 C H RI STINA RO SSETTI

to reside at 38 Arli n gto n Street M orn i n gton C rescen t

, .

F o r some years be fore an d after thi s date their mean s

were much straite n ed The father s emolumen ts had
.
’

bee n con siderably reduced fo r German had become at

,

the mome n t more popul ar than I talian while h is fai l ,

i n g si ght an d o f l ate eve n h is faili n g ge n e ral health co n

, ,

ti n n ed a source of furt her an xiety Dan te Gabriel had .

as yet achieved n ot much pecu n i ary succe ss as a pa i n t er

an d n o n e as a poet w hile Willi am M ichael n ow i n t h e

, ,

C ivil Se rvice was o n ly at the begi n n i n g of his career as

,

a litera ry an d arti stic critic .

The n eed had there fore ari sen fo r au gme n ti n g t h e

family pecu n iary resources an d M rs R , ossetti assi sted .
,

by Chri sti n a ope n ed a d ay school at 38 Arli n gton

,

Street while M aria F ran cesca we n t out as a d aily

,

g over n e ss chiefly ,g i vi n
g le sso n s i n I tali an T he day .

school was n ot alto gether pro sperou s produci n g very ,

l itt le i n come ( I quote from a private commu n icat io n

from her survivi n g brother ) an d i n A , pril 1 85 3 it was
deem ed advi sable th at Chri sti n a with her father an d
mother should go to reside at F rome Sel wood ( bett er
kn own merely as F rome ) i n Somerset shire— M aria D an te ,

Gabriel an d William rem ai n i n g i n L o n do n

, At F rom e .

al so M rs Rossetti kept a d ay school i n the m an ageme n t

.
,

o f which C hri sti n a too k p art ; but the re sult w as n o more

sati sfactory th an i n L o n do n .

The eleve n mon th s duri n g which Chri sti n a Rossett i

q
lived at F rome were the lon gest peri od She ever spe n t out
o f L o n do n Probably she then ac u i red uft hrou gh oh
.

some o f the co n siderable kn o wled ge she

posse ssed o f cou n try objects M r W atts Du n ton has
. .
-

said i n the obitu ary n otice co n tributed to The At he ‘

n reu m
’
, to which I h ave be fore re ferred
 RESI D ENCE AT F RO M E 25

I t i s, o f course, a great di sadvan tage to an y poet

n ot t o h ave bee n born i n the cou n try : learn ed i n N ature

t h e city b o m po et c an n ever be, as we see i n the c ase O f

-

M ilto n , who loved N ature w ithout kn owi n g her I t is .

here that M i ss I n gel o w has such an adv an tage over

C hri sti n a o ssetti R
Her love o f flo wers, an d bird s, an d
.

tree s, an d all that m akes the earth so beauti ful , is n ot

on e w hit stro n ger than Chri sti n a s ow n , but it is a love
’

b orn o f an exh au stive detailed kn o wled ge o f N ature s

’

li fe
.
’

Doubtle ss Jean I n gelow excelled Chri sti n a Rossetti i n

exhau stive detailed kn owled ge o f N ature s li fe B u t ’
.
’

thou gh shari n g t o some exten t M r Watts Du n to n s .

-
’

o pi n io n I c an n ot altogether co n cur i n it
, F o r it seem s .

t o me th at Chri sti n a R ossetti s actu al kn o wled ge o f

’

N ature was gre ater th an he here supposes I t mu st n o t .

b e forgotte n however t h at he spea ks from actu al kn ow

, ,

l ed ge of Chri sti n a while st ayi n g i n the cou n try

-
.

Chri sti n a did n ot loo k bac k with an y pleasure to

her sojourn at F rome I f I mi sta ke n ot o n ce or twice
.
,

she alluded i n cide n t ally to it i n t al ki n g t o me thou gh ,

n ever appreciatively C o n cern i n g it M r W M R

. ossetti . . .

w rites to me :

I remember that the part of the town i n which

c an

C hri sti n a lived was c alled F ro mefield ( I was there

o n ce or perh ap s t wice )
,
Th i s accordi n g to my re
.
,

c ollectio n was an i n tegral part o f F rome but n ot i n the

, ,

c e n tre o f the town which i s a hilly u p an d do w n so rt o f - -

A
,

p l ace t. th at d ate ( at an y r ate ) it was a re gular

c o u n t ri fied sort o f town — n ot absolutely small but ,

c ertai n ly n ot much m ar ked by traffic or shop di spl ay

’
-
.

Possibly the some wh at u n toward family circum stan ce s

had to do with the feeli n g sh e may have had on the
su bject Perh aps al so F rome was t oo con siderable a
.

t own to be su ffi cie n tly c ou n t ri fied fo r C hri sti n a s ta ste

’
.
26 C H RI STINA RO S SE TTI

In ‘
Time u n der date o f April 2 she n arrates
F lies,
’
,

an i n cide n t re ferri n g to F rome She tell s u s how in .

.

on e o f her cou n try wal ks bei n g the n e n tirely i gn ora n t ,

o f i t s rarity she li ghted upo n a four le aved tre foil

, She -
’

g oe s o n to say

Perh aps I pluc ked an d so de stroyed it : I certai n l y

le ft it for most cert ai n ly I h ave it n ot
,
. .

N ow I would give omethi n g to recover th at

s
wo n der : t hen , wh e n I mi ght have had it for t he
carryi n g, I le ft it .

O n ce mi ssed on e may peer about i n vai n all the rest

,

o f o n e s d ay s fo r a seco n d four le av ed trefoil

’
-
.

N o on e expects to fin d whole field s of such even

on e for o n ce i s an extra allo wan ce
, , .

L i fe has so to say its four leaved tre foil s for a

, ,
-
.

favoured few an d h ow man y o f u s overloo k o n ce an d

fi n ally our rare ch an ce I ’

Some time aft er t he publicatio n of Time F lies on e ,

’

of her admirers o n re adi n g the above passage se n t t o

her a four leaved trefoil which she preserved care fully

- .

Duri n g C hri sti n a s reside n ce at F rome her brother

’
,

Dan te Gabriel was at wor k i n L o n do n on h i s pictu re

,

’
called F ou n d about w hich so much has bee n w ritte n
, ,

an d spe aks thu s i n on e o f h i s letters to h i s mother dated ,

Arli n g ton Street September 30 1 85 3 , ,

‘
I
believe I shall be wan ti n g to pai n t a bric k wall ,

an d a white hei fer tied to a c art goi n g to m ar ke t .

Such thi n gs are I suppose to be had at F rome an d it ,

has occ u rred to me th at I should li ke i f possible to come

an d p ai n t t hem there There is a cattle market is
.
-
,

there n ot ? Have you ever see n such an article as t he

hei fer i n questio n an d have you or Chri sti n a an y
,

rec ollection of an eli gible an d accessible bric k wall ?

I should wan t to get up an d p ai n t it e arly i n t h e
mor n i n gs as the li ght ou ght to be that of d awn I t
, .

should b e n ot t oo c ou n t ri fied ( yet beauti ful i n colour )

 C HRI STI N A RO SSEI ' ‘

I I .

( F r omtl wf en d ! d r a w i ng by D a n t e Gabr i elR or ret t i , oc t oo” 1 85 2 N ow i n t ho

.

possessi on of M r I V I
. . AR
. osset t i a n d r e
.
pr od u ced l ur e/ or t ire fi r st t i m e )
.
 N IC K 27

as it is to represen t a city wall Acert ai n modicum o f -

.

moss would therefore be admi ssible but n o prodi gality ,

o f gr ass weed s i vy etc

, C an y ou give an y i n form atio n
, , .

o n the se head s ? I suppo se C hri sti n a s pictori al eye will

’

by thi s time have some i n si ght i n to the be autie s o f bric k

—
wall s the pre ferability of purpli sh prev aili n g ti n t to
yellowi sh etc , .

I suppose Chri sti n a h as n o t been wor ki n g much at the

Art ? Will you tell her that I am quite ashamed o f n ot
bei n g able yet to tell her an yth i n g positive about N ic k
I am c o n stan tly rememberi n g it whe n H an n ay i s n ot i n
t h e way an d al ways forgetti n g it whe n he i s
,
I have .

n ow re solved to remember it the n ext time I see him ,

an d i f I am baul ked agai n to write t o him the n ext

, ,

time I thi n k o f it .
’

D an te Gabriel ,
however pai n ted the bric k wall ,
‘ ’

n o t at F rome but at Chi sw ic k as we learn from h is

, ,

characteri stic l etters to Willi am Alli n gham edited ,

skil fully by Dr George B ir kbec k H ill H an n ay

l ‘ ’
. .
,

re ferred to in D an te Gabriel s letter was J ames H an n ay ’

, ,

the n oveli st an d N ic k was a t ale to be men tion ed

,
’
,

b y an d b y i n co n n ectio n with C hri sti n a s C ommo n place

’
- -

an d Other S hort Stories Presum ably D an te Gabriel .

’

i n ten d ed to recomme n d it to Han n ay for publication .

Adrawi n g of Chri sti n a was made by D an te Gabri el

i n October 1 8 5 2 an d by the permi ssion o f her brother
,

W illiam is reproduced here for the first time I quote .

what follo ws from a commu n ic atio n made by the l atte r

t o me
‘
Toward s ( perhap
1 s ) [C h
85 2
r i st i J
n a s ill n e ss w as
’

'

con sidered to be esse n ti ally angi n a pecton s Dr . .

C relli n was c alled i n an d he set her fairly ri ght as ,

regard s t hose particul ar symptom s .

C [h ri sti n a] s kn owled ge o f Si r W [illiam ] Je n n er

’

began toward s 1 8 5 4 I n 1 8 5 3 whe n C [hri sti n a] with

.
,

At l an t i c M on t /1 1] , M ay—Augu st , 1 896 .
28 C H RIS TI NA RO SSETTI

our pare n ts we n t to F rome M ari a an d I too k lod gi n gs i n

Alban y Street ( n ot the same house wh[ich ] we all after
,

war d s occupied as a family reside n ce ) over a C hemi st s

’
,

shop occupied by a M
,
r —
B urcham who tur n ed out to be
.

al so an am ateur pai n ter O f still li fe of con siderable merit .

There M ari a an d I first met [Si r Willi am] Je n n er n o t yet ,

a man o f pro fession al celebrity an d afterward s C [hristi n a] ,

did . She li ked him thi n ki n g h is m an n er n o t u n

,

pleasan tly scruti n i zi n g or ormid ble

f a — a poi n t as to
,

which she was rather se n sitive i n medical co n cern s I .

.

a m n ot clear th at she ever co n sulted him pro fessio n a lly

u n til her terrible ill n e ss exophthalmic bron chocele begi n
, ,
“
n i n g i n 1 87 1 He pro n ou n ced her the n to be a ve ry
.

i n teresti n g case —the m alady bei n g far from a common

on e . After that she al way s con sulted him ( u n til he
retired from practice ) at the more importan t cri ses o f
her ill n esses Dr Ste wart ( who atten ded my M other
an d A
.

u n ts) bei n g al so employed by C [h r i sti n a] i n t he

ordi n ary course o f eve n ts C[hri sti n a ] had a particular .

“
di sli ke i f a doctor loo ked surpri sed when she men
t io n ed her symptom s Her li ki n g for [Sir W illiam ]
.

Jen n er was partly bec au se he did n ot loo k surpri sed .

’

M r F ord M
. . H ff
the exh au stive li fe of his
ue er, in

g ra n d father F ord M ,adox B ro w n w rite s i n allu sio n to ,

1 8 5 2 1 85 5 co n cer n i n g o n e o f the l atter s chie f reli iou s

’

g
-

p ai n ti n gs Christ W ashes Peter s F eet

,
’

Apart from
the i n tri n sic worth o f the picture it ,

h as an hi storical i n terest o f i t s o wn i n th at it c o n
t ai n s portraits o f several of the members o f the P R
,

. .

[ P r ae p ]
ra h ael i t e circle .

The head o f Chri st is a literal tran script of that o f

M r F G Stephe n s of the A po stle s omitti n g Juda s the
first o n the le ft i s M r W M R
. . .
, ,

o ssetti the seco n d M r

. . .
, .

Holm an Hu n t ; the fourth M r Hu n t sen ; the fi fth

C [h arles] B [agot ] Cayley the sixth D G R
, ,
.
, .

o ssetti an d , . .
,

the Seve n th St Joh n i s I believe M i ss C hri sti n a

Rossetti M r Willi am Rossetti i s however rather o f
, .
, , ,

R [Przeraphael it e]
.
,
.
,

O pi n io n th at it was D ev erel l the P , . .

who sat for the head

’
.
 HEN RI ETTA PO LYD O RE
H owever The At henze u m for F ebruary 27 1 897 i n
review of M r H
, , ,

’
a u effer s li fe o f h is gra n d father states :
.
,

He [M r H ueffer] errs i n th i n ki n g th at the head

.

”
ofS t Joh n in B rown s C h r i st W ashes Peter s F ee t n ow
’ ’
.
,

i n t he N ation al Galle ry was pai n ted from C hri sti n a

Rossetti There was excu se fo r thi s belie f be fore t he
,

lady fou n d hersel f u n able to remember sitti n g fo r the

h e ad ; but M r W R ossetti i s certai n ly mi stake n i n
. .

suppo si n g D everell w hom it doe s n o t at all re semble , ,

sat fo r it
’
.

Chri sti n a
addre ssed to He n rietta Polyd ore an other
l yric some years afterward s the be auti ful poem e n titled ,

N ext o f K in d ated F ebru ary 2 1 1 8 5 3 B u t here both

’

, , .

m otive an d subject are more i n accordan ce with her u su al

m a n n er th an i s the c ase i n To L all a The poem al so ’
.

b eto ken s an expect atio n o f speedy death which ru n s ,

t hrou gh m an y o f her early ver se s She addresses her .

c ou si n as

You , whi te as dove or lil y or spi ri t of t he l ight

I , stai ned an d c old an d glad t o hi d e i n t he c ol d dark n ight
You, j oy t o man y a l ovi n g heart an d light t o man y eyes

I, lon ely in t he kn owl edge ea rt h is fu l l of van t es ii .

Itmay perh aps be permi ssible to say here paren

, , ,

t h eti c ally as show i n g ho w early fears may be fal sified by

,

fact that w hile Chri sti n a hersel f lived an average le n gth

,

o f li fe an d died from a di se ase far other th an th at which

, ,

i n early ye ars seemed to thre ate n her the you n g l ady

, ,

t o whom these poem s were addre ssed died t we n ty years

before her o f co n sumption the very di sease C hri sti n a ,

feared for hersel f whe n she w rote the poem l ast n amed
The piece of the same d ate en titled Portraits I s , ,

p o ssibly n ot very poetic i n qu ality but i s very i n ter ,

esti n g autobiogr aphic ally I t co n si sted ori gi n ally of .

t hree sta n zas; the first de scriptive o f her brot her

 C HRI STINA ROSSETTI

William the secon d o f her brother Dan te Gabriel an d

the third co n tai n i n g a si sterly re fere n ce to both brothers .

M ost readers will share her brother William s regret th at

’

the M S of the secon d stan za i s l ost havi n g presu m

.
,

ably bee n de stroyed O f set purpose by Dan te Gabrie l .

Accordi n g to t he same authority C hristi n a was a diligen t

,

correspo n de n t an d kn ew well M i ss M acdo n ald n ow

, ,

L ady B urn e Jo n es corre spo n di n g w i t h her ; an d was

-
,

a l so acqu ai n ted w ith L ady B u rn e J o n es s t w o si sters

’
-
,

n ow respectively M rs L oc kwood Kipli n g ( mother of

.

t he celebrated writer ) an d L ady Poy n ter though the ,

l atter she kn ew o n ly sli ghtly .

Sometimes i n these e arly years Chri sti n a was asked

to write verses for frie n d s an d these were n ot al way s
,

very appropriate to the occasio n as whe n she con t ri ,

buted the mourn ful li n es begi n n i n g

D o you hear the l ow wi n d s si n gi n g ,

And streams sin gi ng on t heir bed ?

V ery d i stan t bell s are ri ngi n g
I n a chapel for t he dead

to the album o f a you t h ful frie n d M i ss Orme aft erward s

, ,

the wi fe of Pro fessor M asson o f Edi n burgh .

Readers o f N ew Poem s w ill recollect the delic ately

‘ ’

touched lyric called What ? dated M ay 1 85 3 an d

‘ ’

e n di n g with the li n es
Gl ori ou s as pu rple t wilight ,

Pl easan t as bu d d i n g tree ,

U n t ou c hed as any i sl et
Shri n ed i n an u n kn own sea
Sweet as a fragran t rose amid t he d ew
As sweet as fru it less t oo
, .

Abitt er dream t o wake from ,

B u t oh how pleasant while we d ream I

Apoi son ed fou n t to take from 7 ,
I

B u t oh h ow sweet t he stream l
 FI RST O F F ER OF MARRI AGE 3 I

Thi s poem is the fi rst o f several i n th at volume to depict

,

w hat her you n ger brother has called an u n h appy love

a e i h i i ter li fe Duri or po ibly late
’

p ass g n s s s s . n g 1 8
,49 ss

i n 1 848 sh e was sou ght i n marri age by a pai n ter very well
,

k n own i n her circle She regarded him wi t h favour B u t

. .

h e was a R oma n Catholic an d she determi n ed to decli n e

,

h is suit owi n g to reli giou s co n sideratio n s

’
.
3 2 C HRI STI N A RO SS ETTI

C HAP TER I I
B I O G R A P H I C A L (con t i n u ed )

( M ai n l y 1 85 4- 1 876 )

Ret u r n s t o Lond on — Deat h of Gab rie l Rosset ti—St rai ten ed c ircu mstan ces
e

— M isc ell aneous wri t in gs— Li t erary i n come u p t o 1 89o — I I ast i ngs
N ewm t l e on -T n e — B roo kban k
y
-
, S h o t t er m i ll , as l em e r e — Ch el t en H
—
ham S ec no d o f
f er o f marri age— F orei g n t rav e l — Sw i t zerla n d — I tal y
D r Gord on
. H ake — T
D rheL i t t l eRe
d a l v
e —. C ha k d rawi n g by Dan t e
. l
—l
Gab ri e , 1 866 Pen k i ll Cast e, y rs h i r e — l
e mo va t o A
56 ust o n R l E
q
S uare, n ow 5 n dsl e i gh GEar d en s — S e r i o u s i ne ss— M ead s, ast ll E
bou rn e— D evot ion to her fami y— er si st er s
’
Shad o w of Dan te
l H
H er o wn p p
a ers on D an t e —D an t e s L u c i fer
’
an d M i l t on s S
’
at an

con t rast ed
— H er si st er s i n flu enc e u po n
’
her i n rel i gi o u s mat t ers— H
er

sist er an d Mr . J oh Rski
n u n.

I N M arch 8 5 4 C hri sti n a

return ed to L on do n wi t h
1

her father an d mother an d wen t t o re side at the hou se ,

o f her brother William then 45 Upper A lban y Street , ,

but n ow 1 66 A lban y Street R ege n t s Park Here on ly ,

’
.
,

a mo n th a ft erward s in April 1 85 4 her father died

, , .

F o r a w hile there was n o m ateri al alteration ei t her

i n the circum stan ce s or in the p ro spects O f the family .

Chri sti n a w rote thou gh she did n ot publi sh much

, ,

poet ry an d al so some prose

,
.

Respecti n g some of her mi scella n eou s writi n gs

Mr W M R
. ossetti has writte n to me
. .

‘
There are ma ny
rticle s by C[hri sti n a] o n I talian
a

w riters an d other celebritie s i n a cyclope dia c alled

the I mperial Diction ary of B iography an d ed i t ed by
Dr Waller She u n dert oo k somethi n g (an d may pos
. .
34 C H RIS TIN A R O SSE TTI

M B
’
hall all follo w N olly s
Oliver adox ro s] advic e
[
’
s wn
—
,

an d go an d see him some d ay Yet it is a reli ef po or

little d ear to thi n k he is now out of all h is pai n for ever .
’

The little i n cide n t rrated at A pril 1 0 of Time

na
’
F lie s h as n o d ate assi gn ed to it i n that volume It .

occurred ho wever at the B ota n ical Garde n s R

, , egen t s ,
’

Park about 1 860

, Such an i n ciden t i f told by an
.
,

—
ordi n ary n arrator wou ld be common pl ace told as she
,

kn e w how to tell it it becomes most fasci n ati n g

,

O n e d ay lon g ago I sat i n a certai n garde n by a

C ertai n or n ame n t al water .

I sat so lo n g an d so quietly that a w ild garde n crea

ture or t wo m ade it s appearan ce a water rat perhaps , ,

o r a water h au n ti n g bird
-
F ew h ave bee n my perso n al
.

experie n ces of the sort an d thi s o n e gratified me I

, .

was ab sorbed th at aftern oon i n an xiou s thou ght yet the ,

sli ht i n cide n t plea sed me

g .

M an y ( I hope) whom we pity as even wretched may ,

i n re ality as I was at th at mome n t be co n sciou s o f

, ,

some sm all secret fou n t o f pleasure a bubble perh aps , ,

yet lit by a dan ci n g rai n bow .

I hope so an d I thi n k so fo r we an d all creatures

al i ke are i n God s h an d s an d God love s u s
’ ’

, .

The ext few years o f Chri sti n a Ro ssetti s li fe

n
’
,

thou gh n o t outwardly eve n t fu l were yet importan t , .

They wit n essed a gradual i n crease o f the family pro

Sperity an d they were al so year s i n w hich she began
,

to gai n repute as a n oticeable poet F o r al t hou gh her .

first m ature volum e Gobli n M arket an d Other Poem s

, ,
’

did n ot appear u n til 1 86 2 a gre at deal o f the verse ,

composi n g it was w ritte n e arlier De spite the favour .

able reception of her books t hey did n o t u n til abou t ,

1 890 bri n g her much mo n ey — her average i n come fro m

literatu re u p to th at d ate h ardly amou n ted t o 30
 LI TERAR Y INC O M E B E F O R E AN D A FTER 1 890 35

or £45 a ye ar . After 1 890 her i n come from literature

became relatively l arge .

She ge n erally resided i n L o n do n but spe n t n o t ,

w ith stan di n g some time both i n the cou n try an d at

the seaside her vi sit s to con ge n i al frie n d s bei n g espe
,

c ial ly source s o f e njoyme n t to her She first saw the .

sea at He m e B ay an d a mo n g other m ari n e re sort s sh e

,

vi sited were Clacto n an d Deal Her I tali an poem

.

L i sett a al l A m an te was writte n at F ol ke sto n e i n

‘ ’ ’

August 1 846 an d she was agai n at the same place i n

,

Augu st 1 87 1 .

She was al ways delic ate but more particul arly so i n

,

her early y ears I n open i n g w om an hood an d even up

.

to 1 86 3 she was troubled wi t h symptom s which it ,

was supposed as has been said before poi n ted to

, ,

phthi si s Hen ce an ythi n g of the n ature o f a cold was

.

al ways regarded w ith some measure o f an xiety F o r .

the ben efit o f her health she spe n t the w i n ter mon ths ,

which closed 1 86 4 an d began 1 86 5 at Hasti n gs with her , ,

m o ther an d her co usi n He n rietta .

I t was either duri n g thi s r e side n ce at Ha sti n gs o r

duri n g o n e of the four or five shorter vi sits she paid t o
t h at pl ace th at the i n cide n t occurred she recou n t s so

excellen tly i n Time F lies u n der date o f M ay 1 5 She .

there say s ho w whe n o n e o f a lu n ch eon p arty she heard

, ,

a Ge n eral who w as prese n t rel ate that whe n retur n i n g ,

from sho oti n g on e d ay he ob served a spec k i n the sky

’
.
,

Taki n g it fo r a wan d eri n g bird he aimed at it his l ast

ra n dom shot but he felt n o surpri se at n o result fol
,
’

lowi ng whe n he remembered the co n siderabl e di stan ce

b c t weeri him an d the O bject The Ge n eral had at hom e
.

a robi n — ori gi n ally wild an d still allo wed t o go at large

a bird that had acquired a certai n de ree o f tame n ess
-
g
3 6 C H RIS TIN A RO SSE TTI

through the ki n d n ess shown to it To thi s free familiar .

‘

bird the Ge n eral was greatly att ached but it n ever ,

came agai n after the d ay j u st me n tion ed an d ever ,

a fterward s he was O f opi n ion that o n t he occ asion ,

re ferred to he had him sel f u n witti n gly Shot it an d

, ,

when he told the a n ecdote he was u n able to do so

w ithout emotio n Thi s i s C hri sti n a s comme n t
.
’ ’

L et have mercy on each other an d forgive even

us

a w ro n ged robi n s sile n ce an d abse n ce were hard to

’

’
bear .

The O ffi cer ju st re ferred to , Ge n eral L udlow, marri ed

M i ss Le igh Smith i ter O f the lady who as M rs
, ss ,
.

B od ic hon bec ame favourably kn o wn thro u gh her clo se

,

co n n ection with Girton College A portion o f the .

w i n ter o f 1 86 4 was al so passed by Chri sti n a R ossetti at

Hasti n gs with her u n cle an d cou si n .

I n a pleasan t article e n titled APoetic Tri o co n , ,

’

tributed by M to The At hen a mm ( N o

.
’
.

Au gu st 7 , we find a rather a mu si n g accou n t o f

a great se wi n g competitio n i n which C hri sti n a J ean
‘
,
’
,

I n gelo w an d Dora Gree n well e n gaged i n 1 86 3 4

, ,
-
.

C hri sti n a stayed at le ast o n three occasio n s w i t h M r .

an d M rs B ell S
. cott at N e wcastle ou Tyn e with espec ial - -

pleasure Here she met Dora Gree n well who it will b e

.
, ,

remembered addressed t o her the fin e poem begi n n i n g

,

Thou hast filled me l de n c u p

a go

Wi t h a drin k d i vi n e t hat gl o ws ,

Wi t h t he bl oom that i s flowin g u p

F rom t he heart of t he fol d ed rose .

C o n cern i n g
the frien d ship o f these t wo, Mr W M . . .

Rossetti h as written to me as follows :

Dora an d C hri sti n a met several times [at N e wcast le
 DO RA G REEN WEL L — VI SI TS S O TTERM I LLH 37

on -
Tyn e ] li ked on e an other much : the acquai n t
an d
an ce may h ave be gu n to ward s 1 85 8 an d co n ti n ued o n ,

an d o ff till D [ora] s death they did n ot meet of ten

’
.

I mysel f met D [ora] t wo or three times whe n sh e was ,

g etti n g o n tow ar d s 40 : a s lim d ar k rather t all wom an ,

o f an el egan t seri ou s type

-
there was somethi n g part ic u
l arly pleasi n g i n her to n e o f voice an d mode o f elocutio n
— a race ful sweet trippi n delivery ’

g g .

vi sited Cli fton an d D arlasto n i n Stafford

Chri sti n a ,

shire O n more th an o n e occasion she stayed with her

.

att ached frie n d An n e Gilchri st when t he l atter lived

, ,

at B rookb an k Shottermill n ear H aslemere a charm

, , ,

i n gly situ ated an d most picture sque hou se afterward s

associ ated with George E liot for there the n oveli st ,

w rote a good deal o f M iddlemarch I n a publi shed

’
.

l ett er A n n e Gilchri st thu s de scribe s C hri sti n a after the

co n clu sion of her first vi sit to B roo kb an k

We were both altoget her charmed w ith M i ss
Rossetti there i s a sweetn ess an u n a ffected simpli c ity
— ,

a n d ge n tle n ess w ith al l her g i fts that i s very w i n n i n g

,

an d I hope to see more o f her She was so ki n d t o the .

C hildre n an d so e asy to plea se an d ma ke com fortable

th at thou gh a stran ger to me sh e was n ot at all a

, ,

formidable guest
’
.

This sojourn ummer an d owi n g to the resi

was i n s ,

d en ce at Hasti n gs already re ferred to she was u n able t o

, ,

g o to B r oo kb an k i n the e n sui n g wi n ter Her fo n d n ess fo r .

c hildre n an d some o f her theorie s about educatio n are

b oth re ferred to i n the follow i n g extract from a letter

addressed to A n n e G ilchri st

Wh at a great girl the little Grace of my admiri n g

m emory has become Pray ask you r n urse an d you r
to accept my love As to a stan d i n their
.

su n shi n e .

For this, an d oth er q uotations fro m the same sou rce, see L i e an d
f
l at er : 4 An ne G lrlr
'

rz
r t
'

r .
 C HRIS TIN A RO SSETTI

educ atio n surely they may gai n more by ten di ng a

beloved mother th an by a gr eat ma ny boo ks thou gh fo r
al l your sake s it will i n d eed be a joy ful day whe n you
c an take your old place a mo n gst tho se who l ove you .

M y mother an d sister an d William j oi n me i n al l

the a ffection ate good wi shes which thi s seaso n call s
out William al so j oi n s me in a return O fferi ng of
.
-

photograph s thou gh you will n otice that wh at represe n ts

,

mysel f is n ot ta ke n from me d irect b ut from a great

drawi ng Gabriel did of me i n 1 866 Thi s mu st accou n t .

t o you fo r i t s u n blemi shed smooth n ess an d fi n i sh

’
.

‘
The little Grace of
my admiri n g memory — M iss

,
—
G race Gilchri st n ow M rs F ren d co n tributed to Good
.

Word s for December 1 896 an article about C hristi n a

Rossetti full of sympathetic discern me n t Two extracts .

may be made de scriptive of M rs F ren d s early remin i s

’
.

ce n ces of her
M y fi rst rec ollection of C hri sti n a Rossett i hovers
in the su n n y dreamlan d o f earlie t childhood an d i n s
,

thi s it may be the ethe real grace O f her rare poet s

, ,
’

n ature fi n d s i t s mo st appropri ate setti n g F o r the n it is .

th at I have a vivid impression of playi n g a game o f ba ll

w ith her o n e summer aftern oo n upon a slopi n g l awn ,

u n d er t he bran ches o f an old apple tree i n the garde n

o f a ti n y hamlet amon g the S urrey hill s I t was i n the
J u n e of 1 86 3 that M i ss C hri sti n a R
.

o ssetti came upo n

her first memorable vi sit to my home there ; she was
then a d ark eyed slen der lady i n the plen itu de o f her
-
, ,

poetic powers havi n g already writte n some of her most

,
”
perfect poem s Gobli n M arket an d Dream Lan d .

‘
To my child s eyes she appeared li ke some fairy
’

pri n cess who had come from the su n n y south to pl ay

with me . I n appearan ce she was I tali an w ith ol ive ,

complexion an d deep hazel eyes She possessed too

the beauti ful I tali an voice all the R
.
, ,

ossetti s were gi fted

—
with a voice m ade up of stra n ge sweet i n flex io ns , ,

which rippled i n to silvery modul atio n s i n su stai n ed

co n versation m ak i n g ordi n ary En gli sh word s an d
,

ph rases fall upo n the ear w ith a soft forei gn mu sical , ,

 SHO TTERM I L L— CHELTENH —
AM GLO U C ESTER 39

i n ton atio n thou gh she pron ou n ced the words them

selves w i t h the purest o f E
,

n gli sh acce n ts M o st o f a l l .

I u sed to won der at an d admire the way i n which she

would t ake up an d hold i n the hollow o f her h an d
, ,

cold little frogs an d clammy toad s o r furry m an y legged ,

-

caterpill ars with a fearless love th at we cou n try childre n

could n ever emul ate Even to t he i n dividual whi sk o f
,

’
o n e squirrel s t ail from a n other s or the furtive scu t tle o f
’

a rabbit across a field or commo n n othi n g e sc aped her ,

n ature lovi n g ken

-
yet her excursio ns i n to the cou n t ry
w ere as a n gel s vi sits few an d far betwee n but when
’
,

there how much she n oted of flower an d tree beast an d

, ,

bird
‘
As a quai n t i n sta n ce o f her shy n ess which was
wholly charmi n g I c an recall o n e little i n cide n t of her
,

first vi sit to my mother .

Upo n her arrival she was shown to her room to ,

p repare for the simple meal of the hou sehold She .

arrived by an aftern oo n trai n an d it mu st have bee n a ,

l ate tea supper M y mot her fi n di n g after the l apse

-
.
,

o f some time th at she did n ot appear i n the drawi n g

room circle wen t upstairs i n search o f her an d tappi n g

at her door fou n d M i ss R
, , ,

, ossetti ready but waiti n g in , ,

some trepid ation too shy to ve n ture do wn alo n e or t o be

, ,

form ally an n ou n ced by the serva n t i n to the expecta n t ,

g roup i n the d raw i n g room -

.
’

C hri sti n a vi sited C helten ham an d Gloucester o n four

or five occ asion s as the guest of her u n cle M r He n ry , .

Po lyd o re wh o re sided i n both o f the se places at d i fleren t

'

time s .

I n te n se symboli sm was an i n here n t attribute o f her

mi n d an d shows itsel f bo th i n her poetry an d i n her
,

prose n otably i n Time F lies I n the l ast n amed ; she ’

;
-
.

tell s u s o f the pleasure she experie n ced fro m ex amin

in g the lovely ti n ts o f some a n cien t Ve n eti an glass an d ,

ho w on e day whe n i n the cou n try she fou n d i n a

, ,

d itc h a bro ke n bottle which havi n g bee n ox yd ised al so

, , ,
40 C H RIS TIN A ROSS ETTI

di splayed in a mi n or key a varie t y o f iridesce n t

‘

ti n ts a sort of d u ll rai n bo w She e n d s qu ai n tly thu s

,
.
’

I f it i s well fo r the few to rejoice i n su n ri se an d

‘ -

moon rise it i s n o less well for the man y to be than kful

-

’
for d im rai n bo ws .

The collec tion o f O ld Ven etian glass she had

fine
see n at the hou se o f M r Virtue T ebbs ; the broke n
.

bottle she had fou n d n ear Chelte n h am .

Duri n g on e of these sojour n s at C helten ham she

vi sited M alv em and i n the course o f a letter addressed
,

to An n e Gilchri st call s it very deli ght ful w ith its gran d

‘

old priory ch u rch an d view comman di n g hi ll s -

.
’

Alittle n ote from his mot her to Dan te Gabriel n ow ,

l ivi n g at 1 6 C hey n e Wal k C hel sea ( then called Tudor

,

Hou se ) may be i n troduced here as sho wi n g the some

w hat curiou s mixture o f re spect an d affectio n wit h
which he was regarded by h is family circle .

J u e a7th 1 864 n , .

M y dear Gabriel — M ay I have the heart felt pleasure

,

o f your pre se n ce at t ea at 8 O cloc k on Tharsaay ’ ’

,

when a few of our frien d s will be assembled

Pray give your ultimatum to Chri sti n a an d kn ow
‘

that I am for ever an d ever

"
Your a ffec t mot her
FR AN C ES RO SSE TTI ‘
.
’

C hri sti n a Rossetti received

a seco n d o ffer o f marriage
her suitor i n thi s i n stan ce bei ng a man of letters an d
, ,

pre emi n en tly a scholar Agai n she was favourably

-
.

di sposed toward s her suitor an d agai n actu ated by , ,

rel i giou s sc ruple s she was con strai n ed to reject his O fler
'

, ,

fo r i n the word s of her survivi n g brot her he was either

, ,
‘

n ot a C hri stia n at all or el se was a C hri sti an o f

,

u n defi n ed an d heterodox views This i n ciden t whic h .

’
,

termi n ated abou t 1 866 was more deeply felt by her

,
42 C H RI STIN A RO SSETTI
‘
Again am M aria s pen This time to ask you r
I
’
.

accepta n c e of her lo n g promi sed c arte : she received -

it from Harrogate o n ly thi s morn i n g an d lose s n o t a ,

mome n t i n sen di n g it w ith her love ; o n ly she doe s

thi s by proxy becau se she had to go out early on a
mel an choly teeth expedition .

‘
Than k you most warmly fo r havi n g don e me so
ki n d an d gre at a service as to hu n t up t he mi ssi n g leaf
of C leme n za M amm a i s as ple ased as mysel f at i t s
recovery .

I saw Sir
W Je er agai to day ; an d do n t feel o n
. nn n -
’

the high road to your pleasan t party thou gh he says I ,

am bet t er .

M amma William , thi n k o f goi n g to the Ri fle

an d I
soirée to n i ht at U n iversity C olle e w h a ve a p are
g g e s
h al f tic ket an d i f you w ill li ke to go al so p ray joi n u s
, ,

an d appear u n der ou r ve n e rable w i n Ple e be w ith

g a s .

u s n o t later th an a quarter be fore 8 as M amm a wi she s ,

n ot t o
g o very late .

‘
I hope thi s will reach i n time : o f course i f we do
n ot see you we mu st con clude you are preve n t ed
,

comi n g ( I con fide to you my private opi n io n that

.

William will n ot start be fore

J uly 1 9th .

‘
Dear L ucy The e n closed kn obbed bod ki n w ill
—
,

remi n d you o f me an d i s accompa n ied by my aflec

'

t ion at e wi she s that yo u may e njoy m an y h appy retur n s

o f thi s d ay .

’
With Chri sti n a s love believe u s both ,

Your tru ly attached frie n d s

F RANCES R
,

O SSETTI ‘

C H RI STI NA G RO SSE TTI

.

‘ ’
. .

Mr Edmu d
. n Gosse , i n the excellen t article o n
Chri sti n a Ro ssetti in h is admirable C ritic al Kit K ats
‘ ’
-
,

Gabriel ossetti , both R as poet an d pai n ter re mai n ed ,

very I talian t o the l ast , but h is si ster i s a tho rou gh

En gli shwoma n U n less I . m ake a great mi stake she has ,
 FO REI GN TRAVEL 43

c rcely vi sited I taly an d i n her poet ry the l an d scape

s a ,

an d the ob serv ation o f N ature are n o t o n ly E n gli sh ,

they are so thorou ghly loc al that I doubt whether there

is o n e touch i n them all w hich prove s her to have
strayed m ore than fi fty miles from Lo n do n i n an y
direction I have n o reason fo r sayi n g so beyo n d
.

i n tern al evide n ce but I should be i n cli n ed t o su ggest

,

that the cou n ty o f Sussex alo n e is c ap able o f h avi n g

supplied all the image ry which M i ss R ossetti s poem s ’

con tai n Her literary repertory too seem s purely

.
, ,

En glish ; there i s h ardly a solitary touch i n her wor k ’

which betray s her tran salpi n e p are n tage .

Surely however the critic s stateme n t here is some

, ,
’

what n eedle ssly emphatic I t i s true that accord i n g to ou r .

modern n otion s Chri sti n a Rossetti had n ot much forei gn

travel Yet she was n ot wholly without thi s experie n ce
.

it s i n flue n ce has le ft abidi n g traces on her writi n gs ;

an d eve n i n her poet ry o n ce an d agai n sh e described
, .

aspects of Nature n ot to be seen i n En gla n d Although .

the opportu n ity fo r travel po ssessed by her brother

Willi am was n ecessarily limited to an an n u al summer
vacation owi n g to his pro fession al duties at Somerset
,

Hou se yet o n t wo occ asion s he travelled with Chri sti n a

o n the C o n ti n e n t o f Europe I n 1 86 1 he too k h is .

mother an d hersel f to Pari s an d N orman dy return i n g by ,

Jersey the sojourn abroad occupyi n g about si x wee ks

, .

Her seco n d an d most import an t tour thou gh o n ly filli n g ,

t he same space o f time occurred i n 1 86 5 With t he, .

same compan io n s she the n proceeded through F ran ce

an d by B asle the L ake O f L ucern e an d the S

,
t Gotthard , .

to I taly The party vi sited Como P avia B rescia

.
, , ,

B ergamo an d M ila n taki n g on their way n orthward s the

, ,

Spl ii gen Schaffh au sen F reib u rg in the B l ac k F ore st

, , ,

an d S trasburg M ou n tai n sce n ery deli ghted C hri sti n a

.

i n expre ssibly ; pictures an d such matters o f fin e art,

 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
a ppeal ed to her much less There is a most i n tere sti n g
hi n t as to her feeli n gs i n Swit zerl an d i n Ti m
.

e F lies ‘
,
’

u n der date Ju n e 1 0 She there spe aks o f what she aptly

.

call s the sadd emn g i n fluen ce o f mou n tai n sce n ery .

’

F o r thi s sh e doe s n ot see k to a ssi gn a defi n ite c au se su g ,

g e st i n g,
ho w ever ,
th at b e c a u se the ma ss a n d lo ft i n e ss o f
hi gh mou n tai n s far exceed the physical magn itudes ’

magn itudes m ai n ly o f sea an d sky to which our —

eyes are accu stomed therefore their sublimity impresse s

,

u s li ke wan t o f symp athy

’
.

Thi s is I thi n k a very ju st expla n ation o f a mood

, ,

o f mi n d which m an y o f u s w h o h ave lived much amid

hi gh mou n tai n s mu st have o fte n kn o wn The truly .

g re a t poet ,
by subtle di scri m i n atio n o fte n reve a l s to u s,

the secrets of me n tal phen omena I n the passage j u st .

referred to she goes o n to tell how she was sadde n ed

an d probably weary ( R eader s
. o
’
f M r R u sk i n w ill .

remember h is experien ce i n li ke circum sta n ces as to the

Alps ) Then she passed i n doors losi n g si ght fo r a
.
,

momen t of the mou n tai n s B u t here let me suppleme n t .

’

the n arrative an d tell wh at happe n ed subseque n tly from

, ,

i n form atio n given me by M r W M R ossetti who was

. . .
,

prese n t B y an d b y whe n she e n tered the large saloo n

.
- -
,

o f the H otel S ch wei zerhof at L ucern e where she was ,

stayi n g , she beheld sudde n ly from a w i n dow ,

wi t h ,

appare n t ec stacy the m agn ifice n t pan oram a o f the

,
’

Ri ghi to ward s su n set She m ake s an eloquen t re feren ce

.

to thi s i n ciden t i n So n n et XX I I of L ater L i fe where .

,
’

says

The mou n tai n s i n t heir overwhel min g might

M oved me t o sad n ess when I saw them first ,

An d aft erwards they moved me t o delight

St ru ck harmon i es from sil en t c hords whic h bu rst
Ou t i n t o son g a son g by memory n u rsed
,
 FO REI G N TRAVEL 45

F or v
e er u n ren ewed
b y t ou c h or sight
Sleeps t he keen magic of eac h d ay or n ight ,
I n pl easure an d i n won d er t h en i mmersed .

A equ ally i n terest i n g allu sio n to t hi s tour i s see n

n

i n Son n et X X I o f the same fin e series where she give s

.
,

a most charmi n g remi n i sce n ce o f C omo Sh e says .

Ah ost of t hi ngs I take on t u st r I take

The n ighti n gales on t ru st for few an d far,

B etween t hose ac tu al summer momen t s are

When I have heard what mel ody t hey make .

So c han ced it on c e at C omo on t he Lake

B u t al l th i n gs t hen waxed mu sical ; eac h star
, ,

San g on i ts c ou rse each breeze san g on its car

, ,

All harmon ies sang to sen ses wi de awake .

She add s after a few li n es o f further vivid d esc rip

,

t ion,

For Ju n e t hat n igh t glowed l i ke a d ou bled Ju ne .

A other
n i n ciden t o f thi s tour worthy o f record i s
me n tion ed in Time F lies u n der d ate September 1 6 .

C hristi n a there ex presses her re gret that whe n desce n d ,

i n g a mou n tai n she did n o t turn to loo k at a foambo w

,

on t he mou n tai n torre n t see n by her compan ion an d ,

sh e evide n tly felt poi gn an t di sappoi n tme n t at havi n

g
acciden tally missed the beauti ful sight Her com .

an ion was her brother William an d she was de sce n d

p ,

i n g the Splu gen As a sequel to the fore goin g remarks

.

an extract from a le t ter to A n n e Gilchri st may be quoted ,

more especi ally as it bri n gs i n to pleasi n g promi n en ce

so me o f her m arked trait s her love fo r her mother an d
,

her love for children

Our sm all co n ti n en tal tour proved e njoyable beyon d
word s ; a pleasure i n o n e s l i fe n ever t o be forgotten
’
.

M y m other throve abro ad an d n o t on e drawbac k worth

,

d welli ng upo n occ u rred to mar our con te n tmen t Such .

46 c a m sr m a RO SSETTI

u n imagi n able be auties an d gra n deur of n ature as we

beheld n o pen could put on paper so I obviou sly n eed
n ot exert my sel f to tell y o u wh at L u cem e was li ke or ,

wh at the lovely majesty o f M ou n t S t Gotthard or wh at .

,

t he L ake o f Como w ith i t s n i ghti n gale accomp an ime n t

, ,

or what as much of I taly as we saw to our hal f I talian -

hearts I t s people i s a n oble people an d i ts very cattle

.
,

are o f hi gh bom aspect - I am glad o f my I talian .

’
blood I don t say a word about art treasures : t he
.

truth bei n g t hat I far prefer N ature treasures but we saw ,

g loriou s specime n s o f both cl asse s Our lo n ge st stay .

was at M ila n where we wit n essed a rat her i n teresti n g

ceremon y the u n veili n g by Pri n ce O mbert o of a statue
At M il an too we wen t over a most in
,

o f C avour .
, ,

t erest i n g O spedale M aggiore ; the

’
children s ward w retty sight) with i t s
popul atio n of poor at ien t s .
’

Chri sti n ay above that she will n o t attempt t o

sa s

describe M ou n t St Gotthard Yet she did so o n t wo

. .

occ asio n s I n o n e o f the so n n et s i n L ater L i fe she

.
’

thu s spea ks :
St tthard, garde n of forget me not
. Go - -

Yet why should su ch a flower choose su c h a spot ?

C ou l d we forget that way wh ich on ce we wen t
Though n ot on e flower had bloomed t o weave its crown P
Adn ome time a fter ward s she wrote i n Time F lies
s
‘ ’

u n der date o f ju n e I 3 an d 1 4 :
‘
Years ago a small party of u s crossed t he Alp s
i n to I taly by the P ass o f M ou n t St Gotth ard . .

We did n ot tu n n el our way li ke worm s through i t s

de n se substan ce We surmou n ted i ts crest li ke eagles
.
.

Or i f you please n ot at all li ke eagles yet assuredly

, ,

as li ke those born mo n arch s as it co n si sted w ith o u r

possibilities to become .

At a certai
poi n t o f the asce n t M ou n t St Gotth ard
n .

bloomed i n to an actu al garden o f forget me n ots - -

.

U nforgotte n an d n ever t o be forgotte n that lovel y

 FO REI GN TRAVEL

lav ish efflo resc en c e which made earth cerulea n as t he

sky .

Thu s I remember the mou n tai n . B u t without that

flower memory could I h ave forgotte n it
of

Surely n ot : y et there n ot el sewhere a cou n tle ss , ,

mu l titude of forget me n ots made their home - -

.
’

These l ast quotatio n s a re m ade n o t on ly fo r

t wo

their i n tri n sic value but al so bec au se they co n stitute a

,

m ar ked ex ample o f a poet putti n g the same ide as both

i n to verse an d i n to pro se .

Eve n yet the referen ces to her forei gn travel are n o t

exh au sted The t wo extract s about t o be give n from
.

Time F lies u n der d ate Au gu st 4 an d 2 2 re spectively

,
’

sho w how kee n ly sh e could ob serv e :

‘
When I w as i n n ort h I taly a regio n rich i n su n ,

shi n e heat beauty it struc k me that after all our

En gli sh wild scarlet poppies excelled the I tali an po ppi es
, , ,

i n gorgeou s colour .

‘
I should h ave expected the direct con trary ; the
more su n shi n e surely the more glow an d red n ess : yet
,

it appeared other wi se whe n I came to loo k .

Perhaps sheer stress of su n shi n e te n ded to bleach as

well as to dye tho se po p pie s .

In orth I taly I observed th at whil st the cattle are

n

r d d beauti ful beyo n d ou r E n li sh wo n t the pi s

g an an g g ,

are exceptio n ally me an an d repul sive .

‘
Thu s i n o n e characteri stic ally lovely l an d w h at
is fair shows at i t s fairest w h at i s u gly sho ws at i t s ,

u gliest
An d if thu s i n the n atural sphere th us li kew i se i n
.

,
’
the spiritu al sphere .

In her l ast boo k The F ace o f the Deep a devot io n al

, ,

comme n t ary o n the B oo k o f the R

’
evel atio n ( which I
sh all de al w ith fully i n Cha t er co cer n in the
p n g
B iblical passage
48 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
An d t h e h eaven d epart ed as a sc roll wh en i t is
rol l ed t og et her ; an d ev ery mou n t ai n an d i sl an d
w ere mov ed ou t of t hei r pl ac es

she w rites

O n ce years ago i n N orm an dy a fter a day o f

,

floodi n g rai n I beheld the cloud s roll up an d depart an d

,

the au spiciou s sky re appear O n ce i n crossi n g the

-
.

Splu ge n I beheld th at movin g o f the mi sts which gives

bac k to si ght a van ished world Those veil s o f heaven .

an d earth removed beauty c ame to li ght

, Wh at will it .

be to see thi s same vi sible heave n itsel f removed an d

u n imagi n able beauty brou ght to li ght i n glory an d
terror ! au spiciou s to the elect by alie ns u n e n durable
, .
’

Her poem En Route d ated Ju n e 1 ,

’
probably 86 5 —

o n e o f the mo st beauti ful as bei n g o n e o f the most

,

—
person al of her poem s co n tai n s these l i n e s
Farewell , lan d of l ove, I tal y,
Si st er land of Paradi se
-

Wi th mi n e own feet I have t rod den t hee

H ave see n wi th mi n e own eyes

I remember, t hou forgett est me,

I remember t hee .

B l essed be t he lan d t hat warms my heart ,

A n d t he ki n d l y c li me that c heers,

An d t he cord ial faces clear from art ,

And the ton gu e sweet in min e ears

Take my heart i ts t ru est t enderest
, pa rt
,

D ear lan d take my t ears, .

About them her sur v ivi n g brother has writte n

The passion ate delight i n I taly to which the secon d

sectio n o f n ER
oute be ars witn ess su gge st s th at sh e
was almo st an alie n — o r li k e her father exile — in
, , an

the N orth She n ever perhaps wrote a n ythi ng better

. .

I c an remember the i n te n se relie f an d pleasure with

which she saw lovabl e I talia n face s an d heard mu sical
so C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
N ot t hat he reproved me : sta n di n g on a h igh er level
he made t he way obvio u s for others al so to ascen d ’
.

Onmore t han o n e occasi on she tal ked t o me abou t

D r Li tt led al e at some le n gth an d she quite agreed with
, ,

me whe n I ave rred that the bursts o f me rrime n t tha t

woul d break fort h de spite hi s con stan t b ad healt h an d
,

un e n di n g pai n w ere quite irre sistible I n Time F l ies

’
.
,

she has further w ritten about him thu s thou gh i n n eithe r ,

case does she re fer to him by n ame .

He was a man hi n dered an d hampered i n h is

career by irremediable ill health An d moreover he was -
.

i n o ccasion al social i n tercourse o n e of t he most cheerfu l

’
people I ever kn ew .

In Da n te Gabriel made a ch al k drawi n g o f

1 866
his si ster She is represe n ted as se ated at a sm all tabl e
. .

Abook is be fore her an d her face i n profile rests o n

, , ,

her fold ed han d s M r Shield s ( th an whom surely n o n e

. .

could be a better j ud ge ) greatly admires thi s drawi n g .

F rom what sh e hersel f said to me I am stro n gly o f

opi n io n th at o f all her brother s portraits o f hersel f t hi s ’

was her favourite Areproductio n form s t he fron ti spiec e

.

to thi s volume .

Chri sti n a R ossetti kn ew a little of Scotla n d resid i n g ,

on ce or twice with the l ate M i ss Alice B oyd at P en ki ll

C astle i n A yrshire b u t she n ever we n t further n orth
, .

She was there i n 1 866 an d somewhat later she tell s , , ,

An n e Gilchri st
If the en d of
my P en kill sojourn dep rive s me o f
‘

seei n g yo u i t s be gi n n i n g m u l c t s me o f a vi sit to the

,

I sle o f Wi ght i n which I was promi sed to meet Te n n y

so n — poor me ! Thi s i n vitation was on ly give n me
ye sterday t oo late to be closed with : however I am
,

n ot ce rt ai n that i n an y ca se I should have scre wed my

 P EN K I L L C ASTL E

sel f up to accept it as I am ,
shy a mon gst stran gers an d
thi n k th i n gs formidable
while i n 1 870, to the same frie n d sh e thu s writes :
Eve n imagi n atio n can n ot eflac e the qui et
N aple s i n
'

fertile comeli n e ss of Pen kill i n re ality an d whe n ,

beyo n d the immedi ate green n e ss; a gorgeou s su n se t

g l ori fies the sea di sta n ce o n e scarcely n eed de si re au ght
’
more exqui site in thi s world .

Mr . Arthur Hu ghes in the course o f con versation, ,

has described to me i n a very vivid m an n er the little

fou r c o rn ered fi i n d ow o f C hri sti n a R
L ossetti s bedroom ’
-

at P en kill w hich comma n ded a view over

, an old

fashi o n ed garde n an d i n which accordi n g to M i ss B oyd

, , ,

as quoted by my i n form an t sh e u sed to sta n d leani n g

, ,

forward ,her elbows on the sill her han d s supporti n g ,

—
her face the attitude in which she is represe n ted i n
Dan te Gabriel s draw i n g o f 1 866 j u st alluded to
’
The , .

littl e wi n dow exactly framed her added M r Hughes ,

’
.
,

an d from the garde n she could be see n fo r hours medi

tati n g an d composi n g C hri sti n a Rossetti s opi n io n o f

.
’ ’

M i ss B oyd i s expressed i n the followi n g w ord s from a

l etter to A n n e Gilchri st

M y more th an eve n wee ks in Scotlan d proved a

s

t h orou gh success an d h ave se n t me home to receive

,

frie n dly co n gratul atio n s on my looks an d f a t I thi n k .

my dear hostess at Pen kil l C astle M i ss B oyd mi ght , ,

ch a rm you i f you kn e w her : perhap s sh e i s the prettie st

ha n d some wom an I ever met both styles bei n g combi n ed ,

i n her fine face ; an d M r an d M rs Scott w ho sh ared . .

,

t he lo n g vi sit with me are tried old frie n d s , an d n o w

I am well con te n t to be at home a gai n an d to ta k e my ,
’
t u rn at hou se keepi n g .

I n F ebruary 1 86 7, her au n t M argaret Polidor i died

, .
 O

C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI

F or th is l ady Dan te Gabriel d esi gn ed a me mori al
,

wi n dow n ow i n Ch ri st C hurch A lban y St reet , .

I n Ju n e o f the same year with her mot her her si ster , ,

M aria F ran cesca an d her brot her William C h ri st i n a

, ,

removed to 5 6 Euston Square n ow 5 E n d sl eigh

Garden s H
,

. er au n ts E li za an d Charlotte Polidori al so
, ,

—
l ived t here t he latter however who was at the ti me , ,

compan ion to the Do wager M arch io n ess o f B ath at

M u n tham n ear A, ru n del o n ly i n termit t i n gly , .

At thi s time Chri sti n a Rossetti occasion ally wen t

i n to societ y I n 1 86 8 F ord M adox B rown w rites t o hi s
H
.

w i fe about o n e of the A omes where he gathered ’

t

ro un d him so man y fa mou s men an d wome n

The M art in eau s the Ro ssett i s an d the Streets

, an d , ,

’
can t come . However Chri sti n a i f well en ou gh may
, , , .
’

In April 1 87 1 Chri sti n a was

ei zed by D r Graves s s .
’

Disease — or Exophthalmic B ron chocele to give the ,

’

complai n t it s tech n ical n ame As almost i n variably .

h appe n s with thi s di se ase a lo ng an d seri ou s ill n ess ,

followed accompan ied by great su fferi n g an d u n til I 873

, , , ,

her li fe was i n con stan t dan ger As soon as possibl e .

she was removed to H amp stead fo r cha n e o f air an d

g ,

t h e F amily L etters o f D an te Gabriel at thi s period

‘ ’

bear ample testimon y to h is co nsta n t an d affectio n ate

solicitude on her behal f .

1 mi ght n ot h ave dee med it n ecessa ry to give

preci se detail s respecti n g thi s ill n ess had n ot the com ,

pl ai n t u n happily le ft i ts u su al traces an d modified ,

h er appeara n ce Thi s was chiefly n oticeable i n a cer

.

tai n protru di n g of the eyes though n ever whe n I kn ew , ,

her so pron ou n ced as to be di sagree able but her brot her

,

i n fo rm s me that at a much earlier date particularly ,

 EX O PHTHAL M I C B RON C HOCELE
53

a bout 1 872 the e f

,fect s o f th i s mal ady we re more

v i sibl e. Whe n I fi rst met her she had acquired much

o f the portli n e ss of middle age an d her face i n repo se ,

was sometime s rather he avy an d even u n emotio n al .

B u t her smile was al way s deli ght ful an d sometime s ,

i rre si stibly sw eet an d whe n i n an im ated co n ve rsation

, ,

o n some e specially con ge n i al the me her face to the ,

la st was comely .

I t i s t hi s m ar ked di ffere n ce bet wee n the compara

t ivel y u n att ractive a spect of her featu res in repose an d ,

the gre at chan ge which came over their l i n eamen ts duri n g

a n imatio n th at ma ke her photograph s t ake n i n l at er li fe
,

seem so u n sati sfactory There is con siderable fi d elity

.

t o extern al fact i n a full face photograph t ake n by -

M essrs E . lliott an d F ry well kn o wn throu gh reprod uc ,

t i o n s ( which represe n t s her w ith a boo k i n her l ap) but ,

i n it her soul s beau t y so to spe ak is altogether l ac ki n g

’
, , .

I t may be as well to quote w h at she hersel f said about

this photograph an d her portraits ge n erally in a letter
, ,

to M rs P atchett M arti n dated J an u ary 4 1 892

.
, ,

The photograph I spoke of is on e on le ( I believe ) sa

at E lliott an d F ry s B aker Street an d as I do n ot thi n k
’
, ,

I have a copy by me I mu st re fer y ou thith er Of .

c our se i f you aimed at be auty rather th an at au ht e l se

g ,

t here ar e photograph s on sale at M an sell s 2 7 1 Ox ford

’

Street from beauti ful drawi n gs by my brother D G R:

,

, . .

b u t what bet wee n his bei n g my brother an d h is over

q
m asteri n g love o f be auty I d are n ot recommen d these
a s e ually faith ful w ith E lliott an d F ry s stern tran script
Thi s last an d the l ast o f the drawi n gs were t ake n I
,
’

,
.

b eli eve i n the same ye ar

O n ce , whe n sheto write her n ame

was so goo d as

o n o ne o f her photo graph s n ow i n my po sse ssion she ,

m en tion ed M essrs E lliott an d F ry as havi n g produced

.
,
54 C HRI STI NA Rosssr r r
the whole perhaps t he most sat isfactory photograph
on ,
s
o f her i n l ater li fe I t was agreed that l was to go t o
.

B a ker Street p roc ure specime n s of the t wo photograph s

,

obtai n able there — that j u st me n tio n ed , an d an other wit h

—
the face i n profile an d to submit them for her i n spectio n ,

retai n i ng the on e she most approved I determi n ed .

be foreh an d n ot to express my own opi n ion as t o thei r

relative merits but I cordi ally agreed with her whe n she
,

chose u n hesi t ati n gly that i n profile with down cast eye s .

O n four or five occasio n s i n the years between 1 870 ,

an d 1 88 3 C hri sti n a R
, ossetti lived for a while though n o t ,

hersel f a patien t at the C on valescen t Hospital M ead s

, , .

Eastbourn e con n ected w ith the Anglican Sisterhood o f

,

Al l Sai n ts M argaret Street L on don M ari a F ran cesca

, , .
,

deeply i mbued with devotio nal feeli n g an d allied by all

her reli giou s sympathies w ith the A n glo C atholic school -

i n the A n glica n C hurch had e n tered thi s commu n i t y as

,

a n ovice i n 1 87 3 an d i n 1 874 had joi n ed it fi n ally as a

,

fully pro fessed Sister Hen ce Chri sti n a who h ad n ot

.
,

on ly a d eep love but a pro fou n d reveren ce fo r M aria i n

, ,

al l thi n gs was much an r appor t w ith thi s S

, i sterhood .

Her brother has writte n to me :

She was ( I rather ) outer thibutnki n n o an Si ster —

sort of way pro fe ssed — o f the C o n ve n t which M aria a ft er

ward s joi n ed — Al so at on e time ( 1 860 to 70) she u sed ’

pretty often to go to an I n st itutio n at Hi ghgate fo r

“
redeemi n g F allen Women I t seem s to me that at -

on e time they wa n ted to m ake her a sort o f super

i n t en d en t there but sh e decli n ed — I n her own n ei gh

b ou rhood A
,

, lban y Street she did a deal o f di stric t

,

vi siti n g an d the li ke .

O n e thi n g which occupied C [hri sti n a] t o an exte n t

on e would hardly credit was the ma ki n g u p o f scrap -

boo ks for H 05 pital patien t s or childre n Thi s may—

possibly have begu n be fore she removed to Torri ngto n
 ADS
ME
55

Sq[uare] : was ce rtai n ly i n very active exerci se for several

—
years ensui n g say up to 1 885 When I called to see .

her an d my mother it was 9 chan ces out o f 1 0 that

I fou n d her th u s occupied — I dare say she may h ave
m ade Up at least 5 0 bi ggi sh scrapboo ks of thi s ki n d
taki n g some pai n s i n ad apti n g borderi n gs to the p ages
etc etc
. .
’

At M ead s the i n cide n t too k pl ace

rrated u n der na
'

J un e 26 i n Time F lies an d readers of that book wil l

,
’
.

remember i n wh at a vivid ma n n er it i s rel ated She .

tell s h ow o n e summer n ight she saw a P arable of

‘ ’ ‘

N at ure

The gas was a l ight in my little room with i t s

’
paperless b are wall .

On the w all there was a spider He perceived h is .

shado w w i t hout u n derst an di n g what it was an d was ‘

,

mad to di se n gage him sel f from the horrible pursui n g

i n alien able presen ce She bri n gs the whole scen e be fore
.
’

u s co n ci sely i n a few well cho sen word s an d t o her -

this ,

’
sel f h au n ted spider
- i s a symbol o f an impe n iten t ‘

si n n er who havi n g outl i ved e njoyme n t remai n s i solated

irretrievably with h is own horrible loathsome sel f To .

’

an o t her mi n d such an occurre n ce mi ght have see med

tri vial or h ave passed u n n oticed To her with her .

g e n iu s fo r symboli sm it appeared most n ote w orthy .

The followi n g letter re fers to a later vi sit to East

bourn e w ith her mother :

1 1 1 Pevensey Road— East bo ur n e

Aft
.

F ri day ern oon.

M y dear Gabriel — W e got do wn com fortably yes

,

t erd ay but the n e n sued n ot ve ry short o f 3 hours

’

lod gin g see ki n g ! Ho wever at last we sett led where ,

to be d here are very com fo table tho ’

y o u see u s an we r
by n o mean s i n the quarter of E astbour n e we ai med
5 6 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
at 8: with a repu lsive prospec t of havin g t o remove
about Au gu st on accou n t o f heavy ri se of ren ts Al l
,

thi s ma kes it very possible that we may devote part o f

thi s i n i tial wee k to furt her researches i n hopes o f fi n di n g ,

somethi n g more perma n e n tly promi si n g tha n our actu al

room s which m an while are spaciou s commodious 8:
e
,

much to our taste Our mother se n d s you love 8: I

.
,

rejoice to say th at the extra fatigue of these la st few

days she has born e admirably Thi s mor n i n g we were .

out seated very com fortably most of the time for

, ,

n ot much le ss tha n 3 hours the morn i n g bei n g b ri ght ,

an d n eith er t oo hot n o r too cold Eastbo urn e is .

e n larged an d altered si n ce my recoll ectio n o f it We .

have some thoughts o f d rivi n g over to t he Hospital [at

M ead s] on e day seei n g whether i n that n ei gh bour
,

hood we mi ght li gh t upo n au ght eligible B ut u n less .

you hear from u s agai n ple ase con clude u s to be stayi n g

,

j u st where we are
Al ways your a ffection ate si ster
.

RI STI N A G R
,

CH SE TTI
’
OS
‘
. .

M uch of C hri sti n a Rossett i s

devoted to li fe w as
mi n i steri ng to her n ear rel ation s an d o n ce an d agai n , ,

i n the opi n io n o f some of her frie n d s she sho wed toward s ,

t he m a greater ardour o f devotio n t ha n was compatible

w ith her o wn he alth aban do n i n g for i n sta n ce fo r their
, , ,

sakes w ithout a murmur

, vi sits to the cou n t ry th at
,

otherwi se she would have reli shed greatly She soothed .

her father in h is last ill n ess she mi n i stered u n ceasi n gly

to her brother Gabriel to her si ster M ari a an d to , ,

her au n ts the M i sses Polidori the l ast of whom on ly

, ,

p re decea
-
sed her by ei ghtee n mo n th s ; but t h e C hi ef
m i n i stratio n o f her li fe was her m i n i stratio n to her
mother An yo n e who kn e w her eve n after her mother s
.
,
’

death could n ot fail t o be aware o f t he sweet i n flue n ce

,

that mother had exerci sed an d still co n ti n u ed to ,

ex erci se over her M r Sharp tell s touchi n gly how at

. .
,
5 8 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
t ai ned to her si ster she was hersel f a stude n t o f Dan te
,
’

t hou gh n ot i n so pro fou n d a se n se as her fat her her ,

si ster Dan te Gabriel or William

, , As to this aspec t o f .

her character M r Sharp reports a ve ry i n teresti n g

.

utteran ce
I wi sh [she said ] I too could have don e somet hi n g
for D an te i n E n gl an d ! M aria wrote her fin e an d
help ful book William s tran slation of th e Divi n a
,
’

C om media i s t he best we h ave an d Gabriel s D an te

’

q
,

an d h is C ircle i s a mon ume n t o f lovi n g labor that w ill

outl ast either B u t I al as have n either the re ui site
.
, ,

kn o wled ge n or the ability

’
.

Her brother William however desires me to men tio n

, ,

at thi s poi n t that C hri sti n a co n sidered the tran sl ation o f

D an te i n ter za fi rm: by C harles B agot Cayley a far
more importan t an d satisfactory achievemen t t han hi s .

In T he Ce n tury M aga zi n e for F ebruary 1 884 she

wrote a study of D an te calli n g it Da n te : T, he Poet
’
I llu strated out o f the Poem I t i s an e ssay w ritten i n
.

that quiet m an n er peculi ar to much o f her prose : as

far as I am aware it has n o t bee n repri n ted
, N ot .

con fi n i n g hersel f t o the lite rary aspect o f her subj ect

merely she dwell s at some le n gth o n Dan te s spiritua l
,
’

rel ation s with B eatrice Porti n ari an d h is earthly rel ation s

with Gemma Do n ati An article from her pen on the
.

same subject , en titled D an te : an En gli sh Classic ,

’

appeared in the Churchma n s Shilli n g M aga zi n e in the ’

latter part o f 1 867 .

She did n ot co n fin e the expression of her high

opi n ion o f her si ster s Sh adow of Dan te to con versatio n
’

merely She expressed it i n her writi n gs an d some o f

.
,

t he se refere n ce s are so i n tri n sically w orthy o f record

that I ma ke n o apology for quoti n g them I n her .

comm en ta ry on the text

 HER SI STER M ARI A 59

An d t hey had a k i ng t hem w h ic h i s t h e ang el

ov er
of t he b ott oml ess pit , w hose n ame i n t h e ebr ew H
A
t on g u e i s b add on , b u t i n t h e Greek t on gu e hat h hi s
n ame A
p y
oll on

The F ace of the Deep p 2 64) she writes ,

’
.

An d they had a ki n g over them” whose n ame

is A baddon Apollyon Whether n amed
—
Ki n g Abaddon or K i n g Apollyon h is En gli sh equivalen t
, .

i s Ki n g Destroyer Wh atever we c all him he rem ai n s

'

t he sa me : were we to c all him Ki n g Pre server it would

m odi fy n either h is n atu re n or his offi ce B ei n g a .

destroyer ou r safety lies i n recogn i si ng ac kn o wled gi n g

fleei n g him as such An d further : so far as we are
, , ,

co n stituted our brother s keeper our brother s safety

’
,
’

similarly lie s i n our pl ai n ly c alli n g him a de stroyer ;

an d n ever to n i n g him do w n as a n egatio n o f g ood ,

or eve n u n loath i n gly as an archan gel rui n ed ; which

l ast suggestion I cull from my si ster s Shad ow of
’

D a n t e where she co n t r asts M ilto n s S

’
at an w ith D an te s
’

L uci fer .

Si n s fo r li ke reason Should be spoke n o f simply as

what they are n ever pall iat i n gly or j ocosely
,
L ies an d .

dru n ke n n ess Should bear their o wn odiou s appell atio n s ,

“
n ot an y co n ve n tio n al substitute B u t some si n s it i s a
.

”
shame to spe ak o f true : so let u s n ot spea k o f them
except u n der n ecessity ; an d u n der n ecessity even of
t hem truth fully W oe u n to them that call evil good
. ,

an d good evil ; an d put d ar kn e ss fo r li ght an d li ght ,

for d ar kn e ss ; th at put bitter for sweet an d sweet for ,

bitter
An d agai n i n the same book in re feren ce to the
, ,

t ext

An d t he g reat d rag on w as c ast ou t , t hat ol d ser

pen t c al l ed t h e D ev i l , an d Sat an , w h i c h d eceiv et h t h e
whol e w orl d : he w as c ast ou t i n t o t he eart h , an d his
ang els w ere c ast ou t w it h h i m

she exclaim s somewhat na ively

Whil st studyi n g the devil I mu st take heed that my
study become n ot devili sh by reaso n of sympathy As .
60 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
to gaze down a prec ipice seem s to fasci n ate the ga ze r
t o ward s a shatteri n g fall ; so is it spi ritu al ly perilous t o
g a ze on ex c essive w ic ked n e ss le st i t s immea s
,u rabl e

scale should fasc i n ate u s as i f it we re colossal without

bei n g mon stro us Aquotation from my sister s Shad ow

.
’

of D an te spea ks to the poi n t

Some there are who gazi n g upo n D an te s Hell ,

’

mai n ly with their own eyes are startled by th e grotesque

,

elemen t traceable throughout the C an tica as a whole ,

an d shoc ked at the eve n ludicrou s to n e o f n ot a few o f

’
i t s part s . Others seek rather to gaze o n D an te s Hell
with D an te s eyes these di scern i n that grotesq u e n e ss
’

a reali sed horror i n that ludicrou sn ess a so verei gn c o n

,

tempt of evil They remember that the Divi n e

Etern al Wisdom Him sel f the Very an d I n fallible Tru t h
.

, ,

h as n et on ce n or tw ice ch aracteri zed impiety and sin as

, ,

F olly an d they feel in the depths o f the n ature whe rew ith
He h as created them that wh atever el se F olly may be an d
i s it is n o n e the le ss e sse n ti ally mo n strou s an d ridiculou s
A sen se of the utter degradation loathsome n ess
.
,

, ,

despic ablen ess o f the soul which by deadly sin besots

Reason an d e n sl aves F ree Will passes from the Poet s ’

mi n d i n to theirs ; while the ghastly d efin it eness an d

adapt atio n o f the pu n i shme n t s e n able s them to touch
w ith their fi n ger the awful possibility an d actu ality of
the Secon d Death an d thu s fo r t hem selves as for ot he rs
,

to dread it more re ally to deprecate it more i n ten sely

less than Arch an gel
, ,
’ “
D an te s L uci fer does appear
”
rui n ed i m measurabl y less ; for he appears Seraph
,

w il fully falle n N o illu sive sple n dour is here t o d azzl e

.

eye an d mi n d i nto symp athy with rebelliou s pride ; n o

vaguen ess to shroud i n mi st thi n gs fearful or thi n gs
abomi n able . D an te s Devil s are hate ful an d h ated
’
,

D an te s reprobates loathsome an d loathed de spic able

’
,

an d de spi sed or at best mi serable an d commi serated

,
.

Dan te i s gu iltless o f seduci n g an y soul of man toward s

m aki n g or calli n g Evil h is Good .

A d yet once more

n ,
in the same work, i n allu sion to
the text

An d here is t he mi n d w hi c h h at h wisd om . Th e
 HER SI STER M ARI A 61

h ead s are seven moun t ain s,

sev en on whi ch t he
R
woman sitt et h ( evel ation x vn 9) .

sh c sa s y
Dan t e i n t he D I VI N ACO M M ED I A(see my sister s A ’

Saadow of D an te) t el ls u s how he dreamed of a woma n

stamme ri n g squi n ti n g l ame o f foot maimed o f ha n d s
, , ,

an d ashy p ale He gazed on her an d lo u n der h is

.
,

g az e her f orm strai ghte n ed her face flu shed her to,n gue ,
”
l oosed t o t he Sire n s so n g ’
.

Con cern i n g
’
her si ste r s co n du ct whe n i n vited to l oo k
at some pri n ts from B lake she writes i n Time F lies , ,
‘

u n der d ate of A pril 1 5 though without givi n g n ames o f

,

perso n or art i st
‘
I h ave n ever forgotte n t h e courageou s revere n ce
wi th which on e to whom a frie n d was exhibiti n g pri n ts
from the B ook o f J ob , avo wed hersel f afraid to loo k at

a represe n tatio n which we n t cou n ter to the Seco n d

Co m man dmen t, an d loo ked n ot at it
A
.

host of u s tal k as seei n g H im Who is i n vi sible

sh e so acted .

B lessed she who the n set to her se al th at God is true ,

”
an d si n ce the n h as died in faith .

There a vei n of stro n g practical commo n sense

was
i n C hri sti n a Rossetti as shown in the e n try of Time
,
‘

F lies appertai n i n g to M ay 7

Alovely you ng ( wom an

the n o f my a cqu a i n tnot
a n ce )
wen t o n e even i n g to a con cert her face swolle n an d ,

bo u n d up observi n g that she wen t n ot to be seen but to

,

hear She had I believe a methodic al brai n in that

.
, ,

char mi n g head of hers C ertai n ly on thi s occasio n she

.

drew the li n e accurately betwee n wh at is an d what i s

n o t e sse n ti al to a li ste n er Thu s despite her swollen
.
,

face she we n t with a fair prospect o f e nj oymen t

, .

Hal f the mort i ficat ion s o f li fe ( m an y o f them li felon g

mort i ficat ion s) spri n g from a con fu sion i n our own m i n d s
62 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
as to what the partic u l ar o ccasion co n n exio n circum , ,

stan ce dema n d s of u s
,
.

We i n si st o n bei n g attractive whe n all that is re ,

quired of u s is to be attracted ed i fied or it m ay be , ,

merely en tertai n ed
’
.

The you n g lady re ferred to here ,

M i ss Rosetta Wood ,

was on e her si ster s pupil s i n I talian

of
’
.

There are several other allu sion s to her si ster i n

C hri sti n a Rossetti s w riti n gs E viden tly these allu sion s
’
.

are all spo n tan eou s an d i n truth reveal a beauti ful

,

fe ature o f C hri sti n a s character t he passio n ate fervour

’

which u n derl ay her u su al c alm deme an our .

I n her rem arks i n Time F lies u n der date July 2

’

, ,

regardi n g the F east o f the V i sitation o f the Vi rgi n she ,

tell s u s how lo n g ago a dear speaker su ggested that ‘ ’

Righteou sn ess an d pe ace h ave ki ssed each other would

be a suitable passage fo r the Salutation The dear .
’ ‘

spea ker
’
was her si ster M ari a Agai n u n der d ate o f
.
,

J uly 4 which has refere n ce to the exhum atio n o f the

,

rem ai n s o f St M arti n after some wi se observatio n s

.
,

respecti n g the u su al u n desirability o f such practices ,

she tell s u s ho w o n e n o lo n er pre se n t with u s b ut to

g ,

whom I cease n ot to loo k up would n ot e n ter the

’
,

M ummy R oom o f t he B riti sh M u se u m becau se she

realised how the gen eral R e su rrection mi ght h appe n
eve n as she looked at those solem n corpses turn ed i n to
a si ght fo r si ght seers
-
That o n e was agai n her si ster
.
’

M aria Still fu rther i n Time F lie s u n der date A

. pril 2 2 ,
’
,

she tell s thi s characteri stic a n ecdote :

O n e o f the most gen ui n e Chri sti an s I ever kn e w,

o n ce too k li ghtly the dyi n g out o f a brie f acqu ai n tan ce
which had e n gaged her warm heart o n the grou n d that ,

such mere t aste s an d limp e f co e ial i n tercourse

g s s o n g n

on earth wait fo r their developme n t i n heave n .

 —
HER SI STER M ARI A M R . J O HN RU SK I N 63

T1m : she kn ew W hom she tru sted m ow ( plea se God )

sh e kn ows as she is kn o wn .

I am
permitted t o say here that the brie f acquai n t
a n ce which had e n gaged the warm heart o f M ari a ’

F ran cesca was w ith M r Joh n R .uski n I n the Prefatory

.

N ote o f C hri sti n a s F ace of the Deep she o n ce more

’

me n tio n s her si ster thou gh n ot by n ame

,

A —
dear sai n t I peak u n der correctio n of t he
s

J u d gmen t of the Gre at Day yet thi n k n ot the n to have

,

—
my word co rrected thi s dear person o n ce poi n ted out
to me Patie n ce as our lesso n i n the B oo k o f Revelation .

F ollowi n g the clue thu s afforded me I see k an d hope

,

to fin d Patien ce in thi s B oo k o f awful import P atie n ce .

,

at the least : an d along w ith th at grace w hatever

treasures be sid e God may vouchsafe me B eari n g mea n .

while i n mi n d how to him that kn oweth to do goo d an d ,

doeth it n ot to him it i s
,
64 . C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI

CH AP TER I I I
B IOG RAP HI C AL (con t i n ued )

( M ai n l y 1 874 -
1 886)

l
K e msc ot t M ano r H o use — Rem o va lt o 30 To rri ngt on Sq uare— C heyn e Walk
I l u n t er s Forest nl l — D eat h o f her sist er M aria —L et t ers to
’
-
Bogno r -

her b ro t hers -W a ot n -o n -t he l
-N
aze — M r F red eri c Shie ds— D isc u sses l
H
.

rel igious prob ems l — er o pi n io n of El izabeth Bar rett B rowni ng Ad e ,

laid e P roc t er , an d An ne Rad c l i ffe — Au t obiographieal allusions Ti me .

F l ies -
M emorial w in d o w to D an t e Gab ri e l at B i rc h i n gto n , d esig ned
by M r Shiel d s, an d cor respo nd ence wit h M r Shi eld s ab out it— H er

l at Eaton H
. .

suggest io n s fo r d ec o rat io n o f c hape all — I n t erest in soc i al

qu est ion s— C p
o rres o n : en c e l wi t h M r Shiel ds respec t i
. ng her mot her
’

last i ll n e a n d d eat h— M r W at t s Du n t on her mo t her

'

s i n fluen c e
’
ss .
- on

on C hrist i n a , and Chri st i na s i n flu en c e

’
on her e ld er b ro t her.

D U RI N G her elder brother s lon g residen ce at Kelm ’

scott M a n or Hou se begi n n i n g i n 1 87 1 an d co n ti n u i n g

, ,

wi t h i n terruptio n s u n til J uly 1 874 C hri sti n a was a gue st ,

there an d M r Theodo re Watts Du n to n who w as al so

,
.
-
,

a gue st has poi n ted ou t a n ote worthy co n trast bet wee n

,

the brother an d si ster i n the way i n which they regarded

N ature Spe aki n g o f D an te Gabriel he says :
.
,

AtKelm scott for i n sta n ce n othi n g w ould make

, ,

him more surpri sed th an to see Chri sti n a an d mysel f

li n geri n g over a patch o f tho se lovely m an y colou red -

mosse s upon t he o ld apple trees i n the garden whic h -

,

loo k as i f embossed with mi n i ature forests i n j e wel

work
’
.
 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
al so havea share o f them an d tell him that Dr [Gord on ]
H ake appears gratified at the pro spect of an Academy
.

review from hi s pen tho I was n ot so rash as to an n ou n c e

,
’

o n e po sitively

As m an y kisse s as will n ot burde n you to Olivi a

.

[at th at date her o n ly n iece ] M am m a charge s m e to .

hope fo r her t hat the poor little arm has recovered from i t s
vac c i n ation : poor little plump arm begi n n i n g i t s troubles ,

so early .

‘
I f M rs B romley i s still with you w ill you please
. ,

o ffer her my remembran ces I hope your family gather

oy able on e but I suppose t he H
.
'

i n g proved an e nj ii flers

q
,

( si c) could n ot be w ith you I w o n der i f our co n n exio n

h as become e n l arged si n ce we le ft E
.

u ston S .

You r affectio n ate si ster

RI STI N A G ROSSETTI
,

CH ‘ ’
. .

At thi
poi n t is i n t rod uced a letter addre ssed to her
s
'

brother Gabriel All her letters d ated from 1 2 B loom s

.

bury Square were written be twee n A pril 1 874 an d

September 1 876
lo msbury Sq ua — W C 1 2 B o re

Tuesd ay Aft rnoon [Septembe

. .

e . r

M y dear Gabriel — M amm a thi n ks with her own

, ,

dear love to you th at M ari a s remar ks on the Sacred

,
’

Picture may i n tere st yo u w ill at least Show yo u

,

h ow your ki n d thou ght is appreci ated To direct your .

eye to the passage con cern i n g it an d you I h ave drawn ,

an i n iti atory 8: a fi n al Iza u a which will show you ho w

’

re a t h a s bee n my profiti n g by early art le sso n s from

g
-

g rea t M a sters B u t o f course the w hole letter i s ope n

.

to you .

Please observe my address

‘
M amm a an d I are
p ayi n g a v i sit here t o my Au n ts
.

it stri kes M amm a ,

that we 4 should e njoy payi n g a vi sit to you at Chel se a ,

i f t here were an y morn i n g whe n wi t hout t re n chi n g o n

your bu si n ess e n gageme n ts you could devote an hour
to us I f the n you c an l ay fi nger on such an hour an y
.

day for a fort n i ght or so to come please n oti fy it to u s

o f course A
,

u n t Charlotte s stays i n B loom sbu ry are

’
 ETTER To ER M AD o x ROW N
“

L O LI V B 67

n ever very lon g 8: the duratio n o f thi s p resen t on e is

,

u n certai n .

L ucy h as m ade steady progre ss tho ugh still she i s

o d ay M amm a 8: A
,

som ewh at i n v alided : T u n t C h ar -

l ott e c alled i n E u sto n Sq uare 8: fou n d it so The , .

di stan ce dete rs me from ma ki ng a c all but I saw L ucy ,

as l ately as ye sterday be fore comi n g here .

'

Your aflec si ster

Au n t C harlotte s love to you
.

’ ’
.

In 1 874 C hri sti n a thu s to Oliver Rossetti wrote

M ado x B ro wn the too li feli ke albatross bei n g an
,
‘
-
’

allu sio n possibly to a sketch of h i s i n spired by C olerid ge s

’

An cien t M ari n er
1 2 Bl msb y Sq ua e W C oo ur r - . .

Wed n esday .

M y dear N olly — I
h ave the pleasure of redeemi n g
,

my promi se 8: o fferi n g you my first e ssay i n mitte n

'

ma ki n g I fear my crim son i s n ot crim so n e n o ugh yet

.

p ray do n ot reject it from sometimes warmi n g the ha n d

wh ic h h arrowed me up by a certai n t oo li feli ke -

alb atro ss .

Wi th cordi al rem embran ce s to M r 8: M rs M adox . .

B row n
Very si n cerely yours
The letters t o D an te Gabriel th at follow im mediately
belon g to 1 87 5 , o: possibly 1 876 .

56 Eust on Sq uar e
F ri d ay 29

M y de ar Gabriel —
me ren e w my tha n ks for the
, Let
poo r dear Eleph an t boo k whose p athetic e n di n g is ,
’
truly pai n ful an d goe s t o o n e s heart Deliciou s is the
prosperou s Eleph an t ladli n g out rice to me n dic an ts : I
wi sh all E leph an t s were prosperou s
Afew d ays ago I saw M me B od ic hon who se n d s a
.

.
,

cordial message of re membra n ce to yo u an d would li ke ,

some aft er n oo n t o pay your studio a Vi sit bet wee n light s

-
so very li kely she will d o 5 0 Wh at a fin e looki n g per .

so n age she i s She let me loo k at a n umb er o f her

.

F 2
68 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
p ai n ti n gs too which m ake Up q u ite an i n tere sti n g galle ry
from A
, , ,

l giers Su ssex & c , , .

‘
I saw Mr Shefli eld po rtrait t h e
. M
[ adox ] B ro wn
’
s

o ther d ay .
—
He is i n variably cordial an d ki n dly t h e
—
man I mean n ot the can vas an d eve n n ow it m i ght
, ,

be the sitter
5 6 Est n Sq a e— N W u o u r . .

Thursday morn ing .

[Proba b y wrilt t en i n 1 875 or

—
Dear old Gabriel M amma is so impressed with the ,

beauty o f to d ay for you as a lo n g w or ki n g d ay, 8: al l

i s so doubt ful as to the hour at which w e may leave the
[ ]
B ell S cotts that w ith her very
, be st love she a n n o u n ce s

t hat we w ill n ot have the plea sure o f vi siti n g you 8:

your studio thi s a fter n oo n ; but will loo k forward i n a
g e n eral wa y to the same i n dul ge n ce o n some future
o ccasion .

H ave you ever n oticed the l arge modern clemat i s in

b lossom ? M amma an d I saw a hou se full o f it at t he
B o t a n ic Garde n s the other day I re ally thi n k it ,

mu st be a flower adapted t o pictori al pu rposes The .

old fashio n ed garde n clem ati s

- — t ho i n deed these n ew
’

—
o n e s al so profess to be all hardy be auti ful as it is i s , ,
'

b e auti ful i n really quite a d i fleren t style

Aflec t ion at ely your si ster
.

'

W
[ ri t ten abou t 1 876, or perhaps lat en ]
. dear Gabriel M y spirits rose li ke quic ksilver
. Iy ,
—

at t h e n e ws i n your letter .

Si n ce we spo ke together o f F i am met t a s bower I ’

h ave recollected cl emat i s n o t a tree certai n ly but a ,

climber attai n i n g any hei ght you ple ase The old .

fashion ed clem ati s was so far as I kn o w limited i n

blossom t o pu rple o r white ; but n owad ays you see it
with much l arger flowers an d the se o f m an y ti n ts deep , ,

an d p al e o f lil ac an d rose colour ; be side s o f course

The Xm as Rose i n n umber an d arran geme n t o f
,

white .

petal s as well as in their shape an d i n the cen tral t u ft

,

o f the blossom does stro n gly assimil ate with m an y a

,

modern clemati s The foliage however i s very di ffere n t

.
, , .

I j ust tell y ou thi s i n case it may sugge st a n yt hi n g I .

 LETTE R To D AN TE GAB RI EL 69

but I ca n n ot remember w i t h certai n ty that I may

t h i n k, ,

h ave seen the clemati s hou se in the B otan ical Gard en s

i n full bloom as early as about E aster
Al ways your aflec si ster
.

'

‘
you li ke to lay i n a bottle of dy e I will try my
If ,

han d o n ton i n g your slippers o n B oxi n g day mor n i n g -

i f as I expect M amma an d I di n e 8: sleep at your

, ,

house the n i ght be fore Or why n o t t ry sen di ng to a

.

q
dy e r s ? ’ ’

30 Torri ngton S —W C . . .

Wed nesday .

My de ar Gabriel The grou se have proved e atabl e,

— ,

an d this is proved by their havi n g been eate n Our .

mother s love to you i n com memoratio n o f the even t an d

’

mi n e after t he same exceptio nal feast So n ever hope .

to see those bird s agai n

Some o f the L o n do n directo ries have R ossett i I
did n o t kn ow the Post O ffi ce D was a de faulter I . .
,

however i n dividu ally do n ot fi gure i n such promi n e n t

pages but co n sider mysel f su fficien tly rep resen ted by
,

t h e i n ser tio n o f M amma I d o n ot wan t to n oti fy to all

.

whom it may an d wh o m it may n o t co n cern my priv ate

an d perso n al habitat
Aflect ion at ely you rs
.

'

CH RI STI N A G R OS SE ‘
TTI . .
’

The n ext letter ,

or
writte n i n 1 87 5 ,
1 876 to M rs W . .

M R ossetti has re fere n ce to a dome stic

. , d ifli c u l ty . Mr .

C ayley i s C harles B agot Cayley :

5 6 Eust on Sq u are—N W . .

Wed n esday morning .

M y dear L ucy , -
Than k you
your n ote o f n ews for
—
,

et o t literally f n ews— as William had alre ady

y n o

wri t te n M amm a an d I feel su fficien tly at ease i n our

.

h ermitage n o t to care to vac ate it : you with a baby are , ,

quite di fferen tly situated from our sober selves I hope .

t he Bo ard o f Works will ac t as become s it ; tho

’
so ,

c o mmo n i s scarlet fever that I am n ot i n cli n ed to c on

,

n eet thi s particular i n sta nce of i t with the co n di t i on o f

 70 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
t he e n closure I hope the poor i n valid n ext door which
.
,

ever o f the family it may be will do well , .

Pray remember u s both very cordi ally to M r 8: .

M rs M adox B ro wn givi n g our loves to Willi am

.
, Mr . .

“
Cayley o we s you than ks fo r the prospectu s o f co n fer
en c es 8: thi n ks to pay them throu gh me : permit u s
,

F rom margi n al n ote i n her own h an d writi n g i n a

a

copy of Time F lies n ow in the possessio n of her ,

’

you n ger brother it appears that the i n ciden t described

,

i n the f ollo wi n g passage occurred at E a stbour n e

remember ri si n g early on ce to see the su n ri se

I .

I
ro se too early an d waited wearily an d impatien tly
At le n gth the su n rose
.
,

At len gth P Scarcely The su n kept time thou gh

.

.
,

kept it n ot the su n l agged n ot bec au se I hurri ed

’
I .

Thi s somewhat bald m atter o f fact way of allud an d - -

i n g to so i n tere sti n g a phe n ome n o n has n o doub t been

occasio n ally di sappoi n ti n g to those who remember her
lovi n g eye for N ature They will observe however the .
, ,

ce n tral ide a i n her mi n d here is th at the su n kept time ,

though I kept it n ot applied as an emblem of the sec o n d

,
’

comi n g o f C hri st Possibly al so she would have

.
, ,

devoted more atte n tio n to the physical aspect s o f the

su n ri se h ad it n o t bee n i n al l li kelihood a di sappoi n ti ng

o n e such a o n e fo r i n st an ce as w he n the su n mou n t s

, , ,

above the hori zon i n a colourless watery ha ze A .

correspo n de n t i n a letter to The D aily N e ws that

,
‘ ’

appeared shortly after her de ath n arrate s how Chri sti n a ,

told her o n ce ( at a period later than thi s vi sit to Ea st

bourn e) that she ( Chri sti n a) had n ever see n a su n ri se
b y which she o f course me an t a su n ri se rich i n the
'

‘
t asselled h an gi n gs o f the cloud s such as a po et th in ks ’

o f almo st i n volu n tarily whe n ever the word su n ri se I s

,
 HU N TERS F ORESTALL
'

7 1

me n tio n ed Such a su n ri se she saw afterward s at

H
.

u n ter s F orestall i n the compan y of M r Theod ore

’
.

Watts D u n to n to whom she al so had said that she had

-
,

n ever see n a su n ri se I n h i s u su al co n ci se an d o ri gi n al
.

ma n n er M r Watts Du n to n de scribed what h appen ed i n

.
-

The N i neteen th Cen tu ry of F ebru ary 1 89 5 .

‘
Ibelieve th at it [a su n ri se ] i s a phe n omen on n ot
co mmo n ly observed by poet s an d that i s why i t so ,

common ly occurs t hat a poet s descript io n of the cloud ’

pagean try of a su n ri se is eviden tly b orro wed from his

recollectio n of the su n sets he has seen N o dou bt as I .
,

sa id to Chri sti n a the t wo are ali ke i n m an y w ay s an d

, ,

yet in m an y way s they are extremely di ffere n t .

Upo n a certai n occasion she made up her mi n d t hat

a su n ri se she w ould see an d o n e mor n i n g we we n t out ,

j u st as the chilly but bewitchi n g shiver o f the dawn

breeze be gan t o move an d the eastern sky began slowly ,

to grow grey
Early as it was however m an y of the b ird s were
.

‘
, ,

awake an d waiti n g to see wh at w e we n t out to see as

, ,

we kn e w by t witter after tw itter comi n g from the

hed gerows C hri sti n a was n ot much i n terested at first
.
,

but whe n the grey became slo wly chan ged i n to a k i n d

of apple gree n cro ssed by b ars o f li l ac an d the n by
-
,

bars of pi n k an d gold an d fi n ally whe n t he su n rose , , ,

behi n d a tall clump o f sle n der elm s so close together

that th ey loo ked li ke o n e e n ormou s tree whose ,

foli age was su ffi cie n tly thi n to allow the su n beam s to

p ou r throu gh it as throu g h a g litteri n g lace wor k o f
de wy le ave s she co n fessed that n o su n set could su r
,

pass it
An d when the sun growin g bri ghter still an d falli n g
.

, ,

upo n a silver sheet o f mi st i n which the co ws were

lyi n g turn ed it i n to a sheet o f gold an d m ade each
, ,

brown patch on each cow s coat gleam li ke burn i shed ’

c opper the n she admitted th at a su n ri se surpassed a

,

su n set an d was worth getti n g up to see

, She stood .

an d loo ked at it an d her lip s moved but i n a whi sper

, ,

th a t I could not hear .

’
72 C HRI STI NA ROSSETTI
The most touch ing of all Christi n a s re feren ces to her ’

si ster is to be fou n d i n Time F lie s u n der d ate N ovem

ber 7. M ari a F ra n ce sca had expre ssed aver s io n t o an

the o ld style o f fu n eral w ith i t s ri id ceremo n i al an d

g ,

i t s paraphern alia o f grie f an d had said i n a n swer t o

,

some ple a o f Chri sti n a s i n favour o f it Why make

’ ‘
,

e verythi n g as hopeless loo ki n g as possible ? ’

A d at
n th at momen t which was sad on ly for u s who
lost her al l , turn ed out i n h armon y with her holy hope
an d j oy .

F lowers covered her lovi n g mour n ers followed her

, ,

h ym n s we re su n g at her grave the N ovember d ay ,

bri ghte n ed an d the su n ( I vividly remember) m ade a

,

mi n i at u re rai n bow i n my eyelashes .

I have o fte n thou ght o f t hat rai n bow sin ce

’
.

M ari a F ran ce sc a was i n terred i n B rompton Cemete ry

i n N ovember accordi n g to the si mple rules o f the
1 876 ,
si sterhood o f which she was a mem ber .

Here may be given some lette rs addressed to her

brother Gabriel from Torri n gton Squ are The Joh n .
‘

Gilpi n re ferred to i n the succ eed in g l etter was i l lu s

’

t rat ed by the l ate R C aldecott . .

J an u ary I , 1 879
.

M y dear Gabriel — Thi s i s my first letter thi s year

,

an d carries you ou r deare st mother s an d my o wn love ’

an d very be st w i she s for your health an d p rosperity .

— —
We hO pe we so w i sh to hear that your throat an d
cou gh are better .

“
I am i n d u l gi n g i n se n di n g you the Joh n Gilpi n
we tal ked about I hope you will n o t despi se our t aste
.
,

but we are quite amu sed by it The expression s are

Au n t
.

surely co n summate i n some o f the face s .

Charlotte se n d s you her love She came up yesterday

.
,

but we fear we shall keep her for on ly a wee k Ye sterday .

al so Willi am goi n g ou t for the first time came here

, ,
74 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
Our mother with o n e o f her three be st l oves quite
, ,

d eprec ates the idea o f your comi n g rou n d to see her

duri n g the conj u n ctio n o f such health with such weat her .

She however en scon c ed i n that seal ski n which warms

, ,
-

her heart as well as her person is n o t afraid to loo k ,

forward to di n i n g w i t h you on Xmas D ay Our plan is

We sh all be four i n n umber bo t h Au n ts
.

as follows
i n cluded A
.
,

. fter Church we h ave promi sed al l o f u s

, , ,

t o lu n ch with William an d h is party at wh at I believe

About 5 o cloc k we will be
,
’
i s to be thei r early di n n er .

t ake n up there by our own fly an d go strai ght on to ,

y o u ; thu s re a chi n g you w e tru st e arly e,

n ou g h fo r a ,

g ood ch at be f ore di n n er Th e o n ly moot .poi n t i s — s h a ll ,

M amm a an d I as you ki n dly proposed accept a bed at

, ,

your hou se ? She i n cli n e s t o thi n k that as we shall be

4 old l adie s i n a sa fe fly w ith a re spo n sible driver w e ,

had better al l go home i n a clump : but i f you li ke

”
better to say Good morn i ng to her n ext d ay i n stead
of Good n i ght the same eve n i n g the n she an d I w ill ,

profit by your ho spitality N o t heari n g from you .

agai n we will settl e to go home i n a fly

, .

“
‘
M amma i s deli ghted w ith the M ae n za letter an d ,

as you do n ot wa n t it b ac k mea n s hersel f to pre serv e it ,

.

I t s special v alue t o her i s i t s tribute to you .

L oo k i n g forward t o o u r ple asan t Xmas party ,

al way s

the M ae n za
C o n cer n i n g letter her brother has
w ritten to me as follo ws

M rs M ae n za survived her hu sb an d several years

.

When she died she bequeathed her small fu n d s ( say {5 1 00)

to Gab[riel ] who had been the m ai n support of hersel f
, ,

al so her hu sba n d for some 1 5 ye ars The l et ter was

— , ,

I thi n k w ritte n by hersel f n ot lon g be fore death or

, ,

po ssibly the letter a n n ou n ci n g her death & c , .

’

The work o f Willi am Davie s author of So n gs

Mr .
,

o f a Way farer who se etchi n g is re ferred to in the su c

’
,

c eed i n g letter was much admired by Da n te Gabriel an d

,

Chri sti n a
 W I LL I AM
’
DAVI E —
S ‘VALTO N -
ON -
THEN AZ E
-

75

30 Torrington Squ are W , . C .

Tuesd ay Even in g .
[Probab l y
—
My dear Gabriel , M amma is deli ghted at the
l ovi n gn e ss o f your thought for her an d fo r u s al l , but o n
the whole we agree i n thi n ki n g it wi se t o we n d our way
h ome the same n i ght : we ath er mi ght play u s fal se the
n ext d ay , i f we became as dilatory as my Pri n ce i n
h is progress
’

A A
.

ll our love s to you u n t C harlotte highly values

.

the welcome you exten d to her, an d reciprocate s to the

full i ts good w ill an d a ffectio n .

I h av e ju st received an etchi n g by Willi am Davie s,

e n dorsed as se n t me by your suggestion I li ke it very .

m uch , an d whe n I have see n you perh aps you will tell
m e o f so me addre s s— n —
o e accompa n ie s it whereto I
n

may than kfully ac kn owled ge it

’
.

U n der d ates o f October 20 an d 2 1 i n Time

F lie s she relate s an d morali se s upo n a n other p arable
, ,

o f n ature thou gh without stati n g th at the circum st an ce

’

upo n which it is fou n ded came u n der her n otice at

Walto n on the N aze about 1 880
- - -

O n ce at the seaside I recollect n otici n g for some

t ime a ro w o f swallo ws perched side by side alo n g a
t elegraph wire There they sat steadily After a
. .

while whe n some o n e loo ked agai n they were go n e

, , .

‘
Thi s happen ed so l ate i n the year as to sugge st th at
t h e bird s had mu stered fo r mi gratio n an d t he n had
started .

The si ght was quai n t com fort able loo ki n g pretty , , .

The sm all cre atures seemed so fit an d so re ady t o

l au n ch out o n their p athle ss journ ey : co n te n ted to
w ait co n te n ted t o st art at peace an d fe arle ss
Altogether they formed an apt emblem of soul s
, , .

w illi n g to stay willi n g to depart ,

.

That combi n atio n allows with telegraph wire o f sw

sets i n vivid co n trast be fore our me n tal eye the sort o f

e vide n ce we put co n fide n ce i n an d the sort o f evide n ce

we mi st ru st .
76 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
The telegraph con veys message s from man to man .

‘
The swallows by di n t of an alogy o f su ggestion o f , ,

parallel experie n ce i f I may call it so co n vey messages

, ,

from the Creator t o the hum an creature

q
.

We ac t e agerly i n sta n tly on telegram s W ho

, ,
.

would dre am o f stoppi n g to ue stio n their ge n ui n e n e ss

Who watchi n g u s could suppose that the se n ders
‘
, ,

o f tele gram s are fallible ; an d th at the O n ly Se n der o f

Providen tial messages is i n fallible ? ’

Here m ay be quoted t wo letters h av i n g re fere n ce

to Walton o n the N aze - - -

30 To rri ngton S uare— W C q

Wed n esday even i ng .
. .

My
dear Gabriel y po st card C R O,SSED —M
your fir st -

letter othe rwi se I could n ot excu se mysel f fo r n ot

havi n g an swered yo u Dear M amma an d the rest o f .

u s got home per fectly successfully o n M o n d ay n i ght .

She i s grieved an d I am vexed that you should have

ta ke n ki n d an d u seless trouble for u s troubli n g more , ,

over a frie n d but it was on ly thi s morn i n g th at a letter

from M u n tham arrived setti n g A
,

u n t Charlotte free ( at
,

least for a few days) from the li kelihood o f an y

immedi ate rec all an d at the same time sho wi n g u s th at
,

i t be seem ed u s to m ake h aste ou t o f to w n an d w aste n o t

— —
a day if she wi shed as she does w i sh to accompan y u s .

Thi s combi n ation of her con ve n ien ce with ours it was

which led to o u r sudde n resolve an d t hen I did n ot lo se
an hour i n w riti n g to let y ou kn o w : still the re sult has ,

bee n an n oyi n g to you an d I tru ly am sorry M amm a , .

se n d s you a dear love We have fi xed upon Walton .

on Naze n ot from an y decided pre fere n ce but at an y

-
,

rate it does n ot face the ba ki n g south an d it is n eare r ,

than mo st o f the east coast wateri n g place s I suppo se -

.

we are ve ry li kely to be away for a mo n th an d I cou n t

on letti n g you h ave our address whe n we h ave on e al l ,

fa vori n g
’
.
 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
I do si n cerely hope t o soar abo ve the level of THAT
—
despi sed poem i f ever I c an scrape a fresh vol ume
,

together : and at pre sen t I am very hope ful o f so doi n g

at n o very di stan t date .

Very affectio n ately your si ster

‘

RI STI N A G R
,

CH OS SETTI ‘
. .

So observe please that we shall n ot w rite

n ow , ,

agai n except i n the deprec ated con ti n ge n cy o f bei n g

,

u n able to come .
’

The fr ie n dly good will an d THATdespi sed poem i n

the precedi n g letter re fer to an i n ciden t well told i n t he
same Vivid essay by M r W att s Du n to n i n The .
-
Ath e

eu m to which allu sio n has already bee n made

’
na , .

On
’
occasion he says
on e sh e expressed a
‘

A
,

w i sh t o h ave some o f her verse s pri n ted i n the th e

”
n mu m an d I su gge sted her se n di n g them to 1 6 C hey n e
,

Wal k her brother s hou se where I the n u sed t o spe n d

,
’

much time i n a study th at I occupied there I said .

that her brother an d I would re ad them together an d ,

submit them to the editor She se n t several poem s ( I .

thi n k about six ) n ot o ne o f which was i n the least

,

d egree wo rthy of her Thi s n aturally emba rrassed me .

,

but Gabriel w ho e n tirely sh ared my opi n ion o f the poem s

, ,

w rote at o n ce to her an d told her that the verses sen t

,

were both i n h is own j ud gme n t an d mi n e u n worthy o f

, ,

her an d th at she had better buc k le to at on ce an d

,

write an other poem She did so an d the result was

At hen zeu m
.
,
”
an exqui site lyric which appe ared i n the .

Tuesd ay M orni ng .

‘
M y dear Gabriel — I t eem s doubt ful whether t he, s
road s w ill be passable t o morrow becau se of slipperi n ess -

Au n t C harlotte writes th at she ca n n ot come up fro m

,

M u n th am becau se o f thi s O f course L o n do n road s

, .

are less formid able than cou n try d but o u r M othe r °

,

desires me to w rite t o d ay i n c ase we fin d it too h az -

,

ard ou s to start fo r C hel se a to morro w Her de arest -

.

love to you an d warmest se aso n able wi shes an d mi ne

,

w ith them She i s so sorry n ot to be with you o n

.
 LETTERS TO D AN TE GAB RI EL 79

X mas Day that I still will n ot de spair ; yet I fe ar

it will be u n m an ageable As you see Au n t Charlotte
,

i s n o w out o f the que stio n ; an d A

.
,

u n t Eli za of course
will do as we do
’
.

F riday N igh t .

M y dear Gabriel ,
-
Au n t C harlotte , w ith love , an ti
c i pat esthe pleasure o f seei n g you an d your P ia and ,
’

hope s that w he n we write actually t o propose an after

n oo n ( which I hope w ill be early n ext w ee k) we may

secure a milder mome n t — I say we bec au se I hope to

At the worst however we c an face a
,

accompan y her .
, ,

fair amou n t o f cold for thi s day we were c abbi n g an d

,

shoppi n g about together fo r j u st 3 hou rs !

Your gr an d Son n et our M other to whom ( tho

—
,
’

n o t to me ) the i n cide n t was n ew i s d el i h t ed w i t h it

g
'

, .

She se n d s you her love an d l was able t o cheer her up

Au n t Eli za
,

a little after my glimp se o f yo u ye sterd ay .

,

t oo return s love
As t o B u o n arruot z surely the pl ay upo n words i s
.
,

obviou s despite the van i shed ge n der .

’

the previou s l etter mea n s Dan te Gabriel s

Pi a i n
’ ’

oil p ai n ti n g L a Pia from Dan te s Purgatorio while

-
’ ’

M r Willi am R ossetti i n form s me that the gran d son n et ’

.

’
re fers to D an te Gabriel s
Tiber
, N ile an d T h ame s the i n cide n t bei n g th at o f
F ulvi a who ran her n eedle throu gh the ton gue o f t h e
,

]
‘l
tru n cated he ad o f Cicero [letter w thu s b e

an an swer t o the o n e from G[ abriel ] which was pri n ted

i n my volume [D an te Gabriel ossetti : is F amily R H

L etters with a M emoir ] , v o l I I p
. . . .

Th ursd ay .

My dear Gabriel Your letter receiv ed thi s mor n i n g

,
—

relieves ou r M other i mmensely ( her o wn word ) an d me

The referen c e to B u onarru ot z
"
ll
a ud es to D an t e Gabri e ls ’
u se of it
in Son n et 94 i n The H o use of Life, ’
c on c ern i n g wh i ch M r . W i ll iam
Rosset t i has a l earn ed not e at p . 2 5 4 of his D an t e G ab rie l Rsset t i o as

Design er and W ri t er
’
.
’
As t o t he mat t er he has a lso w ri tt en to me
The part icu l ar poi n t raised h rist in a] is t hat
by C [ ru ot e shows t he f emi

m n e pl ural t ermin at i on , whereas B uonarruot i sh o ws t he masc u l i n e plu ral

’

t erminat ion .
80 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
i n proportio n I tru st . n othi n g ve ry b ad c an acc rue
from so good a frie n d .

Perhap s while Wi n ter i s i n it s de pth the best cha n ce

“
for getti n g a si ght o f you an d la Pi a will b e for my
i n depe n de n t sel f to ta ke my cha n ce o f fi n di n g you at
lei sure an y aftern oo n whe n we ather an d all ot her
i n flue n ce s favour my starti n g At t he worst an d th at
— .

w ill be by n o mea n s b ad ! I c an combi n e a vi sit to

M rs [B ell ] Scott with my own vi si t atio n o f you : an d
.

as S cotu s has bee n ill my so doi n g would be obv iou sly ,

n eat an d appropri ate

’
.

‘
I fear
to d well u pon your bri ghte n i n g bu si n ess
h ori zo n lest gloom should return ; but mean while am
,

t h an k ful — I am gl ad you have had a n other fin e So n n et

i n the A t hen mu m p oets corn er is desirable i n my ’

eyes n o t cloyed by success quite

, to the degree o f
’
y our s .

The other the A ‘

t hen ze u m
fin e s nnrefers
o et in “

t o Dan te Gabriel s T he Holy F amily ( by M ichael

’ ’

an gelo i n the N atio n al Galle ry ) be gi n n i n g

, Turn n ot ‘

t he prophet s p age 0 S
’
o n ! He kn e w which ori g i n ally
’

, ,

a ppe ared i n that journ al fo r J an uary 1 1 88 1 , .

The e n sui n g brie f n ote may be quoted as showi n g

D an te Gabriel s a ffection ate i n terest i n his mother s
’ ’

health
Wed nesday
.

M y dear Gabriel c an thorou ghly re assure you —I

, .

Our dearest M other is ext remely well an d keeps i n doors ,

without vari atio n : she has n o t stirred out si n ce befor e

the d ay I saw you l ast wee k I n deed she d oe s on the .

whole keep very fairly warm , de spite cold which even

keeps hardy A
u n t Charlotte i n doors d ay a fter day
A
.

She sen d s you a dear love, an d my u n ts j oi n with

her I really begi n to fear thi s overwhelmi n g cold will
A
.

pr eve n t u n t Charlotte getti n g to your studio, when I

’
mean t t o acco mpa n y her : however, I wo n t despair
’

y et .
82 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
pleasa n t an d promi si n g I s M r [Hall ] Cai n e s boo k ’

A Pagean t an d other
. .

out yet I wo nder ,

M ine .

—
Poem s was pri n ted lon g ago at least the fi n al sheets ,

passed thro my han d s an d i n thi s mon th s M acmill an

’
,
’

”
it was an n ou n ced immedi ately an d still I see an d hear ,

n othi n g o f it Your two I suppose by what Willia m

.
, ,

says are w i sely waiti n g for October : an d mi n e perhaps

,

may be doi n g the same tho I fa n ci ed it mi ght have ,

’

been i ssued ere thi s .

With a dear love from a most dear M ot her ,

Your affection ate

CH RI STI N A G ROSSETTI ‘
. .
’

The letter which follows was writte n September in

1 88 1 .U n der d ate o f September 4 o f that year Dan te
Gabriel i n the course of a letter to h is mother ( see h i s
, “

’
L i fe an d F amily L etters by h is brother vo l I I p , , . . .

say s :

I w i sh C[hri sti n a ] would w rite me a li n e i n a n swer

to thi s n ot t axi n g yoursel f), an d say how she li ked
[M r Hall ] C ai n e s little n otice [o
’
f “
Pa gea n t an d A
A
.

other Poem s i n The cademy ”

.

Here i s C hri sti n a s an swer

’

My
dear Gabriel , —
Our M other has bee n e njoyi n g
the article which you le n t me which I retur n and , ,

w h ich to own the tru t h I h ave copied out at full le n gth

, ,

She se n d s you a dear love an d is very grieved at your ,

w eak an d su fferi n g state an d with me loo ks forward to ,

comi n g t o see you n ext Tuesd ay I am gl ad to h ave .

met M r Watts Du n ton ] agai n an d t o have m ad e

.
-
,

acqu ai n tan ce with M r [H all ] Cai n e

Aflec t i on at ely your
. .

'

CH RI STI N A G RO SSETTI ‘
. .
’

Ina postscript to a letter writte n about thi s d ate she ,

spea ks thu s co n cer n i n g D an te Gabriel s son n et Ralei gh ’

Raleigh is i n deed fin e, an d it s en d a gra n d

’
climax .
 SEVEN OAKS 83

F ri day Nigh t .

M y dear Gabriel — After all I topped sho rt at s

Seven oa ks i n stead o f reachi n g Tu n brid ge Well s A
,

nd .

at S eve n o aks I h ave secured what promi se to be charm

i n g lod gi n gs ( F ay remead ) whith er we tru st to beta ke
ourselves t o morr ow -

M amma s love an d A
.

u n t C s by
’ ’

Your tired si ster

R
,

C G
’
. . .

Fayremead — S ev en oak s
E
.

F rid ay ven i n g .

W
[ ri t t en in

‘ —
M y dear Gabriel , I dropped i n at the a ge n t s thi s ’

morn i n g an d thi s a ftern oon al l except mysel f (fo r I had

a he ad ache) drove to S eal a vill age ( say ) I i or 2 mile s
,

out o f Seven oaks t o i n spect the followi n g sm all hou se

, .

I t st an d s i n i t s own grou n d s w ith garden bac k an d

Has 3 sitti ng room s that is a di n i n g room
,

fron t .
-
, ,
-
,

drawi n g room sm all extra room

-
, 4 bed room s ( 2 .

l ar ge 2 small ) beside s serva n t s room at t op o f hou se ’

Ren t 2 1 5 0 per week but will be vacan t n ot till 2 n d

, .

September from which d ate it c an be had for an y term

,

proposed I t is o f course furn i shed but n o serv an t

rem ai n s lod gers must provide their o wn As I say it
.
,

,
.

i s detached but n ext t o it ( t h o separate ) i s the V ic ar

’

age : an d thi s cottage belo n gs t o the V ic ar Withi n 5 .

o r 1 0 mi n ute s i s Wilder n e ss P ar k a fin e loo ki n g pl ace ,

either for drivi n g o r wal ki n g an d ope n to the publ ic , .

The water by the bye is good but there i s a filter t o

, , ,

boot ! The garde n i s rather picturesque an d wildi sh ,

full o f gree n ery h as w al ks an d three grassy step s an d is

, ,

o f a good Si ze I f an y que stio n further seem s t o

.

you wort h aski n g the agen ts address i s M essrs C ron ks

,
’
.
,

Seve n oa ks .

Perh aps we may hear of s omethi n g el se promi si n g ,

8: I will be o n the alert

’
.

What follo ws re fers to D an te Gabriel s project ’

of

l eavi n g 1 6 C hey n e Wal k perma n e n tly :

84 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
—
M y dear Gabriel , Getti n g home , we fou n d our old
frie n d Hen rietta R
i n toul waiti n g for u s an d she
men tion ed in the course o f chat that M r Topham s .
’

( t he arti st ’
s) hou se i s she believe s n o w to let , a hou se

i n a p art o f Hampstead wi t h a capital look out to ward s -

C ric kle wood , i f she is n o t mi st aken .

[I lo se n o t a ] mome n t i n letti n g you kn o w the little I

kn ow, o n the bare ch an ce o f i t s av aili n g
’
.

the succeedi n g letter re fers t o a t ran sla

F ran ce sca i n
tio n by C hri sti n a s elder brother of a well kn own passage
’
-

i n Da n te an d elder an d modern allude to A

,
melia B .

Ed ward s s t wo volumes o f poetic selectio n s the first o f

’
,

elder the seco n d of modern poet s

q
.

30 Torringt on S uare—W . C .

Sat urday .

M y de ar Gabriel , —
Our M other se n d s you her love ,

an d a n n ou n ce s th at some o f the be st n e ws she could

h ave received is o f improveme n t i n your he alth .

D °
I
She has e njoyed readi n g i n 2 follow i n g At hen aau ms
. .

“
your n ice letter of co n tradictio n 8: your fin e F ran cesca , ,

an d h as bou ght both We o n ly heard o f them by a sid e

.

cha n ce .

M amm a su ffered fro m a simil ar

ttac k [of i n flue n za] a ,

but rallied much more rapidly an d is n o w fairly her ,

de ar sel f agai n I cou gh wo fully but I dare say there

.
,

i s n o great poi n t ami ss an d am t aki n g a mixture o f S ir

W [illi am ]
Than k you fo r w riti n g t o M i ss Ed ward s M amma
l
.

was so di sturbed at the mi sstateme n t th at I wrote t o

correct it ; but I am very gl ad M i ss E should receive .

coll ateral evide n ce an d should be aware th at my family

,

n oticed the poi n t .

M y com fort i n the bu si n e ss i s th at the err or is so ,

b read I thi n k it will i n a me asure n eutrali se it sel f .

In AP oet ry B ook
-
f
o M oder n P oet s, edi t ed by Am l ia
e B . Ed wards ,

pu b l ished in 1 879, Christ i na Rossetti i s desc ri bed as born i n 1 81 6 .

86 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
L et me wi sh you an d M rs Shield s a bri ght an d
.

blessed Chri stmas, a wi sh my M other mo st truly u n ites

in
Al way
.

r te fully your ’
s g a s ,

han dles t wo o f the deepest problem s o f

C hri sti n a
reli gio n t hat o f predesti n atio n an d free w ill in Tim e
— —

F lie s u n der d ate J an u ary 3 1 where she say s ,

Afried o n ce put it to me th at the choice o f each

n

m an s free will mu st be u n kn own beforeh an d eve n t o

’

God O m n i scie n t H im sel f To fore kn ow would i n vol ve .

to preord ai n an d th at which is ordai n ed i s n ot free — so

, ,

I suppose my frie n d mi gh t h ave gon e on to argu e

, ,

h an dli n g a mystery far beyon d my comprehe n sion .

L imited O mn isc I en c e i s a co n tradictio n I n term s . A

bei n g an y on e o f whose attrib u tes is limited , c an n ot be
our I n fi n ite L ord Go d .
’

The frie n d me n tion ed above was the Rev W Garrett . .

H order well kn own as the editor o f The Poet s B ible

,
’
,
’

an a ttempt t o set forth the great sce n es and C h aracters

o f Holy S cripture in the word s o f the Poets To t hi s .
’

work Chri sti n a R ossetti con tributed sever al poem s M r . .

Horder h as bee n good en ou gh to pl ace at my di spo sal

corre spo n de n ce d ated from L on do n from which extract s
, ,

sh al l be m ade The first letter i n an swer t o i n quirie s

.
,

made by M r Horder expresse s some O pi n io n s respect

.
,

i n g other poets an d co n t ai n s al so on e o f her rare flashe s

,

o f sel f critici sm
-

J ly 1 1 1 88 1 u , .

‘
De ar Sir Tha n k you for all the i n teresti ng i n
— ,

form atio n you are so good as t o afford me I hav e .

admired fin e wor k by Can on Dixon ere n ow t ho I ’

,

h ave n ot the adva n tage o f bei n g acquai n ted w i t h h i m .

—
B u t an other o f your co n tributors I do kn o w Dr L ittle .

d ale n o t t o speak o f my own brother !

‘
I f an y of my own pieces could fin d place i n you r
 THE REV w GARRETT . . HO RDER 87

proposed volume they would be quite at your service

, .

B u t they are so prev ale n t ly i n a subjec ti ve vei n t hat

I fear they may n ot repay yo u fo r a si fti ng o f the
collected edition The fresh volume an n ou n ced j u st
.

n ow by M e ssrs M acmill an will ( I co njecture be pe

.
) O n

to the same objectio n Do you happe n t o recall a poem

.

by Carri ngt o n on the N ativity ? He I suppose may be a , ,

poet n ot u n iversally kn own ; an d eve n I tho wi th a vivid ’

certai n ty o f my early admiratio n o f the piece i n question ,

c an n ot at t hi s much l ater d ay feel sure whether my

j g
ud me n t was the n correct Yet I ve n ture to n ame the
poem to y ou An other presum ably n ot widely kn own
.

.
, ,

o ccurs t o my memory — a bl an k ver se poem o f some

len gth on the sorrowful mysteries o f our Lord s li fe ’
,

w ritte n by J ame s C olli n so n an arti st n ot lo n g deceased

, ,

an d publi shed i n a n ow rare M agazi n e e n titled The

”
Germ about the y ear 1 849
,
“
The Germ lived on ly .

t hrou gh 4 n os an d i n the course of i t s brie f career

cha nged it s n ame to Art an d Poetry
.
,
”—
but I thi n k it
was T he Germ when the poem I speak of appe ared
i n it.

‘
I f an y other poem should occur to me as worth
n ami n g I will cou n t on your permi ssio n to w rite to yo u

agai n . Could I help forward a good work I would

l adly you or hear from you a ai — I should be
g see g n ,

fortu n ate i n so doi n g .

Ve ry si n cerely yours ,

Yet I t hi n k there may be on e or t wo of mi n e which

mi ght perhaps accord with your scheme for i n stan ce ,

o n e c alled B y the Waters o f B abylo n — Oddly en ou gh

I do n ot po ssess a copy o f the volume which co n t ai n s
it or I should feel tempted to cou n t on your leave to
,

len d it you .
’

In the followi n g year M r Horder was writi n g a .

an d
’
volume e n titled I n tim atio n s o f I mmortality ,

w rote to her reque ti

s ng permi ssio n to u se her so n n et s

begi n n i n g
The Wi se d o sen d t heir hearts before them t o
88 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
IfI cou ld tru st mine own sel f wi th you r fate ,

demurri n g however to the li n e

, ,

Whose kn owledge forekn ew every plan we plan n ed

in the l atter so n n et as i n dicati n g such ,

‘
a fore kn ow
-

led ge that n o space was left for the actio n of t he hum an

will . To thi s she replies
’

J ly 2 9 1 882 u . .

—
Dear M r Horder I am very glad i f you c an
.
,

utili se The Wi se do sen d I heartily wi sh I c ould .

an swer quite the same as to I f I could tru st — bu t .

here you h ave alre ad y ( h ave you n ot ? ) felt th at con

v i c t io n s an d pri n ciple s are i n volved — I c an n ot u n say
what I hold to be absolu t ely true e ve n i f ori gi n ally I
might h ave expressed my sel f better An d i f o n e o f the
,

illogic al sex may without o flen ce argue with o n e of the

'

logic al I would ve n tu re to illu strate my poi n t by

,

observi n g th at my prescien ce th at you w ill take al l

ki n dly doe s n o t compel you so to do !

Apropos of Mr . Hd or er s
’
demur sh e wrote the
rem ar ks i n Time F lies ‘
.
’
On i t s publication she se n t
him a copy o f the book , an d , i n an swer t o a letter o f
tha n ks w rote to hi m
,

M ay 20 . 1 885 .

Dear M r Horder I have n o doubt we d i fler on —

' '

.
,

some poi n t s but I rejoice over tho se poi n t s on which we

,

agree Th an k you fo r ki n d word s about my n ew little

.

boo k B e sure th at n ot o n e of my readers would be

.

more ge n ui n ely pleased th an mysel f i f I could al ways

write poem s
B u t j u st becau se poetry i s a gi ft I sc arcely d are to ,

follow your allu sio n to prophets i n compan y w ith poet s

-
I am n ot su rpri sed to fin d my sel f u n able to summon
’
it at w ill an d u se it accordi n g to my o wn choice .

Early in 1 882 M Joh n H I n gram was proj ecti ngr . .

his E mi n e n t Wome n Serie s an d was desirou s th at ’

,

Chri ti a R
s ossetti should u n derta ke n o f the volumes
n o e .
90 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
Mr W M Rossetti subseque n tly su ggested t hat
. . .

the mon ograph on Adel aide P rocter had better be

w ritte n by M rs A A W att s as that l ady had had
. . .
,

a more i n timate acqu ai n tan ce with her than had

Chri sti n a C hri sti n a R ossetti s n ext letter dated ’
.
,

B irchi n gto n M arch 1 3 1 882 set s fo rth thi s an d states

, , , ,

th at o wi n g t o her pre se n t circum stan ces she was u n able

, ,

at the mome n t t o ta ke up defi n itely an y literary oc c u

a t i With ch a ra cteri stic thou ght ful n e ss she n ame s

p o n .

‘
with warm comme n d atio n M rs B ell Scott M rs .
, .

Gemmer ( Gerd a F ay ) M rs E d gecombe an d M iss , .

,

Ri n toul as very suitable for such work .

I n the early part o f 1 88 3 agai n throu gh her brother , ,

M r I n gram o n ce m o re approached Chri sti n a R

. ossetti ,

aski n g her t o u n dert ake the li fe o f E li zabeth B arrett

q
B ro wn i n g which M r I n gram him sel fsub sequen tly w rote
,
.
,

an d I u o t e a po rtio n o f a letter w ritte n from T orri n gton ,

Squ are shortly afterward s :

,

Mybrother has showed me th at obli gi n g letter i n

which y o u expre ss good w ill th at I rather tha n som e
others should u n d ertake a li fe o f M rs B ro wn i n g I . .

should w rite w ith e n thu si asm of th at g re at poetess an d

( I believe ) lov a ble wom a n w hom I w as n ever ho wever , , ,

so fortu n ate as to m eet B u t be fore I could put pen t o

.

paper it would be n ec essary fo r me to kn ow what would

.
—
be M r B row n i n g s w i sh i n the m atter an d by h is wi sh
’

, ,

wh atever i t mi ght be I should feel bou n d both bec au se

,

he as her hu sb an d seem s to me the on e person e n titled

to decide how m uch o r ho w little co n cern i n g her should
duri n g h i s li fetime be m ade public an d bec au se havi n g ,

l on g e njoyed a sli ght degree o f acqu ai n ta n ce with him I

’
could n ot but de fer to h is wi sh .

After
ome del ay Chri sti n a aban don ed the thought
s

of the proposed study o f Eli zabeth B arrett B ro wn i ng ,

 EL I Z AB ETH B ARRETT B RO WN I N C 9 1

th e reaso n be i n g i n dic ated i n a letter d ated M ay 8 o f

the same year
D o you kn o w I d o n ot feel courage t o embar k on
the memoir o f EB B it seem s t o me cle ar th at with
,

. . .

out M r B rown i n g s c o operatio n the thi n g c an n ot (at

.
’
-

l east duri n g h i s li fetime ) be thorou ghly executed

be sides which I stro n gly sympathi se w ith h is retice n ce
,

w here o n e so n ear an d de ar t o him i s con cern ed

’
.

D ati n g from Torri n gton Squ are ,

April 2 4, 1 883, she

say s t o the same corre spo n de n t

M y brother tell s me you are ki n dly thi n ki n g of me

M rs R
”
fo r adcli ffe She t ake s my fan cy more th an
ltho I kn ow n ext t o n othi n g abo ut her An d
. .

m an y
’
a
Are an y
, .

I w ill try my pen upo n her i f yo u ple ase , .

hopes to be i n dul ged o f private lett ers journ al s what , ,

n ot becomi n g accessible to u s ? or mu st I depe n d

,

exclu sively on loo ki n g up my subj ect at the B riti sh

M u seum

a few d ay s time whe n ac kn ow led gi ng a li st o f

In
’
,

au thoritie s an d B riti sh M u seum re aders slips made out

’

by M r I n gram fo r her u se she wrote t o him as follows :

.
,

Will you ad d on e more favour ? letti n g me h ave a

pg
a e o f the editio n y o u edit th at so I m ay C opy it out ,

an d form an ide a o f about h ow much o f my ow n M S .

will go to the 1 80 o r 200 ( is it n ot ? ) page s o f pri n t

required .
’

A d agai
n n

I fin d I c an get the four boo ks i n

‘
question at
M u d ie s, an d I w ill do so i f y o u are so good as t o assure
’

“ ”
me th at my co n ti n ge n t publi sher w ill n ot time me .

I am n ot stro n g an d work i n g u n der pressure i s t oo

,

formidable B u t I hope thi s time the d i fli c u lty w ill n ot

.
‘

compel me t o fore go my u n derta ki n g tho were it ,

’

i n si sted o n I m ust secede .

’

I n formed
th at she wou ld h ave wh at she termed her
weak poi n t — —
time she replies u n der date o f M ay 2 8
9 2 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
5 01all I wi sh for an d i f I succeed i n fi n di n g
. is ,

su f
fi cie n t m ateri al I sh all be very pleased w ith my
,
ear n I n gs .

I t may here be men tio n ed that M r I n gram n ever .

had the smalle st i n te n tio n o f i n co n ve n ie n ci n g Chri sti n a

Rossetti by i n si sti n g on the prompt production o f a bio
r aphy or upo n i t co n si sti n g o f a give n n umber of
g ,
s

page s .

I n C hri sti n a R ossett i s opi n io n the gre at di fficulty

th at stood i n her w ay i n the c ase o f An n e Radcli ffe
w as l ac k o f m ateri al She w rote a letter on the su bject
.

to
‘
The Athe n ae um an d al so w rote pri vately t o Pro
,
’

fessor M asso n o f E di n burgh who recommen ded Dr ,

.

Ri chard Gar n ett o f the B riti sh M u seum The l atter .

g e n tlem a n an d se ver al other s w ere applied to but the , ,

re sult b ei n g i n Chri sti n a R ossetti s O pi n ion i n adequ ate ’

she comm u n ic ated her fi n al deci sio n t o M r I n gram i n a .

letter w ritten from L o n do n d ated September 1 7 1 883 , ,

‘
Retur
ed from t he se aside I c an o n ly say I h ave
n

do n e my best t o C ollect Radcli ffe ma teri al an d h ave

failed Some o n e else I d are say w ill gladly attempt
.
, ,

the memoir but I desp air an d w ithdraw Pray pardo n

, .

me for h avi n g kept you so lo n g i n su spe n se

Apologi si n g fo r all th at has bee n di sappoi n t me n t in
.

my doi n gs an d n o t doi n gs -
,
’
I rem ai n etc et c ,
. .

Thi s corre spo n de n ce much i n tri n sic i n tere st has ,

becau se it reveal s C hri sti n a Ro ssetti s opi n io n o f t wo ’

very di ffere n t wome n poet s o f the ce n tury an d the ,

w ide ran ge o f her literary symp athie s I t al so reveal s .

i n cide n tally some of her own h ab it s o f wor k .

At a much l ater d ate ( September 2 3 1 89 1 ) she ,

wrote co n cer n i n g E li zabeth B arrett B row n i n g to M r .

P atchett M arti n who had then ju st publ i shed an article i n

,
94 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
one eve n i n g say M on d ay or Tuesd ay \Ve shall be quite
,

by ourselves You kn ow w e do no t achieve late di n n ers

.
,

but we w o u ld h ave a solid tea at an y hour suited to your

,
—
con ven ie n ce hal f past ei ght or n i n e i t w ould m ake n o
-
,

di ffere n ce to u s and we recollect how preciou s d ayli ght

,

i s to an arti st Please remember u s cordially to M rs

. .

Shield s we sh all welcome you bo t h M y M other thi n ks .

you w ill l i ke to loo k at o n e treasure she po sse sses a ,

med allion o f our dear Gabriel don e whe n he was ei ghteen

by Joh n H an coc k thi s is the solitary attractio n we put
forward to i n duce yo u t o come — b u t do not come i f
health or au ght el se i n te rposes a b ar .

Yet hope ful o f your sayi n g y es I rem ai n

Very truly yo u rs
CHRI STI N AG R O SSE TTI ‘
. .
’

On 9 April
the fir st a n n iver
, sary f
1 88 3
o —
Da n te
—
Gabriel s de ath I we n t down to B irchi n gto n w ith my
’

frie n d M r Hall C ai n e to vi sit the poet pai n ter s l ast

’
-
, ,
.

resti ng place To M r H all Cai n e C hri sti n a an d her

- . .
,

mother had e n tru sted some choice flo wers to be placed

o n the beloved grave .

30 Torri ngt on Sq uare W C . .

Apri l 1 5 .

Dear M r Shield s M y frie n d M i ss Heato n is i n

— .
,

L o n do n an d remi n d s me o f my promi se to i n troduce

—
her to your beauti ful works an d graciou s sel f so I i n my , ,

turn remi n d y ou o f your san ctio n accorded to our scheme

, .

Would n ext Tuesd ay ( 2 1 5 t ) morn i n g about n oo n I mean , ,

suit your con ve n ie n ce as well as our ple asure I f n ot ,

please ki n dly propo se any other morn i n g wh atsoever .

Please write your y es o r no on a C ARD , which i s a

modern l u xury amo n g frie n d s .

I wo n der whether you are an an ti - V ivi sectio n i st ,

‘

an d I wo n der whether y o u are a M i n ors Protectio n i st

’
-
.

I am tryi n g t o get si gn ature s o n both subject s to

’
Petitio n s to P arli amen t .

M r Shield s
. i s an an ti Vivi sec tio n i st
-
, an d he si gn ed
 MEMORIAL W I N DO ‘V TO D AN TE GAB RI EL 95

that petitio n an d al so on e i n favour o f the M i n ors

,
’

—
Protectio n B ill a propo sed measure deali ng w ith the
age o f co n se n t She was a stro n g anti Vivi sectio n i st
.
’
-
,

an d i n an other letter tha n ked her frien d very warmly

becau se o f h is zeal i n the same c au se .

O n e o f the wi n do ws i n B irchi n gto n Church to the ,

memory o f D an te Gabriel was erected solely at the ,

expe n se o f his mother and thi s she con fided to M r , .

Shield s Chri sti n a co n ducted the n ecessary corre

.

spo n d en c e which i s be auti ful an d touchi n g as reveal

,

'

i n g a n e w h er aflec t ion fo r both D an t e Gabriel an d her

mother I t al so shows C hri sti n a s assured belie f i n
’
.

M r Shield s as an arti st an d the high e steem i n which

.
,

she held him as a man These letters as all such .

,

l etters betw ee n tried frie n d s should be are direct tran ,

scripts o f ch ar acter To read them is t o seem to he ar

.

her speak .

Con cer n i n g t he w i n do w i n B irchi n gto n Church t h e

followi n g extract from rem ar ks addressed to me by
M r Shields may here be given
.

M y ori gi n al proposition was that both the ubjects s

should be copie s of R ossetti s desi gn s an d I co n se n ted ’

th at on e of the li ghts should be filled by a de si gn from

my own h an d o n ly I n de fere n ce to their will ( which
,

t ou ched me much ) bec au se said they I was h i s , ,

’
frie n d .

M r Shield s
. first selected for the memorial wi n dow
D an te Gabriel s own desi gn o f M ary M a gdale n e at the
’

Doo r o f Simon the Pharisee but thi s was disallowed ,

’

b y the i n c u mbe n t o f the church He n ce with the .

,

approval o f D a n te Gabriel s represe n t atives M r S

’
hield s , .

adopted fi n ally Dan te Gabriel s desi gn The E ve of the

’

,
’
Passover .
9 6 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
We too in the follo wi n g letter re fers to the ac
, ,
’

quiesce n ce of M rs Rossetti an d Chri sti n a i n M r Shiel d s s

. .
’

su g e stion to u se T h e P assover de si gn i n pl ace o f the

g
rejected on e .

30 Torri ngt on Sq uare W C . .

Wed nesd ay
'

Dear M r Shield W e too ! Stirred up by your

. s, — ~

n ote I h ave j u st w ritte n to M r Wheeler o f Ox ford l

— .

suppose —
Ox ford su ffi ces fo r h is address to ask after
thi s much wi shed for photo graph
- -
.

M y poor M other salute s you wi t h a wea ry d isap

poi n tmen t fully equ al t o your o wn an d I remai n i n ,
’
harmo n y .

thi m ch w i ed fo r photograph M r
C o n cer
i n ng
‘
s u -
sh -
.

W M Rossetti h as w ritte n i n tere sti n gly t o me :

. .

‘
I feel
con fide n t that the photograph wan ted m u st
have bee n o n e from Gabri el s o wn draw i n g o f the P ass ’

over i n the H o ly F amily which drawi n g ( first bou ght

by [M r ] Ru ski n ) h ad bee n prese n ted by hi m t o o r de
,

posited in the Art Gall ery o f Ox ford

.
,
’
-
, .

M r Shield s had
. xceptio n al trouble as to thi s w i n
e

d ow but t h e result i s a very fin e ex ample o f h is wor k

, .

At the outset he felt some u n certai n ty as t o which were

t he b itt er herb s e ate n at the P assover He con sulted .

C hri sti n a who i n her tur n i n quired o f Dr L it t led ale

, . .

Her reply may be gi ve n fo r the sake of t he pl ay ful

humour o f the postscript
30 Torr in gton Sq uare W . C .

F r id ay aft ernoo n .

De ar M r Shield
‘
I return Dr A .c l an d s letter s, — .
’
.

M y M other read it w ith i n terest an d I w rote o u r joi n t ,

an swer Tha n k you for it an d fo r all the toil s en

.

cou n tered i n our c au se .

Dr Li t t led ale an swered my que ry so immedi ately

.

th at here is h is a n swer L ettu ce an d e n di ve are so .

famili ar th at it may tempt you to avoid the other t wo !

9 8 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
2 lights on ly : it s compan io n wi n dow e u ally of 2
li ghts would be aban don ed en tire to frie n d s an d
q
admire rs who o f course w ould please th em selves as to
wh at arti sts should be called i n : but my M o t her s
’

w i n dow she wi she s ( i f so it may be ) to secu re exclu sively

from yoursel f We won der how you will devi se a
.

desi gn which c an at al l express the man an d the work

I am quite u n able to thi n k o f a n ythi n g n e arer than the
i n admi ssible combi n ation of 2 i n congruous fi gures St
L u ke an d t he A rchan gel Gabriel ! A quite di fferen t
, .

treatme n t of our de ar subject had occurred to me an d ,

h ad for t he mome n t approved itsel f to my M other : a

Rai si n g of t he Widow of N ai n s Son We con sidered ’
.

th at as B apti sm i s a death u n to sin an d a n ew birth

u n to ri ghteou sn ess an i n stan ce of R
,

esurrection might
be v iewed as typic ally appropriate to a B apti stery while
Gabri el ( tho n ot an o n ly so n ) was a beloved lovi n g
’
, ,

con spi cuou s son of a w idow who cheri sh es amon g her

,

dearest hopes that of receivi n g him back at the ge n eral

Resurrection by the overflowi ng mercy o f God B u t I .

tell you thi s so freely becau se you al ways i n vite con fi

—
den ce n ot becau se you n eed prompti n g or we are ,

w ed ded to our own idea .

We hO pe M rs Shield s w ill yet get better an d bri ghten

.
,

your heart an d home agai n Our love to her please I

.
, .

won der whether B irchi n gt o n would suit her it i s coldi sh

—
at prese n t yet we who in age might more th an be her
,

ra dmo t her a d mother — are revived i n t hi s fin e ai r

g n n .

Welcome will you be o n M on day or Tuesd ay or any , ,

oth er day We di n e at 2 an d would have tea at an y

.
,

hour to suit you but we would n ot grud ge you livelier

en tertai n men t at D i lkoosha or t he Vicarage i f such
An d n ever make excuses for n ot cal lin g
,

were to o ffer .
,

pl ease ! I t i s a frien dly favour when you drop i n it is ,

n o omi ssion whe n you forbear

’
.

The followi n g letter an d it s separate sheet w il l

how s

both practical side o f Chri sti n a R

t he o sset t I 3 charac ter ,

an d how she spared hersel f n o trouble even , as t o t he

 C HRI STI N AS P RACTI CAL CHARACTER
’

99

mi n utest particu l ars when the com fort o f the frie n d s

,

wh o formed her i n n er circle was co n cern ed .

Chu rch Hill B i rchi n gt on -on -Sea

Ag st 1
,

u u .

M y de ar M r Shield s H — o w I hope th at B irchi n t o n

.
,g
—
i f B irchi n gto n prove t o be your bou m e may revive
you an d your wi fe Our love t o her please an d our
.
, ,

v ery be st wi she s for her recove ry an d e njoyme n t — i i she ,

rallie s y o u w ill bri ghte n up an d I hope thro w o ff that

, ,

very pai n ful besetme n t n eural gi a .

O n a sep arate sheet I se n d you wh at p articul ars I

have u n earthed B y far the l argest an d be st roo m o f
.

al l I have see n i s the one room at the past rycoo k s b u t

’

very li kely such a m ake shi ft i s n ot admi ssible The -

.

w hole group o f lod gi n gs I se n d y ou are more or le ss

n ear the church — thi s n ee d I remi n d yo u i n volves their
, ,

bei n g at some di st an ce from the sea an d accou n ts for ,

the comparatively l ow re n ts dem an ded N ear the sea .

I am n o t aware of an ythi n g to be h ad short o f an ,

en t i re hou se .

I f there i s a n ythi n g more I c an do comman d me , .

I cal led on M rs Seddo n be fore commen ci n g my rou n d

.

o f apartme n t s hu n ti n g an d it was i n fact thro her ’

-
,

th at I heard o f tire cot tag e in my li st ; so there c an

b e n o doubt o f the re spect ability of thi s said cottage
for it is let by people who she thou ght mi ght h ave
,

roo m s to let .

The weather here varies bet ween summer an d

wi n ter ! T o d ay i s o f an i n termediate temperature
- .

B e sure you w ill fin d my de ar M other ready an d

‘

an xiou s t o set forward the memori al To d ay I re .

-

vi sited the de ar o ld bu n galow an d brou ght away a

bun ch of flowers from i t s garden an d co n servatory .
’

]C
[ py f
o o se a r at e s/zeet
p
M r Tapsell pastrycoo k Station R
.
— oad ( which is a ,

sort o f vill age Hi gh St ) .

O N Eon l y but re ally l arge room seemi n g thorou ghly

furn ished as bed an d sitti n g room i n on e .

r wee k
'
25 p e .
I OO C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
Gas 1 6 d o
'
.

B oot s 1 d .

Washi n g li n en either at a small ch arge or perhaps for

a fortn i ght grati s
A squ are lan di n g outside the room doo r large
.

en ou gh fo r a small table an d chair would do to write a

letter or what n ot i f the real room were occupied at t he ,

momen t .

M rs H ar ri s Je ssami n e Cottage Church Street

. .
, .

Sta n d s i n a row o f a few cottages .

F ro n ts toward s the Church : bac k loo ki n g i n to o w n

ga rde n or k itche n garde n

Sitti n g room grou n d floor bedroom above , .

per wee k with atte n dan ce .

B oot s 1 d per pair

. .

C ruets 8: c 6d per wee k

.
, . .

Kitche n fire do .

Washi n g of li n en abou t for a fort n ight i f that is t he ,

whole term .

M r D Golder I ro n mo n ger Par k L a n e

. .
, , .

Acottage , fu rn i shed
could be e n tered at on ce but mu st ,

be vacated n ot later th an the 1 3th 2 gu i n eas for the .

above short term O ccupa n t mu st provide his own .

atten d an ce plate li n e n , , .

3 bedroom s
2 sitti n g room s
-

Kitche n s &c .

The cottage loo ks i n to its own l ittle pi ece of garden

— —
fron t i t stan d s i n a row an d at t he bac k to ward s
ot her premi ses .

M rs Ja kes,
Prospec t Villas . 10 .

Sitti n g room an d bedroom o n first floor ( Stan d s in a .

row o f lod gi n g letti n g hou ses ) -

.

per wee k
K itchen fire 1 6 per wee k '

N 0 other extras .

When I saw these room s bot/z had bed s i n them but ,

o n e wou ld be cle ared an d turn ed i n to a sitti n g room -

C G
. . R .
 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
i n flue n ced by Shield s sJOveo f
’
Chri st , even mo re than
by his love o f Gabriel A -
.

Thi s on e ,
e w rit t
rom nf
L on don shows I n what spi r it ,

her mot her a nd hersel f approached fi n an cial con sidera

' '

ti on s when d eali n g with frie n d s :

OeI 4
. .

Dear Mr Shield s —The

paragraph i n a recen t
Athen aeum which an n ou n ces your forthcomi n g wi n dow
.
,

upbu ild s our hope of seei n g that beauti ful work .

M y M other salutes you w ith tr ue frien d ship an d

beggi n g your excu se i f we violate arti stic etiquette
desires me to ask whether thi s i s the momen t for o fferi ng
” —
you a retai n er either 5 01 or 1 001 as you shal l . .

dictate . I f you will favour her w ith a prompt reply

sh e i s j u st n ow about to h ave an accou n t settli n i t h
g n e -
,

course o f which an d without an y great delay she will

have the pleasure of t ra n smitti n g t o you either su m you
may prefer N ot that she forgets th at the beloved
.

wi n dow rem ai n s at libert y to exceed 1 001 every detail .

will be cheerfully go n e i n to at a future mome n t ; but

thi s proposal is perhaps what applie s to the presen t
, ,

ti me I d aresay you saw or at least he ard o f the letter i n

.

a Times n ot lo n g ago which stirred u p al l our family ,

feeli n g fo r t he cheri shed grave i f it n eed ed stirri n g up

’
, .

Evide n tly Chri sti n a

her mother fou n d an d t he en d

o f their stay at B irchi n gt o n a little we ari some .

5 St at i o n Road B irchingt on on - -
Sea
Oct o ber 1 4 .

Dear M r . Shield s Al as ! the

—we ather too k a
,

wi n try turn some d ays ago an d has on ly pa rtially ,

recovered itsel f si n ce So my M other desi re s me t o

.

an n ou n ce th at u n le ss the beloved w i n do w c an fill it s

n oo k by t ire en d o f t l ns mon t/z sh e re si gn s hersel f t o
'

— —
retu rn home an d gaze at it n ext best i n Lo n don when
,

the h appy mome n t sh all arrive B irchi n gto n c old .

,

whe n it doe s come i s n o trifle , .

We hope thi s will fin d your wi fe an d you at least

 MR . H TREF F RY
. DUNN I O3

pret t y well , an d th at both will accept o u r very frie n dly

salutation s , an d that you will n ot begi n quite to hate
Your tormen ti ng correspon de n t
CH RI STI N AG RO SSETTI
‘
. .
’

This reveal s her mother s character ’

as well as her
o wn

5 Stat i on Road Birchi ngton on -

-
Sea
Oc t o ber 22 . 1 884 .

Dear M r Shield . s —
Yo u r r ed l ett er to d ay turn ed
,
-

i n to a red letter d ay fo r u s I wi sh to morro w may .

-

tu rn out on e for you by fi n di n g M rs Shield s better an d .

so your load of care li ghte n ed Pray give her o u r love .

an d accept our frie n dlie st remembran ce s .

N ow i n deed we loo k forward to admiri n g the

beauti ful w i n dow I t will al ways rem ai n your l abour of
.

—
love but my M other begs you as soo n as possible to
let her have an exh au stive li st of her mon ey debts to
the Glass F irm an d much more to yo u rsel f : th at sh e
may as quic kly as she c an meet her li abilities At 84 .

she feel s that to day s du t y had more th an ever better

’
-

be performed to d ay an d n ot postpon ed till to morro w . -

.

Please recollect the St M ary M agd ale n e C artoo n alon g

.

with all the rest We hope to go home n ext Tuesday

.
,

o n which d ay our n i n th wee k at B irchi n gto n expires

R
.

I rejoice to see M r S edd on s n ame an d M r the

[
’
ev

Al fred] Gurn ey s n ot to Speak o f William s amon g

. . .

— ’
— ’

the ga zers gazers re fers t o those who had bee n privi

leged to see the memori al w i n do w at M r Shield s s
’
.

stu dio] ; I w o n der i f M r Du n n was i n cl u ded .Mr . .

Watt s Du n to n ] we kn ew already y o u mean t to

-

summo n an d truly t h at st au n ch frie n d i s n o t o n e to be

,

o mitt ed o n such an occasio n .

With warm th an ks for all yo u h ave d on e fo r u s an d

an ea rn est wi sh th at the re sult s may e n ha n ce your
fame
Very truly your s
Mr H. . Treffry Du n n al l uded to above more tha n
is
on ce me n tio n ed by M r W M Ro ssetti i n . . . h i s M emoir
o f Da n te Gabriel With the l atter M r. . Du n n was at
1 04 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
time much associated as his art assi sta n t an d
’
-
on e , ,

r esided with him D an te Gabriel h ad a hi gh opi n ion

.

o f M r Du n n s arti stic gi fts especi ally as a colouri st an d

’
. ,

it was wi t h M r Du n n as compan ion that t h e poet

.

pai n ter made h is memorable pil grimage to Strat ford

on A
-
von .

M r Sh ield s has told me th at he was so much

.

touched by the sympathetic an d delic ate tact o f M rs .

Rossetti in con n ectio n w ith the n egoti atio n s for thi s

w i n do w th at,
o n i t s completio
,
n he gave her as a m ar k , ,

o f h i s appreciatio n a copy o f h i s draw i n g

,
Th e G ood ‘

Shepherd to be men tion ed hereafter .

Thi s is i n dividual
30 Torringt on Square W C . .

F ri day aftern oon .

Dear M r Shield s e awaited you l ast n ight an d

.
,

you did n ot come Did is ari se from my n ot h avi n g .

an swered th at we should at home ? I thou ght my

sile n ce w ould speak I ou ght to h ave w ritte n '

p ardon me O r was it . you were n ot well en ou gh

t o c o me ? I f so sad i s ,
the result sh al l
n o t be sad so far as my g on y o u c a n forw ard bu s i
An y ev e
,

n ess m atters we sh all be at ho m e i f still

. .

li k e c o me or i f 1 at yo r tudio I ill
y o u t o u s w ( n o t
heari n g fro m y o u to t rary ) d o my best to appear
n ext T u esd ay before ab o o cloc k ’
.

M y M o t her greet s y r ( 1 yo u r w ife cordi ally an d ,

I ac t echo The heau t i fu i n dow ab ides i n ou r me n tal

.

eye eve n if o u r corpo re a l e see it n ever agai n

,
”
.

I y yours

PS Ihad ju st w ritte n the ERASED pages when I

.

fou n d your c ard i n the post box Do pray ta ke care .

o f your preciou s sel f I w ill try to ca ll to morrow .

-

( S aturd ay ) to ward s n oo n ; but i f you are out or

e n gaged do n ot feel k i n dly an xiou s as I c an quite ,

easily return an other time .

’

The e n sui n g letter shows Chri sti n a s co n scie n tiou s ’

1 06 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
Here i s an extract from a letter to M rs F rederi c .

Shield s w ritten on December 2 6 1 883 The dea r ,

.

frie n d referred to was probably C harles B agot C ayley ,

the tra n sl ator o f Dan te whose work as I h ave men

, ,

t i on ed C hri sti n a ad mired greatly an d who se literary

, ,

executrix sh e bec ame

Pray than k your hu sban d fo r symp athy .

Our X m as has i n deed bee n sadde n ed by t he loss o f so

de ar a F r ie n d
. They shall peri sh but Thou rem ai n est ,
”
,

— o n e o u ht to b e able to sa so eve n whe n De ath does

g y
i t s mome n t ary wor k but ho w e asy the word s are t o
,

utter an d ho w d ifli c u lt their mean i n g t o attai n I hope

‘
.

’
your n ear an d d ear circle w ill re m ai n l o n g u n i n v aded .

Apropo s ofa vi sit to B ri ghton i n 1 885 she w rites t wo

letters to M rs W M Rossetti givi n g hi n ts as to t he
. . .

h abits o f the hou sehold i n Torri n gto n Squ are an d as t o ,

her se n time n ts tow ard s B irchi n gton

D o y o u h appe n t o recol l ect the directio n o f y ou r
lod gi n gs ? I f so I am sure you w ill ki n dly let me h ave
it , but I will o n ly troubl e you to d o so i f y o u j ud ge th at
the hou se is on e li kely t o accommod ate o u r party o f four .

N ot th at we wan t an ythi n g exc eptio n al : four bed s i n

either 2 or 3 bedroom s, an d a sit t in g—room Grou n d floo r .

or I st floor pre ferred , n o t th at is, an y o f the roo ms hi gh er

,

up th an t he I st floor Cook i n g n ice an d proper atten d

.
,

an ce . I f possible w e should be q u i t e glad to pay for

boar d as well as l o d g i n g : d o you thi n k th ere w ould be
a ch an ce o f thi s —fo r n o t on e o f u s feel s an y fan cy fo r
the hou se keepi n g d ep artme n t I f I d o n o t he ar fro m you
.

I shall u n derstan d th at y o u d o n o t see a li kel ihood o f

our suiti n g the lod gi n gs i n quest io n .

Our room s are on the grou n d floor which for some ,

reaso n s suits u s best I don t thi n k I have stayed at

.
’

B ri ghto n si n ce 1 8 5 0 ( 1) so my reco l lectio n s o f loc ality are

n ot very vivid an d were they so doubtle ss m an y o f t hem
,

w ould be obsolete We can n ot be accu sed of bei n g

 TI M E F L I ES 1 07

chi ld r en Our loves to sen sible Olive an d stu diou s

!
Hele n [her seco n d n iece ] please tell the former th at it
would do me a gre at de al o f good to spell cert ai n word s
over an d over agai n The short journ ey is a boon ,

otherwi se I should han ker aft er B irchi n gto n .

’

M r Shield s had promi sed to de si gn

. cover for a

Time F lies but owi n g to ill n e ss was u n able to c arry

,
’
, ,

ou t h i s i n te n tio n s Heari n g o f thi s C hri sti n a wrote t o

.

hi m t hu s
Ap il 20 r .

M y dear M r Shield s M y M other an d I joi n i n

— .
,

hearty hope s th at you are rallyi n g by the sea an d are

stori n g stre n gth fo r a h appy return t o L o n do n an d t o

co n gen ial work Whether your w i fe is or n ot with y ou

.

our love to her an d our be st wishe s .

M e an while Time F lies Pray d o n o t bestow

an other thou ght on the beauti ful work you me an t t o do
for me an d o f which the good w i ll i s more preciou s t o
,

me than t he h an dicraft however choice that mi ght have

bee n I beg you to e ase your mi n d o f an y further c are
.

on the subject Wi l l you write t o M r M c C lu re or shall

. .

I M y boo k mu st tru st for succe ss t o it s i n n er grace s

an d n ot to the m an tle of your n ame an d fame
’
.

Ap il 2 2 r .

Dear M r Shield s W e are so sorry my mother an d

.
,
-
,

I to kn ow that you a re ill an d su fferi n g — fo r we h ave ju st

,

seen your k i n d letter to the B u t I w ill n o t fore go

asso ci ati n g you in some degree with my boo k fo r I am ,

sure y ou will give me pleasure by accepti n g a copy w he n

I hope the cover w ill seem to you n ot ami ss as a hu mbl e
sub stitute I who have ju st bee n shown the de si gn
.
,

thi n k it n ot at al l u n pleasi n g an d as I am quite i n capable

,

o f fi guri n g t o mysel f wh at I h ave mi ssed I may re st

c o n te n ted I hope Time F lie s will i n tere st you more

.

rather th a n le ss bec au se on 2 o f the d ay s you w ill

,

recogn i se thou ghts o f your ow n you threw li ght o n

C lea n si n g o f the Temple on e eve n i n g thi s furn i shes the
”
,

sub sta n ce o f o n e paper Time F lie s J an u ary 2 3] an d ,

an other owes it s ori gi n to your vi v id de scription o f

1 08 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
certai n wayside spiders at B irchi n gt o n [see p 9 3 o f the .

prese n t volume ] M r M c C l u re tell s me the boo k i s to

. .

come out o n M ay I st so I hope it will n ot be very long

,

be fore I o ffer you your copy

Al ways yo u r obliged frie n d
.

CH RI STI N A G RO SSETTI ‘
. .
’

What follows was writte n i n 1 88 5 Dr Olivieri i n . .

,

the word s o f her survivi n g brother was an estimable ,

an d cultiv ated I tali an much afll i c t ed by ill health an d

‘
-
,

ot her troubles . He died some years ago .

’

30 Torrin gt on Sq uare W . C .

Sat urday eveni ng

My de ar Willi am ,
— Dr
Olivieri has give n M amm a
.

a n d me the tic ket s I e n clo se to you with our love s .

C an you m ake an y u se o f them ? best of all you r

self but thi s I d are n ot an ticip ate
, The prospectu se s .

I ad d thi n ki n g it n ot quite impo ssible you mi ght

me n tio n the 3 lectures i n an Athe n ae um gossip p ara
,

g r aph but o f cours e there i s n o time to lo se i f k i n dly ,

y o u be sto w a thou g ht o n the m atter M amm a a n d I .

who really ca n n ot att en d — are goi n g to purchase 2

tic kets apiece an d I mu st thi n k ( i f I c an ) o f t he best
,

peo ple to give them t o M amm a was tired with a lon g

.

d ri ve yesterday an d to d ay we h ave stayed at home

,
-
,

but we hope to get t o church t o morro w M r Joh n -

. .

W al ker writes that he has got Time F lie s an d men tion s

w ith ad m iratio n the rou n del s i n ge n eral an d I f love i s
n o t wo rth lovi n i p a rticul ar Your blu shi si s ter
g n n g
R
.

’
C G . . .

‘
I the first quotatio n from
saw
“
Time F lies in a
p ari sh p aper by M r Gur n ey [see pp
. . 1 20

The Du ke ofWestmi n ster commi ssion ed M r Shield s .

to decorate the ch apel at Eato n H all He tal ked over .

with h i s frie n d po ssible subjects fo r de si gn s an d soon ,

a fter ward s sh e se n t him t he follo wi n g memora n da .

C o n cer n i n g t he se M r Shield s h as writte n to me

. .
I l O C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
i
s gn s her the Si gn o f the C ro ss an d gazi n g
with
upward s Grou n d of lilies amid thorn s
6 4 A Asce n d s with vi sible ascen di n g
. .

scensi on
. .

a ctio n an d i n attitude o f be n edictio n : S

, t L u ke x xiv .
,

5 0 SI

7 H
,

ope ( thi s I merely add kn owi n g it i s n ot wan ted )

Hebre ws vi 1 9 M an i n boat casti n g an ghor Above

,

. . .
,

sky w ith rai n bow : belo w fai n ter rai n bo w in wate r , ,

i n to which an chor stri ke s .

5 P en t ecost
R
. .

8 L ov e oma n s x 1 1 20, 2 1 M an feedi n g e n emy ,

. . .

with w a r m mess F ire at which he h as coo ked it ,

.

whe n ce revives phoen ix Take n i n co n n ectio n with

.

comp artmen t abo ve , I wan t the thread o f fire (so to say )

to de sce n d ( in idea) from the Divi n e fou n tai n of L ove ,
throu gh the Twelve , t o the love ki n dled symbolic fi gure, -

”
to ki n dle fi n ally the e n emy whose li fe re k i n dl ed by ,
-

h is be n e factor s co al s o f fire i s emblem ati zed by the

’

p h cn n i x .

9 6 ju dg men t Same action preci sely as i n N o 4,

R
. . .

o n ly descen d i ng i n stead o f ascen d i ng: The cloud s ( ev .

1 7) dimly li ghted up by retur n i n g sai n t s ( 1 The ss 4

an d the A
,
. .

14 , rch an gel s on e shouti n g the other ,

sou n di n g the trumpet .

1° Vigi l an ce ( as you said ) the Wi se Virgi n s

The tlzree t op [cg/I ts i f Ang el s I t hi n k a moon mi ght
. .

—
,

—
accompan y e ach the first cr escen t the seco n d f u l l the
, , ,

third wa n i ng t o corre spo n d with the course of the D i s

,

pen s at io n fi g u re an d symboli s ed belo w .

I h ave fan cied th at the balan ce o f colour & c is i n , .

,

some me asure ob served i n the det ail s as above

’
.

To the sa me correspo n de n t she s ays some time

a fterward s :
Dear M r Shield s Do you recollect i n old d ays -

A
.
,

si gn i n g an an ti V ivi sectio n Petitio n to Parli ame n t ?

-

M emori al i s n o w prepari n g fo r prese n tatio n to the Home

Secret ary beseechi n g him n ot to lice n ce a so called
I n stitute o f Preve n tive M edici n e which w ill e stabli sh
Pasteur s tre atme n t an d I sup po se other horrors i n o ur
’

m id st I am procuri n g a few si gn atures

. I f yo u sh are .
 CO RRESPO N D EN C E WI T H AU G U STA WEB STER I I I

our an xiety an d wi l l favour u s w ith a post c ard I w ill

, ,

se n d the memorial to you for si gn ature for yoursel f an d

( i f it w ere so ) by an y other g ro w n u p En gli sh m an o

-
r

woma n w ithi n your i n flue n ce I f o n the con trary I do

.

n ot hear from you I will u n dersta n d your sile n ce as

’
n egative .

Mr. Shi eld s gratified Chri sti n a by si gn i n g the

q
petition I n truth she paid more atte n tio n to soci al
.

uestio n s than o n e would be apt to suppose an d respect ,

i n g them her attitude was o fte n hi ghly i n dividual .

Augu sta Webster on e o f the most emi n en t of

,

w omen poet s was al so a tre n cha n t prose w riter

, A .

vi gorou s an d eloque n t advoc ate o f Women s Su ffrage ’

,

she w rote o n thi s subj ect i n The Exami n er then ,

’

u n der the editorship o f Pro fe ssor William M i n to Her .

c o n tributio n s were sub seque n tly repri n ted by t he

Wome n s Su ffrage Society i n leaflet form an d were

’

forward ed to Chri sti n a R ossetti M r Thomas Webster . .

h as most courteou sly placed at my di sposal the corre

'

spo n d en c e t hat e n sued an d from ,t wo of C hri sti n a

Rossett I 5 letters to Augusta Web st er I make t he follow
i n g extract s

You express yoursel f with such cordial ope n n ess that

I feel e n coura ged to e n de avour al so a fter sel f expression -

—n o easy matter sometimes I write as I am thi n ki n g.

a n d feeli n g but I premi se that I have n ot eve n t o my

,

o wn apprehe n sio n go n e deep i n to the questio n at le ast

q
,

n ot i n the se n se i n which ma n y who ha ve studied it

would re uire depth of me I n o n e se n se I feel as i f I

.

h ad gon e d eep for my obj ec tion seem s to mysel f a

,

fu n d ame n tal on e u n derlyi n g t he whole structure o f female

C l ai m s
.

Does it n ot appear as i f the B ible was based upon

an u n derstood u n alterable di sti n ctio n bet wee n m en an d
w omen their po sition duties privileges ? N ot arrogati n g
, , ,

t o mysel f but most earn e stly desiri n g to attai n to t he

I I 2 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
character of a humble orthodox Xti an so it does appear ,

to me ; n ot merely u n der the Old but al so u n der t he

N ew Di spe nsation The fact of the Priest hood bei n g
.

exclu sively man s leaves me in n o doubt t hat t he

’

highest fu n ction s are n ot i n thi s world ope n to both

sexe s : an d i f n ot all the n a sel ectio n mu st be m ade an d
,
—
a li n e drawn somewhere O n the other han d if fem ale
ri ghts are sure to be overborn e fo r lac k o f fem ale voti n g
i n flue n ce th en I con fess I feel di sposed to shoot ahead
,

o f my i n structre sse s an d to assert th at fem ale M P 3:

are o n ly ri ght an d reason able Al so I take exception s
,

at the exclu sion o f m arried wome n from the su ffrage ,

—
for w ho so apt as M others al l previou s argume n ts
—
allowed fo r the mome n t to prot ect the i n tere sts o f
t hem selve s an d o f their o ffspri n g ? I do thi n k i f an y
thi n g ever doe s sweep away the barri er of sex an d m ake ,

t h e fem ale n ot a gia n tess or a heroi n e but at o n ce an d

full grown a hero an d gi an t it i s th at mi ghty matern al ,

love which m akes little bird s an d little beasts as well as

little wome n m atche s for very b i g adversaries .

thi n k it quite i n admi ssible that men should

N or d o I
con ti n ue the exclu sive n ation al legi slators so lon g as ,

they do con ti n ue the exclu sive soldier represe n tative s o f -

the n ation an d e n gro ss the whole payme n t i n li fe an d

,

limb fo r n ation al qu arrel s I do n ot kn ow whether an y .

lady is prepared to adopt the Plato n ic theory o f female

regime n ts i f so she sets aside thi s objection but I am
,
’
n ot so to me it sta n d s
, .

Ad n aga n i
M an y wh o h ave thou ght more an d do n e much more
—
than mysel f share your views an d yet they are n ot ,

mi n e I d o n ot thi n k the presen t soci al moveme n ts

.

te n d on the whole t o uphold X t i an it y or t h at the i n flue n ce ,

of some o f our most promi n e n t an d gi fted wome n is

exerted i n that direction : an d thu s thi n ki n g I ca n n ot
” ’
aim at wome n s ri ghts .

I n flue n ce an d re spon sibility are such solem n matters

that I w ill n ot excu se mysel f to you for abidi n g by my
co n victio n s yet in co n tradicti n g yo u I am co n tradicti ng
’
on e I admire .
1 I 4 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
The three Succeedi n g be auti ful letters addressed to ,

Mr . Shield s have re fere n ce to her mother s fi n al i ll n ess

,
’

an d de ath .

30 Torri ngt on Square W . C .

Aft ern o M on d ay o n.

M y dear M r Shield s O u our part good n ews M y

— .
, .

preciou s M other i s better i s o u t of d an ger says to d ay

, ,
-

her doctor i f on ly her stre n gth su ffices for the rally

God gran t it i f it be H
.
,

is merci ful Will more tha n that

,

I dare n ot say or eve n w i sh B u t y o u may thi n k wh at .

the hope i s to me .

M ean while yo u have bee n I n trouble an d sorro w fo r

your on e n e arest an d de arest Our love to her an d our .
,

very best w i she s for her prese n t c ase an d speedy recovery .

She has youth o n her side t hat beauti ful an d deli ghtful ,

thi n g youth M ay she soon rejoi ce you by re stored

.

health .

’
Yours very truly ,

Ad n l ater on she sa ys
30 Torringto n Sq uare W C . .

M on day .

‘ —
Dear F rie n d I mu st hear of the i n estimable
, n ot

b een o f your prayers w ithout w riti n g to th an k you fo r

u s bot /z M ay your de ar w i fe grow stro n g F o r me
. .

t here i s n o e arthly hO pe — but far bett er a heave n ly

Al ways truly yours
, , .

C haracteri stic ally u n selfi sh is t he remark which

close s what follo ws , w ritte n after her mother s de ath
’

in A pril 1 886
30 Torrington Square W C . .

Sat urd ay .

De ar F r ie n d —Th an k
you for eve ry word which
sho ws h ow my de are st M other was ho n oured an d beloved .

I am gl ad it i s I an d n o t she that is le ft sorrowful an d

lo n ely .

Grate fully yours

’
,

C o n st an tly did she spe ak both , in her correspo n de n ce

 HER M OTHER 1 1 5

in h er ubli hed w or k bout her mother deed

“

an d p s a I n , .

the thou ght o f her mother seemed rarely abse n t from

her mi n d “
The F ace o f t he Deep co n tai ns t his d el icat e
.
"

p i ec e o f an aly si s o f O ppo site femi n i n e qualitie s

Ey
e x hibits one extreme of femi n i n e charact er the
e

Eve parleyed
,

B lessed V irgi n the opposite extre me .

with a devil holy M a ry was troubled at the salutat ion

o f an A n gel Eve sou ght kn ow ledge M ary instruc t ion
Eve aimed at sel f i n dul ge n ce M a ry at sel f oblation
. .

- -

Eve by di sbelie f an d di sobedien ce brou ght sin to the

.

birt h : Mary by faith an d submi ssio n Ri ghteou sn ess

, ,

An d yet even as at the foot of the C ross St M ary

, , .

, , .

M agd al en e out o f whom we n t seve n devil s stood beside

, ,
”
t he lily amon g thorn s the M other o f sorrows : so ( I,

hu mbly hope an d tru st) amo n g all sai n ts of al l time will

sta n d be fore the thro n e E ve the beloved first M other of
,
'
'

u s all Who that has l o ved an d revered her own

.

immediate dear M oth er will n ot echo the hope ? ,

No r i s it possible to help readi n g i n to these ope n i n g

l i n es from a n oble so n n et i n the same boo k an allu sion
both to her si ster an d to her mother .

O ur M ot hers, l ovely women piti ful

Ou r S ist ers, graciou s i n t heir li fe an d d eat h
To u s each u n forgott en memory ih sa t

Learn as we learn ed in life s su fficien t school

’ ’
.

Whe n reviewi n g in The At hen ze u m o f F ebruary 1 5 ,

Chri sti n a Ro ssetti s N ew Poem s M r Watts ’

1 896
’
, , .

Du n ton had some touchi n g rem ar ks respecti ng her

’
mother s i n flue n ce on C hri sti n a an d Christi n a s o wn ,
’

in fl uen ce on Dan te Gabriel

R ’
Chri sti n a o ssetti s peculi ar form o f the C hri sti an
se n time n t she i n herited from her mother , the sweet n e ss
o f who se n ature was n ever di sturbed by that exerci se o f

t he egoi sm o f the arti st i n which Chri sti n a i n dul ged , an d

1 2
1 1 6 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
w ithout wh osei n flue n ce it is d i fficu lt to imagi n e what
the Rossetti family would have been .

All
that is n oblest in Chri sti n a s poetry an ever
’
,

prese n t sen se of the beauty an d power of good n ess mu st ,

surely have c o m e from t he mother from whom al so ,

c ame that ot her charm o f Chri sti n a s to which Gabrie l

’
,

was peculiarly se n sitive her youthful n e ss o f tempera

,

men t .

I t was t he beaut y of her li fe that made her perso n al

‘

i n flue n ce so great an d upon n o on e was th at i n flue n ce

,

exercised with more stre ngth th an upo n her illu stri o u s

brother Gabriel who in man y ways was so much u n li ke
,

her I n spite of his deep reli giou s i nsti n ct an d h is

.

i n te n se sympathy with mystici sm Gabriel remai n ed,

w hat is called a free thi n ker i n t he true me an i n g o f that

much abu sed phrase
- I n reli gion as i n politic s he
th ou ght for him sel f an d yet whe n M r W M R
.

,
ossetti. . .

affirm s that the poet was n ever d rawn to ward s free

thi n ki n g women he says what is perfectly true An d
,
.

thi s arose from the extraordi n ary i n fluen ce scarcely ,

recogn ised by him sel f t hat the beauty o f C hri sti n a s li fe

,
’

an d her reli iou s system had upo n hi m

’

g .
1 1 8 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
30 To rringt o n Sq uare —London ~

J a ary 2 1 1 889 nu .

M y dear L ucy — I c an n ot hear o f such bereaveme n t

,

amon g almo st your n earest circle without writi n g t o

remi n d you o f my love an d sympathy Au n t Eli za .

u n ites with me i n good will an d symp athy an d in love

to our n ieces an d n ephew I had n ot the sli ghtest idea
Poor Cathy ! [M rs H
.

such a blo w was immi n e n t u effer ]

. .

I ve n tured to se n d her a few flo wers to d ay William -

.

came thi s morn i n g loo ki n g as you may suppo se much ,

con cern ed an d an xiou s o n your accou n t De ar L ucy

,
.
,

re assure u s by beari n g the shoc k bravely and resi gn edly .

Somethi n g led me to men tio n the death t o M r Ste wart

A
.

my u t s medical man ) an d I fou n d he had alre ady

’

( n

see n it a n n ou n ced i n the Times I hOpe the childre n .

’

are a ffectio n ate t o their sorro wful mother — tho F ord ’

”
is n o child i n deed an d Oliver perhaps scarcely to be, , ,

rec kon ed on e : so I will rather say I hope the so n s an d ,

the little daughter are affectio n ate t o their mother

Poo r Dr H
.

. u effer I recollect the special love he lavi shed

,

o n h i s little girl h is Poppy

We h ave j u st bee n i n much doubt as to Au n t
.
,
‘

Ch arlotte ; however she has rallied o n ce more ,

The .

attac k seemed to be gi n with a chill but happily thi s ,

did n ot faste n o n t he lu n gs .

She i s ve ry wea k but n ot perh aps what I ou ght t o

,

call very ill .

I hope B i arrit z retai n s al l i t s ch arm s an d eve n

‘

d evelops fresh o n es Of cou r se you an d you rs will dip

.

i n to Spai n whe n u n der Wil l i am s escort ! I am the ’

more i mpressed by your triumphan t achieveme n ts o f

‘
econ omy bec au se I had u n derstood B iarritz to be
,

particularly dear .
’

could still be quietly cheer ful as is see n i n

Chri sti n a ,

thi s ex t ract from a letter t o her si ster i n law dated 1 890 - -

,

which re fers to C hri sti n a s first prospective vi sit to 3 St

’
.

Edmu n d s Terrace Regen t s Park where her brothe r

’
,
’
,

William an d h is family had n ow gon e to reside

Ah perd on a 2 [O n ac co u n t o f a b l ot ] .
 MATTERS M ERELv F EM I N I N E 1 1 9

Than k you for the love which se n d s me beauti fu l so

a prese n t eve n more tha n for the pre se n t itse l f But .

it mu st lie by : it mu st wait till en ergy combi n e s with

cash to refurbi sh my drawi n g room decayed in Chi n tz -

an d cu shio ns At presen t I am in the mood to feel

.

hurr edi — n o t sa a —
to y al s ! to feel wor r i ed with the
variou s th i n gs which mu st be do n e Laugh at your .

i n ert si ster i n law my dear L ucy : an d erect her as

,

sc arecro w to fri hte n Hele n an d M ary from such mood s

g
an d ways Olive seems n ot to n eed the warn i n g .

I had bee n secretly hopi n g I mi ght see Willi am

‘

yesterday an d he came , .

Than k yo u
ection ately for ki n dly wi shi n g me to
aff
see you al l i n your n ew hou se Some d ay I hope t o d o
.

so though I fear I mu st fore o William on accou n t o f

, g
Su n d ay N either can I dream of comi ng be fore the
.

sta ir carpet complete s your sple n dour s

What follo ws from a letter t o her si ster i n law - -

,

writte n earl y i n 1 890 refers to certai n a rticles formerly

,

the property of M i ss Charlotte Polidori who had recen tly

died I t is given here as perhaps bei n g the o n ly glimpse
.

i n thi s volume o f C hri sti n a Rossetti in relation to matt ers

merely femi n i n e
‘
En couraged by you I se n d you a very mi scell an eous
s electio n yet I assure you it i s a selectio n n ot a
, ,

hi ggledy pi ggledy all at ran dom

- .

The 2 coloured poc ket han d kerchi efs an d th e white

‘

kid gloves l oo k as i f po ssibly they mi ght avail fo r

William to whom all love The lit t l e pair o f white
, .

woolle n sleeve s ( the o n e which h as an edg e) please han d

to Hele n the beloved as goo d old Au n t Charlotte had
,

a fan cy for her t o have them There is a very odd .

—
loo ki n g article i n velvet an d fu r b u t perh ap s you are
—
familiar with such which properly arran ged re solves
itsel f i n to a b ood an d throat guard fo r over bon n et wear
-
,
- -

“
i n d rivi n g perhaps suitable to opera wear i n L on don
,

I mea n fo r tran sit o f co u rse ,

The other item s explai n
.
I 20 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
themselves I am n o adept i n lace so i f some ru bbi sh
.
,

h as crept i n please con do n e t he error to i gn oran t good

’
will .

Here is a letter pen n ed i n April 1 89 1 to M rs W

, ,
‘

. .

M R. ossetti the n at B road stairs Some ti me before

,
.
,

C hri sti n a had pl an ted an acorn i n a flower pot from -

,

which had spru n g the oak tree alluded to :

30 Torri ngt on S uare q

M on d ay
, Lo nd on ,
.
W . C .

dear L ucy Than k you for rememberi ng

My ,
—

I j u st di scover t hat I am writi n g the wron g way

o f t h e paper but I am sure y o u will n ot mi n d
,

for rememberi n g the stay at home I li ke al way s to

- - .

”
have t he address o f my family an d thu s to feel that I
Au n t Eli za has had a
,

c an get at you i n c ase o f n eed .

d rive i n her chair thi s morn i n g an d se n d s th at all ,

embraci n g love in which I u n ite I hope your B road

Admirable an d tri am
.

st airs day is as su n n y as ours .

phan t was your sudde n flitti n g I hope 8 Tb e P ar agon

i s the parago n it pro fe sse s to be I bear i n mi n d that .

i f Wi l liam h as to be at home o n the eve n i n g o f t he 4t h ,

my seco n d W ed n esday will n ot be i n ter fered with .

Perh aps t he most ten der hearted o f your childre n -

w ill be sto w a ( fi gurative ) tear o n the a n n ou n ceme n t th at

my own care lessn ess i n repo tti n g bro ke o f[f the l atera l
br ancl: o f the oak tree the other day : I can but com fo rt
mysel f i n asmuch as the t ru n k loo ks still alive
’
.

F orome years betwee n 1 883 an d 1 89 3 C hri st i n a

s

Rossetti correspo n ded at i n terval s with the Rev Al fred .

G urn ey vicar o f S B arn abas Pimlico an d her letters

, .
, ,

to that ge n tlem an al l writte n from Torri ngton Squ are

,

( w hich by hi s courte s y it h as bee n my privile ge to peru se ) ,

are full o f characteri stic touches Probably the first o f .

these letters is i n a n swer to on e o f his i n which presu m , ,

ably he h ad suppo sed her to h ave j oi n ed the A

, n glica n

Si sterh ood o f Al l Sai n ts M argaret Street Lo n don

, , .
I 22 . C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
N ati on al Gal le ry ] w ill repay a call in Stan hope St .

s ome day .

Si n ce we saw you we have bee n do wn at B irc hi n gton ,

— an d n ow we are h O in w i shi n th at the tomb

p g g
sto n e an d my mother s o w n wi n do w n e ar the porch would
’
-

a rrive at complet io n M r Shield s has u n d ertake n the . .

l atter so it is cert ai n to be be auti ful at l ast

, .

‘
I am goi n g to beg a favour I t is th at y o u will .

harbour n ot literally i n the waste paper basket b u t i f -

p o ssible i n your obli i

g gn memory the n ame o f M i ss

I do n o t kn o w her perso n ally but I d o k n o w w ith ,

absol ute c ert ai n ty th at she is a deser vi ng c an didate for

a pe n sio n from t he Govern e sse s B e n evole n t I n stitutio n
’
.

The n ext el ectio n i s i n M ay N ot th at I suppose you .

have Vote s but yo u mu st have so much i n flu en ce t hat I

,

c an n ot be ar to let slip the chan ce o f your bei n g re ady t o '

help by a word sho uld occasio n ofler .

’

To the sa me correspon de n t
M arc h 5 .

a —
De r M Gurn ey, I f I may volu n teer an opi n io n I
r .

can n o t but thi n k M r W att s D un ton ] w ill regard your

-
.

p amphlet w ith due i n tere st , an d an author s pre se n t atio n

copy has such an u n ique value that I w ill n o t su ggest he

h as a seco n d ch an ce o f seei n g it thro my brother ,
’

I would by n o me an s deprive him o f h is best cha n c e,

— —
otherwi se I could than ks t o your ki n d n ess sen d it him
mysel f Very much do we li ke to hear o f your good
.

”
w ill to ward s H an d an d Soul ; but n o n e the less we fully
u n derstan d the di ffi culty o f fi n di n g time fo r such extra
wor k, so we mu st n o t d we l l too fo n dly o n the pro sp ect .

We are very gl ad to see, an d proportion ately to you for

sho wi n g u s, M r u ski n s symp ath etic se n te n ce
’
. R .

I n eed h ardly with wh at i n tere st we have read

‘
say

our frie n d s article ’

Th e Truth about ossetti by M r
”
R .

Watts Du n to n ] i n
-
the l gt h Ce n tu ry .

A s to M r Ru ski n s sympathetic se n te n ce
.
’ ’
m en
t io n ed above M r Gurn ey has w ritte n t o me :
.

Mr . Ru sk n s i ’
letter referred to by C hri sti n a Rossett i
 HER B RO THERs HAN D AN D ’ ‘
SO U L
’
1 23

was a letter to [M r ] George R ich mon d ac kn owled gi n g an

.
,

essay of mi n e sen t to him by the l atte r i n which I ,

di scu ssed ( n ot at all from the art critic s poi n t o f View) -

’

some o f R ossetti s pictures exhibited at B urli n gton

’

Hou se M r Richmon d an d M r Ru sk i n both were good

. . .

en ou gh to commen d it .
’

Con cern i n g M W att Du n to n an d her brother s ’

r . s-

H an d an d Soul she wrote :

’

Than k you truly letti ng u s see M r W att Du n for s -

to n s] i n tere sti n g letter Al l that comes from that

.

’
.

F rie n d i s worth our re adi n g an d I ve n t ured to keep t h e ,

letter which n ow I return lo n g e n ou gh to Show it to my

”
brother H an d an d Soul is ric h i n beau ty an d power
.

t lzat eve n my an xiou s eye s see an d admit ; an d I hope

others w i ser th an mysel f see as you do Please do n ot .

leave o ff givi n g u s pleasan t surpri ses from time to t i me ,

d isgu sted by my den sity !

The M i ssio n al most over I t ru st I may co n gratul at e
you on some respo n se to your lovi n g i n vitation s .
’

The followi n g quotatio n from letter w ritten by M r

a .

Gur n ey to mysel f will explai n the foregoi n g allu sion t o

H an d an d Soul ’

Her critical faculty almo st as remarkable perhap s , ,

though n o t so rare an d preciou s as her arti sti c come s ,

out i n an i n teresti n g an d characteri stic ma n n er in o n e o f

the l etters [to him sel f] about an essay o f mi n e on her
brother s H an d an d Soul
’
— an essay whic h I had t h e
pleasure of readi n g to her an d her mother an d M r W .

M R
.

. ossetti .
’

F ebruary 4, 1 885 .

Dear M r . Gurn ey —My M other joi n s me i n than ki n g

,

you for the perma n e n t form o f your p ape r on our dear

Gabriel I waited t o receive it be fore tha n ki n g you
How much you see in h is
. ,

an d n ow I have reread it .

work an d how earn e stly do I hope th at what y ou see i s

,

truly there to be see n .

I 24 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
Tha n k you lea st for your beauti ful mi ssio n
n ot

a ddress may it bear fruit an hu n dred fold

Very tru ly your obli ged
CH RI STI N AG R O SSETTI ‘
. .
’

Her comme n ts respecti n g Wagn er s P arsi fal ’

are
i n dividua l
“
‘
What shall I say of Parsi fal I will m ake an
a vow al : I would n o t on any accou n t see i t performed .
.

I should n ot dare wit n e ss such a treatmen t o f such a

subject T h at it is rich i n beauty charm I do n o t doubt
.
, , ,

i n lo fti n e ss I w ill n o t qu estio n : but I ca n n ot thi n k it

,

would edi fy my sel f

’
.

This al so i s i n dividu al
Saturday .

Dear M r . Gu rn ey — Than k you for prolon ged ki n d

,

rememb ra n ce an d for such a ch armi n g poem it con veys

the very sen timen t on e wan ts at 5 5 So I ven ture to
hope th at you e n ter i n to it a little less deeply than I d o ,

an d that 1 886 may fairly bri n g you a more buoyan t joy

than would befit me I n ever told y ou how much I en .

j oyed seei n g Time F lies quoted i n one o f your Pari sh

P apers : allow me to tell yo u so n ow remai n i n g as ,

I do

With respect to the charmi n g poem ‘

M r Gu rn ey
.

t ell s me

can n ot remember se n di n g C hri sti n a Rossetti an y

I
detached poem I f I did it was probably on e o f 2
.
, ,

both of which are publi shed i n my little C hri stmas

volume A X m as F aggot on e fo r N ew Year s
— ’

Eve the other for N ew Year s D ay ( c alled The

,
’

She could be a ppreci atively critic al respecti n g a

frie n d s work
’

F riday .

Dear M r .
—
Gur n ey , I t is a pleasure to hear from
you agai n an d t o read an d to return t he ag reeable
Academy critique for
,

, which I tha n k you .

I 26 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
‘
Than k you most o f all fo r
our pleasure i n seei n g
’
G abriel s n ame on c e more graced by your pen .

O f co u rse I h ave dipped an d gla n ced already but I

‘
,

have some idea o f n ot readi n g steadily be fore Christma s

D ay .N ot lo n g t o wait for n ow .

—
I h ave pleasure for it i s so pleasa n t to be thou ght
of i n remai n i n g
-

Agai n your obliged

CH RI STI N AG R OS SE TTI
‘
. .
’

He e i r s a glimpse of her h abit s

J un e 6 .

Dear M r Gurn ey Th an k you fo r

.
,
— all the ki n d
thought you take to give u s pleasure .

Your cal l for any purpose an d at an y time w ill be a

favour I am ge n erally at home
. To which c ircum .

(
stan c e plea se attrib u te at lea st i n pa rt
) my n o t h avi n g
yi elded to the attraction o f your L ecture last n i ght an ,

attractio n t o which I was n ot i n sen sible .

I am gl ad M r W atts Du n to n ] i n tere sted

.
-

He ra k hi h amo t our frie d ’

y o u
. n s g n gs n s .

What follows was w ritten i n ac kn owled gme n t o f a

copy of M r G urn ey s book The Story o f a F rie n d shi p
.
’

C h rist mas 1 89 3 .

Dear M r . Gur eyn— Than k you i n deed fo r your

,

Vita N uov a sweet and te n der and full o f regret an d

,

hope . M ay each D an te joi n h is B eatrice an d each ,

B eatrice be or become worthy of her D an te .

Thi s scarcely read s li ke a Chri stmas letter u n til it

o ffers y ou my deepest best wi shes
Al ways grate fully yours
.

RI STI N AG R
,

CH SE TTI
’
OS . .

Regardi n
g the fore goi n g M r . Gurn ey h as w ritte n to
me t hu s
‘
The letter [that d ated C hri stmas
bout 1 89 3] a
Dan te an d B eat rice i s I thi n k a very lovely little bit o f
aspiration . She was a ge n iu s robed i n grace , .
’
 HER HU M O U R I N L ETTERS 1 27

I f Chri sti na Rossetti

occ asion al humou r was t he ’
s

e xcepti on that proved t he rule it was n o n e the l e ss

prese n t She could be quietly droll c onc ern mg her own
.

habits as w ill be seen i n thi s extract from a letter to M r .

Shield s writte n probably i n 1 888 or 1 889

, .

What a ki n d letter from wh at a ki n d frie n d ! I am

‘

better agai n than k you altho still subj ected to extra

, ,
’

c are an d amon gst prec autio n s i s early bedtim e— but for

,

thi s it would seem possible that I mi ght get a glimpse o f

you some day B edtime ho wever i s n ot so early as to
.

suppre ss me be fore 9 o cloc k

’ ’
.

q
The followi ng exc erpts from letters to M rs . an d Mr .

W M. . Ros se tti attest the sa me uality

Please wi n k at u gli n ess as I have lost my pen , .
’

Than k you for thi n ki n g my au stere prese n ce would

”
be n ice .

1 am n o t con picuou ly
s s i n bloom — but let u s hope
“
I resemble the trampled ch amomile which yield s more
sweets the while
I fear all 3 st amps are u n worthy o f A
‘
rthur To .

whom an d si sters love .

Your faithful old frien d an d si ster

‘
My —
de ar Lucy Willi am asked me to di n e with
,

you n ex t Thursd ay sh all I come ? I kn ow that at

—
time s with the ki n de st good w ill on e gu est more i s on e
too man y an d I shall n ot doubt your ki n d n ess i f you
,

fra n kly t ell me it is n ot con ve n ie n t .

With love s all r ou n d

Yours al ways
’
Wi l li am conjectured 7 o cloc k to be the hour but if
I li ke to arrive a little be foretime I thi n k you will wi n k
at the freedom t hat i s i f you ask me !
’
,

M y dear L ucy —Tha n k you

heartily I was a ware
, .

o f the fact an d had fore seen the possibility an d am

, ,

very glad i n deed that your k i n d thou ght ful n ess ma kes
1 28 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
it easy for me to avoid the difficulty I t happe n s too .

t hat I am j ust so u n well at pre se n t as to i n vite me to

keep quiet I have had to mi ss o n e or two little family
expedition s already .

L ovi n gly an d grate fully

Your si ster
We al l u n ite i n a ge n eral y es with love an d than ks
t ho Aun t E
,
’
li za asks for 1 0 mi n utes l aw as she can n ot ,

be quite pu n ctu al .

So till to morrow an d n ot merely t i ll

— -
'

Your aflec si ster ‘

.
’

“
‘
thi n k t he C hro n icles n ot alarmi n gly d ry
I f yo u
for imm ature A rthur pray obli ge me by securi n g such
,

o n my accou n t u n less you achiev e some improved

-

q
,

a fterthou ght I own I do n ot thi n k they would have

.

e n raptu red me at a more advan ced age : u i n deed .

, ,

what wo uld happe n n ow

I hope we shall so soo n see you that t here i s n o
‘

n eed to hammer out a letter Certai n ly n ot y o u .

respon d alac rit ou sly to

Your affec si ster
R
.

C G
‘ ’
. . .

Why waste in k on stati n g that I am al ways glad to

see you
— —
Your destitute of n ews
C G . . R
.

or at least not regurgita n t .

’

“
M i ss Wil so n writes : I am very grateful to M r
an d M rs R
.

—
ossetti for al l their detail s please tell them
.

so — an d thu s tell I them addi n g my own particular ,

—
th an ks for ou r valu able ad de n da I hope al l those d s (
’

y
are ri ght
To my regret the poetry o f impul se has bee n suc
,

c eed ed by the prose o f c alcul atio n

’
.

‘
I am writi n g with the p aper i n my lap so excu se ,

degradatio n Poor M r Turn er will I thi n k u n dergo

. .
, ,

an other paper from me t o morro w which

’
tran sce n d s my -
,

— “
W It S f/l e paper I me an
’
.
,
I 30 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
u n willi n gness to be h urri ed ) At o n ce she co n se n ted .

verbally an d a day or t wo aft er ward s i n time for h is ,

F ebruary i ssue he received o n e o f the most beauti ful o f

,

her lat er poem s ADe ath o f a F irst born accompa n ied

, ,
’

by the followin g little n ote dated Jan uary 2 1 ,

e n cl ose a few li n es
I . Please accept or return the m
with ab solute freedo m
’
.

She wrote as follows to M rs Patchett M a rti n whe n .

forwardi n g a receipt fo r three gu i n eas her ho n orari um ,

for t he poem

Wed nesday , F eb ruary 1 0. 1 892 .

Dear M rs Patchett M arti

. Will you kin dly han d n, — ‘

t he e n closed recei pt to M r M arti n w ith my tha n ks for t he

ha n d some cheque An d I than k you especially fo r t he
.

pleasure o f readi n g M i ss Cald ecot t s lette r : you m ay be ’

sure I e n joy such verdicts — “

yet the bei n g so often spoken
well of ou ght to ma ke me the m ore wary n ot to o ffe n d .

“ L iterary Opi n io n ” has much ood i n i t s po wer

g .

I am glad to have appeared fo r o n ce in i t s pa ge s but ,

my pen bei n g partly at the mercy of impul se I c an n ever

cou n t o n a secon d such mome n t an d at 6 1 on e c an
n either w i sh n o r expect to be as im pul sive as at 1 6 !

Will you excu se my sh abby e n velope but it happe n s ,

to be my on ly on e of the ri ght si ze an d shape .

’

I taly N
’ ’

greatesst livi n g oveli st alluded to i n wha t

follows was Si gn or Verga aut hor o f Cavalleri a ,

Ru stican a
W ed n esday [M arc h 2 8, ,

Dear M r Patchett M arti n

. M y best wi she s ,

accompa n y every e ffo rt to se n d forth hi gh mi n ded -

cri tici sm an d I hope you will be every way happy

,

i n your ve ture
n I t i s n o t i n .
—
my po wer at least n ot ,

i n co n formi t y w ith t he way i n which I have m ai n ly

—
u sed such po wers as are mi n e to promi se y ou or igi n al
article s on approv al but i f ever y ou received a Da n te
 P AI N T , YET P U RSU I N G
’
1 3 1

boo k fo r revie w an d cared to e n tru st it to me I would

g l adly try my ha n d o n it ; perh aps e n thu siasm for my
subject mi ght ma ke up for sc an t lear n i n
g .

M i ss Hele n Z immern s n ame I recogn i se : b ut I

’

“
actually do n ot kn ow who it i s She record s as I taly s ’

re ate st livi N oveli s t ! — so obsolete am I

’

g n g .

She did n ot however write o n D an te i n L iterary

Opi n ion .
’

Whe n her poem F ai n t yet Pursui n g was se n t to , ,

’

her i n proo f she fou n d o wi n g to a pri n ter s blu n der that

,
’

the te n th li n e had been omitt ed whereupon she w rote

to M r Patchett M arti n on April 1 6 1 89 2 as follows
.
, , .

B e fore return i n g the proof revi sed 8: C she had with , .

,

g re at el abora tio n atte n ded to the i n de n tatio n A fac .

simile o f thi s proo f is give n o n p 1 3 2 . .

Let u s hope that merit w ill perpetuate the dem an d

[
fo r L iterary Opi n io n ] which curiosity may i n pa rt have
i n itiated .

I s it co n ceivable
‘ — I hope it i s i n con ceivable that I
se n t y ou a 1 3 li n e S on n et M y rou gh copy assures me
th at it was n ot so written I d are say you wi ll make .

sure th at the mi ssi n g li n e is properly put i n an d perhaps

y o u w ill n o t dee m u n worthy o f revi s io n the i n n i ng an d

ou t i ng o f both piece s I hope I have n o t overloo ked an y

.

error .
’

Havi n g been desired t d c on t ri bu t e t he article re

specti n g T u dor Hou se ( quote d fro m at p , . she

w rite s to M r P atchett M art i n on M ay 6 1 89 2 :

.
,

do n o t feel mysel f the proper person to review D G

I
Rs Dan te an d his C ircle an d very li kely might break
. .

’ ”
. ,

down eve n over some other writer o n a ki n dred subjec t

as I am n ot a n expert i n such articles H ave I any .

associatio n s with the old C hey n e W al k Hou se ? I n deed

l have some o f them very a greeable i f I succeed i n jot
,

ti n g an ythi ng down to an y purpose I shal l feel d i sposed

K 2
 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI

A
P I NT,
Y ETPUR
SUI NG .
”

Beyon d t his shadow an d t his t urbu len t sea,

Shadow of deat h an d t u rb ul en t can of deat h ,

Li on al l we l on
g t o have or lon g to ho
Take heart , t i red man, toi l on wi t h l essen i ng breat h

Lay l
vi o en t hands on heaven
’
s hi gh t reasu ry,
Be ha yw t ou l on g t o be t hro i fe-
’
l lon g soot he

(J . In .
A l
lit t l e whil e hope ean : on c harit y,
Ali t t l e whil e chari t y bu t t on s fai t h .

Ali tt le whi le : and t h en what furt her wh i l e

All t hi n
gs mad e n ew hour eac h a sweet n ew name ;

Man s lot of deat h has t urn ed t o li fe his lot ,

’

And tear ful chari t y t o lovc

’
l own s mile .

l ’
recl on ward ,

P ress on ward ,
q mc ken ed
fire wi t h moun t i n g fire ;
u pward ,
sou s, l who moun t i n g mo ve.

G at heri ng vol u me of u n to d desi re l

Press u pward , homeward , dove wi t h mou n t i n g do ve .

q
Poin t me t he exce en t ll way t hat leads above ;

q
Woo me wi t h se k u en t wi l me too t o aspi re ;
Wi t h se t heart t f ll ow higher an d h igh
u en o o er,

T foll ow all wh f llow n to l veA

o o o o o

Up t h hi gh st e p a ro ss t he g lden i ll
e e , c o ,

Up t ou of shad ows in to ver

y l ight,
Up ou t o f l
d wi nd i n g li fe to li fe ag ow, l
I watc h you , my be oved , ou t of si gh t l
Sight fai l s me, and my heart is wat c hing st i l l
My heart fai ls, yet I follow on to know .

a
Cu m : G . R -
ossur n .

[FACSI MI LEor fl Sosn ar s Fara r, YET P vasvrsc ] - ’

oor or
1 34 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
‘
thi n k my note o f Saturday an swered other
I
su ggestio n s i n your l ast k i n d letter an d I should n o t ,

w on der i f i n truth y ou agreed with me th at I am n ot the

fit person fo r a Rossetti tome .
’

An extract from Chri sti n a s rem arks descriptive o f ’

Tudor Hou se duri n g D an te Gabriel s te n an cy may ’

suitably be reproduced here more especi ally as the

,

article has n ot bee n repri n ted .

There were ,has o fte n bee n stated , variou s cre a

as
tures, quai n t or beauti ful , about the hou se an d grou n d s,
some o f them at liberty —
I particul arly rec all B obby a
.

little owl with a very l arge face an d a beak o f a so rt o f

egg-shell gree n a woodchuc k, a deer, an d a wo mb at ,
n amele ss, or of n ame u n kn own to me Gabriel ( hi s .

family n ever c alled him D an te , Gabriel be in g i n deed hi s

first Chri stian n ame ), was amu sed by some li n es I wrote
o n th at womb at

O U ommi batt o

Agil giocon do
, ,

C he t i sei fatt o
Li sc io e roton do
D eh n on fuggi re
Q u a l vagab on do ,

N on di spari re
F oran do i l mon d o
P esa daw ero
D
’
un e mi sfero
N on lieve il pon do .

B u t far from li scio the wombat turn ed ou t rou gh an d ,

”
I altered l 4. to I rsuto e to n do .

With such i n habitan ts Tudor Hou se an d it s grou n d s

,

became a sort o f wo n derl an d an d o n ce the author o f

Wo n derla n d photogr aphed u s i n the gard en I t was .

ou r aim to appear i n the full family group o f five but

whil st variou s others succeeded th at p articul ar n egative ,

was spoilt by a shower an d I po sse ss a solit ary pri n t

q
,

taken from it i n which we appear as i f spl ashed by in k

Allowi ng for lo n g l apse of years an d con se ue n t
.

possibl e de fects of memory such as these are my rec ol

,
1 3 6 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI

CH AP TER V
RAP HI C AL
'

B I oo

( M ai n l y 1 893
—1 8
94)

I I er appearan c e - Wishes t o remov e t o n eighb ourhood of Regent s Pa k ’

r

Remin isc e ces f London — M

n o r. Wat ts D un t on s
- Mr W M
’
an d .
'

. .

Rossett i s remarks respect ing he

’
r att i t ud e t oward san imal s— D esc r i t io n
p
of 30 Torri gt o Squa e— Hn ab i ts
n r o f wo rk — H
er hand wri t i n — er bo ok g H
-
H er d rawi n g -
room — The
gard en o f Torri ngt on Sq uare — M r Shield
- s

H Wi lso n — H
.

as art ist — i s G o S ep e
o d h h rd — M rs Garn et t , M iss Lisa er

H H H
.

d da ht M iss U l k — rsu a a e o pin io n as to c rema t ion —

go ug er er er

H
,

o lit ical p oc r l i i ti
v — esi er l
c on sc o usness of ev i s i n ou r soc i a l syst em
p
H er prac t i c a l h bi t — H pp i t i
a s er a rec a on of poet ry
— H er readi ng of

poet ry
— H
mi rat io n of A
er adu g ust a W eb st er s d rama
’
The Sen t en ce ”

H H
,

and o f J ean I n gel o w— Perso n al habits— er v oi ce — er househo d l

H
Prayers— er at t i t u d e toward s m u sic — Chri st C hu rc h, Wo bum Sq a u re
— I n creasin i l
g Reli quish s att nda
l n ess— n e e n c e at c hu rc h — Dr St ewart
Abbot An de s n C l si g d y He
.

Dr — a s — r o o n r as ec t aft er
p d eat h — S irit u al
.
p
d isq u iet ud e t o war ds the end — VVi d cspread regret o c casio n ed by her
d eat h— Let t er fro m t he Bisho W M R osset t i — H
p of D u rham t o M r
er

q uare— H
. . .

fu n eral — Prel i min ary serv i ce Ch ri st C hurc h W o bu m S ighga t e ,

m r —
C e et e y M r Theod ore Wat t s D u n t o n s]
. Two C h ri st mast id es -
’ ’

M emorial serv ice .

I SH ever forget C hri sti n a Rossetti s appearan ce

AL L n
’

whe n first I c alled upo n her She gave me the impre s .

sio n o f bei n g t al l I thou ght the n as I do still th at n o n e , ,

o f her portraits su fficie n tly i n dic ate the comm an di n g

breadth of her bro w She loo ked u n questio n ably a .

wom an o f ge n iu s an d it i s n ot every woman or man o f

,

g e n iu s that so loo ks Her voice attracted me a t o

. n ce :

n ever be fore had I heard such a voice I t was i n te n sely .

mu sical but it s in d efin ab le charm arose n ot alon e from

,
 HER A PP EARANCE 1 37

that cau se ; it aro se i n a l arge measure from what M r

'

W att s Du n ton has aptly c alled her clear cut method

- -

o f sy l lab i fic at i on a peculiarity which he thi n ks n o

’
-
, ,

doubt ri ghtly attributable to her forei gn li n eage I n di

, .

c ation s o f her forei gn li n eage were very n oticeable o n

t he occasio n I am de scribi n g N o t o f course that it was .

di scern ible i n acce n t n or eve n i n mere ton e or i n flex ion

,

of voice cert ai n ly it w as n o t m ar kedly ob servable either

,

i n her modes o f speech or i n her ideas I t was so methi n g .

assuredly there but li ke man y o f the thi n gs we perceive

, ,

w ith li fe s subtler perc eption s it eluded preci se defi n ition

’
.
,

P erhap s the n e arest approach to an illu stratio n o f my

mean i n g would be to say th at the e ffect produced was

q
as thou gh a hi gh ly educ ated forei gn er thorou ghly ao ,

u ai n t ed w ith the gramm ar an d the voc abul ary o f t h e

En glish la n gu age were to speak En gli sh an d co n ti n u e

, ,

t o do so fo r years althou gh E ,
n gli sh was n o t his mothe r

to n gue N o on e I thi n k c an ful ly u n derstan d Chri s

.
, ,

ti n a s man y sided perso n ality without t aki n g i n to accou n t

’
-

that forei gn ori gi n an d there c an be n o doubt th at u n der

,

some circum sta n ce s the ble n di n g o f r ace s h as much t o

do with the po ssessio n o f certai n gi fts .

Demurely attired i n a blac k sil k dress she we re

n o or n a me n ts o f an y sort an d the prev aili n g sombre ,

ti n t was o n ly relieved by some simple white frilli n g

at the thro at an d w ri st s Her h air still abu n d an t had
.
, ,

by thi s time a hue which w as alm o st bl ac k an d the ,

i n termi n gled grey stran d s thou gh vi sible were n o t , ,

co n spicuou s . Her c ap o f some dark m ateri al was

, ,

extremely pl ai n an d u n obtru sive .

I t has o fte n struc k me that o n e o f the great test s

o f ge n iu s is whether the writer or spe aker de al s w ith

ordi n ary subjects i n such a m an n er as t o reve al h is or

I 3 8 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
her own person ality F or both in literat u re and c on
.

versatio n the ma n n er i s much An d i f this be true .

the n both on the day to which I am at prese n t alludi n g

an d on every sub sequ en t occasio n whe n I saw her ,

C hri sti n a R ossett i tal ked li ke a woman of gen iu s .

N aturally at our first meeti n g the co n versatio n was o n

o rdi n ary subject s Yet it lives with me still becau se o f
.

her i n comparable man n er an d the di sti n ction of her

phraseology I may ad d that she con versed i n t h at
.

c alm me asured way which I fa n cy o fte n co n ceal s re al , ,

shy n e ss I n M r Sharp s able artic le be fo re re ferred t o

’
. .

he descri bes v ividly h is first mee t ing wi th h er at an

earlier d ate than t hat t o w hich I allude

om e ways she remi n ded me o f M rs C rai k the

In s .
,
“
author o f Joh n H ali fax Ge n tlem an that is i n t he
, ,

Qua ker li ke simp l icity o f her dress an d t he extrem e

-
,

an d almo st demure plai n n e ss o f the material with i n , ,

her m ie n somethi ng o f that sere n e passivity which has

,

al ways a ch arm o f i t s o wn She was so pale as to .

su gge st an aemi a thou gh there w as a bri ht an d alert

, g
loo k i n her l arge an d expressi ve azu re gray eyes a -
,

colour which ofte n deepe n ed to a d ar k shadowy velvety , ,

g ra y ; an d thou gh m a n y li n e s were impri n ted o n her

features the co n t ours were smooth an d you n g
, Her .

hair on ce a rich bro wn n o w loo ked d ark an d was

, , ,

thic kly threaded with solitary white hairs rather than ,

sheave s o f gray She was about the medium hei ght of

.

wome n thou gh at the ti m e I thou ght her co n siderably

,

shorter With all her quietude of m an n er and sel f

.

po ssession there was a certai n perturbati on from thi s

meeti ng with a stran ger thou g h o n e so you n g an d ,

u n kn own I n oted the quic k ali ghti n g gl an ce i t s swi ft

.
, ,

w ithdrawal ; al so the re stless i n termitte n t fi n geri n g o f ,

the lon g thi n double watch gu ard o f lin ked gold which
,
-

h u ng from below the o n e piece o f colour she wore a ,

quai n t old fashio n ed how o f m auve or pale purpl e

,
-

ribbon fasten i n g a white frill at the n ec k

, .
’
 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
the hou se N o I [St . . Edmu n d s Terrace] vacated by
’

M adox B row n s de ath

’ ’
.

In
re spo n se to thi s su ggestio n C hri sti n a w rote to
him on a postcard po stm arked A pril 2 1 1 894
, .

‘
Than k y o u fo r
your post card recei ved yesterd ay ,

but short o f the sol ace o f amal gamati n g w ith yoursel f ,

su c h a hou se would be both t oo large t o o expe n sive

’
.

Onmy calli n g agai n shortly after Ju n e 5 o f the sam e

,

year she told me th at her physici an Dr Stewart impera

, , .
,

t i vely forbade an y project o f removal w ith it s i n evitabl e

atten d an t i n co n ve n ie n ce s i n her pre se n t st ate of hea l th .

So it c ame abou t that the project was aban do n ed an d ,

that her last d ays were spe n t i n Torri n gto n Squ are .

Sometime s i n co n versatio n she would give me vivid

remi n i sce n ces of the chan ged aspect o f L o n don O n ce .
,

I remember she gave me a full accou n t o f a wal k she

,

—
had ta e n i n e arly d ay s I thi k about 1 85 2 3 to vi sit
k n — —

M r an d M rs C ove n try P atmo re the n livi n g i n Ke n ti sh

. .

Tow n i n a hou se they had t aken over from her u n cl e ,

M r He n ry Pol ydoro Ken ti sh To wn was then still rural

. .
,

an d the stroll quite partoo k o f the ch aracter of a cou n try

w al k thou gh perhaps i t o ught to be added th at (as I

,

am i n formed by M r Willi am Rossetti ) their residen ce

.

was i n a di strict o f Ke n ti sh To w n a lo n g way up which

‘

mi ght almost be termed Hi gh gate Ri se When Ken ti sh .

’

Town was reached other frien d s w ere met an d there

, ,

was a further wal k in the field s M r ( n o w Dr ) R ichard , . .

Gar n ett bei n g o f the p arty She had cle ar recollectio n s .

of R ege n t s Par k as it was in earlier d ay s be fore it was

’

railed in as at pre sen t There was on e n oo k i n it .

prese n ti n g to her childi sh eyes some o f the features o f a

c avern o f which she was e speci ally fo n d
,
She al so .
 II ER LO VE O F AL L AN I M AL S

remembered wild fl o wers i n a secluded place close to

where there i s now a rail way tu n n el M i ss Proctor i n an .
,

i n teresti n g brochure e n titled AB rie f M emoir o f C hri s ‘

,

t in a G R
’
ossetti tell s u s that the impulse for the beauti ful
. ,

l i n es be gi n n i n g
I won der if t he spri n g tide o f t hi s year -

Will bri ng an other spri ng both l ost an d dear ;

came to her w hen wal ki n g i n the outer circle o f R ege n t s ’

P ar k an d to the last her memories of that locality

,
.

seemed al ways pleasurable — a fact n o t to be wo n dered at

q
.

F o r even yet t here are Spot s i n it which prese n t as much

uiet almost sylv an beau ty as i s to be fou n d i n an y part
,

o f L o n do n .

M r Theod ore Watt s Du n to n h as well said abou t

.
-

C hri sti n a t h at she spo ke o f w ild an imal s sometime s as

though they were hum an bei n gs an d sometimes as thou gh
they were fairie s I n deed there is n o doubt that her atti
.
’

tude toward s a n imal s had somethi n g very rem ar kable

i n it
. She had a predilectio f all an imal s eve n
n or —
mice n ot bei n g thou ght o f w ith di sfavour B u t an y .

an imal which was closely associated w ith her seemed to

be viewed i n some se n se as a frien d by her She was

, , .

much attached to M u ff her c at an d whe n she fou n d,

’

th at I was n ot u n sympathetic in thi s matter she tal ked

t o me a good deal respecti n g M u fl s habit s reveali n g
’
,

kee n ob se rvation i n everythi n g she said She was .

M ff
’

g rati i
f ed w he n I saluted u an d u sed to exclaim ,

How con descen di n g you are to that pussy On ce .

’

she remar ked : L i ke ourselves creatures have their ,

frie n ds
’
.

I remembe r that Chri sti n a o n ce said to me i n her

g e n tle w ay Perhap , s you go i n to the cou n try i n Au gu s t

t o kill somethi n g ?
’
1 42 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
‘
I ever go i nto t he co un try to kill a n ythi ng I
n ,
’

an swered .

I shall n o t c ease to remember what pl easure sh e

showed i n my avo wal I t was as though she had been
.

i n cli n ed t o t ake b ac k the gi ft o f her frie nd ship had she

fou n d that I really w e n t i n to the cou n try to kill some ‘

thi n g an d was relieved to fin d that she was n ot obliged

,
’

t o do so .

N umber thirty T orri n gton Square B l oomsbury , ,

where C hri sti n a had lived si n ce I 876 i n n o w i se di ffered i n ,

extern al aspect from m an y thou sa n d s o f other hou se s

i n t h e same p art o f L o n do n Torri n gton Squ are i s .

really oblo n g i n Shape an d accordi n g to M r , Sh arp .

,

Dan te Gabriel u sed to call it Torri n gto n Oblo ng .

’

Probably the ordi n ary dull coloured bric ks u sed fo r so -

ma n y L on do n hou ses were employed for the erection o f

But T
’
Ch ri sti n a s home ime weather an d soot had so
.
, ,

completely do n e their work that it was impossible to

kn ow preci sely w hat the ori gi n al colour h ad bee n T he .

hou se of three storeys above the grou n d floor appeared

, ,

eve n hi gher than it was o n accou n t o f i t s n arro wn ess .

The small wi n dows were o f a u su al sh ape The fro n t .

door sli ghtly rai sed above the level o f the square was
, ,

approached by sto n e steps The re was the i n evitable .

area ( which however served o n e u seful purpose i n

, ,
’

g ivi n g app a re n tly excelle n t li ght to a pleasan t loo ki n

g
-

k itche n w i n dow) and the hardly le ss i n evit abl e vera n d ah

, ,

o pe n i n g from the fir st fl oor .

The en tran ce hall was n arrow an d h ad 0 11 the le ft

-
,

the room which had o n ce bee n the di n i n g room an d -

co ncern i n g w hich I am about to spea k more fully The .

stairc ase was n ot steeper th an was to be an ticipated i n

such a hou se F rom a wi n dow o n the h al f lan di n g (the

.
 1 44 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
by person s o f m ar ked idiosyn crasy or it may be of , ,

g e n iu s they
, a cquire i n some i n explic a ble w ay so m e o f
the characteri stic s o f their occupan ts An d i n u si n g the .

w ord ch aracteri stic s I me an somethi n g far more subtle

,

an d i n d efin ab le i n word s th an c an be brou ght about by

an y mere m ateri al arran geme n t s which are o f course

o

e n tirely dictated by the co n ve n ie n ce or by the caprice o f

the i n h abitan t s An d n ever has thi s feeli n g come upo n
.

me more stro n gly than i n respect to C hri sti n a R osse tt 1 s

reside n ce A bout much o f her best work there is a

.

quietude a con troll ed an d well ordered sad n ess ( gloo m

,
-

would n o t be the correct term ) an d I tru st I shall n o t

,

be deemed u n duly fan ci ful w he n I say that I seemed to

feel a li ke atmosphere whe n e ver I en tered her ab ode I .

forgot the prosaic ch aracter o f my extern al surrou n di n gs ;

I forgot the w hirl o f the streets I fo rgot eve n the com
a a t i l ac k f Sile n ce i n the s qu are it sel f I seemed
p r v e o .

to have passed i n to an atmosphere o f rest an d o f peace .

—
Her work with all i t s n oble it s u n su rpassed qualities ,

with al l it s faults t oo was her o wn , I t was ori g i n al it

.
,

was u n borrowed She was t oo gre at a writer eve n to be

.

boo ki sh Her impul se t o write was spon tan eou s it

.
’

c ame from the deeps o f her o wn so u l it w as n ot deri ved ,

even i n the mo st perfectly j u stifi able an d n oble st sen se

from the achieveme n ts of others He n ce it was probably .

th at thou gh n o n e valued really great boo ks more th an

,

she boo ks were n o t co n spicuou s i n her home

, She did .

n o t require th em as to ol s She had n o room set apart

.

a n d arra n ged fo r a study I am told by an i n timate

.

frien d th at i n her mother s li feti me she did much o f her

’

w riti ng — wrote m an y o f her lovely poem s de scriptive o f

N ature — ln the small upper b ac k bedroom whose o n ly
outloo k was t o the tall di n gy wall s of adjacen t houses .
 MET OD or H L I TER ARY W O RK 1 45

Afterward W M R
s, as M r ossetti i n form s me she wrote
. .
'

.
,

whatever she wrote i n her draw i n g room I n truth her -

.

i n n er vi sion was so keen th at sh e was well n i gh i n de -

pe n de n t o f extern al i n flue n ce s .

She was al ways retice n t respecti n g her habit s of

work or method s o f compositio n an d eve n to her i a ,

timate frien d s sou ght to avoid re feren ce eve n to her

publi shed w ork R arely has there bee n an i n stan ce o f
.

hi gh poetic gen iu s so spon tan eou s i n character AS .

will be see n by exa mples I cite i n sub seq ue n t ch apters

she did occasio n ally recast pa ssage s N evertheless the .

st ateme n t about her work which I am about to quote

from M r Gle n di n n i n g N ash her frie n d an d clergym an

.
, ,
.

i s substan ti ally correct M r N ash says i n a private

. .

l etter t o me w hich I am permitted to quote

,

‘
Chri sti n a Rossetti
told me th at there were time s
whe n the po wer to write had app are n tly passed away ,

an d at others she wrote fo r hours w it h n o me n tal e ffort

or fatigue The poetic flow was spo n ta n eou s an d ofte n
.

she w rote on theme s which she had n ot previou sly

decided to write on She seldom revised her work
. .
’

Her brother William h as him sel f written about her

in thi s co n n ectio n
Chri sti n a s habits o f compo sitio n were emi n e n tly o f
’

a spo n ta n eou s ki n d I question whether she ever o n ce

.

d eliberated with he rsel f whether or n ot she would w rite

somethi n g or other, an d the n havi n g thou ght out a su b ,

jc e t ,
pro ceeded to tre at it i n regular spell s o f w or k .

I n stead o f thi s, somethi n g impelled her feeli n gs, or

came i n to her hea an d her han d obeyed the dicta
tion I suppose she scribbled the li n es o ff rapidly
.

e n ou gh, an d afte rward s too k wh atever amou n t o f pai n s

She deemed requi site for keepi n g them ri ght i n form an d
—
expression fo r she was quite co n sciou s that a poem
deman d s to be good in executio n , as well as gen ui n e i n
1 46 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
i mpul se ; b u t , ( str an ge as it may seem t o say so o f a
si ster who, up to the year 1 876 , was al most c o n st an tly

i n the sam e hou se w ith me), I can n ot re me mber ever

seei n g her i n the ac t o f com po sitio n ( I t ak e n o cou n t .

here of t he boats 71 s so n n et s o f I She consulted

°

n obod y , an d so l ici t ed n o ad vic e, t ho ugh i t i s t r ue th at

—
w ith regard t o her pu blish ed v ol u m es o r at a n y rate
rs —
the fi t t wo of them my brot h er v olu n tee red to po in t
out wh at seemed wel l ad apt ed for i n sert ion , an d what
the reverse, and he fou n d her a very wi lli n g rec ipien t o f
hi s mon i tio n s
’
.

Si n ce Chri sti n a s death M r Shield s has tol d me th at

’
.

he t hi n ks be fore She w rote a po em she shut her eyes

, , ,

an d called up all t he sce n e — espec ially al l the n a tu ral

obj ec ts i n it .

She began to compose verses as we have seen i n , ,

Ap ril 1 842 F rom that time u n til a bout 1 866 when she
.
,

publi shed her Pri n ce s Progress and O t her Poem s her

’ ’

pieces were copied i n to n ote books by her sister M ari a -

u n til N ovemb er 1 7 1 847 an d then ce forwar d b v hersel f

, , ,

the d ate o f composi tio n bei n g given i n each case These .

n ote boo ks sm all an d ve ry n eat are variou sly b ou n d i n

-
, ,

ree red an d bl ac k le ather F rom 1 86 6 h di co

g n , , s e s n .

t i n u ed the practice o f w riti n g in n ote boo ks an d after -

wa rd s ge n erally w rote o u ruled blue paper o fte n qu a rto ,

han d writi ng i s an i n teresti n g study At

C hri sti n a s
’
.

the age o f ei ghteen ( as w ill be observed from the fac

simile of the ori gi n al M S o f the lovely so n Whe n I
g .

am De ad my Dear est
, appeari n g at p 1 47) it was cle ar .

an d small but essen ti ally characterless

, Subsequen tly .
,

while co n ti n ui n g equ ally legible it bec ame stron g an d ,

full o f c haracter an d did n ot li ke the h an dwriti n g o f so

, ,

m an y lit erary workers deterio rate M r Shield s whe n , . .

,

con versi n g with me o n ce ad va n ced t he p l au sible theo ry

,
 r48 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
Ch rist i n a s
han d w riti n g v id en c e o f
’

t h at gre w in e
‘

t reng t h as gra d u a ll y sh e bec a me c o n sc i o us o f her o wn

p o wer s C ert ai n l y
. it rem a i n ed st r o n g an d fu ll of

c harac t er ev en aft er her last i ll n es s had bec o me ser io u s ,

a s t wo ex am p les in my own possessi on wr ifi en as lat e ,

August I 894 c lear ly Show Then it bec ame sha ky

. .
,

q
an d prob abl y abo ut t he en d o f Sept ember I 894 she

q
c eased to w ri t e her last att em p t t o Si gn a c he u e mad e
, ,

t o ward s N o vem ber t ot h o f t hat year bei n g u it e ill egi b le , .

O n en t erin g t he room w h i c h had on ce been t he

d i ni n g -
roo m on e saw t o t he lefl: an d n ear t he wi n d o w

a sma l l boo k case of so m e plai n in ex pensive wood I t .

co n t ai n ed o n l y a few boo ks M an y were no v els an d . .

t hese were mosfl y E n g lish c l assi c s S c ot t an d M aria .

Edgewort h for in st an c e an d D i c ken s

, , .

I n a sy m pa t het i c essay co n t r i b u t ed to T h e Bo o kman ,

soo n aft er her d ea th K at her i ne Tyn an ( M rs H in kso n )

, .
,

aft er sa i n f n d C hrist i n a was of M rs Gaskell s

’

y g ho w o .

C ran for d goes on to t ell ho w

’

‘
when she fou n d I had no t m d it she pressed u po n me

c lo t h and
, wi t h an in sc ri pt i o n . fro m her affect i o n a e t
"
u n cl e .

draw i n g room ( t he on l y si tt i n g ro om u sed b y

I n t he - -

Ch rist i n a R osse tti after t he d eath o f Eli za P olid o ri )

there w ere t w o bookcases M an y o f t he vo lu mes were .

religi ou s an d devo t ion al tho ugh by n o means al l ; b u t it ,

sho ul d b e u n d erst ood as her b ro t h e r i n fo rm s me t ha t

, ,

Ch ri st i n a s li b rary c on si st ed sc arc ely at al l of boo ks o f

’

—
her own choosi n g c er t ain l y n o t o n e v ol u me in t wen t y
they were pr i n cipal ly her mot he r s boo ks
’ ’
.

I n h is worh phiI
onm h
thc
p y o f han d wr i t i ng hl a
joh n HI . ngra m has
gi vrn a carefu l an al ysb of hcr cani graphy hm ed on a mi n ut e en mi m t i on .
 HER D RAWI N G RO O M -
I 49

The drawi g
n room
-
lit,by t wo cheerful large w i n do w s

overloo ki n g the square al ways impressed on e as t he

,

most agreeable roo m i n the hou se O n e n teri n g it o n e .

Saw i n the ce n tre o f the wall o n the le ft h an d the

chal k drawi n g o f C hri sti n a by Dan te Gabriel do n e i n ,

1 866 el se where re ferred to

, Oppo site to it at the
.

other side o f the room an d over the chim n ey piece was

,
‘
-
,

a most beauti ful portrait o f her mot her al so by D an te

Gabriel . Thi s picture was fla n ked on either side by
portraits o f Da n te Gabriel an d William while on the ,

same wall but ha n gi n g further fro m the w i n do w was a

, ,

ortr it i oil f that Dr Polidori wh w B yro ’

p a n s o . o as n s

physici an Thi s picture i s n ow i n the N atio n al Portrait

.

Gallery . O n the table was an E mpire e n amel an d

ormolu i n ksta n d o f delic ate workm an ship w hich had bee n
i n her family fo r three ge n eratio n s After her death it .

was give n by her brother to M r Theodore W att s .

Du n ton as a fitti n g memorial o f old frie n d ship .

Close t o o n e o f the wi n dows an d opposite to t he ,

door was a mi n iature gl ass hou se co n tai n i n g fern s These

,
-
.

p articular fern s were especial favourites an d as lo n g as ,

she was able to do an ythi n g she saw t o them hersel f , .

Doubt less due to the care lavi shed upo n them they were
excellen t specime n s whe n their some wh at artificial mod e

o f exi ste n ce is bo rn e i n mi n d They have n o w passed i n to

.

the possessio n of her brother who hopes to be as su c ,

c essfu l as h is sister i n their cultivatio n .

U n li ke her frie n d the late Dr L i t t led ale who thou gh

, .
,

passio n ately fon d of flowers i n the abstract was ,

compelled by a curiou s physical di sability he turn ed —

—
fai n t i n an y room with flowers to ban i sh them from
h i s chambers she was n ot o n ly fo n d o f flowers but
,

much appreciated t heir presen ce i n the room s she

I 5 0 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
i n h abited . In a letter quoted by M i ss Proctor , C hri sti n a
say s

‘
A s I lon ger go to the cou n t ry from time to
no

time I , may say the cou n try ve ry graciou sly comes to

me fo r , frie n d s se n d or bri n g me flowers .
’

She expressed al ways particular pleasure in receivi n g

flowers from her frien d s o fte n remarki n g when I brou ght ,

some I t i s deli ght ful to get flowers which on e kn o ws

‘

have n ot bee n bo u ght w hich are from a garde n an d , ,

th erefore really fresh .

’

As a ce n tre picture on the wall faci n g the drawi n g ,

room wi n dow was th e copy o f t he autotype o f M r

, .

Shield s s lovely drawi n g which u n der the circum stan ces

’

previou sly alluded to had been given by the arti st to ,

her mother O n either side were photograph s o f Da n te

.

’
Gabriel s Hamlet an d Ophelia an d C assa n dra
‘
I t w ill
’
.

be remembered that to bri n g out the sign ifican ce o f the

last n amed Dan te Gabri el wrote t wo so n n ets Chri sti n a
,
.

Rossett i s couch (on which she u su ally lay duri n g the

last year of her li fe scarcely ri si n g eve n whe n vi sitors ,

were an n ou n ced ) was ge n erally placed n ear to an d i n ,

ful l vi ew o f The Good Shepherd by M r Shield s ’

.
, .

O ften however o n summer even i n gs it was wheeled

, , ,

c l o Ser to the w i n do w s which faci n g the we st admitted , ,

the aftern oo n su n M r W M Ro ssetti remi n d s me th at . . . .

the feature s of the drawi n g room was a rather

on e o f -

—
elaborate gl asschan delier for can dles bou ght by Gabriel ,

say toward s 1 864 an d give n to his mot her I suppose , ,

—
i n 1 876 Whe n there was a stron g low su n t he pen da n ts
of thi s cha n delier made extrem ely vivid pri sm reflectio n s

o n the w all s an d door

’
.

Hml a et and O phe ia l an d Cassan d ra are fu lly d escri bed b y M r .

Sharp at 1 98 9 an d 1 71 , res ec t i vel y, of hi s exhaust ive mo nograph

pp .
-
p
D an t e Gabr i el Rss tt i
o e , a Recor d an d a St udy .
I 5 2 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
tha n o n ce (whe n no lo n ger able to w al k further) she
expressed t o me the satisfaction she had felt i n wal ki n g
for a few mi n utes i n thi s garden supported o n the arm
o f her n urse M i ss ( gen erally styled M rs ) R
, ead . .

O n e after n oo n i n the summer o f 1 894 I called at

To rri n gton Square I saw by her appeara n ce an d learn t
.

i n cide n t ally from her w ord s ( she n ever except on on e ,

occasio n to be n amed hereafter directly alluded to her ,

su f feri n gs) that i n all re spects she was worse i n bod y

,

tha n I had ever be fore see n her althou gh her cheerful ,

compo sure was e n tirely u n sh ake n The con versatio n .

turn ed upon M r Shield s an d h is work ari si n g i f my

.
, ,

remembran ce be correct from my havi n g prai sed The

,

G ood Shepherd She said what pleasure she felt at

.
’

m y prai se of her frie n d addi n g : That i s the o n ly

,

represen tatio n o f the subject I ever saw which bri n gs t o

my mi n d at all adequ ately my con ception of it Then .
’
,

w ith the warmth o f appreciatio n n o t u n freque n tly her

wo n t i n sp ea ki n g of those who formed her i n n er circle ,

she spo ke w ith a ffectio n o f M r S hield s gave uttera n ce

.
,

—
to her hi gh opi n ion o f h is ge n iu s as a pai n ter especially
as a reli giou s pa in ter — an d e n d ed : You see he doe s
n ot tre at sacred theme s merely as an arti st ; they are

part o f h is li fe They are part o f h is li fe i n a way that

.

I have n ever kn o wn them to be o f an y other arti st an d ,

that is on e cau se of h is m arvellou s power I rem arked .

’

that the co n templation o f such a picture mu st solace her

i n hours o f p ai n an d weari n e ss an d she said it did
, .

C hri sti n a i n spite of her bei n g some wh at of a reclu se

, ,

or perh aps the more so becau se She was some wh at of

a reclu se was a kee n jud ge of character
, Her own .

character if sweete n ed an d puri fied by the di sc ipli n e o f

,

li fe was al so stren gthe n ed Althou gh she n ever u sed

,
.
 MRS GARNE —
TT M I SS L I SA W I L SO N
. 1 53

a harsh word about a nyo n e she was well able to d i sc ri m i ,

n ate bet wee n tho se She li ked an d t ho se fo r wh om she

did n ot care .

Probably the be st piece of character drawi n g in all -

her w riti n gs i s to be fou n d i n the brie f poem called A

Sketch whic h first appe ars i n her N ew Poem s
The bli n d est bu zzard t hat I kn ow
D oes n ot wear wi n gs t o spread an d st ir
N or d oes my spec ial mole wear fu r ,

An d gru b amon g t he roots bel ow

He sports a tail i n deed bu t then ,

he s man wit h men

’ ’
It s t o a c oat

M y b li n d est buzzard t hat I kn ow

M y spec ial mol e, when wil l you see ?
O h n o, you mu st n ot l ook at me,

i
s nce yo ur eyes are bli n d, you d say,
’

‘
Where ? What ? ’
an d t u rn away .

1 5 Agust
u 1 864 .

Her sympathy i n the hi ghe st se n se o f the term was

u n iversal fo r she was quic k to perceive the good i n al l
, .

B u t it n ever dege n erated i n to the maudli n weakn e ss

which i s t h e atte n da n t da n ger o f symp athy Ge n t le n ess .

was a qu ality She admired much an d of o n e frie n d M rs , , .

Garn ett whose mi n i stratio n s she valued greatly i n her last

,

ill n ess she said to me o n ce I li ke her she is so ge n tle

, , .
’

C hri sti n a Rossetti was al so very grate ful for the frequen t
pre se n ce duri n g the same peri od o f M i ss L i sa Wil so n ‘
,

the F ior d i L i sa o f her lovely poem with that title

- -
.

Sinc e Christ in a Rssett i s death

o
’
M i ss Lisa Wi lson l
has pu b ished a
l
vo u me of Ver ses d ed icat ed to her sweet an d grac i ous memory whic h
c o n c l usi vely estab l ishes M iss W i l son s own ri h t t o ran k amon g ly ical
’
g r

poets.
I 54 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
Her a n aly i s s of motives—
her di scer n men t bet wee n
the apparen t an d the real i s well brou ght out i n her
little essay i n Time F lies u n der date of M ay 2 2
re specti n g an E n gli sh t raveller i n Sicily who is every
where treated with gr eat ho spitality an d courtesy At .

o n e ma n sio n h o wever althou gh waited upo n wi t h every

,

politen ess by a depressed staff of domestics he arrived ,

’

an d departed u n welcomed by t he family .

He lac ked n othi ng save a welcome .

’

Thi s treatme n t le ft upon him a gloomy impre ssio n

Hw
.

o hould meat dri n k

s , , shelter su fli c e an d sol ace an
‘

u n welcomed guest ? 0

Yet aft erwa rd s he saw cau se t o revi se an d reverse

h is estim ate becomi n g aware that t he u n demon strative
,

family who had harboured him l aboured at that very

tim e u n der the an xiety of a bitter grie f Rejoice wit h .

him they could n ot burde n him with a sh are o f their

,

o wn mi sery t hey would n o t ; all that they had to

g ive they g ave an d hid from , their gue st an irremediable
sorrow
How ofte n we j udge u nj u stly when we judge harshly
.

The fret of temper we despi se may h ave i ts ri se in the

agon y o f so me great u n fli n chi n g u n su spected sel f
, , ,

sac ri fic e or i n the su stai n ed str ai n o f sel f co n quest or

,
-
,

in the e n dura n ce of u n avowed almost i n tolerable pai n , .

Whoso j ud ges h arshly i s sure to jud ge ami ss .

’

Touchi ng th i s quotation from ‘

Time F lie s her
brot her tell s me that
the allu sio n mu st be to Ed ward L ear ( author of
B oo k o f N o n sen se etc ) wh o travelled in Cal abri a an d
.
,

who i n h is boo k abo ut the travel s makes some state

,

—
me n t o f the ki n d C hri sti n a li ked his boo k much toward s
1 85 5 fi n di n g it full o f ge n ial I talia n character dra wi n g
,
-

a n d amu seme n t
’
.

He add s about a n other topic :

,
I 5 6 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
relatio n to h is si ster s l proclivities he has
’
In po l i t i c a

writte n as follows
‘
My i ter kn e w an d cared n ext t o n othi n g about
ss
party politic s ( ap art from qu estion s havi n g a reli giou s
be ari n g) ; i n all her l ater ye ars however her feeli n g , ,

lean ed more toward s the Co n servative th an the L iberal

c au se .
’

She felt most kee n ly as t o some o f t he evil s i n our

social sy stem an d w rote thu s eloque n tly i n
,
Th e F ac e
o f the Deep on R evel atio n xviii 1 5 I 6 1 7 1 8 an d 1 9 : .
, , , ,

r5 . Th e m erc han t s of t hese t h i n gs

, w h i c h w er e
mad e ri c h by her , shal l st an d afar off for t h e fear of ’

h er t orm en t , w eepi n g an d w ai l i n g
A A
.

16 n d say i n g ,
. l as al as, t hat g r eat c i ty , t hat
,

w as c l ot h ed i n fin e l i n en , an d pu r pl e, an d sc arl et , an d
d ec k ed w it h g ol d , an d pr ec i ou s st on es, an d pearl s !
1 7 F or I n on e h ou r so g reat ri c h es 1 3 c om e t o
A
.

n ou g ht n d ev ery shi pmast er , an d al l t h e c om pan y

.

in sh i ps, an d sai l ors, an d as m an y as t rad e by sea,

st ood afar off,
This desol ation which we have n ot yet see n mu st
o n e day be see n M ean while we have kn o wn preludes,
.

rehearsal s, foretastes o f suc h as thi s so that loo ki n g

bac k throu gh the cen t u ries we may ta ke up our l amen
t at io n an d say
A
las Sodom on ce full of bread ! F rom empty ful n ess,
g ood L ord deliver u s

A
.
,

las Tyre whose merch an ts were pri n ces ! F rom

riches but n ot toward God , good Lord , deliver u s
A
.

las the man who se barn s su fficed n ot ! F rom heart

an d ha n d s shut clo se , good L ord , deliver u s
A
.

las Dive s clothed i n purple an d fin e li n e n F ro m

remediless destitution , good Lo rd deliver u s
A
.
,

n d loo ki n g forward we may say

A
l as an y whom the u n kn own day an d hour fin d
u n prepared ! F rom the folly o f the fooli sh virg i n s, good
L ord deliver u s
A
.
,

n d loo ki n g arou n d u s trembli n w e eed s mu st

g n

say
 THE EVI L S or O UR SO C I AL SYSTEM 1 57

Al E gl
as d full o f luxuries an d thron ged by
n an

sti n ted poor whose mercha n t s are pri n ce s an d who se

,

de ali n gs crooked whose pac ked storehou ses stan d amid

,

b are home s whose gorgeou s array has rags for n ei gh

'

bours ! F rom a c an ker in our go ld an d silver from a ,

m oth i n our garme n ts from blasted crops from d wi n dli n g

, ,

subst an ce from r i ghteou s retributio n abasi n g u s a mo n

g
the n atio n s good L ord deliver u s Ame n
,

An d c ried w hen
, , . .

1 8 . t h ey saw t h e sm ok e of h er
b urn i n g , sayi n g , W hat c it y i s l ik e u n t o t h is g r eat c it y
I f an y shipmasters an d cre ws, sailors an d sea traders, -

h ave yet to lame n t an d qua ke, well may arrogan t

E n gl an d amid her sea s qua ke an d l ame n t betimes .

What city is li ke u n to thi s gre at city ! L i ke what —

She was, li ke what she i s her prese n t tallyi n g with her

p ast .

F o r purpo se s o f probatio n h ei ght an d depth are at

o n ce d isti n gui sh able and con ti n uou s : man , the proba
t io ner set mid way be t wee n the se extremitie s, has it
w ithi n h is optio n to recl aim eith er from the other .

P rob ation over, hei ght an d depth , whil st still o f t wo

aspects, will yet form o n e evide n tly u n divided seque n ce
t o the summit or to the b ase o f whic h co n summated
man has w or ked h is way n d why n o t all the bapti sed
. A
t o the summit ? Ye did ru n well who did hi n der you
that ye Should n ot obey the truth
An d t h ey t hei r h ead s, an d
c ast d u st on
c ri ed , w eepi n g an d w ai l i n g , sayi n g , l as, al as, t h at A
g r ea t c i t y ,
w h er ei n w er e m ad e r i c h a ll t h at h ad s h i ps
i n t h e sea by r eason of h er c ost l i n ess ! for i n on e
'

”
h ou r i s she m ad e d esol at e .

To c ast du st o n the head with pe n iten ce attests death

u n to si n To cast du st on the head w ith impe n iten ce
.

p re fig u re s the s eco n d de a th .

Sin con ducts all to on e goal The l and si n n er fi n d s .

d u st i n ple n ty ; the sea fari n g si n n er shall i n herit du st

en ou gh .

‘
Than k God ample provi sion is stored for eve ry
,

e ite t w here soever an d wh at soever : du st a she s are

p n n , ,

r eady to ha n d fo r all .

L ord array u s i n spiritual sac kcloth

,
that by ,

e ite ce may bear w it n e ss t o Th ood e ’

p n n w e y g n ss .
 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
M i ss Proctor writes as follo ws re specti n g C hri sti n a s
’

i n terest in practical work amo n g the poor

‘
I n 1 886 an d 1 887 I was e n ga ged i n pari sh wor k i n
R at c l i fl
'

.M y missio n was to go on M on day n i ghts to

the F acto ry Girl s C lub , L o n do n Street, u n der the spec ial
’

care of the vicar, ev R R

K rbuth n ot Here con gre
. . . A .

ated ma y f B rya t M y ork er but op ’

g n o n an d a s w s, r e
ma kers, satchel - makers, j am - makers, an d all the i n du s
E E
tries o f the ast n d were represen ted M an y were o f
R
.

I ri sh pare n tage an d oman Cath olics The object was .

to try an d i n t erest them i n somethi n g, and get them i n to

the club a ft er work was over M i ss ossetti took a . R
deep i n terest i n th e wel fare of these you n g people, an d
w ould hersel f have li ked t o become a wor ki n g member
o f the club , had her n ur si n g duties al lo w ed it ; but at

that time she had t wo au n ts i n valid s, to te n d , .

I n return i n g home , w h ich I n ever did be fore eleven

o cloc k p m , man y i n ciden ts struc k me on t he route I
’

R
. . .

was accu stomed to relate all to M i ss ossetti , who

specially wi shed to hear how the eve n i n g had bee n pa ssed

A
.

t o n e time it was the ti n y childre n return i n g home alon e ,

their part bei n g over at the Theatre that excited her ,

commi se ratio n an d she said ,

Lon don makes mirt h, b u t I kn ow God hears

The sobs i n t he dark, an d the droppi ng of tears .

Sometimes my tale s were ludicrou s sce n es at t he

suppers give n an d presided over by M r
,
( n o w S i r ) .

W alter B esan t She was ve ry sympathetic with you n g

.

’
people .

A brief extract may here be m ade from a letter

placed at my di sposal as showi n g her t hought fu l n ess
whe n eve n a remote cha n ce occurred o f bei n g u se ful t o
others :
Will you ki ndly add M r
.
S N 0 o n the e n closed
.
’
.

card , then allow it to be posted I had an op portu n ity .

o f me n tio n i n g him t o an o l d e st abli shed watchma ker -

—
t h i s morn i n g tho I fear n oth in g will e n sue
’ ’

, .
 I 60 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
mo men t to face thi s last great adversary ,
w ho n ot as
our ope n e n emy but as on e o f oursel ve s , will do thi s
’
di sho n our .

Quai n tly an d characteri stically she e n force s t he

desirability o f a sublimated form of courtesy an d u n der ,

date of May 24 she writes i n Time F lies

A c ert ai n
‘

En gl ish man sojourn i n g

the East an d in ,

by mi shap breaki n g a v alu able pipe the property o f h is ,

en tertai n er felt abashed whe n h is host took up the

, ,

word : I n a stran ger the destructio n of so co stly an

a rti c le mi ght cau se d isplea sure but i n a frie n d every ,

action h as i t s charm .

O n e frie n d I o n ce posse ssed who would I thi n k on , ,

oc casion h ave bee n c apable o f such graciou sn e ss But

An d
.

why ( if so it be ) h ave I k no w n o e such o n ly

n ?

why am I ( al as n o t mysel f the seco n d P

The frien d referred to above Dr Adol f Heima n n

‘
,
.
,

was Pro fessor o f German i n U n iversity College Lon don , .

With a touch almost of humour she tell s i n Time

F lies u n der d ate o f October 1 2 how a good u n o b t ru
’
, ,

sive C hri stia n o f o n —

my wn i tim ate circle the good ‘

u n obtru sive Chri sti an was her au n t Eli za Polidori ’

fou n d com fort i n the recollectio n that n o day lasted

lo n ger than t wen ty four hours An d there i s a real but
-
.

n o t an affected humility i n the e n try i n Time F lies ‘ ’

un der d ate o f December 4 where she set s be fore hersel f ,

an d others as an example wort hy o f imitatio n the

, ,

truth co n veyed i n the re ma rk o f an exemplary

Chri stian (her A u n t Charlotte Polidori ) th at she was
’

n ever blamed w ithout perceivi n g some j u stice i n the

charge .

As mi ght be an tici pated Chri stin a had the deepest

love o f the masterpieces of En gli sh poetry B ut eve n .
,

when d eali n g with masterpiece s she was by n o mea n s ,

 HER READ I N G OF PO ETRY 1 61

her prai se Sometimes i n deed she

i n di scri mi n ate in .
, ,

admired passages in great poets which are n ot u n iversally

sel ected for comme n datio n An e x ample o f t his is see n
.

i n her li ki n g for M ilton s son n et To Lawre n ce men

’ ‘ ’

t ion ed by her broth er i n a letter to M r H al l Cai n e . .

She was an exqui site reader of poetry M r Sharp has . .

told us ( vid e p 5 7) how fi nely she read to him South

.

’ ’
well s B u rn i n g B abe as well as her own work an d from
, ,

person al kn owled ge I c an co n firm the truth of h is remarks .

N othi n g was more deli ght ful tha n to hear her repeat
sn atches o f poet ry an d sh e was equally able t o bri n
, g
out the subtler rhythm o f En gli sh prose I do n ot .

thi n k she had ever bee n tau ght elocutio n an d probably ,

she had n ever eve n studied it c o n sciou sly yet u n c on ,

sc iou sly i t s hi gher rule s came to her n aturally Her .

read in g was by n o mean s exte n sive but the n it was ,

al ways o f the be st ; an d she could di sti n gui sh betwee n

verse howev er melodiou s an d poetry
, She was, .

e erou i her prai e f co tempo arie s— e specially

g n s n s o n r

—
whe n that prai se w as well merited as i n the c ase o f
Augusta Webster s stri ki n g drama The Se n te nce
’
.
’

I n the article Athe n aeum N 0 August 7 1 89 7)

,
’
.
,

al ready re ferred to appe ars a letter to Dora Gree n well ,

d ated December 3 1 1 86 3 in the course of which Chri s

, ,

ti n a says
What thi n k you o f Jean I n gelow the w on derful
‘
,

poet I h ave n o t yet read the volume but revie ws ,

with copiou s extract s have made me aware o f a n ew

emi n en t n ame havi n g ari se n amo n g u s I wan t to kn ow
who she i s wh at sh e i s li ke where she lives A
.

,
l l I have
,
.

heard is an u n certai n rum our th at she is aged twe n ty

one an d i s on e o f three si sters re side n t w ith their
mo t her Aproud mother I should thi n k
,
’
. .
,
1 62 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
Ad n in a lett er t o A nn e Gilc h rist , of dat e she

q
w ro t e

My w i t h J ean I n gelow s poems t o

uai n tan e c
‘ ’
ac
whic h you k i n d ly i n t rod uced me, has b een followed by
a very sli ht acquai n t an ce w ith h e rse l f
g Sh e app ears as

u n a ffec t ed as h er v erses, thou h n ot t heir equal i n

g
regu lar beau t y : howev er I fan cy hers is one o f those
vari able fac es in which t he var iet i s n ot t he l eas t
y
c har m
’
.

Ch ri st i n a Rossetti
person al hab i ts were o f t he
’
s

simpl est She rose early an d di n ed at o n e or t wo

.
,

o cloc k t aki ng a th ird m eal i n t h e even i n g U sual l y

’

, .

sh e ret i red t o rest ear ly th ou h n ever I am i n fo rmed

g , ,

by her brother an d o t hers w i t hou t passi n g some t i me , ,

pro babl y hal f an hou r i n p rayer O n e d ay when at

, .
,

Torrin gt on Square soon aft er her deat h her b rot her ,

showed me an old fash i o n ed fin k di m - Eve n before her - .

l ast il l n ess she had fou n d t h e mechan i cal exert i o n o f

k n eeli n g so m ewhat di fficult an d h ad u sed t hi smic d i a l ,
-

as an assi st an ce .

The simplicity an d regul arity o f her li fe was p ro b

ably t he cau se o f t he co n side rable recuperati ve power

which frequ en tly surpri sed her physicia n Dr Stewar t , .

,

d uri n g her last ill n ess She too k H o ly Commu n ion

.

twice weekly on Thu rsday an d Su n d ay

— P ro bably .

admirers o f her devotio n al w ork w ill recollect her litt le

homilie s fo r speci al occasion s w hich close Time F l ies ‘

.
'

The holy man n am ed by her in t he fi rst o f these

t hat for E mber Wed n esday as suggesti n g a n ew motive ,

fo r joi n i n g in the service o f C hu rchi ng of Women

was the late Ca n o n B urrows formerly rector o f C h ri st ,

Ch urch A l b,
a n y Street S he w as i n vited to w
. rite h is

li fe an d wi shed to d o so on ly reli n qui shin g the idea

, ,

owi n g to the state of her health .

1 64 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
The ry ton es o f her voice i n their slow distin ct
ve ,

i n to n ati o n were pleasan t to hear Her h umorou s son n et

, .

: epitaph on the P ra raphael it e B rotherh ood w ill be re

membered an d al so her amu si n g li n es i n New Poem s

,
’

On A lbi n a an d F orget M e N ot written respectively

i n J u n e an d on A
, u gust 1 9 1 844 A n d as late as J u n e , .

1 89 4 I rec ollect her lau ghi n g heartily o n hear i n g t hat a

F re n ch t ra n slation o f David Copperfield which on a

’
, ,

vi sit to Pari s I had pic ked up seco n d ha n d a few days

,
-

be fore on on e of the boo kstall s on the Qua zs which li ne

'

the Sei n e was en titled Le N eve n de ma Tan te

, At all .
’

times she was willi n g to chat about her favou rite authors ,

an d her kn owled ge of literatu re — eve n o f the by ways -

o f lite rature i n u n expected quarters — was co n siderable .

F or i n sta n ce I recollect her telli n g me o n o n e oc casio n

,

that thou gh she hersel f had n ever re ad a li n e o f C harles

Whitehead she remembered well her e lder brother
,

spe aki n g to her with w arm appreciatio n co n c er n i n g hi m ,

an d poi n ti n g out to her that probably Whitehead had

i n fluen ced Dic ken s s early style ’

.

Duri n g the ill n ess of her l ast survivi n g au n t M i ss ,

Eli za Harriet Polidori Christi n a had secured the ,

services as n urse o f M rs R ead F i n di n g o n the death

. .

o f her au n t that she hersel f required the services of a

,

n urse an d bei n g sati sfied i n eve ry way wi t h M rs R

,
ead .
,

she asked her to remai n Two other servan ts a cook

—.

an d a hou sem aid — had al ways bee n kept .

I n the morn i n g an d o n ce more toward s n i n e

,

o cloc k in the eve n i n g Ch ri sti n a R

’
ossetti gathe red
,

the se rv an ts arou n d her readi n g fo r a few mi n utes ,

a passage of Scripture an d the n a suitable prayer ,

from the A n glic an P rayer B oo k and frequen tly the -

,

C ollect for the day She con ti n u ed the practic e o f

.
 C HRI ST C HU RC H ,
WO B U RN SQ U ARE
’

household devotio n twice daily till n early the close o f

her li fe an d whe n too wea k to con d uct it hersel f she
, ,

directed what was to be read an d M rs R , ead u n dertoo k .

the du t y i n her presen ce Hym n s were n ever su n g o n

.

these occasion s .

F or n early t we n ty years she had bee n a co n sta n t

worshipper at Chri st C hurch Woburn Sq u are Afrie n d
, .

i n form s me that to ward s the close of her li fe Chri sti n a

al ways sat i n the very fro n t pew i n church Sh e:

remai n ed u n til the very l ast before leavi n g the buildi n g ,

an d it was evide n t from her demea n our that eve n then

she strove to avoid ordi n a ry co n versatio n evide n tly ,

feeli n g th at it would di sturb her mood o f mi n d .

F or certai n years previou s t o 1 894 she had su ffered

from a heart ailme n t accompan ied by drop sic al sy mp
,

tom s an d in M ay 1 89 2 she was operated o n for cancer

, ,

succe ssfully it was th ou ght at the t ime Early in J u ne .

1 89 2 w ith her brother an d a hospital n urse she we n t to

, ,

B ri ghto n an d appeared to gai n much be n efit from the

,

chan ge O n e o f her pleasures whe n there was to hear

.

him read aloud the A utobiography o f I saac William s ,

’

the poet an d divi n e the frien d of Joh n He n ry N ewm an

,

an d o f E d ward B ouverie Pu sey an d author of more ,

than on e o f the Tracts fo r the Times She had a

‘
.
’

g reat re gard for I saac Willi a m s w h o w as i

, n some se n se
a poet of the Tra ctarian M ovemen t Dan te Gabriel had .

also a hi gh opi n io n of thi s writer s son n ets R ’

eaders of .

t he Pre fatory N ote to her S ee k an d F i n d will recollect

her expressio ns of i n debted n ess to W i ll iams s Harmo n y ’
.
’

The letter e n sui n g shows ho w she came to read his

Autobiography
 1 66 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI

To 1 11 r P ate/t a t M a r t i n

q
.

30Torrin gt on S uare —W C . .

Thu rsday [May 1 2 .

,

thou ght I would n ot write till I had somethi n g

F irst I
u n selfi sh to write about but now I feel as i f it may loo k
,

u n graciou s an d u n gr ateful n ot to ac kn owled ge your

ki n d n ess i n o ffer in g me an occasio n al bo o k to read I .

shall be very tha n kful for such a lo an whe n a bo o k i s

lyi n g absolutely idle an d the particul ar work you pro

po se ( R
,

ev I saac William s) i s o n e I should pic k out

. .

Very truly your obli ged

CH RI STI N AG R OSSETTI‘
. .
’

What follo ws i n a n ote to M rs P atchett M art i n

, .
,

w ritte n on J u n e 1 8 1 89 2 alludes to the same subject :

, ,

Please han d the e n closed receipt [for 21 1 25 6d i n . . .

payme n t of article s con tributed to L iterary Opi n ion

to M r M arti n with my than ks an d with particul ar tha n ks
.

fo r the boo ks he so obli gi n gly len d s me I h Ope to .

e njoy al l three .

Than k you al so fo r mi ssi n g me at C hurch I hO pe

to refill my seat in a few Su n days .
’

To M r P ate/wi t M ar t zn
'

I t oo k the libert y o f ta ki n g your loan out o f to wn

with me N o w on my return I se n d bac k with my grate
.

fu l th an ks t wo o f the volume s, ven turi n g t o retai n Dean

Church as I h ave n ot fi n i shed readi n g it M r He n ley s
’
. .

”
Hospital is grim b u t i n teresti n g I saac Willi am s
much to my taste .

Truly your obli ged

CHRI STI N A G R
‘
OSSETTI . .
’

Dean Church mea n s Dean Church s village sermon s ’

preached at Whatley n ear F rome ; M r Hen ley s

, .
’

Hospital re fers to the set o f poem s in M r W E . . .

He n ley s B oo k of Verses
’
.
’
 1 68 CHRI STI N A ROSSETTI

promised to comply with her requ est n ot o n ce but man y ,

times an d I kept my word I shall n ever cease to t e

, .

member her gla n ce o f g rat i tude .

F o r the volume e n titled Verses publi shed by t he

’
,

Society for Promoti n g C hri stian K n o wl edge in 1 893 ,

an d c on si sti n g o f poem s repri n ted from her Called ‘

to be Sain ts Time F lies an d The F ace o f the

,
’
,
’

Deep sh e was at the t rouble to copy all the poem s

,
’

ou t afresh an d to arra n ge them u n de r separate

,

headi n gs thu s formi n g o n e of the most cu riou s and

,

attractive o f her ma n u scripts Her brother said to .

her : Why do you take the trouble o f Copy i n g t he

poem s
She a n swered : I have plen ty o f leisure ‘
I n her .

brother s j ud gme n t she copied the poem s partly becau se

’

she li ked the mere mech an ical act of writi n g an d partly ,

— an d perhaps thi s was the Chie f reaso n — becau se she

was an xiou s to save all possible expe n se to the Society .

Afrien d called upo n her about t en d ays after the first

large edition of these V erses appeared an d told her it ,

was sol d out Whereupo n she exclaimed I m so glad

’
.

fo r the sake o f the Society You kn o w that it gets all

.

t h e profits for the promotio n of i t s work

’
.

Duri n g her last ill n ess an d for some time previously ,

her medical advi ser had bee n Dr Ste wart I n Au gu st . .

1 89 4 ow i n g to seriou s i n crease of pai n with i t sresulti n g

,

weakn ess she ceased to att e n d the public services at

,

C hri st Church Her frien d the R . ev J J Gle n di n n i n g

, . . .

N ash the i n cumben t o f C hri st C hurch came to see her

, ,

weekly however u sually o n the morn i n g o f M o n day

, , ,

an d held a bri ef reli gi ou s service i n her room admi n i ster ,

i n g Holy Commu n ion whe n ever her state permitted .

Duri n g hi s absen ce on a brie f hol iday h is place was

 THE REV J J . . . E
GL N D I N N I N G N ASH 1 69

t a ke n by the R ev T N Talfou rd M ajor curate o f

. . . ,

C hr i st C hurch .

M r Gle n d i n n i n g N ash i n form s me that u n til her last

.

ill n ess she was prese n t at n early all the wee kly se rvices
at Chri st C hurch an d received Holy Commu n io n every
,

Su n day an d Thursd ay She too k he says t he deepest

.
,
’

i n tere st i n Chri st C hurch i t s school s an d i t s di strict

, , .

She subscribed ge n erously an d n early every Su n day ,

'

d u ri n g her ill n ess sen t mon ey for the o fiert ory .

’

At a late stage of her ill n ess whe n her bodily c on ,

dition n ecessit ated her remai n i ng con stan tly i n bed her ,

doctor advi sed her removal i n to the drawi n g room from -

the bedroom at the bac k o f the drawi n g room she had -

occupied up to that time The chief purpose o f thi s .

removal was to obtai n the advan tage o f t he greater

amou n t o f ai r whic h the i n crea sed si ze o f the drawi n g
,

room afforded The appoi n tmen ts of the drawi n g

.

room were altered as litt le as might be compatible ,

with the C han ge .

To a frie n d who saw her a few d ays before her deat h

she said with a touch o f her old con te n tme n t sh e was
, ,

so glad to be i n bed as she w as so restful there She ’

.

further expressed a mar ked pre feren ce for the small bed
on which she l ay becau se it was the b ed whereo n h er

mother had died She al so said it gave her pleasure to

.

thi n k she u sed the same sheets an d pillows as her mot her
had u sed I n spite of the greater co n ve n ie n ce of the
.

d rawi n g room i n m an y respect s it had i t s di sadvan tages

-
,

as a sic k room C hie f amo n g these was the fact that it

.

overloo ked the squ are an d t hat con seque n tly the n oi se
,

was co n siderable I recollect for i n st an ce c alli n g to

.
, ,

i n quire a ft er Chri sti n a s state on on e sultry aftern oon

’

i n t he summer of 1 894 As a n eed fu l measure n o ,

 C HRI STI N A RO SSETT
doubt t he wi n dows were thru st Open an d t he di scordan t
, ,

n oi se from n o fe wer tha n three pi an o organ s wi th i n -

heari n g wo uld i n deed have been t ryi n g to m an y a

, ,

su fferer . I t is re assuri n g there fore t o lear n from her

-
, ,

brother as I have do n e that she was n ot wo n t t o be

, ,

i n co n ve n ie n ced i n the sli ghtest d egree by su ch m att ers .

Several of her O l d an d most i n tim ate frie n d s have

told me t hat after she ceased to be able t o see them
, ,

she se n t the m very special me ssage s o n th eir c alli n g t o

i n quire a fter her Eve n i n my own case wh en n o

.
,

lon ger able to see me she li ked me to call to make ,

i n quiries an d li ked al so to be i n form ed when I called

, ,

preferri n g that I should wait to hear i f there was a

message Sometimes she sen t me a delicately word ed
.

message o f t han ks occasio n ally thou gh by n o mean s

, ,

al ways m aki n g defi n ite i n quirie s about my own health

,

or other matters requiri n a reply Whe ever she se n t

g n .

messages to me they were al ways couched in di fferen t

word s but i n v ari ably w ith a pretty tur n o f expression
, .

’
O n ce I remember she was helped by my sympathy
, , .

Her brother has said to me an d wi she s me to men tion , ,

that about a couple ofyears be fore her death Dr Ste war t .

’
told him she was very li able to some form o f hysteri a .

F or a while i n her fi n al i ll n e ss thou gh appreciably less ,

i n her last fort n i ght o f li fe such symptom s were app aren t, ,

particularly duri n g semi con sciou sn ess chiefly man i fest -

,

i ng t hem selve s i n cries n ot so much as far as could be

, ,

O b served thro absolute pai n as t hro some sort o f

,
’ ’

’
hy steric al stimul ation .

O n e of the vi sits I paid to Torr i n gt o n Squa re duri n g

t he last year of her li fe ( a vi sit on which I did n ot see

C hri sti n a R o ssetti ) especially lives in my rec ollec tio n ,

bec au se of th e most memorable co n versation I then h ad

I 72 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
thu s preserved to u s C on cern in g the se l i n es
. h e has
w ritte n to me as follo ws :

I
regard it as a jocular outcome o f a state o f mi n d
—
which was more drea ry tha n j ocul ar fo r C[hri sti n a ] did
n ot at al l rejoice i n her semi ban i shme n t to F ro me
’
-
.

Despite the marked di fferen ces of temperamen t an d

o f opi n i o n between hersel f an d her brot her William it ,

mu st have bee n eviden t to an yon e who had heard her

men tion him how d eep was her love for him an d how
,

real was al so the respect i n which she held him both on ,

accou n t of h is i n tellectual gi ft s an d becau se he had been

fo r so lon g n o t o n ly the family prop but i n some se n se

, , ,

th e cu stodia n o f the famil yp apers an d traditio n s She .

evi n ced thi s respect i n t he most practical mann er i n her

power by leavi n g al l her materi al mea n s to him an d by ,

e n tru sti n g to hi s keepi n g without re servation o f any

ki n d all her m an u script s an d papers o f whatever sort .

I h ave h is authority for stati n g th at a bou t three

mo n th s be fore her death she told him i n the cou rse of c on
fid en t ial tal k th at some few ye ars previou sly whe n she ,

h ad comparatively little to le ave she h ad m ade her will

,

i n h is favour She added th at n ow bei n g much better

.
,

she would if Ire asse n ted w i sh t o provide

, , for
—
reli giou s purpose s but thi s o n ly i n case o f h is childre n
bei n g i n h is opi n ion su fli c ien t ly well provided for at his
, ,

death to m ake thi s arran geme n t seem proper to hi m .

He h as asse n ted fully t o his si ster s wi sh an d has i n h is

’
, ,

o wn w ill ( drawn up soo n a fter that i n terview with hi s

si ster ) provided
,
for that on such co n ditio n s

regardi n g h is childre n as make it i n his vie w practically

, ,

certai n th at the will go to the u ses me n tion ed

above .
 MR . ROB ERT w . D I B DI N 1 73
Even last days of her li fe she d id acts of ki n d
in t he
n ess . N o t lon g be fore her death she gave i n stru ctio ns
t hat a C opy o f her volume Si n g S on g should be sen t -

1/
New Yea r s Day as her N ew Year s gi ft t o t he
’ ’
on

children Of M r R obert W D i bd i n on e of the church

. .
,

warde n s o f C hri st Church an d at the appoi n ted time ,

t he touchi n g little presen t duly reached them .

q
I n the late autum n of 1 894 Dr Ste wart s own heal t h
’
.

re u i red that he should quit E n g la n d fo r the south of

F ran ce Thi s was a source of deep regret both to him

.

sel f an d t o his patie n t as i n the c i rcum sta n c es the part

, ,

in g had the a spect of bei n g fi n al an d Chri sti n a had a ,

—
warm attachme n t for him an attac hme n t heartily
reciprocated Dr Stewart le ft her i n charge o f Dr
. . .

Abbot An derson who did al l i n his po wer to relieve

her .

I t was O f course well kn own that t he en d was fast

approachi n g and could n ot in an y eve n t be much lon ger
,

delayed N evertheless her rallyi ng powers had so o fte n

. ,

before proved remarkable that whe n I reached 30 ,

Torri n gton Square about hal f past on e o n the after -

n oon of S at urd ay December 29 1 894 it was with an

, , ,

even greater degree of that curiou s i n volu n tary surpri se

which we ge n e rally experie n ce at the prese n ce of Death ,

however expected he may be that I n oticed the bli nd s ,

were d rawn down M rs R ead i n fo rmed me th at abo u t

'

. .
,

7 A M o n the
. mor n i n g O f F riday the 2 8t h C hri sti n a had ,

become ve ry deadl y cold an d with a purple loo k on t he ,

face . She feared the end had come but u si ng rest ora ,

t ives She se n t fo r Dr A
,
bbot An derso n .O n hi s .

arr i val he had fou n d h is patien t better an d duri n g t he , ,

whole of that d ay F rid ay little cha n ge had bee n , ,

apparen t Chri sti n a R ,

ossetti co n ti n u i ng re st ful see mi ng ,
1 74 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
to su ffer l i ttle pai n and t a kin g no urishmen t
, She .

passed a qui et n i ght an d about 5 AM on t he mo rn ing

, .

of December 2 9 w he n E mma the housemaid who

, , .

too k part of the watchi n g came as u su al i n to t he sic k,

room to relieve M rs Read the latter rem ar ked t o her

.
,

’
that she t hought her mistress s voice ( which h ad gro wn
n e arly i n audible ) was return i n g i n some measu re .

Bet ween 6 and 7 AM C hri sti n a s lips we re seen t o be

’
. .

movi n g perpetual ly i n prayer (that it was p rayer was

sh own t hou gh O f course the word s were u n heard by
, ,

t he freq u en t i n cli n atio n of the he ad as at the n ame Of

Jesu s) an d as far as could be observed she was per

, ,

fect ly co n sciou s At AM by the wat ch o n t he

. . .
,

t able the o n ly person actually i n the room with her

,

bei n g M rs R ead Chri sti n a somewhat sudde n ly gave a

.
,

fai n t si gh and died before her brother William whose

, ,

con stan t an d lovi n g mi n i stration s had so often soot hed

her duri ng t he lo n g an d weary hours o f her last ill ness ,

c o uld be summo n ed .

M rs R ead a sked me to go upstairs sayi n g her mist ress

.
, ,

with characteri stic i f ex t raordi n a ry thou ght fu l n ess had ,

to ld her t hat should I c all a fter her (Chri sti n a s) deat h

,
’

at an y tim e whe n it was still possible I was to be ta ke n ,

to see her I was touched pro fou n dly by thi s l ast and
.

quite u n expected proo f o f my frien d s regard for me and ’

availed my se l f at on ce of the privilege o ffered t o me .

A e n tered what had formerly bee n Christi n a s

s I
’

drawi n g room I tho ught how u n cha n ged yet how

-

ch an ged was the room A l l the pict u re s an d well n i gh

.
,
-

all t he pieces of furn iture even to the mi scellan eous ,

articles which stood u su ally on the large dra wi n g roo m -

t able were i n the same places as I had been in t he

,
I 76 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
was t he tt eranc e) : Thi s i ll n ess has hu mb led me
u . I
was so prou d b efo re
’
.

I fel t how applicabl e were Chri st i n a s o wn wo rd s :

’

Weep n ot 0 fri en ds, we shou ld not weep

Ou r fri en d of frien ds l ies fu ll of rest
N o sorrow ran kl es i n her b reast,
Fall en fast asleep .

Throu ghout t h e remai n der o f that d ay I d id ev ery

thi ng with the prese n ce o f t hat d ar ken ed roo m ever

be fore me .

To those o f u s who believe i n t he b lessed n ess of

Spiritu al assuran ce — wh o believe t hat such an assu ran c e
co n ti n u ed up to t he l atest momen ts o f earth ly li fe i s an
—
u nspeakable boo n it is al ways an d to hear of i n st an ces
where thi s tru st has been lessen ed or dest royed or m ay ,

seem t o have bee n lesse n ed or dest ro yed eve n t h ough ,

by merely physic al co n ditio n s Yet eve n these distress .

i n g i nstan ces when they occ u r have t heir aspec ts o f

, ,

com fort When we fin d th at some o f the most spiritu

.

ally m in ded some o f the most holy men an d women

,

whom thi s wo rld has kn own have su ffe red d epression, ,

n ay eve n gloom i n their dyi n g mom en ts w e are shown

, ,

more clearly that ou r spiritu al st ate does n ot depe n d on

o u r own feeli n gs or mood s of mi n d — an oth er u seful

illu strat ion i s th us give n u s of the con stan t an t agon i sm

bet wee n the appare n t an d the real I have bee n led to .

these reflection s bec au se after much co n siderat ion I

, ,

h ave determi n ed to pri n t a commu n icatio n made to

me by M r W M Rossetti respec ti n g h is si ste r s spiritual
. . .
’

con ditio n i n t he last days of her li fe He had been

ood e n ou gh to re ad over the M S o f an ar icle I had
g t .

writte n co n cern i n g her for o n e o f t he period ical s an d ,

 L AST LETTER TO MR S IELD S . H 1 77

i t was as to a word o r t wo therei n that , he w rote to me

as fo llo ws :

I n the last thre e mo n th s o r so o f her [C hri sti n a s]

’
‘

l i fe, she was most gloomy on the subject [o f her spiritual

st ate ] , some o f her uttera n ce s bei n g deeply pai n ful T hi s .

o f course was beyo n d me asure u n rea so n ab le but so it

w as . I bel i eve the i n flue n ce o f opiates ( which were

i n d ispen sable ) had somet hi n g to do w ith i t .

A uredly my
ss i ter did to the last con ti n ue believ
ss

i n g in the promi ses o f the Gospel as i n terpreted by ,

Theologian s but her se n se of i t s threaten i n gs was very

l ively and at the en d more O perative on her person al
,

feeli n gs Thi s sho uld n o t have been She remai n ed

. .

firmly co n vi n ced th at her mother an d si ster are sai n ts

i n he ave n an d I e n deavoured to show her that accordi n g
,

to her own t heories she was ju st as safe as they : but

,

—
thi s such as her humility
w O f s f —
el e timate did n ot
s

relieve her from troubles o f sou l I f there is an y reality .

in the fou n d ation s of her creed she n o w kn o ws ho w ,

reatly mi t ke ’

g sh e w as s a n .

Her long an d i n tim at e frien d ship with M r Shield s .

co n ti n ued to the last I have seen a short letter to him

.

d ated September 5 1 89 4 which i s pathetic both on

, ,

accou n t of i t s co n ten ts an d bec au se of the ha n d writi n g

,

g ro w n sha ky I t i s o f too
. sacr ed a ch aracter to be .

g ive n here I may . me n tio n ho wev er that aft er tha n k

, , ,

ing M r S hield s for the privilege of his frie n d ship she

.
,

e nd s by an almost p assion ate expressio n of perso n al

humility couched in a phrase which in a n other would , , ,

have appeared exaggerated even forced but i n her , , , .

seem ed o n ly n atural .

M uch sorro w was felt at her loss an d this was ,

coupled with much prai se o f her gi fts Sel dom i n deed .

has p rai se bee n so wide spread n ever has it been more ,

sin cere As an i n stan ce o f this a re ference here may

.
1 78 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
fit t i n gly be made to what was said about her by two
hi ghly di sti n gui shed an d thou gh w idely di fferen t very
, , ,

—
represe n tative men the first a great poet the seco n d a ,

g re at A n glica n theo logi an I n on e o f t h e most tou c hi n

.
g
O f h is rece n t ele gi ac poem s M r S wi n burn e w rote : .

Asoul more sweet than t he morn i ng of n ew born

-
M ay
H as passed wi t h t he year t hat has passed from the world away .

A son g more sweet than t he morn i n g s first -born son g

’

A gai n w i l l hym n n o t amo n g u s a n ew ye ar ’

s day .

N ot here, n ot here
h l the carol of joy grown st ron g
s al

Ri ng rapt ure n ow an d upl ift u s a spell st ru ck t hrong

, ,
-
,

F rom dr eam t o vi sion of li fe that t he sou l may see

B y d eat h s grace on ly if d eath do i ts tru st n o wrong
’
, .

Scarce yet the days an d t he starry n ights are three

Sin c e here amon g u s a spirit abod e as we ,

G i rt rou n d wi t h l ife that is fettered i n bon d s of t i me,

And clasped wit h da kn ess abou t as is earth wit h sea
r .

A d n ow
n , more h igh ii l may cli mb
h
t an t he v s on of sou s ,

The soul whose song was as music of stars that c hime ,

C lothed rou n d wi t h li fe as of dawn an d t he mou n t i n g su n ,

Si n gs an d we kn ow n ot here of t he son g subli me

,

w hile Dr Westcott B i shop o f Durham

.
, ,
e t the follow
s n

ing letter to M r W M R ossetti

. . .

F r om The Rig/I t Rev t ire B i s/top of . D ar /tam

To M r W M Rosset t z. .

Auc kl Cast l e
an d

A
B i shop u c kland
N ew Year s Day 1 895
’
.

Dear Sir , I t
—
may be presumptuou s fo r a stra n ger t o
i n trude o n your solem n quiet b u t my debt to M i ss
Rossetti e n courages me to believe a frien d who tell s me
,

that the simplest expressio n of sympathy wi t h your loss

mi ght not be u n welcome I t happe n ed that last C hr ist
.

mas D ay at our even i n g gathe ri n g I chose Gobli n

1 80 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
Rossetti ) who with M r . Theodore Watts Du n ton -
, M i ss
L i sa Wil son and M rs Read were the occupa n ts o f t he
, .

mourn i n g coaches Amon g ma n y others presen t we re .

M r John R Cl ayto n M r an d M rs F G Stephe n s M r

. .
, . . . .
, .

Arthur Hu ghes M r F red eric Shield s Dr Abbot , .

, .

An derson the Cou n tess Hugo ( who married a n ephew of

the great F ren ch writer) M rs Garn ett M rs H
,

ueffer M rs , .
,
.
,
.

V irt ue Tebbs Si ster Eli za fo rmerly o f St M arga ret s

, , .
’

Home M rs Percy B u n ti n g M r William Sharp Pro fe ssor

, .
, .
,

Wy n dh am Du n sta n M r F orbe s R obert son M r , .

, .

Robert W D ibd in M r Robert Porter ( Supe ri n te n den t o f

.
, .

the eleve n th U n ited States ce n sus) an d M rs Port er M r .

, .

G AGarrett an d M rs ET Coo ke while amo ng those

. .
, . . .

who se n t wre ath s were L ady L i n d say T he Cou n te ss ,

Hu go M i ss Ursul a Chri sti n a Gordon H ake her god

, ,

d aughter Si ster Eli za an d Dr Abbot An derso n

, , . .

Whe n I e n tered Chri st Church I was stru ck by the

—
beauty of the ed ific e a solem n quiet beau ty specially
suited to such an occ asio n The c ofli n brou ght i n a
‘
.
,

closed hearse from Torri n gto n Square was met at the ,

w e stern door o f the church by the clergymen an d the

surpliced choir an d co vered by m an y w re ath s o f flo wers
, , ,

was solem n ly born e to i t s pl ace i n fro n t o f the ch an cel

while O rest i n the L ord was played on t he organ .

Abide with me havi n g been su n g M r N ash proceeded , .

with the buri al service After that magn ificen t passag e .

( 1 C o r xv 2 0 ) N
. o w i s
. C hri st ri se n from the dead a n d ,

becom e the first fruits o f them that slept had bee n read
-
,

some sta n zas from C hri sti n a s poem Adve n t begi n n i ng ’

,
’

The Port er watc hes at t he at

g , e

an d e ndi n g
With Jesu s C hrist ou r best,
 HER F U N ERAL 1 8I

St A Subsequen tly her

'

were su n g to t he tu n e of . nn .

Lord , gran t c
u s gra e t o mou n t by st eps of grace ,

set to tasteful an d appropriate music composed ex

pressly for the occasio n by M r F T L o wden organ i st . . .
,

o f C hri st C hurch was su n g , The n as the c ofli n was

‘
.
,

rai sed fro m be n eath the chan cel steps and slo wly ca rr ied
down t he ai sle the D ead M ore]: in Sau l was played
,

impressively while man y o f the co n gregation waited a

,

momen t or t wo outside the Church door wi th every ,

to ke n o f respect to see the fu n eral cortege depart Her

, .

brother i n a letter to M r N ash a word or t wo of which

, .
,

I am pri v ileged to quote suitably gave utteran ce to t he

,

g e n eral feeli n g con cer n i n g the service held at Chri st

Church when he spoke o f it s u n flawed harmo n y o f
m an n er wi th i t s sacred matter I t was i n deed on e of .
’

those services which will live i n the memory of those

who too k part i n it as almost symbolical of the perso n
commemorated M oreover as o n e o f C hri sti n a Ro ssett i s
.
,

most attached frien d s said to me afterward s there was ,

’
n othi n g gloomy about it .

As far as I am aware with the exception of one or

,

t wo perso n s u n kn own to me and whom I had n ot

obse rved at Chri st Church on ly her brother an d hi s ,

children accompan ied by M r N ash M r Watts Du n ton .

, .
-
,

M i ss L i sa Wil so n M rs R ead and mysel f were prese n t

, .

at the i n terme n t at H i gh gate Her brother however .

, ,

i n forms me that M r Syd n ey M arti n atte n ded of his own

.

accord and took some photographs al so that Alice ,

B loomfield ( formerly a hou semaid i n the se rvice o f

Chri sti na R ossetti ) an d a male relative of hers were there , .

The family grave of the Rossetti s where Chri sti n a was ,

buried with her father an d mother an d E li zabeth

 1 82 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
Elean or ,
Dan te Gabriel i s i n the old port ion o f
wi fe of ,

Hi gh gate Cemete ry Stan di n g n ear a pathway on a

.

portion of hi gh grou n d it is n ot u n picture squely situ ated .

Aspri n kli n g o f sn ow had rem ai n ed o n the groun d an d , ,

as the closi n g word s o f the buri al service were bei n g

read by M r N ash the w i n ter su n shi n e gleami n g throu gh

.
, ,

t he l eafless bra n che s o f some tree s to the ri ght reveal ed ,

al l their delic ate tracery w hile a robi n san g , The n .

,

after some w reath s from those peculiarly dear to her had

bee n placed on the coffi n an d the last loo k had bee n ,

t aken we le ft the cemete ry

, .

I sh all clo se my n a rrative o f C hri sti n a s fu n eral b y

’

quoti n g my frien d M r Theo dore Watt s Du n to n s beauti

.
-
’

fu l so n n et s de scriptive o f it e n titled T he T wo C h ri st
,

mast id es ” . The re fere n ce i n the closi n g li n e o f the sestet

o f the l ast so n n et is to an i n cide n t which too k pl ace

duri n g her vi sit to B ogn or at Chri stmas O f 1 87 5 a vi si t ,

me n tion ed i n Chapter I I I .

THE TWO C HRI STM ASTI D ES

I
O n W i n t er s woof, wh ich scarcel y seems of snow,
’

B u t han gs t ran sl ucen t , like a Vi rgin s veil ,

’

O er head ston e, mon u men t an d guardian rail,

’
-

The e YN w e ar
’
s s un sh i n e s g o l d en — se ems t o thro w
U pon her cofli n flowers a greet i ng glow
-

F ro m l an d s s h e l ove d t o t h i n k ou — seems t o t rail

Love s hol y rad ian ce from t he very Grail

’

O er t hose whi t e flowers before t hey sin k below

’
.

I s that i
a sp rit or bird whose sud den song
From yon der su n li t t ree besid e t he grave
Recal ls a robin s warble sweet yet strong
’
, ,

Upon a lawn beloved of win d an d wave

Recall s her C hri st mas Robin ruddy brave ,
’
, ,

Wi n n i ng the cru mbs she t hrows where blackb irds t hrong

O rigi n ally prin ted i n fi e At l muzu m for J an ua y 1 2 1 89
r
5 r , .
1 84 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
i s ev ide n tly moth er s weddi ng ri n g I shall o f course
’
ou r .

m ake the substitution an d i f you will allow me co n vert , ,

the 1 1 i n to I ol which will in due c o u rse be forthcomi n g

. .
,

alo n g with t he remai n i n g 2 ri n gs I have n ot as yet .

loo ked these o u t but the matter will n ot be lon g

,

delayed .
’

The tombsto n e the grave wherei n Chri sti n a

of

Rossetti lies buried is of Portlan d ston e pai n ted white

an d on the n eatly kept sur face o f the grave stre wn with ,

cocoa n u t fibre whe n I vi sited it on Sept ember 1 7 1 896

-
, , ,

were l a id some beauti ful C hrysan themum s an d autum n al

leaves arran ged i n the form o f a cross th e fresh n ess o f ,

the flo wers sho wi ng they had n ot lo n g been where I

saw them There is n o space le ft for further letteri n g
.

o n the ori i n a l head sto n e so the word s about Chri sti n a

g ,

Rossetti are carved on the sl an ti n g face of an addition al

sl ab pl aced acro ss i t s ba se an d the i n itial s o f the ,

perso n s i n terred an d the d ate s o f the i n termen ts appear

,

o n the bac k o f the foot sto n e The i n scription i n its .

e n tirety is as follows

TO THE
D EAR MEM O RY O F
MY HUSB AN D
G AB RI ELE ROSSETTI ,

RN AT VASTO AM M O N E
BO

I N THE K I N GD O M O F N AP L ES
2 8T H F EB 1 783, .

DI ED I N LO N D O N 2 6 THAP RI L 1 85 4 .

H ll retu
e sha rn n o more t o see his n at ive co u n try .

Jeremiah x xu . 10 .

N ow t hey d esi re a bet t er c o u n t ry, t hat i s, an heaven ly

Hb
.

e rews xi . 1 6 .

Ah Dio—A
ju t ami Tu .
 INSC RI P TI O N ON TO M B STO N E 1 85

ALSO OF

F RAN C ES M ARY L AV I N I A ,

B ELOVED W I FE O F THE AB O VE N AM ED
G AB RI ELEROSSETTI ,

BO RN APRI L 2 7TH, 1 800 ,

DI ED APRI L STH, 1 886 .

Ou r Saviou r J esus Christ hat h abo lished d eath .

F ri en d go up higher .

ALSO TO THE M EMO RY OF

EL I Z AB ETHELEAN O R ,

W I FE O F THEI R EL D ER SO N
D AN TE GAB RI EL ROSSETTI ,

WHO ED P EB 1 I TH
DI , 1 8
.6 2

AGED 30 YEARS .

ALSO or

C HRI STI NAGEO RGI NAROSSETTI

AUH TER D G OF

A
G BRI LE N D F R N CE A A ES ROSSETTI
BO RN 5 TH D EC EM B ER, 1 830 .

DI ED 2 9TH D ECEM BE R, 1 894 .

Volsersi a me con sal u t evol cen no .

Give me t he lowest place : or i f for me

That lowest place t oo h igh , make on e more low
There I may sit an d see
My God an d l o ve Thee so .

Abou t the i n sc riptio n M r W M . . . Rosset ti w rites to

me thu s
Ah Dio aju t ami Tu [A h God do Thou help ,

me ] was on e o f the last excl amatio ns O f my F ather in

“
h is dyi n g mome n t s : I thi n k the last ; Vo lsersi a me
c o n sal u t evo l ce n n o [They turn ed to me with an act of
salutatio n ] a li n e i n Da n te s P u rgatorio I put on ’
, ,

C [hri st in aJ s tombsto n e as su ggesti n g ( but n ot with

’
1 86 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
such a degree o f d efin it eness as I do n ot person ally
believe) the reu n io n o f the other te n an ts o f that grav e
with C [hri sti n a] i n the spiritual w orld
’
.

I II the
grave a djoi n i n g are buri ed the w i fe o f F ord
M ado x B row n an d M ichael F ord M adox R
, ossetti the ,

i n fan t son o f M r W M Rossetti who died i n 1 883

. . .
,
.

C hri sti n a Rossetti s touchi n g poem on the death o f thi s

’

little child i s well kn o wn O f i t s four sta n zas thi s is

.

perhaps the most ori gi n al

B rief dawn an d n oon an d set t n g t i i me
O urd rou n d i n g moon has fled
rapi -

Ablack ecl ipse before the pri me

Has swall owed ti p that shin ing head .

Etern ity holds u p her looki ng glass -

The eclipse of t i me wi ll pass ,

An d al l that lovely light ret urn t o sight .

The motto on the grave is

A nd — if t hou wilt — rem ember .

C hri sti n a h ad the quiet simplicity of real great n ess ,

an d thi s simplicity w as do u btless i n it sel f an evide n ce

o f ge n iu s I n i n tercourse w ith her o n e lo st co n sciou s

.

n ess o f bei n g i n the pre se n ce O f a di sti n gui shed poet ,

becau se o n e became co n sciou s o f bei n g i n the prese n ce

O f a w oma n di sti n g ui shed i n the more n oble woma n ly

qu alities N ature eviden tly had e n do wed her n ot o n ly

.

w ith the gi ft s proper to a poet an d these i n a lavi sh ,

degree but al so with choicest gi fts o f the heart an d

,

soul B u t i f thi s was so it w as e qually true that she

.
,

had hersel f mat ured an d perfected her n atu ral gi ft s by

t hat sublime st educ atio n o f al l — the education o f the
so u L

P erso n ally she was warmly attached to the C hurch

I 88 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
each v i rtu e from every such source holdi n g fast mean ,

while her own goodly heritage o f gi ft s an d graces the n ,

m ay those others li ke wi se learn much from her : u n til

to every C hurch co ngregatio n soul God be A
.

ll i n all
’
, , , .

Ad agai n in the same volume she writes i n her

n

commen tary on the text H

, ,

is eye s w ere as a flame of

fire 81 0 ( R
,
’
ev xix 1 2 )
. . .

‘
M oreover i n the
urpassi n g rapture o f th at d ay s

recogn itio n w ill n ot b e all : di scove ry li kewi se ( please

G od !) awaits u s As on e has stri ki n gly Suggested
.

some that gla n ced at a far o fl appe ar sto n es w he n view ed

’

c lo se at ha n d may tur n out to be sheep God al l alon g .

h as beheld them as sheep an d sheep they were : the ,

mi sapprehe n sion ( th an k God ) was ours .

‘
TO day I read Samaria ; to morrow I may re
-
” -

”
decipher the sel fsame letters as S M aria
“
. .

P assi n g away t he bli ss, C l ean past away t he sorrow,

The angui sh passing The pleasu re brought back to
away stay

Thu s it i s Thus an d this

To day -
. To morrow
-
’
.

In rticle co n tributed t o The Athen e um o f

an a
‘ ’

F ebru ary 1 5 1 896 o n her N ew Poem s — an article

, ,

—
re ferred to already M r W atts Du n ton with his .
-
,

accu stomed kee n pen etration an d delicacy o f touch ,

g ive s the follo w i n g admirable a n aly si s o f certai n aspects

o f her c haracter

Mr W M . . . Rossetti
pea ks o f the very wide and s

exceedi n gly stro n g outburst of eulogy o f his si ster

which appeared i n the public press after her death .

Yet that outburst was far from givi n g adequate expres

sio n to what was felt by some o f her readers — th ose
betwee n whom an d hersel f there was a bo n d o f sy m
pathy so sacred an d so deep as to be somethi ng li ke a
reli gio n I t is n o t me rely that she was the ac kn o w
.

l ed ged queen in that world ( outside the are n a called

~
 HER C HARAC TER 1 89

“
the literary world ) where poetry is it s o wn exceedi n g
” '

g reat re wa rd ,but t o other r eader s o f a d i fleren t ki n d

altogether — readers who draw i n g th e deepest deli ght

,

fro m such poetry as specially appeal s to them n ever ,

read an y other an d have but small kn o w led ge of poetry

,

as a fin e art — her verse was perhaps more precious , ,

still
. They feel that at every page of her writi n g the
beauti ful poet ry is on ly the outcome o f a li fe whose
almo st u n ex ampled b eauty fasci n ates them

Although Chri sti n a Rossetti had more of what is

.

called the u n co n sciou sn ess o f poetic i n spiration than ’

an y other poet o f her time the w riti n g of poetry w as

,

n ot by an y mean s the C hie f bu si n ess o f her l i fe She .

was t oo thorou gh a poet fo r th at N o on e fel t so .

deeply as she that poetic art is o n ly at the best the ,

imperfect body i n which d well s the poetic soul N o .

o n e felt so deeply as she that as the n ote s o f the

n i ghti n gal e are but t h e i n volu n t ary expre ssio n o f the

bi rd s emotio n an d agai n as the perfume o f the vi olet

’

, , ,

i s but the flower s n atural breath so it i s an d mu st be

’

w ith the so n g o f t he very poet an d th at there fore to , , .

w rite beauti fu lly is i n a deep an d true sen se to live

beauti fully I n the volume be fore u s as i n all her
. ,

previou sly publi shed writi n gs we see at i t s best wh at ,

Chri sti an ity i s as the motive po wer o f poetry The .

Chri stian ide a i s e ssen tially femi n i n e an d o f thi s

femi n i n e quality C hri sti n a R
,
’
ossetti s poetry is full .

I n motive power the di ffere n ce between C l assic an d

Chri sti an poetry mu st n eed s be very great B u t what .

ever may be said i n favour of on e as agai n st the other ,

t hi s at le ast can n ot be co n troverted th at the hi story o f ,

l i terature shows n o human developme n t so beauti ful

as the ideal C hri sti an wom an O f our own d ay She .

is u n ique i n deed
, M en o f scien ce tell u s that amo n g
.

all the fossili zed pl an t s we find n on e o f t he lovely

family o f the ro se an d i n the same way we should
,

search i n v ai n throu gh the e n tire huma n record fo r

an ythi n g so be auti ful as th at ki n d o f C hri sti an lady to

whom sel f ab n egatio n is n o t o n ly the first o f dutie s but

-
,

the fi rst o f joys Yet n o doubt the C hri sti an ide a

.
, ,

mu st n eed s be more or less flavoured by each perso n

ality throu gh which it is expre ssed With regard to .
I 90 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
Chr ist in a Rossetti
upo n hersel f C hri sti an dogm a
, while
—
imposed i n fi n ite O bli gatio n s obli gatio n s which cou l d
n ever be ev ad ed by her without the ri sk o f al l the
—
pe n alties fu l mi n ated by all believe rs there was i n the
order o f thi n gs a sort o f ether o f u n iversal c hari t y fo r
al l others She would lamen t o f course the l ap ses o f
.
, ,

every soul but for these there was a forgive n ess which
,

her own l apses could n ever claim There was, to be .

sure a sweet egoti sm i n thi s

, I t was very fa sci n ati n g
.
,

ho wever .
’

She n ever obtruded her piety yet I felt i n sti n ctively ,

th at I was in the compa n y o f a holy wom an I n a .

C opy o f her Verses give n to me she wrote in her own

’
, ,

—
clear han d writi n g han d writi n g fi rm u n til fou r mo n th s
be fore the en d
Fai t h i s li ke a l ily li ft ed high and whi t e

an d throughout li fe she n o more doubted the e x i ste n ce o f

a st ate o f comi n g ble ssed n e ss th an the traveller doubt s

the exi sten ce o f the pl ace for which he is bou n d whe n ,

setti n g out on a j our n ey to her the person s an d thi n gs

o f the future li fe were realitie s Probably thi s c o n fi .

den ce together w ith the con viction that God s an gel

,
’

Death would soon release her from pai n was the reaso n ,

o f her wo n derful — her heroic e n dura n ce o f su fferi n g ;

while (except duri n g the brie f period o f melan choly
men tion ed previou sly ) she cherished an earn est hope o f
heave n fo r hersel f i n spite o f her vivid se n se of her own
shortcomi n gs I sh all al ways feel proud an d glad th at
.

I k n ew person ally on e of the mo st lovable wome n who

ever lived .
1 9 2 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
in accordan ce with their i n dividual ta ste A s t he vol ume .

i s n ow very rare an d becomi n g i n creasi ngly v aluable it

, ,

may b e of i nterest to reproduce the t ype o f the title

page i n fac si mil e :

VERSES

BY C HRI STI NAG ROSSETTI .

D ED I CATED TO HERM OTHER I

P er ché tamer dogg t o ? Bou le mi c m

l I maper te, lo so ma i t
D accet tam Ia I n n a:
’

P er ci d m odegner d ; ch and assai

’

Q uan t a a lei
'

r ate to son
g o

Mu m -
s Io .

P RI VA
M Y P er m s

A
! a. P on nom s, n o
’
. 1 6, ru n: vr m es u se,

m m w uuon 1 847
’ ‘
s n u ,
. .

Next comes AF ew Word s to the R eader sign ed ,

’

G. Pol idori I n which that gen tlema n after remarki n g

, ,
 G EN ERAL PO EM S VERSES 1 847 1 93

that the con ten ts o f the volume had bee n co mposed

from t he age of twelve to Sixtee n ays :
’

, s

A her m ater
s l gran d father I may be excu sed for
na ,

desiri n g to retai n these early spo n tan eou s e fforts i n a

perm an en t form and fo r h avi n g sile n ced the objection s
,

urged by her modest d iffid en c e an d persuaded her to ,

allow me to pri n t them fo r my o wn gratification at my

ow n priv ate pre ss an d thou gh I am re ady to ac kn ow

led ge that the well kn own parti al a ffectio n o f a gra n d

-

pare n t may perhaps le ad me t o overrate the merit of

her youth ful strai n s I am still co n fide n t that the lovers
,

o f poetry w ill n ot wholly attribute my jud gme n t to

partiality .
’

The foregoi n g word s dictated by commo n se n se are ,

an d it is n ote worthy t h at Gaetan o Polidori a f fection ate ,

g ra n dpar e n t a s he u n doubtedly w a s did n o t l ac k critic al ,

di scrimi n ation on occasion D an te Gabriel with the .

,

m ature jud gme n t of fou rtee n i n a letter to h is mother , ,

called t wo o f Chri sti n a s pieces R osali n d an d Cory ’

do n s Resoluti on composed at the age o f t welve very

’
,
’

g oo d . G
’
a eta n o Polidori did n o t i n se r t the se piece s ,

however .

Chri sti n a s gran d father was j u stified i n pri n ti n g her

’

e arly verses fo r other reaso n s th an merely gra n d fatherly

predilectio n for these early poem s show i n a quite
,

q
u n u sual de gree whe n we recollect the author s a e the
’
, g ,

qu alities which i n dividu ali sed subse uen tly all her wor k ,

but more especially al l her work i n verse They h ave .

di sti n ct ori gi n ality of con ceptio n an d of pre sen t atio n a ,

certai n i n d efin ab le aloo fn e ss from the Objects described ,

while at t he same time they m an i fe st a rem ar kabl e

, ,

clearn ess i n the deli n eatio n of these Objects conjoi n tly ,

w it h sumptuou sn e ss of im agery .

The Dead City the ope n i n g poem d ated April 9 ,

’

, ,

O
1 94 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
1 847,run s t o t en pages and has all the qualiti es j ust
,

e n u merated The followi ng are t he first five stan zas

.

O n ce I rambled in a wood
With a careless hardihood
Heed ing n ot the tan gled way ;
,

Labyri n ths aroun d me l ay ,

B u t for them I n ever stood .

O n, sti ll on , I wan d ered on ,

And the su n above me shon e
An d t he birds aroun d m e win gi ng

With their everlastin g sin gin g

M ade me feel n ot qu ite al on e .

In the bran ches of the trees

M urmured like the hum of bees
The low soun d of happy breezes ,

Whose sweet voice that n ever ceases

Lu l ls t he heart t o perfec t ease .

Streamlets bubbled all aro n d u

On the green an d ferti le groun d ,

Through the rushes an d t he grass ,

L ike a sheet o f liqui d glass ,

Wi th a soft an d trickl ing soun d .

An d I wen t, I went on faster,

Contemplatin g n o d i saster ;
And I plucked ripe blackberries,
birds wi th en vi ous eyes
B u t t he ,

Came an d st ole t hem from their master .

Here it may be n oted that the word master perhaps ,

’

u n co n sciou sly i n trodu ced for rhyme pu rposes sho ws t he ,

u n cert ai n touch of the begi n n er B u t how beauti fu l are

.

the stan zas t hat quic kly succeed how charged wit h
,

foreshadowi n gs o f her later her more mature style !

, ,
1 96 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
When the ocean sleeps dec eitfu lly
When the waves are resti ng qu ietly
I spread my bright win gs an d fly far away ,

To my beaut ifu l si ster s man si on gay ’

I l eave behi n d me roc k an d moun ta i n ,

I leave behi n d me rill an d fou n ta i n ,

An d I d ive far d own in the mu rmurin g sea

Where my fai r si ster welcomes me j oyously
For she s Q u een of Ocean for ever an d ever
’
,

An d I of each fou n tain an d still lake an d river .

Summer belo i ,
’
1 845 her fi ft ee n t h year
ng ng to —

an d dated December 4 i s more con ve n tio n al i n c o n cep

,

tion an d treatme n t yet n on e but a poet could h ave

,

w ritte n such a li n e as

Roun d her float the laughi ng hou rs .

L ess ti sfactory is The Rui n ed C ross apperta in i ng

sa ,
’

to her sixtee n th year an d dated April 2 2 for i t , ,

sho ws trace s o f the i n flue n ce o f F elici a Hema n s an d

—
L e titi a L a ndo n i n their worst their most se n time n t al
mood s M ore successful i s L ove Ephemeral ( dated
.
’

F eb ru ary 2 5 , while D an te Gabriel was o f

O pi n io n that M other an d C hild ( dated J an u ary 1 0
‘ ’
,

— so touchi n i n it s mi n led simplicity an d sweet

g g .

n e ss — mi ght have bee n writte n by B l ake The some .

wh at mi n ute an alysi s of emotio n i n L ove A ttac ked ‘

L ove De fe n ded ( dated re spectively A

’
an d
‘
pril 2 1
, ,

an d A pril i s very stri ki n g whe n we recollect t ha t

the t wo poem s were produced in 1 846 whe n the p oe t
was o n ly fi ftee n .

‘
Divi n e an d Huma n Ple adi n g belo n gi n g al so to ,
’

1 846 an d d ated F ebruary 8 — M arch 30 is ve ry n otice

, ,

able i f we remember i t s author s age A t rembli n g ’

.
‘

co n trite man plead s wearily

 ‘
D I VI N E AN D HU M AN PL EAD I N G
’

I wou l d th e Sai nts C ou l d hear ou r ra

p y ers
thi n g might be
I f su c h a ,

0 blessed M ary M agdal en e ,

I wou l d appeal t o thee

Prese n tly he has a vi sio n of M ary M agd alen e an d ,

aft er some fin e li n e s o f de scriptio n the poem p roceed s : ,

Lon g ti me sh e
l ooked upon the gro und
Then rai sin g her bright eyes
Her voice came forth as sweet an d soft
,

As mu sic when it d ies

0 h
t ou who i n t hy se ret ho c ur
H i h
ast dared t o t h n k t at a ught
I s fau l ty i n God s perfec t plan
’
,

And perfec t in thy thought i

Thou who the plead i n gs wou l dst prefer
O f o n e sin -
stai n ed l ike me,

To H i s who i s t he Lord of Li fe
To H
,

is who d i ed for t hee

I n merc y I am sen t from heaven

ti mel y wi se an d learn
Be
To seek H
,

i s love who wai t s for thee ,

I n vi t i n g t hy retu rn .

Afterward s ome stan zas vigo rously Worded

, in s , ,

t hou gh so me wh at u n sati sfactory i n met re M a ry M agd a ,

l e n e tell s her own experie n ce e n di n g ,

I n hOpe an d fear I wen t t o Him

Hb
,

e roke an d heal ed my heart

N o man was t here t o in t erc ed e .

A
s I was, so t hou art .

Aw have see n the you n g R ossetti s du ri ng child

'

s e , ,

hood read eagerly t h e be st En gli sh fiction and poetry

,

o f their day an d t wo o f t he poem s here

, Si r E u stace ,
‘
1 9 8 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
’
Grey, descrip ti ve of Crabbe s Character o f t hat n ame
’
,

an d Eva from M at u ri n s n ovel Wo me n ( dated ’

re spectively October 1 4 1 846 an d M a rch 1 8 1 847 )

, , ,

are very vivid tran scripts by Christi n a o f t he supposed

emotio n s o f t wo w idely di ffere n t pe rso n ages P ro .

bably the be st kn own of the poem s con tai n ed i n t he

Verses of 1 847 is the so n n et e n titled Van ity o f Van i
ties . Van ity of Van ities has received much and
’ ’

deserved prai se from compete n t critics Perso n ally I .

rec ogn i se to the full i t s poet ic merit N everthel ess an d .

,

I exp ress the O pi n io n with d i ffid en c e it appe ars to me ,

sli ghtly morbid an d i n si n cere I t mu st be remembered

.
,

however that it o n ly purports to be what t he Preac her

,

saith an d may n ot there fore co n vey wh at t he auth o r

’
,

really felt .

As might have been expected occasion al i n stan ces o f

imper fect work man ship occur in these immature efforts .

Here an d t here al so are exampl es o f u n u sual p h rasi n g ,

very n atu ral i n the case o f En gli sh poem s w ritten at so

early an age by on e accu stomed from i n fan cy to hear
I talia n spo ke n an d who very O fte n Spo ke it hersel f
, .

Love A ttac ked (dated April 2 1 1 846 ) e n d s w ith thi s ,

st an za :
I n an swer to my cryi n g ,

Sou n ds l ike in cen se

Rose from t he eart h replyi ng , ,

I n d i fferen ce
’
.

A Egli
n h girl would in al l li kelihoo d have bee n pre
n s

ve n ted from u si ng i n cen se as a rhyme word with acce n t

‘

on the seco n d syllable by a recollectio n of i t s other

si gn ifica n ce

Flowers soon must fad e away

 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
So man y weary years have ru n
Si n ce then I t hin k n ot how
,

Things might have been ,

-
bu t greet each on e

Wi th an un ru fli ed brow .

What t ime I am where hers be

ot ,

M y heart seems very cal m

Ston e calm but if al l go from me,

There comes a vagu e alarm,
Ashrin king in t he memory
From so me forgotten harm .

An d often through the long lo , ng n ight ,

Wakin g when e are nearn on ,

I feel my heart beat fast wi t h fright ,

Yet kn ow n ot what I fear .

O h how I l on g t o see t he l ight ,

An d t he sweet bird s to hear

To have t he su n upon my face ,

To look u p through t he trees ,

To walk forth i n t he open space

An d listen t o the bree e z ,

An d n ot to d ream t he burial place -

I s cl oggi ng my weak kn ees .

Somet i mes I can n or weep n or ra

p y,
But am hal f st u pefied
An d then all t hose who see me say
M i n e eyes are open ed wid e
An d t hat my wits seem gon e away
Ah , woul d that I had d i ed

Wou ld Icou ld d ie an d be at peace ,

Or livin g cou l d forget

M y gri ef n or grows n or d ot h dec rease ,

B u t ever is — an d yet

M ethin ks n ow that all this shall cease

, ,

B efore the su n shal l set .

GENERAL PoEM s— DE ATHS C HI LL ETW EEN
‘ ’
B 20 1

D EATHS C HI LL
’
B ETWEEN
C hi de n ot l et me
breathe a li ttle ,

F or I shal l n ot mou rn him l ong

Thou gh the l ife cord was so bri ttle
-
,

The love cord was very st rong

-
.

I wou l d wake a li t t le spac e

Til l I fin d a sleepi ng place -
.

You c an o —I h ll
s a n ot weep
g ,
You c an go u n t o you r rest .

M y heart che i s all too deep

-
a ,

An d too sore my throbbing breast .

Can sobs be or an gry t ears, ,

Where are n either hopes n or fears ?

Though wit h you I am a on e l

And mu st be so everywhere,
I wil l make n o u sel ess moan ,
’
N on e h ll say she could n ot bear
s a

Wh ile l ife lasts I will be st ron g ,

B u t I Shall n ot struggle l ong .

Li sten , l ist en Everywhere

Alow oice is calli g me
v n ,

A d a step is o the stai

n n r,

A d o e com s you do ot see

n n e n .

Li st en , listen Evermore
Adim han d knocks at the doo r .

H ear me he is come again ,

M y own d earest i s come bac k,
B ri n g him i n from t he col d rai n
B ri n g wi n e an d l et nothi ng l ack
, .

Thou an d I will rest together ,

Love u n t i l t he su n n y weather
, .

I will h l r thee from harm

s e te

Hide thee from all heavi ness

,

.
20 2 C HRI STI NA ROSSETTI
C ome t o me, an d keep thee warm
B y my si d e i n qu ietn ess .

I wi ll l u l l thee t o t hy sleep
With sweet songs — we wi ll n ot weep .

Who hat h talked of weepi ng Yet

There is somethi n g at my heart ,

G nawi n g I would fai n forget

, ,

An d an ac hi n g an d a smart .

— Ah my mot her, ti s in
’
vai n ,

F or he i s n ot come agai n .

C hri sti n a Rossett

urviv i n g brot her fu rn i shes me
i s s

with some i n formation about these poem s :

The former first called The L ast Hope 2 2

was
the l atter An n e o f Warwick 29 Sept
,

Sept
The 2 titles pri n ted i n the At hen ze u m mu st
, .
.
,

have been adopted with a vie w to givi n g t he poem s whe n ,

pri n ted a certai n flavour of i n terdepe n den ce

,

su gge stio n

The Germ ,
’
w here C hri sti n a
verse n ext Rossett i s

appeared i n pri n t has rec e ived already so much att e n tio n

,

el sewhere that much space n eed n ot be devoted to it

here ; while the facts co n cern i n g thi s magazi n e n ow ,

famou s thou gh it attracted little atte n tio n on it s first

,

appeara n ce may be summari sed briefly

, I t ran for t wo .

n umbers o n ly u n der the title o f The Germ su b se ,

’

que n tly appeari n g for t wo more n umbers as Art an d ‘

Poetry an d the n ceasi n g to exi st

,
’
The Germ was .

the organ o f the P ra raphaeli t e B rotherhood a ban d o f ,

you n g some of them very you n g men an d mo st o f them

, ,

desti n ed to be celebrated F our thi ngs are chiefly re .

markable about t he period ical F irst t hat so man y o f .

,

it s co n tributors bec ame emi n e n t ; secon dly the hi gh ,

character o f i ts co n te n t s both from the arti stic an d the

204 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
a fter he had do n e thi s did C[hri sti n a] kn ow an ythi ng
’
abo ut it .

The last stan za of t he poem call ed Dream ‘

L an d
’

ru n s thu s i n The Germ

Rest est fo eve mo e
, r , r r r

U pon a mossy shore,

Rest , h ll en du re
rest , t hat s a ,

Till t ime shall cease

Sl eep t hat n o pai n shal l wake ,

N ight that n o morn shall break ,

Till joy shall overtake

Her perfec t peace ,

while i n C hri sti n a Rosse t t i s ’

Gobli n M arket an d other
Poem s an d her collected Poem s it sta n d s as
Rest , rest , e for ev rmore

U pon a mossy shore ;

Rest rest at the heart s core
,
’

Till time shall cease

Sl eep t hat n o pai n shall wake ,

N ight t hat n o morn shal l break ,

Till joy shal l overtake

Her perfect peace .

The lyri c c an hardly be said to be improved ho wever , ,

by the su bstitutio n of

Rest , rest at t he heart s core

’

Rest rest that shall en dure

, , .

Amo ng Chri sti n a sother co n tribution s to The

’ ‘

Germ are her po werful poem ATe stimo n y fou n ded

on E cclesi aste s ii 1 2 an d perhaps be tter kn own by
.
, ,

it s ope n i n g li n e
I sai d of laught er it i s vain

An E d n an d APau s e of Though t .
’
 ‘
GO B L I N MARK ET AN D OT HER POEM S ’

Gobli n M ar ket other Poem s an d

was publi shed i n
I

1 86 2 by M essrs M a c milla n I t con t ai n ed t wo design s

. .

drawn on wood blocks by her brother Dan te Gabriel -

,

both illu strative o f li n es i n the title poem The wood -

.

cut o f the first of these design s faci n g the title page an d ,

-
,

illustrati n g B uy from us with a golde n curl was it has ,

’
,

often bee n said cut by William M orri s and was his first
, ,

experime n t as a wood e n graver Thi s is an error how .

,

ever for William M Orri s h i mself told me that the d esi gn

,
‘

was c ut n ot by him but by the l ate Charle s Jo seph ,

F au l kn er formerly F ellow an d T
, utor of U n iversity
C ollege Ox ford,
M r F aul kn er was at the time a partn er
. .

i n the arti stic firm o f M essrs M orri s M arshall F aul kn er .

, ,

81 Co The firm s i n itial s M M F 81 Co appear o n

.
’
, . . . .
,

the design an d William M orri s thou gh t that thi s was why

,

it had been supposed mi stake n ly that he had himsel f cut , ,

t he de si gn Da n te Gabriel s seco n d design form s t he

.
’

title page the cen tre o f it illu strati n g the word s Golde n
-
,

h e ad by golden head as it h as bee n de scribed at c o n

‘
sid erab l e le n gth I shall n ot further re fer to it here beyo n d

sayi n g that the wood bloc k was cut by M r W J L i n to n -

. . . .

Gobli n M ar ket an d other Poem s at o n ce achieved

’
succe ss an d establi shed i t s author s po sitio n as a poet
, ,

t hou gh it mu st be remembered th at poem s li ke U hill ’

p
-
,

AB i rt hday and An Apple Gatheri n g all of which

,
’
,
’

had previou sly appeared i n M acmillan s M agazi n e ’

,
’

had already do n e much to attract atte n tio n to Chri sti n a

Rossetti as a poet of both m arked per forman ce an d
promise I t does n ot al ways happe n that con temporary
.

criticism respecti ng a volume of poem s has qualit ies o f

abidi n g truth but the verdict on the se poem s i n The
,
‘

See M r Sharp s D ani e

.
’
Gabr iel Rossett i : a Re ard t an d St udy ,
p. 1 06 .
2 06 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
B riti sh Q u arterly Review has as her brothe r Willia m ,

p oi n t s out stood t he test o f time

, Th at o rgan o f .
’

c ritical O pi n ion said

All [the poem s] are m arked by beauty an d

te n dern ess : they are frequen tly quai n t and sometim es ,

’
a little capricio us .

Gobli n M arket was

received immediat ely i n to
especial favour an d perhaps remai n s to thi s day t he
,

most ge n ui n ely popular of all C hri sti n a R osset t i s ’

wri ti n gs M rs N o rto n soo n a fter it s appearan ce corn

. .
, ,

pared it to Colerid ge s An cie n t M ari n er ’

Gobli n .
’

M arket — the title was suggested by Dan t e Gabri el

— may b e de scribed briefly as the story o f t wo
si sters L aura an d L i zzie who are besou ght by
, , Go b
l in mercha n tme n to partake of their fruits O n e .

si ster re fu se s while t he other si ster eat s

, The gobl in s .

—
mali gn an t spirits by the law o f t heir temptatio n
do n ot appear agai n to an yo n e who has on ce part aken
o f their fru it s The person who th u s partakes is doomed
.

irrevocably fo r thi s fi rst taste waste s him or her down

,

to the grave i n the lon gin g fo r a seco n d taste which ,

alo n e c an bri n g restoration to w ell bei n g I n thi s sto ry

-
.

the girl who would n ot hersel f eat meets the gobli ns ,

on ce more fo r the sake o f her dyi ng sister an d some ,

j uices fro m their gobli n fr u its restore th at dyi n g Si ster

to heal th .

James A shcro ft N oble i n a pe n etrativ e e ssay called

,

The B urden o f Chri sti n a Rossetti in his subtly wrought ’

-

volume I mpression s an d M emori es aft er po i n t i n g out

‘ ’

, ,

t hat 1 86 2 w it n essed al so the publicatio n o f the L ast

Poem s of Eli zabeth Barrett B rown i ng says that Gobli n ,

M ar ket may be
208 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
with a golden curl h as bee n dealt with fully by M r
’
.

Sharp in his mon ograph rece n tly me n tion ed it is n eed ,

less to di scu ss it here at great le n gt h O n e aspect o f .

’
the desi gn dem an d s however a mome n t s commen t .

Not i n freque n tly I have heard the arti st c e n sured

becau se he had m ade the gobli n a n imal s o f hideo u s
a spec t whereas vice is u sually m ade seductive at least
,

i n appeara n ce B u t such an observation comes from

.

mi scon ception of the facts for as the art i st s you n ge r

, ,
’

brother rem arked very properly whe n I told him o f

these cavil s :
‘
hri sti n a] who says wh at the Gobli n s were
I t is C [
— ,
—
li ke wombat rate] , etc et c Gabriel fi gures a cat, an
.
,

o w l , an d a coc katoo
— be uti ful imal — a d fi ure
3 a an s n g s
them properly ; al so a wombat an d a rat, which
are a n imal s far from u gly B et wee n wombat an d
.

coc katoo co mes a spec kled an imal n ot exactly pretty, ,

n or mea n t to be so : it i s a su n fish w hich belo n ged t o

my brother an d the li ke o f which ( gilded ) is at thi s

, ,

—
momen t h an gi ng above my he ad C[hri sti n a ] does n o t
tell u s th at the an i mals were seductive i n a spect , n o r i s
there an y reaso n why they should be ( rat her the con
’
t rary) —b u t that their f r u i ts were seductive .

I su ggested to the same gen tleman that perhaps t he

re at fo n d n e ss o f Da n te Gabriel for all an i mal s an d n ot
g ,

less for an imal s with someth i n g grote sque or eccen tri c

about them mi ght have c au sed h is si ster w he n ar ra n gi n g
, ,

i n her mi n d wh at form s her gobli n mercha n tme n were

to assume to recollec t the stran ge an imal s such as t he
, ,

wombat an d the ratel — which had it n o t bee n fo r her

,

brot her s predilection probably would n ever have com e

’
,

—
u n der her n otice an d to give to her gobli n merchan t
men some of their ch aracteristic s B u t he a n swered .

immediately
 GENE RAL PO EMS— ‘
GO B L I N MARK ET
’
1 89 3 209

‘
I t would be a mi sta ke to thi n k that C[hri st in a ]
c au gh t from Gabriel a fan cy for odd loo ki n g an imal s -

—
She had it equ ally hersel f She kn ew Wombat an d
R ate] at the Z oological Garden s Gabriel n ever
p o sse s sed a ate ] , n o r a R
Womb at u n til several year s
a ft er C[hri sti n a] wrote Gobli n — I t was
C[hri sti n a] an d I who joi n tly di scovered the Womb at
—
i n the Z oologic al Garden s F ro m u s ( more especially
E
.

mysel f) Gabriel , [Sir d ward ] B urn e Jon es, an d other -

w ombat e n thu si asts, e n sued , such is my remi n i sce n ce an d

belief .
’

In 1 i ssued Gobli n M arket

893 M essrs M acmilla n .
’

separately i n 8vo form illu strated by M r L auran ce, .

Housman n Thus prese n ted i t makes a da in ty l ittle

.

.
,

volume i n it s gree n an d gold cover and though t he , ,

i l l ust ra no n s have n ot the u n ique i n terest belo n gi n g

to the t wo illu stration s Da n te Gabriel did for the
poem t hey are n ot without i n terest o f their own
, .

The title page of thi s edition is n oteworthy I n the

-
.

ce n tre an d above we see the gobli n merchan tmen who

, , ,

di spl ay their wares i n viti n gly while at the foot o f the

, ,

pict ure L aura an d L i zzie are seated L aura looks at .

t he fruit lo n gi n gly while L i zzie covers her eye s presu m

, , ,

ably to keep out the too seductive si ght .

O pposite the passage in the poem con tai n i n g an

e nu meratio n o f the v ariou s fruits an d O pe n i ng with the ,

Apples and qui ces n

Le mon s an d oran ges,

we have a full page illu stration represe n ti ng the gatheri ng

of t he fruit The picture gives e ffectively t he subtle
.

atmosphere o f the poem The co n flict w ith the gobli n s

.

is excellen tly re n dered an d the fli gh t o f L i zzie i n

, ,

order t hat L aura mi ght get some o f the j uic e after .

the gobli n s had squ ee zed t he fruit on her mou th i s well ,

210 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
don e Set to mu sic by the competen t han d s of M r
'

. .

Aguilar Gobli n M arket has become al so a fine can tata .

U n der the t itle of I l M ercato d c F ol let i it was tran s ’ ’

,

l ated i n to I talia n by C hri stin a Rossett I s cousi n Si gn o r ,

Teodorico P iet roc o la Rossetti an d publi shed in F lo ren ce ,

in 1 86 7 .

Chri sti n a Rossetti

co n summate skill in setti n g fort h
’
s

—
di erse mood s o f poetry mood s rarely fou n d i n the
v

same poet — is seen stri ki n gly i n such a poem as Whe n

I was d ead my spirit turn ed a poem fo r which her ,
’

brother D an te Gabriel su ggested the n ot very happy title

of A t Home We feel almo st the prese n ce of the d i s
‘ ’
.

embodied spirit i n such v erses as :

I listen ed to their hon est chat
Said on e To morrow we shall be -

P lod pl od al o n g t he featu rel ess san d s

,

An d coast in g miles an d mi les of sea .

’

Said on e B efore t he t u rn of t id e
We will achi eve t he eyrie seat -
.
’

Said on e To morrow shal l be like

‘ -

To day bu t muc h more sweet

-
, .
’

I i ered c omfortl ess b ut cast

sh v ,

N O chill ac ross t he tabl e C l ot h -

I al l forgot t en sh i vered sad

-

To stay an d yet t o part how loth

I passed from t he famil iar room
I who from l ove had passed away ,

L i ke t he remembran ce of a gu est
That tarri eth bu t a day .

Thi s i s the result o f the ble n di n g o f a reali sm equal to ,

or eve n grethan that o f C rabbe w ith a deep thou gh

ater ,

i n defin able mystici sm Other poem s o f the same cl ass

.
,

thou gh w i t h a more d i sti n ct love i n tere st are the so nn e t ,

After Deat h ( remarkable for vivid presen tme n t o f

,
’
2I 2 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
‘
do n ot say he an swered th at Chri sti n a n eve r
I ,
’
,

u sed a merely poetic phrase but I do say that i n t he

m ai n she kept strictly to what she co n sidered theologic al
truth .
’

D ated Au gu st 9 1 85 4 The Co n ven t Threshold , ,

has presum ably a re fere n ce to an I tali an blood feud

, , ,

an d h as bee n truly called by Da n te Gabriel a sple n di d

piece o f femi n i n e ascetic passion Despite howeve r .

’
, ,

my pro fou n d admiration for thi s really great poem I ,

ca n n ot help thi n ki n g that the phrase M y lily feet I n

the li n e
M y li ly feet are so il ed wi th mu d

g ive s a touch O f i n si n cerity to the pa ssa ge w here it occur s .

Surely n o wom an i n actual li fe leavi n g her lover i n suc h ,

tragic circum stan ces would so descri be her feet t h e —

,

—
emotion the passion would e n ti rely do away with t h e ,

thou ght which thi s lan guage expre sses I ma ke n o .

apology for my word of demur Admi ratio n has call ed .

it forth for as M rs M eyn ell has truly said

, , .

I n thi s poem
‘
— it i s impo ssible n o t to d well o n
such a mast erpiec e — without imagery w ithout be auty
except that which is i n evitable ( an d wh at beauty i s
more Costly w ithout grace , excep t the i n vi n cible grace
o f impassio n ed poetry ; without mu sic , except the ul ti

mat e mu sic o f the commu n icati n g word , she utters that

immortal so n g of love an d that c ry o f more tha n ea rthly
fear ; a so n g o f pe n ite n ce fo r love that yet prai se s love
more ferven tly tha n would a choru s hymen eal .
’

The Con ven t Threshold is n ot based on an y real

i n ciden t .

Amon g other love poem s are the exqui site son nets
call ed Rest an d Remember the lyric s e n titl ed An
’ ’

En d ; A B irthday writte n N ovember 1 8 1 85 7 ; the

’

,
’

,
 G E
NERAL Po EM s A TRI AD 21 3

u n spea kably beauti ful li n es begi n n i n g C ome to me i n ‘

t h e sile n ce o f t he n i ght Three Season s an d M ay ,

’
.
’

The brief ballad M aude C lare ren ders vividly a stron g

situatio n an d shows a kee n perceptio n an d i n si ght i n to
,

the love passion Readers o f h is L etters will recollect

.

that her brother D an te Gabriel did n ot admire N O th an k

you Joh n a lyric depicti n g a woman s tot al i n di fferen ce
, ,
’ ’

toward s a suitor fo r her han d couched (a rare thi n g with ,

—
C h ri sti n a !) i n a li ght vei n b u t man y my sel f am on g,

—
the n umber w ill n ot agree with him .

Three n otable poem s the son n et ATri ad an d t wo

—
, ,
’

rem arkable ballad s Cou si n Kate an d Si ster M aude

,

which appeared i n thi s volume were omitted by the ,

author from her collected wor ks from co n scie n tiou s

reason s She was perhaps u n duly sen sitive i n thi s
.

matter Con cer n i n g ATriad M r W M Rossetti h as

'

. . . .

writte n to me
‘
Ido n t remember h avi n g heard her ma ke an y ex
’

press stateme n t about her motive s for bur ki n g Tri ad

but am clear that they proceeded more or less o n a
n otio n that the so n n et mi ght be m i sc on st ru ed o r u n favour ,

ably con stru ed from a moral poi n t o f view the perfectly

,
“
respectable wi fe who bloomed li ke a ti n ted hyaci n th at
,
” ”
a Sho w was a slu ggi sh wi fe an d dron ed i n sweetn e ss
, , ,
’

bei n g evide n tly regarded w ith less sympathy than her

less decorou s colleagues There was a pai n ter George .
,

Chapman kn o wn to Gabriel an d me an d i n a mi n or
, ,

degree to C [hri sti n a] He pai n ted a picture of the

.

Triad an d I thi n k it quite possible that somethi n g may

have been said by him or i n h is set which impre ssed , ,

C[hri sti n a ] w ith thi s n otio n o f co n ti n ge n t mi sco n stru ction .

O f course I con sider th at She was wron g i n suppressi n g

the poem wiredrawn scrupulosity was on e of her man i
fe st i n firmi t ies i f al so of her qua si virtues
’
-
,
.

M y correspo n de n t i n cludes ATriad ,

’
Cou si n Kate an d

Si ste r M aude
’
In N ew Poem s .
21 4 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
One the m ost stri ki n g examples o f n ature poe t ry
of

is Twili ght Calm which thou gh i n motive quite

‘
,
’

ori gi n al Shows the i n fluen ce o f Word sworth Here i s

,
.

a touch O f Word sworthi an reali sm

The c ock has c eased crow t he hen t o cl uck to , ,

O n ly t he fox i s ou t some heed less d u ck ,

O r chicken t o surpri se .

The rather weak i n versio n of

som
e heed l ess d uc k
O r c h ic ke n t o surpri se

mars somewhat the be auty of the passage F i n e ex .

amples O f Chri sti n a s u n co n ven tion al treatme n t of c on

’

v en t io n al the m es are see n i n Wi n ter Rai n an d An other ,

’

Spri n g .
’

M r Watts Du n to n h as poi n ted out ho w excelle n t i s

.
-

An Apple Gatheri n g i n it s pe rfect prese n tme n t o f a ’

moral co n cepti on an d certai n ly t h e poem mu st t ake

,

ra n k amon g Chri sti n a Ro ssetti s masterpieces I t is ’

.
,

however too well kn own t o require detailed an aly sis

,

here She w rote as follows i n an an n otated copy o f t he

.

volume as t o that power ful poem M y Dream

M y Dream was merely a poetic fan cy an d was
dre am at all
’
n ot a .

Thi s n ote the more i n tere sti n g from the fact that
is al l

the poem has eve ry appearan ce o f bei n g a verit ab le dre am .

‘
Up hill an other masterpiece w ritte n Jun e 2 9 1 85 8
-
,
’
, , ,

mi ght h ave bee n regarded as on e of her Devotion al

Pi eces had n ot the poet elected to pl ace it amo n g her
,
’

secular poem s A brief sixtee n li n e poem it reveal s

.
‘

-
,

quai n tly w ith o n e fl ash of ge n iu s a whole philosophy of

, ,

l i fe
.

I n 1 86 6 M e ssrs M acmilla n publi shed her secon d .

21 6 C HRI STI NA RO SSETTI
The frozen foun tai n wou ld have leaped ,

The buds gon e on to blow ,

The warm sou th wi n d wou ld have awaked

To melt the sn ow
there ran as follows

Ten years ago , five years ago,

O n e year ago,
Even then you had arrived in time,
Though somewhat slow .

The frozen fou n tai n would have leaped,

The bud s gon e on t o blow,
The warm sou th win d wou ld have awaked
To melt the sn ow,
An d life have been a cord ial Yes, ’

I n stead of d reary N o
’
.

Thi s is obviously an i n ferior form , while the li n es

N ow t hese are p pp
o i
es i n her l oc ks

Lo, we who l ove weep n ot t o-d ay

begi n respectively
N ow th ose are poppies i n her l oc ks ,

So,
we who l ove weep n ot t o-d ay .

The exqui site love poetry con tai n ed the book in

u n der con side ration mu st n ext cl aim our atte n tion .

Chie f amon g t he poem s of thi s class i s M aide n So n g

'
-
,

t he story o f M argaret M e gga n an d M ay a sprightly lyric

, ,

of n ot i n co n siderable le n gth — full o f joy an d u n shadowed

—
by grie f SO fu ll o f joy i n d eed that fo r thi s reason alon e
, , ,

i t sta n d s out pre emi n e n tly amo n g it s auth or s be st work

’
-
.

About it is a touch of fairy lore that di sti n gui shi n g ,

touch of fairy lore rare eve n i n good poetry rare even i n ,

Chri sti n a R osset t I 5 poetry a somethi n g pre se n t on ly i n

,
 GENE RAL PO EM S MAI DEN - SO N G 21 7

poetry o f a certai n class an d even the n on ly i n ,

hi ghe st poetry o f that class Take the first stan za : .

L on g ago an d l ong ago

A n d l on g ago st ill,

There d wel t three merry maiden s

U pon a d ist an t hil l .

O ne was tall M eggan ,

A n d on e was dai n ty M ay,

B u t on e was fai r M argaret ,

M ore fair than I c an say,

Lon g ago an d l on g ago

’
.

Appa r en tly by the simple expedie n t of t he repetition

Lo ng ago an d l on g ago:

a fasci n ati n g e e o f remote n ess is co n veyed I say

s ns

aM ar en t ly advi sedly fo r in truth there i s art o fan ethereal

, ,

sort i n the arran geme n t o f the poem — a perfect poem ,

i n spite o f i t s seemi n g n egli gen ce both as to rhymele ss ,

l i n e s an d as t o metre Particul arly n oticeable al so is the

.

i n fluen ce which bird s beasts an d fi shes exerci se i n

thi s as i n others o f Chri sti n a s poem s H ow d ari n g yet
’
.
,

how successful is thi s simile respec t i n g M argaret whe n ,

M egga n an d M ay go o n their que st i n search o f ,

St rawberry l eaves an d M ay d ew -
.

M argaret i s described as

F ragran t breathed as milky cow

-
,

O r field of blossomi n g bean .

M ean time light foot M ay with her compa n io n rested

’
-

duri n g the heat o f the day , while

C reepi ng t hi n gs among t he grass,

St roked t hem here an d there

Pre se n tly the si sters si n g , an d ho n ey mouthed - is the

double flow .
’
21 8 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
Then follows a dec laration love to M eggan by a of

herd sman from the v ale an d to M ay by a shepherd

from the hei ght B oth accept their lovers B y an d
’
-
. .

by M argaret awaiti n g her si sters return lean t on t he

, ,
’

g arde n gate
The Slope was lightened by her eyes
L ike su mmer l ightn i ng fai r ,

Li ke risi n g of t he hal oed moon

Lighten ed her glim meri n g hair .

L ater she l o sa ng
a s .
‘
The Ki n g o f al l that cou n try
heard her , an d

c lai med her for his bri de .

So three maids were wooed an d won

brief M ay t i de,
In a -

Long ago an d l on g ago .

i n teresti n g to fin d from the F amily L etters of

I t is
D an te Gabriel t hat M r Glad sto n e o n ce recited thi s poem
. ,

an d it i s easy to fan cy h o w vivid the poem mu st have

seemed as he ard from h is lip s .

En tirely i n a di ffere n t key is Son gs i n a Corn field ,

’

ful l o f forcible descriptio n thou gh occasio n ally marred ,

by prosaic li n e s such as ,

He ll ’
n ot fin d h er at all .

C hri sti n a Rossetti publi shed letter desi gn ates

, in a ,

‘
So n gs i n a Corn field as o n e of the most successful ’

pieces in her Pri n ce s Progre ss volume ’

.

A Ri n g Posy an d B eauty is Vai n should be

’ ‘ ’

me n tio n ed i n thi s con n ection The former treat s t he .

love se n timen t with a pl ay ful humour which as has , ,

been i n dicated before is seldom employed by this ,

poet ; t he latter perhaps c an hardly be properly c alled

2 20 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
doubt t hat a certai n d egree of pe rson al p redilection is ex
h ib it ed The poem i n ci sively shows the satiety which
.

ari se s from ceaseless luxu ry The vigorou s n arrati ve .

poem U n der t he R
,
ose composed perhap s at as late a,
’

d ate as July 1 866 is w ritten i n t he first perso n I t tel l s

, .
,

w ith much stre ngth of deli n eation the familiar sto ry o f ,

a hi gh born woma n s shame an d the su fferi n g en tailed

’
-

on her i n n oce n t child I n the volume o f Chr i sti n a s

’
.

collected Poem s published i n 1 875 and i n all su bse

’
,

quen t edition s o f her collected works the title was ,

c ha n ged to The I n iquity o f the F athers upo n t he

‘

Childre n Duri n g on e of my i n terviews with her

’
.

brother subsequen t to Chri sti n a Rossett i 5 death in ,

an swer to a question I had put t o him respec ti n g this

chan ge he said ,

I
thi n k the reaso n why C hri sti n a cha n ged t he title
of U n der the Rose was becau se she felt th at that
title might expo se her t o the i n fere n ce o f havi n g treated
a seri ou s subject some what li ghtly Gabriel suggested .

”
Upon the Childre n but she thou ght that some wh at
,

ambi guou s an d i n thi s I agree with her althou gh I

, .

al so agree i n thi n ki ng The I n iquity o f t he F athers

”
upo n t h e C hild re n is too lo n g B u t as I told you .

before [he had previou sly alluded t o it ] I thi n k t he

,

story i s probably based o n some recollection o f B leak

”
Hou se . B lea k Hou se had appeared before t he
poem was written .
’

Then turn i n g to her

, otated copy o f her ow n an n

poem s on a boo kshel f n ear he ope n ed it an d read t o

, , ,

me the follo wi n g n ote about the poem i n her own ha n d

writi n g

‘
Thi s was all fan cy but , M rs Scott [M rs
. Willia m.

B ell Scott ] afterward s told me of a some what simila r

’
fact .
 GENERAL PoEM s— ‘
C HI LD S TALK
’
IN APRI L
’
22 1

re fere n ce to the lyric addressed to L

In . EL . .
, Mr W . .

M R
.ossetti has writte n to me :
regard L E L as the merest
I . . . my f g
a n title — I nr

opi n io n the poem is a dejected ou tpouri n g of C[hri sti n a] s ’

o wn — Whe n t he question of publi shi n g it aro se she did ,

n o t w an t it to fi gure as strictly perso n al an d so called ,

it L EL
. . .
’

the ma n y lovely N ature poem s i n thi s volume

Of
my pre fere n ce lies with C hild s Tal k i n April from ’ ’

which I can n ot re frai n from quoti n g some sta n zas .

I wish you were a pl easan t wren ,

A
n d I you r smal l ac c epted mat e

Hw w o l ook down on toil some men

ed
’

We d ri se an d go to bed at eight
’

O r it may be n ot qu ite so late .

Perhaps some day there d be an egg

’

When spri n g had b l ossomed from the sn ow

I d
’
stan d tri umphan t on on e leg ;
Li ke Chan t icleer I d al most c row
’

To let ou r littl e n eighbours kn ow .

N ext you should si t an d I wou l d si ng

Through l engt hen ing days of sun n y spri n g
Till, if you wearied of the task,
I d sit an d you shou ld spread you r wi n g
’

From b ough t o bough I d sit an d bask

’
.

Fan cy the breaki ng of t he shell ,

Th e chirp t he chicken s wet and bare

, ,

The u ntried proud paternal swell

An d you with housewife matron air -

En acti ng choicer bills of fare .

Fan cy the em
bryo coats Of d own ,

The gradual feathers soft an d sl eek

Ti ll Clothed an d strong from tail t o cro wn ,

With virgi n warbl i ngs in their beak ,

They t oo go forth t o soar an d seek .

222 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
Ot her n ot able n at u re poem s are Gon e for E ver ,
’

Spri n g Quiet an d AChi ll

,
’ ‘
Autu m n I s perhaps o ne .
’

of t he m ost st ri k i n g exampl es we possess o f C h rist i n a s

’

charact erist i c melan chol y I t s pen si ve cad en ces so

.
,

ex quisite i n thei r rhyt hmical flow li n ger i n t he mi n d ,

.

Doubtless the poem is hi ghly symbolic al L isten t o .

The rem arkable metri cal eflec ts

'

t hese open i n g stan zas .

th at result from the rhymi n g of t he first an d seven th

li n es may possibly h ave attracted M r Swi n b u rn e s
'

atte n tion an d cau sed him to attempt cade n ces some

, ,

wh at simil ar i n measure thou gh eve n more d i fli cu l t

, .

—
I d well al on e I dwell alon e, alon e,
Whilst ful l my river flows down to t he sea ,

G ilded wi t h flashi n g boats

That bri n g n o frien d to me
O l ove songs gurgl in g from a hun dred
-
throats,
O l ove pangs l et me be
-
, .

Fair fall t he freight ed boats wh ich gold t e

an d s on

An d spices bear to sea

Sli m g ,l eami n g maiden s swel l t heir mell ow n otes ,

L ove promisin g en treati ng ,

Ah sweet but fleeting ,

B e n eath the shi veri n g sn ow white sail s -

Hush the wi n d flags an d fails

, .

Hush they will lie becal med in sight of stran d

Sight of my stran d where I d o dwell al on e ,

Their son gs wake si ngi ng echoes i n my lan d

They cann ot hear me moan .

The curiou s sympathy she felt i nhabitan ts with of

the earth other th an m an ki n d i s brought out forcibly in

the subjoi n ed li n es from Eve .
’

Thus she sat weeping ,

Thus Eve ou r M other ,

Where one lay sleepi ng

Slai n by hi s brother .
 2 24 C HRI STI NA RO SSETTI
N or sigh t hat sprin g is fleet an d su mm r e fleet,
Nor mark t he waxin g wheat,
Vor kn ow who it
s s i n ou r ac cu st omed sea t
.

A Pagea t an d ot her Poem s was publi sh ed by

n

M essrs M acmilla n in Au gu st 1 88 1 as has bee n al ready

.

men tio n ed Co n c ern i n g the title po e m The B riti sh

.
-
‘

Q uarterly R evi ew said

The Pagea n t is fu ll of grace an d fan ci fu l n ess ;
t here i s a play ful fresh n ess i n it it abou n ds i n d el ica te
p ic t u res whic h cl aim for them sel ves a p l ac e apa rt i n th e
.

’
i m agi n atio n ,

wh ile The Guardian rem arked p cti n g

res e it s au t h o r :
She breathes hab it u allv t he atm osphere o f w o n d er
an d aspi ra ti o n B u t she 1 5 al so a st u d en t of h i g h
.

l i t e rary mod el s and c an e x press he rsel f on an oc c asi o n

.

wi th t he clearness di re ctn ess an d prec i sio n w h i c h. .

are t he u su al i n dica ti on s o f a tho ro u ghly t ra i n ed

’
m ind .

The Re v iew perc e ived

\
'

er v good w or k i n M i ss Rosset t r s n ew v olu m e of

poe ms 3
.

whil e The Dail v N e w s fo u n d t h at

Am r fi n i shed grace h owever is perhaps t rac e
o e . .

ab le i h so m e o f t hese pi o res t h an she has h i th e r t o

att ai n e d C har c t e ri ze d h v a gra v e t e n d ern ess

’
. a .

ddressed t o t he au t ho r s mother d esig

’

so n n et a

n at ed r i gh t l v h v D an t G a b ri el as l o v el
y
e
i n i t s h e a
‘

rt

felt affect i o n an d a b ri ef l vric cal led T

’

. he K ev N o t e ‘ '

e poet s sad n e
'

revea li n g b o t h t h s s an d her c on so l at i o n i n

th e m n te m p l at io n o f n at u r o
p e n t h e b o ok Te
h e t i t l e .

q
m c all a ! T h e M on t h s : P g e a n t ru n s t o t w en t
p oe y
t wo page s an d is i n t h e f rm of a mas u e i n which t h e
.
o .
 GENERAL POEM S— A PAGEAN T
‘ ’
2 25

perso n i fic at io n s Ja n uary M arch July Augu st

’
of , , , ,

October an d December are assumed by boys an d

, ,

Fe bruary April M ay Ju n e September an d N ovember

, , , , , ,

by girl s The stage direction s are ample an d i n tere st

.

n g and
, properly mou n ted it should be a v ery pic t u r
, ,

esque little play for childre n I t h as bee n p layed in .

America at least o n ce an d probably elsewhere Each ,

.

o f the mo n th s from J a n uary to December h as suitable

attributes and man y o f the i n terspersed lyrics have

,

speci al beauty Here an d there however some of the

.
, ,

li n es are ru gged A Pagean t hold s a u n ique pl ace

.
‘ ’ ‘

amo n g Chri sti n a s lo n g poem s it i s cheer ful throu ghout

’
,

wi t h n ot a si n gle n ote remi n di n g the reader o f sorrow .

Amo ng a group of poem s descriptive of n ature F reaks ,

of F ashio n — a humorou s recit al o f h ow the bird s met

an d d i scu ssed as to wh at w ere the more fashio n able

g arme n t s to w e ar — i s promi n e n t Th e beauti ful lyri c .

,

An October Garde n is pervaded by subtle mou m ,

’

ful n ess wh ile the l ast sta n za o f the lovely an d pathetic

Death Watches merits q u otation :
The cloven E ast b ri n gs forth t he su n ,

The cl oven West d ot h bu ry him .

What time h is gorgeous rac e is ru n

An d all t he worl d grows d im
Afun eral moon is l it i n heaven s hollow ,

And pale the star light s follow -

.

The some wh at lon ger poem An Old World Thic ket -

,
’

havi ng Dan te s phrase ’

Un a selva oscura as motto ,

is full of chaste n ed symboli sm .

C hri sti n a had a di sti n ct faculty for writi n g simple ,,

direct tales in verse with a touch o f hal f u n con sciou s

,
-

regret i n them an d it is a pity that sh e has giv e n u s

,

so few of the se
’
Joh n ny which appears in thi s volume
.
‘
,
 226 C H R I S TINA ROSSETTI
—an a n ecdote the fi rst F ren ch R
of evol u tion — i s a '

fine example Very po werful are t he bal lad s here

. .

B ran don s B oth tell s the l ove sto ry of M illy B ran d on

an d he r cou si n Walter Thou gh n ecessari ly d ramat i c
.

i n form i t would n ot I thi n k be u n warran table t o c o n

, , ,

c l u d e that i h

M ill y has no mother beyond an other

an d sad

I s she whose bl essed mother i s van i shed ou t of cal l

Trul y comfort beyon d comfort is stored u p in a M other
Who bears wi th all an d hOpes t hrough all an d l oves us al l
, ,

there is an allu sio n to the mother who was n ever l on g

abse n t from C hri sti n a s thou ght s The first l i n e o f
’
.

each sta n za has oc casion ally an i n tern al rhyme an d t h e ,

metre i s t he same as i n Jean I n gelo w s exq uisite ’

Requiescat i n Pace I s it u n reason able to suppose

.
’

th at the measure was su ggested by a poem which fi rst

appeared i n N ovember 1 86 3 n early ei ghteen years ,

before the publication of The Pagean t an d oth er ‘

Poe m s ? Somewhat similar i n motive to Sleep at

’ ‘

Sea i s AB allad o f B odi n g where the writer has a

’ ‘ ’
,

vi sion o f three ships L ove ship Worm ship an d a ,

’

,
’

third ship an d what be fell them an d their crews The

,
’
.

poem e n d s fi n ely thu s :

There was sorrow on

q
t he sea an d so row on t he an d r l
When L ove ship wen t d own b y t he b ot t omless u ic ksan d

To i t s grave i n t he bi t ter wave .

There was sorrow on the sea an d sorrow on t he lan d

When Worm shi p wen t t o pieces on the rock bou n d stran d -
.

An d the bi tter wave was i ts grave .

B ut lan d an d sea waxed h oary

I n whi ten ess of a gl ory
N ever tol d i n st ory
N or see n b y mortal eye ,

W hen t h e t hird shi p crossed t he bar

Where wh irls an d breakers are
2 28 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
F estival . I t is
merely a literary coi n ciden ce however ,

fo r M rs M eyn ell i n form s me th at it was o n ly whe n

.

writi n g the e ssay o n Chri sti n a R

’
ossetti spoetry men t ion ed ,

el sewhere that she fi rst read the son n et in questio n

, .

The n she was hersel f impressed by the iden tity of t he

fun dame n tal idea .

Here are the O pen i n g li n es of Son n et 4 .

P oca favil la gran fiamma c

se on da DAN r E
’ '
-
. .

Ogn i altra c osa, ogn i pe n si er va fore,

Esol ivi c on voi t i mansi amore P ETRARCA
’
— . .

Iloved you first bu t afterwards you r love

O utsoarin g mi n e san g such a l oft ier son g
,

As d rown ed t he frien dly c ooi ngs of my dove .

Which owes t he ot her most ? my l ove was long ,

An d yours on e moment seemed to wax more strong .

The con cludi n g li n es 5 are of No . t he perfec t

expressio n o f a n oble wom an s love passion ’
-

So much for you b u t what for me, d ear fri en d ?

To l ove you wi thou t sti n t an d all I can
To day to morrow worl d withou t an en d
-
,
-
,

To love you much an d yet to love you more ,

As Jordan at h is flood sweeps ei t her shore

Si nce woman i s the helpmeet mad e for man .

Hw do licately worded is the thought h ere

e . I quote
agai n , t hi s time the clo si n g li n e s o f So nn et 6
Yet while I l ove my God t he most, I d eem
That I can n ever l ove you overmuch
~

I l ove H
im more, so l et me l ove you t oo
Yea, as I apprehen d i t, l ove i s su ch
I can n ot love you if I love not im, H
I can n ot love H
i m if I l ove n ot you .

But to my thi n ki ng the n oblest son n et o f the whole is

No . 1 2 I t reveal s t he absorbi n g love which casts o u t
.
 GE N ER AL P0 EM S L ATER L I F E 2 29

s el fish n ess An excerpt i s n ot made from it merely

.

becau se it seem s to me th at the son n et ou ght to be

read i n i t s en tirety
'

The e x qui site love son n et Touch

.
,
‘

’
i n g N ever which occupie s a separate pl ace i n the
,

v ol ume deserve s me n tio n while Passi n g an d Glassi n g ‘

h as a some wh at similar ce n tral idea to B eau t y i s Vai n ‘ ’

.

I n C h apters I I an d X some atte n tion has bee n

. .

g ive n to the fin e seque n ce o f t we n ty ei ht so n n ets

g
-

en titled Later L i fe there fore a comparatively brie f

r e fere n ce mu st su ffi ce here The fi ftee n th son n et
.

su gge sts Chri sti n a s vie ws re specti n g the problem o f t he

’

sexe s. How n oble is the con clusion

Did Adam lo e his Ee f om first to last ?
v v r

I t hi n k love who works u s ill

so as we ,

And woun d s u s t o t he quick yet loves u s st ill , .

Love pard on s t he u npard on ab le past

Love in a domi n ant embrace hold s fast
His frail er sel f and saves without her will
, .

A n I mmurata Si ster on e o f the poem s i n thi s

,
’

v olume n ot i n so n n et form has the followi n g char ,

‘
ac t eri st i c re fere n ce to wome n

M en work an d t hin k bu t women feel ,

An d so (for I m a woman I ) ’
,

An d so I shoul d be glad t o d ie
An d cease from impoten ce of zeal .

I t is worthy ote that the foregoi n g li nes were

of n

f Chri sti n a s E n R — ’
o ri gi n ally writte n as part o oute a

em w hic h did n ot appear i n full u n til the publicatio n

p o
’
o f her posth umou s N ew Poem s .

The fi n al son n et of Later L i fe I s a worthy clim ax

t o t he exalted trai n o f thou ght throu ghout the seque n ce .

L i sten to the mu sic o f the se li n es li n es ori gi n al an d ,

stron about d eath

g,
2 30 C HRIS TI N A ROSSETTI

I n l ife b t frien d i s far away

our a sen

B ut death may brin g our frien d exceed ing n ear ,

The dead may be arou nd u s d ear an d dead ,

The un forgott en dearest d ead may be

Watchi n g u s with u n slu mberin g eyes and heart
B ri mful of word s wh ich can n ot yet be sai d ,

B ri mfu l of kn owledge t hey may n ot i mpart ,

B rimfu l of l ove for you an d love for me .

Thou gh Chri sti n a

o ets are i n the Petrarc h an
’
s s nn

form i n n on e of them i s there a separation between t h e

octave an d the sestet an d in on e of t he n oblest of them
, ,

After Commu n io n t here are certai n dive rgen ces fro m

,
’

the cu stom ary position o f the respective rhymes I t i s .

however u n n ecessary to d well here at len gt h on mi n ute

poi n ts of so n n et con structio n let u s recall her brother
Gabriel s rem ark that fu n dame n tal brai n wor k i n a
’
-

so n n et far out wei gh s an y irre gul arity of co n structio n .

The arrangemen t o f the con ten ts of Chri st i n a

Rossetti s first collected edition of gen eral Poems
q
’ ’

( 75 )
1 8 re uire s some little elucidatory remar k T h e .

boo k con si sted o f the poem s which h ad appeared i n t he

G obli n M arket an d the Pri n ce s Progress volumes
’ ’
,

the chie f poem s i n poi n t o f len gth an d importan ce bei n g

u su ally pl aced first followed by the devotion al poem s
,

n ot arran ged i n a sectio n by them selve s as formerly .

Chri sti n a i n cluded here fo r the first time some n otable

poems which had previou sly bee n publi shed i n maga
zi n e s
. The chie f of these is perh ap s her choicest lyrical
, ,

m asterpiece Amor M u n di
,
‘
As it s title sugge sts th is
.
’
,

poem is an allegory of how love of the world lead s

i n evitably to destructio n Pri n ted ori gi n ally d u ri ng
.

1 86 5 in the first volume o f T he Shilli n g M a gazi n e i t

‘
,

was there illu strated by M r F AS an dys M r San dy s s ’

. . . . .
2 32 C HRIS TINA RO SSETTI

s eem s to me that n either i n i n te nsity o f feeli ng n or in

sublimity o f subject doe s the poem reach her hi ghest

level .

'
I n the first complete editio n o f her ge n eral Poems
the a a eme t o f the 1 87 5 editio w
( 9 )
1 8 0 rr n g n n as pre

F irst Series whil e t he con te n t s of

’
se rved an d en titl ed ,

the v olume called AP agean t an d other Poems ( I 88 I )

followed them an d were c alled Secon d Se ries
,
To .
’

the 1 890 volume she added a vivid n arrative poem

B rother B rui n a sto ry o f a dan ci n g bear
,
’
Thi s poem .

i s particularly i n tere sti n g as betoke n i n g her v ersatility ,

an d as show i n g th at she could be as quietly reali stic as

C o wper The bear s m aster i s cruel an d the poor

’

d an ci n g bear dies Sadly H

.
,

is master .
,

I I is i d le worki n g d ays gon e past ,

-

goe s to t he workhou se .

There — a grim old si nn er

he d ron ed on

Toot hl ess an d gru mb li n g for his d i n n er ,

U n pi t ied qui te un cared for much ,

( T h e rat epa ers n ot favo uri n

y g suc h )
Hu ngry an d gaunt wi th t ime to spare
,

P erhaps t he hu n gry gaun t old B ear

Dan c ed back a hau n t i n g memory
, .

I ndeed I hope so for you see

I f on ce t he hard old heart relen t ed
The hard old man may have repen ted .

This defi n it ive editio n al so con t ai n ed for the first time

To day s B urde n
-
’
.
’

The questio n as to whether a poet ou ght to give to t he

world o n ly h is be st or whether his or her ran k bei n g
, ,

assured it i s pe rmissibl e to pri n t work which though

, ,

it reaches a certai n sta n dard o f metrical craftsman ship ,

may yet in some cases fall short of perfect excelle n ce is ,

 GEN ERAL EO ErvIs— ‘
NE E
w PO M S
’
2 33

a question that has been asked ofte n an d will con ti n ue to ,

be asked To thi s as to most i f n ot all Of the question s

.
, , ,

i n hi gher critici sm n o fi n al a n swer can be retu rn ed

, The .

a n swer i n each case ought to depen d on the position o f the

poet an d it will also be determi n ed i n each case to a l arge
,

exte n t by the idiosy n crasy o f the critic P erson ally I .

am of opi n ion that Chri sti n a Rossetti 5 place as a poet

warra n ts t he publicatio n of much i f n ot al l the work , ,

i n cluded i n the posthumou s N ew Poem s already ,

’

briefly re ferred to ; an d I am grate ful to M r W M . . .

Rossetti for h avi n g given stude n ts of h is Sister s poetry ’

so man y addition al lovel y ex amples of it I n these .

N ew Poem s there are n ot man y failure s but even if ,

th ese were far more n umerou s than they are the ,

failures o f a great poet be sides their biographical value

, ,

are d eeply i n st ructive to studen ts o f poet ry an d u se ful ,

as warn i n s to tho se who see k to write it

g .

N ew Poem s ; hitherto u n publi shed or u n coll ected

’

has Opposite to the title pa ge a portrait of Chri sti n a

-

from a pen cil drawi n g by Da n te Gabriel probably a ,

prelimi n ary stu dy for Ecce A n cilla Domi n i O n the .

’

t itle page itsel f are the li n e s

-

I rated t o t he fu ll amou nt
M ust ren der mi n e accoun t
an d the boo k i s d ed icat ed to
_

ALGERNO N C HARLES SWI N B URN E

A GEN EROUS EULOG I ST or
CII RI STI N A ROSSETTI
WHOHAI LED I I I S GENI US AN D P RI Z ED HI M SELF
'

THE GREATES O LI VI N G B RI TI SHPOSTS

T I“

M Y O LD AN D CO N STAN T FRI EN D
I DED I CATE TH I S BOO K

w . M . R .
 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
H bro ther con t ri bu tes a characteri stic an d in ter
er

esti n g Preface O f seven pages A fter calli ng atten .

tio n to t he stron g ou tbu rst of eulogy o f his si ster

whic h followed her deat h he goe s on t o st at e t he ,

pri n ciples upon which he has arran ged the poems he

has given to t he world He does n ot attempt an y .

detail ed critici sm of t he poet ic wo rk he l ays befo re t he

public but p roceeds to give some valuabl e parti c ulars
,

—
about his si ster s habits as a poet an d writer particu l ars
’

already allud ed to His explan atio n of the reasons wh y

.

his sister d id n ot hersel f pri n t man y O f t h e verses may

be quoted i n his own word s
‘
It may b e asked why did she n ot publi sh these
verses hersel f ? A s t o most of the item s I see n o
special reaso n , s—
u n less it be thi th at i n poi n t of su b ,

je c t or se n time n t they O ft e n re
, se mble more or le ss some , ,

o f tho se examples which sh e did pri n t ; an d she m ay

have thou ght that t he public while willi n g to have o n e ,

such specimen wo uld be quite c on te n ted t o l ac k a

,

Seco n d
’
.

Aided by his sister s n oteboo ks me n tion ed be fore i n ’

,

which w ith t he exceptio n o f on e or t wo ca sual omissio n s

, ,

all the poem s are dated he has bee n able to place t h e ,

d ate after each poem An d i n the case of these omi s .

,

sio n s he has him sel f supplied probable d ate s

, Th e .

volume u n der con sideration i s divided i n to vario us sec ~

tion s wi t h the respective title s O f Gen eral Devotio n a l ’

, ,
’

an d I talian Poem s followed by Juve n ilia

‘
,
The first
’ ‘
.
’

section con t ai n s o n e hu n dred an d ei hty the seco n d

g ,

seve n t y n i n e the third thirty four an d the fourth

-
,
-
,

se ve n ty on e page s The I t ali an Poem s compri se

-
.
‘

v erses i n that la n u a e by C hri sti n a w hil Juve n ili a

‘
g g e

comprehe n d s most but n ot al l O f the poem s pri n ted i n

, ,

the Verses o f 1 847 as well as n umerou s other youth ful

2 36 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
L ady M o n t revor, relati n g to the character of th at ’

n ame i n M at uri n s Wild I ri sh B oy me n t io n ed on an other

’ ’
,

occasio n i s a good example o f her early wor k

, The .

serie s O f son n et s t welve i n n umber compo sed at seve n

, ,

tee n to bou ts n w er supplied by her brother Willi am Show

'
‘ -
,

g reat metric al sk ill an d comma n d over la n ua e i n on e so

g g
—
you n g when we be ar in mi n d the rapidi t y with which
they were composed Son n et I X was w ritt e n in five
— .

mi n utes B ut t he editor would have acted more wi sely

.

had he om i tted Son n et VI I Such phrases as I t s too .

’

wet for that an d F ire n ot allowable are hardly per

mi ssible i n verse O f thi s ki n d eve n although that verse ,

was w ritten by C hri sti n a R ossetti O ne o f the most .

beauti ful O f these so n n ets i s X b i n sti n ct wi t h tru e ,

i n spiratio n There is vi sio n i n the li n es

.

I fan c y t he good fairies dressed in wh i t e,

Glanc in g like moon beams t hrough t he shadows black .

The humorou s V an ity umbe red X e was F air,

’
n ,

much admired by Cove n t ry Patmore at the time it was

w ritte n Mr W M R
. ossetti properly call s atten tio n to
. . .

the power o f his si ster i n utili sin g the same rhymes i n X a ,

X b an d Xc fo r totally di ffere n t trai n s of thou ght

,
On .

Keats t he so n n et which immediately follows t he son nets

,
’

above n amed is n ot i n bou t s ,

‘
Three N u n s a poem in three division s is a passion ate
,
’
,

o utburst of ascetic fervour Presumably t he utteran ce .

O f three dy i n g n u n s it i s wo rt hy O f the writer who after

,

ward s wrote T he Con ven t T hreshold The En d of ‘

the F irst Part is vivid an d stri ki ng ; thou gh dated as

’

early as A pril I 849 it is remarkable as bei n g a reli giou s

, ,

poem almo st i n her later man n er Thi s is e specially .

see n i n the closi n g sta n zas the last o f which i s as ,

follows
 GEN ERAL PO EM S SO N G 2 37

There other garden bed s Shall lie arou nd -

,

Full of sweet -
briar i n cen se bearing thyme
an d -

There I will si t, an d li st en for t he soun d

O f th e last lin geri ng chi me .

The son g begi n n i ng

We bu ried her amon g t he flowers ,

A nn ie ,
’
an d the Son g the ope n i n g li n e s of which are
,
’

I t i s n ot for her even b row

A n d sh in i n g yell ow hai r,

B u t i t is for her ten der eyes

I thi n k my love so fai r

are all exqui site love lyric s an d n o t the least quality of ,

their charm is their utter simplicity B ut perhaps the .

poet reaches her hi ghest n ote i n the perfect sta n za

which closes the third O f the lyric s j u st n amed

So i n my d reams I r hear n ev e

Her son g although she sin gs

,

As if a choir of Spirits swept

F rom earth wi t h throbb i ng wi n gs
I on l y hear t he si mple voice
Whose l ove make s man y hearts rej oice .

The lo n g poem To what Purpose is thi s Waste ?

, is
not particularly n oteworthy except as co n tai n i n g the li n e ,

A silen t pra se ai
s pain is si len t prayer,

a li n e so ori gi n al that I doubt n ot it will take its place

amon g familiar quotation s ; n o r will her admi rers ever
cease to remember the son n et called A Pause which ,
’

fo r passion ate thou gh subdued beauty mu st be placed ,

i n the first ra n k amon g her m asterpieces Cor M i o

’
.
,

a son n et i s con spicuou sly i n teresti n g for it shows that

, ,

sometime s C hri sti n a made very co n siderable alteratio n s

—
i n her work the poem havi ng already appeared with a ,
 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
much chan ged octave as So n n et 1 8 O f L ater L i fe in
,
’

her Page an t v ol u me How one chose and Seeking

.

Rest are ten der an d touchi n g poems while t he t wo ,

so n n ets e n t i tled Two Thou ghts o f Death are very

sombre an d t he exce ssive e v e n repul sive reali sm O f t he
, , ,

first is exten uat ed i f n ot pardo ned when we see t hat it

, , ,

i s i n te n tion ally hei ghten ed to give t he e ffect o f co n trast

,

to the seco n d so n n et Three M omen ts i s li kewise

.

a stro n g almost dram atic poem

, B oth ADirge a n d
,
.

Summer i s en ded are admirable The third stan za .

o f the last n amed aptly shows C hri sti n a R

’
-
ossetti s con
c ept i on o f death

Weep not for me when I am gone ,

Dear t en der on e b ut hope an d smile ,

Or i f you can n ot choose b u t weep

, ,

A litt le whil e weep on ,

O n l y a li t t le whil e .

Throu ghout the presen t work Chri sti n a Rossetti has

bee n regarded as an En gli sh poet an d I do n ot purpose ,

therefore to give here an y detailed commen tary o n the

I tali an poem s i n her po sthumou s boo k These compo .

si t ion s however
, are n ot i n my jud gmen t u n wo rthy
,

O f their author I may perhap s be allowed to quote

.

respecti ng them the opi n io n of a far more competen t

—
critic than mysel f a critic wh o moreover even i n this , ,

c ase would I thi n k be impartial

, , Co n cern i n g them the
, .

editor has writte n

I con sider th at her I tali an verses are from a poetical
poi n t o f view eve ry bit as good as her En gli sh verses
,

, ,

while the ex qui site limpidity o f the I talian l an gu age ad ds

somethi n g t o t he flo w of their mu sic There are li kely .

t o be some i n accuracie s an d blemi shes O f dictio n b ut ,

perh aps on ly a n ative eye would detect these mi n e —

’
barely doe s .
 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI

CH AP TER VI I
D EVOTI ON AL PO EMS

ro m An nus Domi ni Called to be Sain ts Time F lies The Face

of t he Deep Gobl in M arket an d other Poems The Pri nce s '

Progress an d other Poems APagean t and other Poems Verses

I 8
( 93) N ew Poem s — Li st o f poem s , mai n l y d evo t io nal , i n c l ud ed
n eit her in her general Poems, nor i n her rel igious Verses
’

M AN Y O f Chri sti n a Rossetti —

Sdevot ion al Poem s so me

of them are rou n del s—

are very short an d are c on ,

cern ed with reli giou s themes which are al mo st t rite .

I n n othi n g i s her u n doubted po wer so much sho wn as in

t he fac t that so few o f them are commo n place Had she .

n ot had ge n iu s they mi ght have su n k to the l evel of

—
much reli giou s verse respectable i n purpose excellent ,

i n executio n n othi n g more

, .

C hri sti n a R ossetti ofte n achieves fin e e ffects by a

skil ful u se o f i n tern al rhyme s an d al so by a n o less
,

adroit h an dli n g of t he same phra se turn ed in a diverse

man n er .

I t is di fficult for a comme n tator to choose an order

i n c l assi fic at ion O f poem s so simil ar in style an d in
-

aim . The method pursued shal l be to me n tion

the O pe n i n g lyrics i n her prose volumes ; the n the
reli giou s verses i n Gobli n M arket an d other Poem s
‘
,
’

The Pri n ce s Progre ss an d other Poems an d APagea nt

’
,
’

an d other P oem s I n the order o f tho se three volume s ;

,

an d sub seque n tly to di scu ss the reli g iou s poem s which She
 DEVO TI O N AL PO E —
MS FROM
‘
AN N U S D O M I N I
’
2 41

i n cluded first i n the ori gi n al editio n o f her collected

poems that publi shed in 1 87 5 ; Afterward s shall foll ow
—

an an alysi s O f her Verses ( I 89 together with a

l ist o f her metrical compo sitio n s that appear i n her
d evotio n al prose works but n o t in Verses ( I 89 3) with
’
, ,

some remar ks on these compo sitio n s ; an d fi n ally t he

devotion al sectio n of N ew Poem s sh all be dealt with .

An n us Domi n i her first volume O f devotion al prose

,
’
,

o pe n s with a devotio n al lyric which has n o title an d of ,

which the first sta n za may be give n

A
l as my Lo d r

Hw
,

o h ld I wrestle all the livel on g n ight

s ou

Wi t h thee my God my S tren gt h an d my Delight ?

,

Acopy ofthe volume n ow in my possession belo nged

to Chri sti n a hersel f I t was give n to her on her birth
.

day Dece mber 5 1 880 by her au n t M i ss Eli za Polidori

, , , , ,

an d remai n ed w ith her u n til her de ath .

B etwee n stan zas six an d seve n i n thi s C opy i s writte n

t he follo wi n g i n terpol ated sta n za i n Chri sti n a Rosset t I s

o wn ha n d writi n
g :

Gu lped b y t he fish ,

As by the pit lost Jon ah made his moan

,

An d Thou forgavest wait ing to aton e ,

.

Afac imile is give n at p 242 Her brother Da n te

s . .

Gabriel much admired thi s poem U n li ke in motive or .

i n su bsta n ce to George Herbert s A

’
fflic t ion it is yet ’
,

so me what a ki n to it i n pe n sive thou ght .

Her n ext devotio n al wor k Seek an d F i n d con tai n s

, ,
’

n o verse .

C alled to be Sai n t s the e n sui n g volume h as a lyric

’
, ,

wi thout title appe n d ed to a brie f devotion al med itatio n

called The Key to my B ook Here are t he first four .
’

st a n zas
2 42 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
Thi s near at hand lan d breed s pain by measu re
- -

That far away lan d overflows with t reasu re

-

Of heaped up good pleasu re

-
.

Our lan d that we see is befou led by e vi l

The lan d t hat we see n ot makes mirt h an d revel ,

Far from de a t h an d dev il .

Yet J ac ob d id
So h ol d Thee b y t he c l en c hed han d of

a
pr yer

That he prevailed, an d Thou d idst b l ess

h im t h ere .

El ias prayed
H
,

And sealed t he fou n t s of eaven ; he

a
p y
r ed agai n

And 10, Thy B l essi ng fell i n showers of

ram .

Al l N i n eveh
F ast i ng an d gi rt in sackc ot h l rai sed

“7 .
a

W hich moved Th ee ere t he d ay of grace

wen t b y .

Thy Churc h prayed on

An d on for b l essed Peter in his st rait ,

Till o pen ed of it s own ac cord t he gat e .

[F AC SI M I L E o r P . x A Co r v or AN N US D O M I N I ’
SI I O W I N G
AN I N SE RTED STAN zA I N

This lan d hath for mu sic sobbi ng an d sighi ng

That lan d hath soft speech an d sweet soft replying
O f al l loves u n d yi n g .

This l an d hat h for pasti me errors an d follies

That lan d hath u n en d ing u n flaggi ng solace
O f fu ll c hanted H
,

o l ie s
’
-
.
2 44 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
Passing away sai th my Soul passi ng away
, ,

Wit h i ts burden of fear an d hope of labou r an d play

Hearken what the past doth witness and say
,

Rust in t hy gol d a moth is i n thin e array

, ,

Acanker is i n t hy bud thy leaf must decay

, .

At mid n ight at cockcrow at morn in g one Certain day

, , ,

t he B ri degroom shal l c ome an d shal l not delay

Wat ch t hou an d pray .

Then I an swered Yea .

P assi ng away, sai th my God , passi ng away

Win t er passet h after t he long delay
N ew grapes on t he vi n e, figs on t he t en der spray,
n ew

Turtle calleth t urt le in eave n s M ay

’
H .

Thou gh I tarry wai t for M e, t ru st M e, watch an d pray .

Ari se, come away, n ight i s past, an d 10, i t is da

y .

M r Swi n bur n e ( my authority fo r the stateme n t is her

’

brother Da n te Gabriel ) regard s A dven t as pe rh ap s ‘

the n oblest o f all her poem s I t s metre the famili ar .

’
,

i ambic altern ate ei ght an d si x feet set i n st an zas o f eigh t

li n es is a metre Seldom adopted by i t s author I n
, .

i n ferior ha n d s thi s measure grows we ari some but i n t he ,

h an d s o f a gre at poet it is very n oble Symbols .

‘
,
’

w ritte n o n Ja n u ary 7 I 849 i s i n serted i n an e arlier form

, ,

i n her prose story M aude where the third li n e of t h e

’
,

seco n d st an za an d the seco n d li n e o f the third sta n za

appear re spective ly as
Wherei n t hree l ittle eggs were laid ,

That I had ten ded wi th su ch c ar e

while i n Gobli n M ar ket an d other Poem s t he sa me

’

l i n es are give n as

Wherei n three spec k ed l eggs were laid ,

That I had t en d ed so wi t h care

 EVO TI O N AL E THE LO W EST AC E
’
D PO M S PL 2 45

a co nsiderable impro vemen t The so n n et s Dead .

be fore Death an d The Wo rld require n o especial

’

me n tio n The less kn o wn Ame n O f which the ope n i n g

.

sta n za i s
I t is over What is over ? .

N ay how mu ch i s over tru l y

Harvest days we toiled to sow for
,

N ow t he sheaves are gathered newl y ,

N ow t he wheat i s garn ered d ul y ,

d e serves a brie f allu sio n on accou n t O f some o f its

metrical e ffects The measure is regul ar trochaic in li n es
.

o f four feet w ith altern ate rhymes a fi fth li n e O f equ al ,

le n gth with the others an d rhymi n g with the seco n d an d

,

fourth bei n g added pre sumably for the sa ke O f variety

, , , .

L et u s n ow tu r n to the devotio n al sectio n o f T he

Pri n ce s Progre ssan d other Poem s Here we may O bserve
’
.
’

th at i f The L owest Place has n ot the gorgeou sn ess o f

diction n or t he brillia n ce o f poetic imagery we fin d i n
Adve n t an d others O f her poem s O f thi s class it has
’
,

qualities which i n Chri sti n a Ro ssetti are more u n u su al

than mere po etic attributes I n it there i s be sides a .
, ,

certai n homeli n e ss an d direct ne ss o f utteran ce to which

we are u n accu stomed As the se ch aracteristic s are
.

combi n ed with poetic fire the piece becomes speci ally ,

n ote worthy M an y o f C hri sti n a R

. ossetti s devotion al
poem s fin e as they are as devotio n al verse c o uld on ly
, ,

be u sed as such i n readi n g The Lowest Place on the .

,
’

other han d has i f I am n ot mi staken bee n placed i n n ot

, , ,

a few hym n al s I f o n ly has di sti n ct beauty I n such

’
. .

a phr ase as

I f I might on l y l ove my God and die

B u t now H e bid s me l ove H im an d live on ,

t here is on e of those i n d ividual touches so metimes

2 46 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
mi sta ken ly con sidered sign s of her an error morbidi t y —

ari si n g from w a n t o f apprehe n sio n o f C hri sti n a Rossett i 5

poi n t O f view .

There is much n oble an d i n spiri n g devotion al verse

i n APagea n t an d other Poem s the on ly on e of her
‘ ’
, ,

separate poetic volume s w hich co n tai n s n o sectio n termed

F or T hi n e own Sake O Lord

’
Devotion al Poem s .
, ,
’

g ive s a cheeri n g vie w of huma n aspiration s an d o f Divi n e

g ood n e ss

Wearied of sin n in g weari ed of repen tanc e

, ,

Wearied of self I tu rn my God t o t hee

, , ,

To thee my Ju dge on Whose all righteou s sen tence -

Hg
, ,

an s mi n e ern ity
et

I tu rn t o Thee I pl ead Thyself wi th Thee

, ,

B e pi t i fu l to m e .

I plead Thysel f wi th Thee Who art my M aker ,

Regard Thy han d iwork that cries to Thee

I pl ead Thysel f wi th Thee Wh o wast part aker
Of min e i n fir m it y ,

Love mad e T hee what Thou art t he l ove of me , ,

I plead Thysel f wi t h Thee .

The son n et aptly called Why expresses wi th

succi n ct be auty an i n quiry made at so me time by each
devout soul
Lord, if I l ove Thee an d Thou l ovest me ,

Why n eed I an y more t hese toilsome days

Why Shoul d I n ot ru n sin gi n g up Thy ways
St raight i n t o heaven to rest myself wi t h Thee ?
,

Thi s may be compared with C rashaw s fin e lyric ( D r

’
.

Grosart ditio n o f thi s poet

’
s e in The F uller Wo rth ies ’

L ibrary 1 3 quoted from )

 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
an d Grace s,
’
The World
Sel f Destructio n Divers .
,
’

World s Time an d Etern ity New Jeru sal em an d its

.
,
’

C iti ze ns an d S o n gs fo r Stran gers an d Pilgr im s t he

’ ‘ ’

, ,

poem s bei n g cl assified accordi ng to subj ect I n an alysmg .

thi s book her own order sh al l be adhered to .

The first sectio n Out o f the Deep have I c alled u n to

,
‘

Thee O L ord exten d s t o n i ne pages an d con t ai n s

, ,
’

seve n teen so n n et s I n pl aci n g them i n the foregrou n d

.

o f her volume she di splayed co nsiderable critical di sce rn

me n t as they splen didly Sho w the devout Side of her

g e n iu s Th
. e ope n i n g so n n et be g i n s thu s

Al one Lord God r

, in Whom
p eac e ou r t u st an d ,

O u r love an d ou r d esi re glow bright wi t h hOpe ,

Li ft u s above thi s tran si tory scope

Of earth these pleasu res t hat begi n an d cease
, ,

Thi s moon which wan es these season s whic h d ecrease ,

We t u rn t o Thee as on an eastern slope

Wheat feel s the dawn be n eat h n ight s li n geri ng cope ’
,

B en d i n g an d stretchi n g su n ward ere i t sees .

All thee son n ets have an e speci al beauty but per

s ,

h aps the most beauti ful of al l is that with the headi ng

Where neither rust nor mot h doth corrupt
begi n n i n g
N erve us wi t h pat i enc e, Lord, t o toil or rest ,

or the open i n g li n es Of t he seco n d

the t wo so n n et s
of

with the i n sc riptio n As the Sparks fly upwards

Lord, make l ove all t hat when we meet
u s al l ,

Even myriad s Of eart h s myriads at Thy B ar ’

We may be glad as all t ru e lovers are

Who havi ng part ed c ou n t reun ion sweet .

The magn ifice n t son n et

Weigh al l my faul ts an d fol li es righteously
 D EVO TI O N AL E
PO M S HERSELF A ROSE ’

ought al so to be n amed The succeedi n g S ectio n Chri st

.

our A ll i n All exte n d s to t we n ty n i n e page s an d c o n -

tai n s a di alogu e poem begi n n i n g

O Lord when Thou d idst call me, d idst Thou know
which is co n siderable achieveme n t fo r it is exceedi n gly
a ,

d ifficult t o t reat poetically a subj

.
ect O f sai n tly aspiratio n ,

i n such a form The ei ght li n e s which close the page

.

w ith th e ge n eral title o f Ki n g O f Ki ngs an d L ord o f ‘

L ord s are co n ci se an d lovely

,
’
The ope n i n g li n e .

Thy Name , 0 C hri st, as i n cen se streami ng forth

is i n stan ce O f her i n freque n t revi sion an d
an , is a vast
improveme n t on
Thy Name 0 Christ as O in tmen t is pou red
, , forth

as it stood when it first appeared i n The F ace o f the

Deep .
’

The sectio n Some F e asts an d F asts exte n d s to

forty ei ght page s an d co n tai n s the lyric Hersel f a R
-
, ose
that was i n serted ori gi n ally in Called to be Sai n ts I t .
’

is full O f the exqui site symboli sm which ma kes C hri sti n a

Rossetti a great poet I n the same sectio n She has .

a pp ropriated a fin e so n n et to the Vi gil o f St B artholome w .

,

a so n n et which occurs ori i n ally i n

g T h e F ace o f the
Deep I n the mid st of her comme n tary on the word s
An d he me W rit e B lessed are t hey
sait h u n t o , ,

w h ic h are c al led u n t o t h e marri ag e su pper of t h e

L amb An d he sai t h u n t o me These are the t ru e
.
,

sayi n g s of God
’
.

I t is ddition ally i n te restin g bec ause i n trod u ced by

a

some rem arks o n symboli sm — remar ks ve ry i n st ructive

as c omi n g from her .

Symboli sm
'

aflord s a fasci n ati n g study : wholesome

25 0 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
so lo n g as it amou n ts to aspiration an d research ;
u n wholesome when i t degen erates i n to a past im e A s .

literal sh adows te n d to soothe lull abate keen n ess of , ,

vi sion ; SO perhaps symbol s may have a te n den cy t o

e n gross sati sfy arrest i n cautious soul s u n watch ful an d
, ,

u n prayer ful lest they e n ter i n to temptatio n .

’

U n der the headi n g o f A ll Sai n ts M artyrs

‘
we h av e
an otherwi se fin e so n n et w hich is remarkable , as co n

tai n i n g the li n e
All lu min ou s an d lovely in t heir gore .

Gore i n eriou s poetry is n ow almost i n admi ssible

s ,

an d i t s employme n t here eve n by C hri sti n a R

,
ossett i will ,

n o t reco n cile other poet s to it s u se .

The section e n titled Gi fts an d Grace s exte n d s to ’

ei ghtee n pages an d po ssesse s a si n gul arly be auti fu l

,

poem Wi th the headi n g Whe n I was i n trouble I call ed

upon t he L ord th at rec all s to some exte n t though ,

’
w ithout an y I m i tatio n Don n e s Hym n to the F ather
’
.
,

C hri sti n a R ossetti s poem is beauti ful n ot on ly for the

ideas expressed but for delic acy o f rhythm Quotation .

m ay be m ade o f the fi rst an d fourth st an zas .

Abu rde ed heart t hat bl eed s a d bea s

n n r

An d hopes an d waits i pai n n,

An d fain t s beneat h i ts fears a d ca es n r ,

Yet hopes agai n

O r if Thou wil t n ot yet r eli eve ,

Be r
n ot ex t e me t o sift
Acc ept a falte in g will to gi
r ve,

I t sel f Thy gi ft .

Th e sectio n c alled The World Sel f Destruction .

ext e n d s to si x pages an d is succeede d by a sec tion

, ,

e n titled Divers World s Time an d Eter n i t y t hat

‘
.
,
’

reaches to n i n eteen pages U n der the sub title o f .

-
25 2 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
is placed as t he secon d poem u n der the ti t le o f su b -

Al l F lesh is Grass in thi s section I n C hri sti na

,
’
.

Rossetti s N ew Poems appear t en sta n zas to which

’

t he editor has gi ve n the title Restive The thi rd .

’

sta n za ,

These chi mes are slow bu t su rel y strike at last,

This san d is slow bu t su rel y droppeth through

,

An d mu ch there is t o su ffer mu c h to do , ,

B efore t he t i me be past ,

will be see n to be an early versio n Of

He chimes are sl ow but su re to st ri ke at l ast

e
av n s
’
,

Eart h s san d s are slow b ut su rely d roppi ng thro

’
,
’

An d muc h we have to su fler mu ch to d o '

, ,

B efore t he t i me be past .

I t is probable that She w rote the fin e co n cludi n g

sta n za
C hi mes that keep t i me are n ei ther sl ow n or fast
N ot man y are t he n u mbered san d s n or few
At i me t o su ffer, and a t i me to d o,
And t hen the t ime is past ,

w he n compo si n g Ti me F lie s Thi s sho ws th at eve n

‘
.
7

C hri sti n a R ossetti who i s supposed to have revi sed so

,

l ittle sometim es acted li ke the poet s O f elaboratio n a

, ,

C lass to whom she ca n n ot be said to belo n g an d built ,

u p a fin e poem from some comparatively u n importan t

li n es havi n g ori gi n ally an altogether di ffe re n t con n ectio n .

The seve n th o f the section s i n to which Ve rses o f ’

1 89 3 i s divided is e n titled New J eru salem an d it s ‘

,

C iti ze n s F rom
.
’
The F ace o f the Deep comes t he ,
’

first O f the three poem s w ith the sub title She shal l -

be brou ght u n to the Ki n g I t s ope n i n g li n e

. The
’
,
‘

Ki ng s dau ghter is al l gloriou s withi n is n oticeable

’
,
’
 EVO TI O N AL EM S SO N G S F O R STRAN GERS ’
D PO 25 3

metrical ly because the first foot mu st be mad e

,

’
—
Ki n g s dau to scan a some what dari ng lice n ce .

I n the same sectio n a so n n et begi n n i n g

D ear Angel s an d dear d isembodied Sai ts n

U n seenr d u s worshi pping in rest

a oun , ,

M ay wonder t hat man s heart so often fai nts

’

An d his steps lag along t he heaven ly quest ,

is i n serted i n the course O f her co mme n tary on the word s,

An d aft er t hese t hi ng s I saw fou r angels st an din g

on t h e fou r c orn ers of t he eart h , h ol d i ng t he fou r
wi n d s of t h e eart h t hat t he wi n d shou l d n ot b low on
,

t he eart h , n or on t he sea, n or on an y t ree

’
. .

The F ace Of
the Deep Chap Thi s son n et has
,
’
.

a vivid almost an autobiographical touch

, .

N ot i n freque n tly i n ma n y o f her devotio n al poem s ,

an d perhaps n oticeably i n thi s so n n et we are remi n ded

‘

O f the quai n t n ess an d i n te n sity o f Quarle s thou gh i n ,

Chri sti n a R ossetti we rarely perceive the reali sm border

i n g o n the ludicrou s app are n t i n some o f h is E mblem s ’
.

El sewhere in her writi n gs ( n otably i n passages of Time,

F lies an d al so in the lyric i n thi s boo k L ord whom

’

soever T hou shalt sen d u n der the title O f A re they n o t

all M i n i steri n g Spirits an d li kewi se i n The F ace O f the

,
’

she expre sse s her vie ws about guard i a n a n gel s .

I n the la st sectio n o f thi s boo k headed S o n gs for ,

Stran gers an d Pil grim s u n der the title Whither the

,
’

tribes go up eve n the tribe s of the L ord we have a

, ,
’

poem o f t en l i n es The first stan za begi n s :

.

Where n ever tempest heaveth ,

N or r
so row gr e i vet h ,

an d t he sec on d sta n za

Where n ever shame bewail et h ,

N or e
s rpen t t raileth .
25 4 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
The fi fth li n e the first stan za is Sleep an d the fi ft h
Of

li n e o f the secon d st an za i s Reap An other poe m i n .

’

Verses cast i n the a n tique mould i s on e of tw elve li n es

,
’

, ,

ori gi n al ly i n The F ace o f t he Deep an d begi n n i n g ,

’

Day an d n ight t he Accu ser makes n o pau se ,

i n which the sa me rhyme is con ti n ued throu ghout I n .

these poem s an d others O f her religiou s ve rses t h e

, ,

i n flue n ce o f Don n e an d Wither would seem to be trac e

able di ffere n t as were the se seve n tee n t h ce n tury poet s i n
,

some a spects o f poetic art .

U n der d ate of A pril I 3 i n Time F lie s there i s a

,
‘
,
’

Sweet little n ature lyric O f ei ght li n e s begi n n i n g :

Ac old win d blac kthorn

st i rs t he

TO bu rgeon an d t o bl ow ,

B esprin kli n g hal f green hedges

-

Wi t h vegetable sn ow .

placed i n the sectio n with the su b title

I t is -
Of En d u re
H ard n ess the l ast li n e o f the stan za bei n g
,
’

Wi t h flakes an d sprays of snow,

a marked improveme n t on

Wi t h t l
vege ab e sn ow,

a phrase n ot altogether happy .

I n the same sectio n are the fin e verses begi n n i n g

O ur l ife i s l on g . N ot so, wi se Angel s say
’
w hich may be compared with Horatius B on ar s li ne s
on t he same subj ect begi n n i n g

H lie th l ong who l i veth wel l

ve

All other li fe i s short and vai n .

Home by di ffere n t ways may be alluded t o , an d the

 25 6 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
al ways achieved a hi gher poetic excel len ce in h er
fi n i shed poem t han i n her fi rst d raft .

The brie f lyric

B efore the begin n i ng Thou hast forekn own t he en d ,

which ori gi n ally appeared in The F ace Of t he D ee p

as part of her comme n tary on the text Rev . xix . I S,

That
may eat t h e flesh of k ing s, an d t he flesh
ye
of c apt ai n s an d t h e flesh of mig ht y men an d t h e
, ,

flesh of h orses an d of t h em t h at si t on t h em, an d t h e

,

flesh of al l men , b ot h free an d b on d b ot h small an d ,

’

g reat ,

is tri ki n g i n stan ce o f a certai n morbidity she sho w s

a s

agai n an d agai n i n d welli n g on the co n comitan t s of dea t h ,

o r perhap s it mi ght be more ju st to say i n a too freque n t

d welli n g on the idea of death A Similar remark c a n .

be m ade with regard to the otherwi se lovely lyri c

begi n n i ng
Y ou n g girl s wear flowers ,

th o u gh the fan cy She there works out that percha n c e ,

an gel s resort to grave yard s i s i n itsel f a beauti ful

-
,

o ne .

Some metric al qualities O f the poem s i n clud ed i n

Verses ( 1 89 3) may be i n dicated at thi s poi n t There .

a re fo r example Several i n sta n ces o f a very successfu l

, ,

u se o f i n ter n al rhyme s Here is on e .

H e i h Dove voice Of exceed i n g love

e sp aks w t -
,

And She wi th love voic e of an answeri ng Dove

-
.

A d agai
n n

Trembli ng before Thee we fall d own to adore Thee ,

Shamefaced an d trembli n g we li ft ou r eyes t o Thee

0 F i rst an d wi t h t he last an n ul ou r rui n ed past ,

Reb u ild u s to Thy gl ory set us free ,

F rom si n an d from sorrow t o fall down an d worshi p Thee .

D EVO TI ON AL PO EM S WEK NO W NO T AVO I C E
’
25 7

Ad n more i n the solem n lyric L i fe that was

on e c
bor n to day the first stan za of w hich may serve for pur
-
,
’

po ses o f ill u stratio n the same feature,i s di scer n ible

L i fe that was born t o day -

M ust make n o stay,

B u t t en d t o en d

As blossom bloom of M ay
-
.

0 Lord, c onfirm my root ,

Trai n u p my shoot ,

To li ve an d gi ve
Harvest of wholesome fru it .

The ets u n der the su b title of Heavi n e ss

tw o o
s nn -

may e n dure for a n i ght but joy cometh i n the morn i n g

,
’

are n otable specime n s O f her wor k despite these li n es i n ,

t he first so n n et that border too C lo sely o n the ridiculou s :

Thu s I sat mou rn i ng li ke mou rn fu l owl,

a

An d l ike a dol efu l d ragon mad e ad o .

—
The an alysi s o f a n oble volume the greate st con tri
to reli giou s verse of our
b u t ion mu st not C lose ce n tury —

without m e n tion i ng the per fect lyric begi n n i n g

We know n ot a voice Of t hat river ,

pri n ted previou sly i n The F ace O f the Deep a fter her
commen ta ry on the passage i n the twe n ty seco n d -

C hapter O f Revelation ,

‘
An d he showed me a pu r e ri v er of wat er of l ife,
c l ear as c ryst al , pr oc eed i ng ou t of t he t hron e of God
t h e Lamb ,
’
an d of

n or must it con clude without me n tion i ng the heart felt

l i n es begi n n i n g
As froth on the face of t he d eep
whose beauti ful rhythm su ggest s the metre o f M r .

Swi n burn e s memorable Dedicatio n to the first series o f

’
 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
hi s P oem s an d allu sion must be
B allad s
.
’
F i n ally,
made to Chri sti n a Rossetti s characterist ic con cepti on Of ’

the good n ess of God embodied i n th e ope n i n g li n es

,

that follow her remarkable so n n et on the passage :

An d on e of t h e fou r beast s g ave u nt o t h e seven
an g el s sev en g ol d en v i al s fu l l of t he wrat h of God ,
W ho l ivet h for ev er an d ev er .
’

Seven vial s hol d Thy wrath bu t what can hold

Thy mercy save Thin e own I n fin i tu d e

B ou n d l essl y overflowi n g wit h all good ,

All lovin gkin dn ess al l delight s un tol d

,

Thy love of each creat ed love t he mou l d

,

Thysel f of all t he empty plen itu de

, .

The followi n g is a li st of the poem s which appea red

in Time F lies an d i n The F ace o f the Deep but were ,
’

n ot i n cl uded by Chri sti n a Rossetti either in her col

l ec t ed Poem s o f 1 890 or i n her Verses of I 893
’
.

The se p oem s are chiefly devotio n al TWO o f t hem .

however which begi n respectively Ah an dy M ole who

plied n o Shovel an d C on temptuou s O f his home
’

beyo n d ( descriptive o f the death o f a frog) Show her

,
’
,

love for an imal s an d h ave flashes of gen tle hu mour

, .

The poems havi n g n o titles the O pen i n g li n e is gi ve n ,

i n each case .

TI M E F LI ES
Love i s all happi n ess, l ove i s all beauty p 34
-
. .

A han d y M ol e who pl ied no shovel p 4 0 -

. .

‘
AR o se w h ich spied eo n sw al l ow — 8
p 5 . .

m
Co t e ptuou s of i home beyo d
h s —
n n p I 2 9 . .

‘
THEFAC EO F THED EEP '
’

What will it be , 0 my soul , what will it be p 35

— . .

Lord Thou art ful ln ess

,
I am
empti n ess p 3
-
6 . .

O Lord I can not plead

,
my love O f Thee —p 84 . .
2 60 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
B ut Who is t hi s that
huts the door s ,

And sai t h— —
I know you n ot t o the m
I see t he wou n ded han ds an d si d e ,

The brow thorn tort ured l ong ago -

Yea This who grieved and bled an d died

This same is H
, ,

e who must c on d emn

He cal led but t hey re fused to know

SO now H
,

e hears t heir c ry n o more .

Very pathetically beauti ful a lso is o n e of her ea rly

so n n et s dated Dece mber 1 8 I S
, 53 , , an d begi n n i n g
When I am si
ck an d t ired it is God s will ’

Also God s will al on e is sure and best

’

So in my weari n ess I fin d my t est ,

An d so in poverty I take my fill .

Afurther poe m ho wi n g mastery over dialogu e a form

s ,

n o t easy t o ha n dle sati sfactorily i n the treatme n t of

spiritual subj ect s i s that u n der the somewhat i n felici

,

tou s title o f C o n fere n ce between Chri st the Sai n ts and , ,

t he S
’
oul .

When the presen t wo rk was abou t t o be prin t ed o ff, an d when , un

l l
fo rt unat e y, it was t oo lat e t o make fu rt her a t erat ions in th e t ext , or to
ado t h is suggestion mad e i n t h e fo ow in
p g com m ll
un i cat i o n s
re pect i ng Con

ference bet ween Christ , t he Sain ts, and the Sou l ,

’
Mr . W M
. . Rossetti
w rot e to me
l
I t is t rue t hat , t hro fai i ng to t race the poem by it s ti t e, I put it in t o t he
’
l
N ew Poems : b u t that was a mistake of mine, for t he poem was pub ished l
by Ch rist ina [who had e named i t -
I wi ll l
ift up min e eyes t o t he il s Hl
i n her Poems of 1 875 and 1 S 9I I f you make any o bservat i on on the poem.
.

it wou d l more proper t hat you r Observati on shou ld come among

seem

you r remarks on poems pub lished b

y Christ i na he r self, an d n ot a m ong
ou r remarks upon t ne N ew Poems which were b l i h d b m aft h er
y pu s e y e er
’
d eat h
.
 CH AP TER V I I I
C HI LD REN S B OOK S AN D P ROSE STO RI ES
’

‘
Sing Song
-
’
Speaking Likenesses’
Common pl ace, an d other Short
St ori es M aude ’
.

IN thi s chapter I Shall deal first with Chri sti n a R os

Set t i s boo ks for childre n subseq ue n tly di scu ssi ng C om

’
,

mon place an d other Sho rt Stories

, An d it may be that .
’

, ,

i n doi n g so I shall call atte n tio n to certai n aspect s of her

e iu s i i t s li hter mood s— a spect s an d moo d s over
g n n g
l oo ked t oo freque n tly .

O n e o f the stro n ge st ties betwee n her an d M r .

Swi n burne was their love O f children A nd M r S wi n . .

b u rn e s fin e C hild poem Olive ( o n a little n iece

’ ’
-
, ,

n i n e year s old O f h is frie n d M r W atts D u n ton )— a

,
.
-

c hild poem full o f bea u ti ful de scription

- — was an e special
favourite o f hers .

To on e who li ke mysel f kn ew Chr i sti n a Rossett i

, , ,

i n her solitu de a Solitude that mu st som etimes have

,

b een lo n eli n ess it i s c u riou s an d i n teresti ng an d fro m

, ,

so me poi n t s o f v iew eve n a little pathetic to t h i n k of ,

t he popu larity o f her childre n s boo ks such for i n sta n ce

’
, , ,

as S i n g Son g in n u mberless n urserie s throughout the

-
,
’

w or ld wh il e i t s author saw so little o f child re n

,
F or .

wh en I kn ew Christi n a R ossetti her li ki n g for child ren

was n o t seldom made evide n t by word or by loo k .

An n e Gilchrist has prettily said con cern i ng Si n g

 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
Son g I n a letter to M r W M R
,
osset t i that its b rie f . . .
,

lyri c s are as sweet an d spo n ta n eou s as a robi n s so n g : ’

melody of the ri ght ki n d i n deed for the littl e o n es ;

w ho wa n t it as much as they wa n t air an d su n sh i n e or ,

lau ghter an d kisses An d th i s prai se is no t ill besto w ed

.
’
- .

I t i s observable that both Chri sti n a R ossett i an d J ean

I n gelo w t wo o f the greatest poete sses of our age h ave
, ,

excell ed i n writi n g for childre n Jean I ngelow has gi v e n .

u s C hildren s storie s both i n prose an d i n verse su c h

’

as the Stories told to a Child an d the lovely poem

Echo an d the F erry showi n g subtle kn owl ed ge of t he ,
’

heart of a child an d marvellou s power o f depicti n g it I n

, .

Si n g So n g the vol u me n ow to be treated of C h ri st i n a

-
,
’
,

Rossetti has given terse an d brief lyrical uttera n ce t o

—
the feeli n gs an d aspiratio n s o f child ren utteran ce wh ich
i s as reali stic i n the hi gher sen se as the best poem s i n
Robert L oui s Steve n so n s Garde n of Verses while full ’

,
’

O f a dramatic imagi n atio n that li fts t h em to a h i her

g
level o f i n si ght an d aspiration than is reached eve n by
that delight ful writer i n those deli ght ful Child po em s - .

B u t Si n g Son g — thou gh O f course it has an affin ity to

’
-
, , ,

the work for Ch ildre n O f J ean I n gelow an d Robert

L oui s Steve n so n has al so it s po i n ts o f di fferen c e
—
,

but thi s di ffere n ce is preci sely o n e o f those wh ich

are more easily felt than ex actly defi n ed i n word s A t .

fi rst si ght the lyric s i n Si n g So n g seem SO simple as t o -

dema n d n either thou ght n or arti stic workman sh i p on

the part o f their author an d yet spo ntan eou s as th ey , ,

seem loo ked at more closely they reveal con siderabl e

, ,

thou ght an d n ot a little tech n ical workman ship M any

, .

O f the brie f bird li ke so n gs i n thi s volume are per fectly

-

expre ssed an d it i s by no me an s easy to attai n perfect

,

expression w ithi n brie f lim its To j ud ge by the n umber .

2 64 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
e n treaty At so me l ittle di sta n ce o ff are sheep at r es t
. .

I n the foregrou n d t wo la mbs gaze u pon the moth er a n d

child an d so d oes a do n key s foal stan di ng on a li t t l e
,
’

brid ge Spa n n i n g a stream from which i t s mother dri n k s

, .

O n t he ba n ks O f t he stream are bird s Behi n d t h e .

mother an d child and u n see n by them so me cheru b s

, ,

peep Thi s d esi gn so lovely i n it s touchi ng simpl ici ty

.
, ,

d ra wn from Holm wood Common is perhaps un c o n ,

sc iou sly a so rt o f allegory o f i n n oce n t childhood attr ac t

i n g to itsel f what i s i n n oce n t youth ful an d h armless i n

, ,

the lower creation I t may be questio n ed howev er

.
, ,

whether the i n troductio n O f the cherubs does n o t

detract from the harmon y o f the picture by recall in g
the o n loo ker s mi n d from thi s idyllic cou n try sc e n e to
’

somethi ng esse n tially i n compatible with it The l an d .

sc ape here be it remembered i s real n o t a pai n ter s

’
, , ,

con ve n tion .

The O ld well illu strati n g the li n es begi n n i ng

K ookoorookoo kookoorookoo
C rows t he cock before the mom

was sketched at Coo kham De n e n ear M aide n head , t he

pretty O ld cottage wi n do w hal f thrown open to the

frosty ai r w ith the ki n dly little girl thro wi n g out

Acrumb fo robi red b east

r n r

O n t he cold days Of the year ,

from a cottage w i n dow at Holm wood Common ; t he

deli ghtfu l i n gle n oo k descriptive o f
There s sn ow on the fields
’
,

An d cold in t he cottage ,

from an old farm cottage at Holm wood an d th e dead

thru sh lyi n g be side the ru sh basket at head of the li nes
 C HI LD REN S B oox s
’
SI N G SON G
-
26 5

Dead i n t he c ol d a son g si n gi ng t hrush

,
-
,

Dead at t he foot O f a sn owberry bush

from a ru sh basket made by childre n at the me

sa

M y baby ki sses an d i s kissed,

F or he s t he very th in g for ki sses,
’

is a port rait o f t he wi fe an d baby son o f the arti st . The

d rawi n g a ssoc iated with
I f al l were rai n an d never su n ,

N o bow c oul d span t he hill

represen ts a rai n bo w that span s an exte n sive co un try ,

while behi n d the rai n b ow is a hill Thi s is al so a .

pict ure of Holm wood Commo n ; an d the hill behi n d

the rai n bow portrays Redlan d s Wood s Dan te Gabriel .

much admired t hi s drawi n g more especially the ben t

,
‘

old w oma n an d the child I n the foregrou n d as illu stra

,

ti n g the e ffect of sorro ws an d troubles an d their teachi n g

d u ri ng t he progress O f li fe Asketch O f a pi geon cote
.
’

o n a farm O f f Holm wood C ommon is li n ked to on e of

the mo st deli ght ful little lyrics i n t he volume e n di n g ,

The su mmer days are short

Where sou thern n ights are lon g
Y et Short t he n igh t wh en n ight i n gal es
Trill ou t their song .

The picture ofa little girl doi n g a hem ; O f t he littl e

boy an d the toy horse ; O f an ot her little girl teachi n g
a n other little boy arithmetic on a blackboard and of a ,

littl e boy look i ng at a su n dial i n terpreti n g respec t ivel y

-
,

t he li n es
Apoc ket han dkerc hief t o hem
O h d ear oh dear O h dear
How many stitches it will take
, ,

B efore it s don e I fear

'

, .
2 66 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
Seldom can t,
’ ’

Seld om d on
'

I an d I are two

That s for me an d
’
yo u .

Hw m
o an y secon s in a d m in ute
Sixt y , an d n o more i n it ,

we re d rawn fro m t he art i st s y ou n gest d au ght e r ; his

'

yo u ngest so n ; h is eldest d au ghter an d yo u n gest son

an d from a su n d ial i n an o ld garden at M ai d st o n e
-
.

To accom pan y t he poem that fol l ows is a spi ri t ed

d raw i n g figu ri n g don k eys pigs an d geese on H , o l m wood ,

C ommon an d the n ex t sketch represen ti n g a st i l e and

, ,

t ree was al so execu ted i n t he sam e loc ali t y

, Th e b elfry .

at page 94 w as sketched b y t he art ist when st ay i n g at

a house len t t o hi m b y a fri en d n ear C a s ar s C a mp

’
e ,

on
"
i m b led o n C om mo n Th e d rawi n g at t h e h ead Of
.

t he li n es beg i n n i n g

Who has ever seen t he w in d

N eit her I n o r vo u

B u t w en t he
h lea ves han g t remb l in g ,

The wi n d i s passin g t h ro
'

sho w i n g a ho rse an d p igs w i t h bac kgr ou n d O f t rees

a .

was hed at H o l mw ood

ske t c . I n i t t h e arti st re p rese n ts
the pi gs as ru n n i n g fro m t he w in d Doe s he mean to
.

su ggest t he Yo r kshir sav i n h O i gs

'
t t t
e ‘

g a c an see

w in d The d rawi n g figuri n g a d raw n fr om w as

a mo le see n o n H o l m w oo Co m mon
d
b v t h e a rti st : th at
o f an o ld w o m an i n a c h ai r w as sket c hed fro m a c h ai r

i n a c o t t age i n t he sa m e n eigh b u rhcxx l : an d th at o

Sho w i n g a swee t co t t age w i n d o w w i t h t he m oo n pee p i n g

t h ro u gh w as d el i n eat ed fro nt t h e ac t u al w i n d o w O f the

arti st s lod gi n
'
 CI I RI STI RA ROSSETTI

assoc iated with t he qu asi -

hu mo ro us li n es wherein l i t t l e
M olly al thou gh
All th e bells were ri nging
An d all the birds were sin gi n g,

sat down to cry j u st becau se she had bro ken her d o ll .

M ol l y i s seated on the grou n d at the foot of a l i ttle t ree

Her left han d holds the remai n s of her doll its dec api
.

t at ed h ead bei n g i n fron t of her t he bac k of her r i g ht ,

han d is thru st i n to her ri ght eye presu mably t o c h ec k

t h e t ears ; from t he bou gh s of t he t ree s ma n y bi rd s w i t h ,

v isibly ope n bil ls seem almost audibly to si n g wh i l e at

, , , ,

t he top of the pictu re i s a scrol l o f bell s I n t he j u d g .

men t of M r Shi eld s th is sam e scroll o f be l l s m ost su ccess

.

fu lly i n t en si fied the symboli sm and he added Suc h a ,

desi gn as the bell s wou ld n ever have oc cu rred to me I ,

oft en quote t he li n es to people i n small troubl es .

’

O ne does not u sually thi n k of Chr isti n a R ossett i as

hu morou s yet a li ght playfu l humour is often presen t in
, ,

Si n g So n g What playful fan cy cou ld be better c on

-
.
’

c eived an d wor ked out tha n i n t he li n e s

I f a pig wore a wing

What c ou ld he say i’

I f his tail c han ec d t o fail

Sen d him t o il
the ta oress
To get on e n ew ;

or than in the q u ai n t e n umeration begi n n i n g

A pi n has a head , bu t has n o hair

an d co n cl udi n g
And baby c ows without bein g a cock
r , .
 C HI LD REN S B ooxs ’

SI N G SO N G
-
2 69

Were space available much might be said about the

c omical co n ceit respecti n g fi shes an d li zard s begi n n i n g ,

When fishes set u mbrel las up ,

wi t h it s i n imitable woodcut an d similar con ceits con ,

cern i n g mice crows an d sprats !

, ,

Chri sti n a R ossetti ded icates to the garden mou se -

( w hom sh e de si gn ate s as po o r little timid f u rry m an

a tu n eful lyric aki n to B u m s s fin e ode to the same Wee ’

’
slee k it c ow rI n
, timorou s beastie
, B oth poets were .

equ al ly fo n d of an imal s an d bot h in the poems j u st ,

n amed re gard the cre ature w hom they addre ss wi t h a

fo n d n e ss a ki n to pity The pretty repre sen tation of a

.

field mou se at the he ad of Chri sti n a R o ssetti s lyri c ’

-

was drawn from a field mou se fou n d by M r Hughe s on -

.

Holm wood Common .

Alittle later on C hri sti n a Rossetti s love o f n ature ’

bursts forth an d she compares t he co n dition of a li n n et

,

in a gilded cage with the hard fate o f a li n n et at

‘ ’

liberty duri ng severe weather an d asks the child to ,

an swer which is be st The reply might be doubtful

.
,

but she en d s by sayi ng :

B ut l et t he t rees burstout i n leaf
An d n ests be on t he bough ,

Which l in n et i s the luckier bird ,

O h who c ould doubt i t n ow ?

The li n es comme nci ng

Hpe i
o li ke a harebell trembling from its birth
s ,

Love is like a rose t he j oy o f all the earth

F ai th is like a lil y li fted high an d white ,

Lo ve is li ke a lovely rose t he world s delight

’

mi ght possibly be regarded as so mewhat beyon d a

chi ld s comprehe n sio n Chri sti n a Rossetti hersel f
'
.
 2 70 C HRI STI NA RO SSETTI
evid en tly li ked t hese li n es much ,
fo r She wrote respec

t i vely
Hpo e i s like a harebell trembli n g from i ts birth ,

an d ( me as
n tio n ed be fore in an allu sio n to her st ro n g

reli gious co n victio n s)

Fai t h is li ke a l ily l ift ed high an d whi t e ,

in opi es of her gen eral Poem s ( 1 890) an d o f h er

c

Verse s ( 1 89 3) n ow own ed by me
’
.

The on ly obj ectio n that c an be u rged agai n st the

otherwi se lovely lyrics begi n n i ng :
Fl y away, fly away over t he sea,
S lovi n g swallow, for su mmer is don e
u n -

When a mou n ti ng Skylar k si ngs

In a su n li t summer mom ,

i s thattheir full sign ifican ce lies beyo n d t he u n dersta n d

in g of Childre n I n a collected editio n of her poet i cal
.

works these lyric s ought to be i n cluded The beau tifu l .

poem abo u t stars an d flowers whose fi n al li n es are

Wi n ged an ge s l might fly down to u s
To pluc k t he stars ,

B ut we could on l y long for flowers

B eyon d the cloudy bars

has a wi stful touch in it .

The volume n ext to be de alt with was ori gi n ally

called N o where but Da n te Gabriel poi n ted out that a
,
’

free thi n k i n g boo k had bee n c alled E

-
re whon which ,

”
i s N owhere i n verted so it became Spea ki n g L i ke
,
’

n e sses L i ke S i n g Son g the volume is ill u strated by

’
-
.

Mr A . rthu r Hu ghes .

Speaki ng L i ken esse s i ssued in 1 874 an d pre ,

’

su mab ly a series o f storie s told t o ome girl s by t heir .

s
 2 72 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
n ot tri ke F lora as an y d isadvan tage
s i n deed she
thou ght it quite deli ghtful an d too k a lo n g loo k at her ,

l ittle sel f full le n gth

’
.

A s Common pl ace other Short Stori es has bee n

, an d

lo ng out of pri n t an d i s there fore t he least ac ce ssibl e o f all

,

Chri sti n a R
’
ossetti s works an d moreo ver as thi s book ,

widely di ffers from those w ith which her n ame i s u sually

associated somewhat fuller a t te n tion shall be de vot ed t o
,

it tha n mi ght other wi se have bee n thought n eed ful .

I t i s n ote worthy n ot o n ly th at o n e family shoul d

u t —
have prod ced wo e mi n en t poets Dan te Gabriel and
C hri sti n a R —
ossetti but that these great poets shoul d
have left behi n d them some ve ry n oble imagi n ati ve
prose work sm all thou gh the quan tity be I t is fu rt her
, .

remar kable th at both D an te Gabriel s Han d an d Soul ’ ’

an d C hri sti n a s L ost T iti an are stories co n ce rn ed with

’

Art and arti sts B oth Han d an d Soul an d The Lost

.
’

Titian will live bec ause o f the creative ardour sho wn in

them I f we except the prose t ale s o f William M orris
.

( w hi c h fi n e,th ou g h they are are i n sub sta n ce so di f

f ere nt
,

that they can n ot properly be discu ssed i n thi s co n n ec

tio n ) n on e other o f the great poets of the l ater ye ars of
,

the cen tu ry Ten n yson Robert B rown i n g M r Swin

— , , .

bur n e an d M atthew Arn old ever wrote or at any

— ,

rate ever publi shed an y Si gn ed prose stories

,
.

The volume u n der con sideration see ms to i n dicate

that at on e period o f her li fe Chri sti n a Rossetti had a
ten tative purpose of b ecomi n g a n oveli st I am u n aware .

that Eli zabet h B arrett B rown i n g or F elicia He ma n s ever

publi shed prose stories B u t stude n ts of lite rary h istory
.

kn o w of course that L e ti t ia L an do n did so as did

, , ,

al so Augu sta Webster an i n fi n itely greater poet while

, ,

amo ng other promi n e n t wo me n poets t he stories o f J ean ,

 PRO SE STORIE —
S 4 CO M M O N PLACE 2 73

I n gelow are familiar an d full of evide n ces of her gen ius

, .

This would seem to suggest that in the femi n i n e min d

the art o f writi n g verses and the art of wri ti ng stories
are somewhat aki n B ut n otab le objective poets l i ke
.

Si r W alter Scott have al so been n otable n oveli sts .

I n t ruth viewed i n some aspect s t he art of writi n g poetry

an d the ar t o f writi n g stories do n ot seem so di ssimil ar

as mi ght at first si ght appear B u t the que stio n i s a wid e

.

on e an d can n ot profitably be dealt w ith at le n gth here .

Although Common place an d other Short Stories ,

’

did n ot appear u n til 1 870 when the authoress reached

.

her fortieth year we are told i n the open i n g word s of a

brie f Pre fatory N ote dated April 1 870 that ,
’
,

The earliest of these tales dates bac k to 1 85 2 , the

latest was fi n i shed in

the i n teresti n g poi n t o f the date of t hese

Co n ce rn i n g
variou s stories her brother has writte n to me as follows
N ic k was an early perform an ce , an d seem s to me
the most li kely story to have bee n written in 1 85 2 The .

Lo st Titian was al so earlyi sh , but more ( I should say )

toward s I 85 5 I i n cli n e to thi n k that Common place
.

may have bee n the latest o f all , an d therefore the on e

fi n i shed i n
L et ta ke them i n the order i n which they are
us

pri n ted in the volu me Common place the lon gest.

,
’
,

evi n ces co n siderably more ability i n con stru ctio n th an

an y o f the others thou gh i n other re spects i t i s n ot
,

the best I ts fair degree o f origi n ality can hardly be

.

question ed yet I should h ave bee n di sposed to fin d

,

i n it traces o f the i n fluen ce of M rs Gaskell an d eve n .

of M rs Oliph an t i n her quieter mood s had n ot M r

.
, .

W M Ro ssetti i n formed me that i n all probability

. .
.

hi s si ster n ever read the last n amed o f the se t wo great-

T
2 74 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
Commo n place i s a tale o f th ree Si sters
’
no velists .
,

Catheri n e Lu cy and J an e whose several characters

, , ,

are di fferen tiated care fully and stan d ou t C learl y be fore

u s while i n M i ss Dru m their old sc hoo l mi st ress C hri s
, ,
-
,

ti n a Rossetti shows that she could depict Successfully a

person age with humorou s traits .

I n my j u d gm e nt fo r clear an d n atu ral colouri n g T he ‘

,

L ost T itian is the fi n est story i n t he boo k Written .

somewhat later th an D an te Gabriel s H an d an d S

’ ’

o ul ,

it has li ke that story much atmosphere of its own and

, , ,

re al medi e val colour combi n ed with absolute fidelity in

i t s deli n eatio n o f the sce n es depicted Titi an at t he .

hei ght of h is arti stic po wer an d fame has com pleted ,

what he regard s as h is m asterpiece an d summo n s two ,

o f hi s frie n d s G ia n n i an d G ian n u cc io n e to loo k at it on

, ,

the day be fore al l V e n ice is to behold it Th e t wo .

frie n d s vie with e ach other i n i t s prai se an d before t hey , ,

part arran ge th at they sh all meet agai n i n the even i ng

, ,

for T iti an him sel f bids them

Rehearse to m rrow s festivities an d let your can
-
o
’

,
”
g r atul atio n s fore st all it s triumph s .

Yes ew zr a return ed the Choru s bri skly and

’

r
, ,

ev mv a
'

agai n
So with smiles an d embrace s they parted
‘
So

they met agai n at the welcom e comi n g o f Argu s eyed

, , .

n i ght .

The studio was elegan t with clu sters o f flowers

‘
,

sumptuou s with crim son old bordered h an gi n gs and

g
-
, ,

luxuriou s w ith cu shion s an d perfume s F rom the wal ls .

p eeped pictured f ru it an d fru it li ke face s bet w ee n the -

,

curtai n s an d i n the corn ers gleamed moon li ght ti nted -

statue s ; whil st o n the e asel repo sed the be auty o f the

‘

eve n i ng overhu n g by buddi n g bough s an d illumi nated

, ,

b y an al abaster l amp burn i n g sce n ted o il Strewn .

about the apart me n t l ay mu sical i n strume n ts an d packs

of card s O n the t able were silver di she s fill ed wi th
.
,
2 76 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
They t hrew .

L uc k had turn ed an d Gian n i was su ccessful , .

Titian n oth i n g doubti n g laughed as he l o o ked up

, ,

from the table i n to his compa n ion s face ; but n o shadow

’

o f je sti n g li n gered there Their eyes met an d each .

,

read each other 5 heart at a gla n c e

’
.

O ne di scerned the gn awi n g e n vy of a li fe sati ated :

,

a thou sand mort i fic at ion s a t hou san d i n feriorities com , ,

p en sa t ed I n a mome n t .

The other read an i n d i gn ation that eve n yet scarcely

,

realised the treachery which ki n dled it ; a n oble indig

n atio n ,that more upbraided the fal se frien d than the
destroyer of a li fe s hope ’
.
’

Ven ice won dered what had become o f Titia n s great ’

pai n ti n g Titian kept sile n ce as to his frie n d s treachery

.
’

becau se bra n di n g Gi an n i as a traitor would ex pose

h im sel f as a dupe Gian n u c c ion e the third reveller
.
’
, .

overcome by d ru n ken sleep had seen little ; an d what ‘

he guessed Titia n s urge n cy i n duced him to suppress

’
.
’

Time wore on everythi ng seemed to prosper with Gianni

, ,

but by and by his former fo n d n ess for play returned

- -
,

an d he l ost everythi n g F or t hat n ight all h is possessions

.

-
an d amon g th em T —
itian s masterpiece were h is own ’
,

on the mo rr ow they would p ass i n evitably i n to other

han d s That sple n did work he had h itherto kept in

.

secret , hO pi n g w he n Titia n was de ad to proc laim

’
him sel f the pai n ter o f it and so wi n world wide fame ,
‘ - .

Gi an n i was a craftsm an of some little Skill an d much

resource H is resolution was ta ke n
. Sei zi n g coarse .

pigmen ts such as could be removed at pleasu re be

, ,

covered over Titi an s work an d then pai n ted on the topa

’
,

dragon suitable for an i n n Sign The n ext d ay at the -

.
,

meeti n g o f h is creditors amo n g whom Titia n appeared ,

for t he first time i te t

n n o n regai i ng h picture Gi
n
,
i s anni ,

said that so me of the more valuable of h is eflec ts had

'
 P RO SE STO RI Es THE LOST TI TI AN 2 77

re cen tly bee n destroyed accide n tally by fire an d th at ,

the tavern Sign ( poi n ti n g to the drago n ) had bee n

pai n ted for an i n n keeper j u st deceased
- Th i s he re .

m arked presumably hopi n g to be allo wed to retai n it as

valueless A . t thi s poi n t the dragon was claimed some ,

what u n expectedly by a creditor who was al so an

, ,

i n n keeper
-
With much Show o f polite n ess Gi an n i
.

e n deavoured to di ssuade him from h is purpose allegi n g ,

th at the drago n was n ot yet i n a suitable co n ditio n to

le ave h is studio B u t the i n n keeper was determi n ed
.
-

an d c arried it o ff immediately Gi an n i i n h is subseque n t

.
,

obscurity devoted all hi s e n ergies to co n cocti n g a

,
‘

dragon superior i n all poi n ts to i t s predecessor He .

’

i n te n ded to i n duce the i n n keeper to t ake thi s an d to

-

g ive b ac k the drag o n he n ow po sse ssed B u t w he n the

.
,

n ew dra o n was n early fi n i shed G i an n i sudde n ly died

g , ,

an d kn owled ge o f the lo st pai n ti n g died w ith him

’
.

I n her Pre fatory N ote C hri sti n a R ossetti writes

respecti n g all the tales th at are i n cluded i n the volume ,

but especially as to The L ost Titi an ’

N ot the stories i s fou n ded o n fact

on e o f .

Thi s mi ght n ot seem worth stati ng had I n o t reason ,

to fear th at o n e o r t wo of my ki n dest frie n d s h ave

viewed The Lost Titi an some wh at i n the li ght o f an
imposture I there fore take thi s opportu n ity of putti n g
.

on record that I am n ot co n versan t with an y traditio n

which po i n t s to the exi ste n ce o f a lost pictu re by th at

f
’

great ma ster w ith w ho se n ame I have m ade ree .

A to these remarks
s of h is i ter M r William
ss , .

Rossetti po in ts out to me
The reason why The Lost Titian might be viewed
as an imposture mu st be th at somebody might suppose
the story to be a n arrative o f real fact : i n deed I h ave a
rather C lear i mpression that someo n e i n our circle did
 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
so su ppo se I thi n k Chri sti n a had al so to som e ex tent
.
, ,

i n her mi n d t h e fate which befell Gabriel s O ld G erm

’

story n amed H an d an d Soul fo r it i s a fact t h a t m ore

perso n s than on e really bel ieved what Gabriel say s about
the picture in the Pitti & c an d actu ally made en quiry .
,

for it o n the spot

’
.

N ic k Hero which follow The Lost Titian

an d ,
’ ’

are fairy storie s B oth are good but the lat ter r eveals
.
,

perhaps a hi gher order of im agi n ation an d was m uch ,

admired by Da n te Gabriel V an n a s Twi n s that .

‘ ’

,
’

succeed s the se i s a pretty an d touchi n g story o f ch ild

,

li fe an d evi n ces con siderable power i n deli n eati n g I tal ian

character o f the lower middle C l ass I t u sed to be a .

g reat favourite w ith M r S w i n burn e A S

.afe I n vest .
‘

men t mi ght be termed an allegory o f the rel ative

adva n tages of an d di ffere n ce betwee n heave n ly and
, ,

earthly commerce i f commerce be a permi ssible word

,

i n such a co n n ectio n Pro s a n d C.o n s an d T h e W ave s

,
’

O f thi s T roublesome World ( which co n clud es the ’

volume) are i n teresti n g o n ly as illu strative o f C h ristina

,

Rossetti s theologic al vie ws an d position ; i n deed she

’

hersel f tell s u s that each o f t hese stories was co m posed

w ith a speci al object .

Evide n tly in her l ater years Chri sti n a Rossetti

loo ked with di sfavour o n the boo k we are n ow di scu ssing .

F o r i n September 1 89 1 whe n se n d i n g a li st o f her

,

boo ks t o M r P atchett M arti n at h is request i n prospect

.
, ,

o f an article upo n her i n L iterary Opi n io n sh e t e

’
,

marked
‘
Commo n pl ace an d other Short Stories .
[Out of

pri n t an d n o t worth
I t i s impo ssible to co n cur wi t h her jud gme n t in this

i n sta n ce .
2 82 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
M amma received a letter thi s morn i n g be fore I se t

o ff an d she s n e t it hopi n g to amuse y o u . Sh all I rea d

it aloud
N o, let me have it mysel f Her eye trave l l ed .

rapidly down t he well filled pages comprehe n d i ng a t a

-
,

g l an ce all the tale o f happi n e ss M r a n d M rs Her b e rt . . .

were at S carborough they would then ce proceed t o t h e

L a ke s ; an d t he n ce most probably home ward s thou g h ,

a prolo n ged tour was me n tio n ed as ju st possible B ut .

both pl an s seemed ali ke pleasi n g to M ary ; for She w a s

full o f her hu sban d an d bot h were eq u ally co n n ec t e d
,

with him .

M au de smiled as paragraph a fter paragraph e n l arg ed

o n the same topic At last she said : Agn es i f y o u
.

could n ot be yoursel f but mu st become on e o f u s three

,
’
I don t mea n as to good n ess o f cour se but merely as , ,

—
regard s circum stan ces would you ch an ge with Si ste r ,

M agd alen wi t h M ary or with me ?

, ,

N ot w ith M ary cert ai n ly N either should I h ave

, .

courage to Cha n ge wi t h you ; I n ever should bear pai n

so well : n o r yet w i t h si ster M a da l e n fo r I wan t the
g ,

fervour o f devo t ion SO at pre sen t I fear you mu st even

.

put u p with me as I am Will that d o

There was a p au se Afresh wi n d had spru n g up
.

an d the su n was setti n g .

Agnes [said w ould o n ly p ai n M amm a

M aude ] it
to look over everythi n g i f I die ; w ill you exami n e t he
verses, an d de stroy wh at I evide n tly n ever i n ten ded
to be seen They mi ght al l be thro wn away together,
.

—
o n ly M amm a is so fo n d o f them Wh at will she do i ‘

an d the poor girl hid h er face i n the pillo ws .

B u t is there n o hope, the n P

N o t the sli ghte st , i f you mea n o f recovery an d she
does n ot kn o w it Do n t go away w he n all s over, bu t
.
’ ’

d o wh at yo u c an to com fort her I h ave bee n her .

mi se ry from my birth till n ow ; there is n o time to do

better B u t you mu st le ave me, please ; for I feel c om
.

p l et ely exhau sted Or stay

. o n e mome n t : I saw M r .

Paul son [the clergy m an ] agai n this morn i n g, an d he

promi s ed t o
come to morro w to admi n ister the B le ssed
-

Sacrame n t to me ; so I cou n t on you an d mam ma

 P RO SE STO RI ES MAUD E 2 83

receivi n g with me , fo r the l ast ti me perhaps : w ill

you
dear M aude B u t you are so you ng do n t
Y es,
’

A
.
,

give up hope n d n ow
. w ould you li k e me to rem ai n here
duri n g the n ight ? I c an establi sh mysel f quite com fort
ably o n your so fa .

Than k you but it could o n ly ma ke me restle ss

Good n i ght my own de ar A
, .

”
, g n e s .

Good n i ght dear M au de I tru st to ri se early to

, .

”
morrow t h at I may be wi t h you all the soon er
, .

SO t hey part ed
’ ’

Th at morro w n ever d awn ed for M aude F o ster .

Ag
e s proc eeded to perform the task imposed u po n
n

her w ith scrupulou s an xiet y to c arry out her frien d s

,
’

w i shes The locked book she n ever O pe n ed : but h ad

.

it pl aced i n M aude s c ofli n with all i t s record s o f folly

’
, ,

si n va n ity ; an d she humbly tru sted of true pe n ite n ce

, ,

al so She n ext collected the scraps of paper fou n d i n

.

her cou si n s desk an d port folio or lyi n g loose upo n the

’

table an d proceeded to ex ami n e them M an y o f these .

were fragme n ts man y h al f c flac ed pe n cil scrawl s some

,
-
,

writte n o n torn bac ks o f letters an d some full o f i n c om

prehe nsible abbreviatio n s Agn e s was aston i shed at the
,

variety of M aude s compositio n s Piece a fter piece she

’
.

committed to the flames fear ful lest any should b e pre ,

served which were n ot i n te n ded fo r ge n eral peru sal but

it cost her a pan g to do so ; an d t o see how sm all a
n umber rem ai n ed fo r M rs F o ster O f three o n ly she . .

too k copies for hersel f The first was dated t en days .

a fter M aude s acciden t ’

.

The secon d though written the same paper

, on , was
eviden tly C ompo sed at a subseque n t period

Fade, ten d er lil y ,

Fade O c ri mson rose

, ,

F ade every flower

, ,

Sweetest flower that blows .

2 84 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
Go, Chilly utu mn , A
Come 0 Wi n ter cold ;
Let t he green stalks d ie away
I n t o common mou ld .

B irt h follows hard on death,

L i fe i s wi theri n g
H te
.

as n, h ll come the soon er

we s a

B ack t o pleasan t S ri
p g n .

Agnes cut o lo n g tress from M aude s head a n d

ne
’

o n her return home laid it i n the same paper with the

loc k of M agdale n s h air The se she treasured greatly

’
.

an d gazi n g o n them would lo n g an d pray fo r the

,

hasten i n g of that etern al morn i ng which sh all re un ite i n

those who in H im or for H is sa ke have parted
, ,

ere
Ame n for u s all
.

’
.
2 86 C HRI STI NA RO SSETTI
devotion al work Perhaps thi s restrai n i n g o f t h e
.

im agi n ation may have ari se n on her p art from her d eep
revere n ce fo r prayer as prayer an d her feeli n g o n c e o r , ,

twice expressed to me that n o human creat u re how ev er

, ,

sk il ful ou ght wan ton ly to embroider wi th his o w n

,

abili t y petition s to the Almi ghty I t may al so h av e .

ari se n partly from the fact that her symboli sm bec a m e

more d evelop ed in lat er li fe B u t eve n i n th i s boo k w e
.

fin d her remarkable po wer o f evo kin g sp i ri t ual subl i m i t y

from B iblical passages which at fi rst si ght d o n o t
appear to con tai n it i n a great degree As an e x a m ple .

o f her writi n g here pa ge 35 4 may be quoted i n i ts

e n tirety
Rc v xv 4 . . .

W110 shal l n ot
f ea r Tli ce 0 L or d , an d g l on f/y T[] I

Izou on ly a r t H
,

N a me f or T
”
oly .

O L ord Jesu s Chri st Who on ly art Holy forgi v e I

, , ,

implore Thee forgive an d purge the u n holi n ess o f Thy

,

sai n t s the u n holi n e ss o f T

, hy little o n es the u n holi n ess ,

of T hy pe n ite n ts the u n holi n ess o f the u n co n verted

, ,

the u n holi n e ss of me a si n n er God be merci ful to u s

Amen
.

’
si n n ers . .

Occasio n ally we see the i n flue n ce o f the B oo k of

C ommo n Prayer an d it i s n ot too much to say that she
h as sometimes cau ght much of it s well ordered gra n deur -
.

Perhaps there i s almost an excessive reali sm i n these

word s part of a petitio n to C hri st
,

By virtue o f Thy victory give u s al so I en treat ,

Thee victory L et Thy pierced Heart win u s to love

,
.

Thee Thy torn H an d s i n cite us t o eve ry good work

, ,

Thy wou n ded F eet urge u s on erran d s o f mercy Thy ,

crow n o f thorn s pric k u s out of sloth Thy t hirst draw ,

u s t o thirst a ft er the L ivi n g W ater Thou g ivest : let

Thy li fe be our pattern while we live an d Thy death
Amen
,
’
ou r triumph over de ath whe n we come to die . .
 D EVOTI O N AL P ROSE SEEK AN D FI ND 2 87

B ut howbeauti ful how full o f t he true rhythm , of

the fi n est En gli sh prose is the followi ng :

‘
0 Jesu s Chri st Ki n g of Ki n gs draw I
L ord , , ,

be seech Thee all Ki n gs of the ea rth to come an d

,

w orship be fore T hee B less them who for our sakes .

are burde n ed w ith re spon sibility an d c are s ; teach u s

to revere n ce love an d obey them i n all thi n gs lawful
, ,

an d i n t h e n ext world O f T hy good n ess give them with

u s re st Ame n . .
’

See k an d F i n d was publi shed i n 1 879 an d on the ,

title page i s termed by it s au thor A double series of

-

short studies o f t he B e n edicite I n a Pre fato ry

’
.

N ote on the su cceedi n g p age she tell s u s th at i n

’
,

w riti n g her book she C o n sulted the H armo n y by the

late I saac Willi am s ( presum ably his work e n titled A ‘

H armo n y of the F our She goes on to

say th at as she i s u n acquai n ted w ith either Hebre w or
,

Gree k an y textu al elucid atio n s were O btai n ed from

‘ ’
,

some tra n sl atio n an d that she di scovered man y valu

’
,

able altern ative readi ngs i n the M argi n o f an ordi n ary

Referen ce B ible .
’

F ollow i n g the Pre fatory N ote u n der the gen eral

’
,

headi n g of T he B e n ed icite are five pages o f small t ype

’
,

setti n g forth the co n te n t s o f the volume each of the ,

five page s bei n g divided i n to three colum n s as see n i n ,

the illu strative extract give n below :

THE B EN ED I C I TE .

TH
E r RAI SE-C I VER
S ARE so n s C R
'
E ATURES , C HRI sTs SERVAN TS
'
.

0 al l Wo rks of t he God saw ev eryt hi n g Th e Word was God

Hh
ye
A
.

Lo rd , b ess ye the l t hat ad mad e, ll t hin gs were

H
e

Lord : praise im , H an d ,beho d , l i t was made by im ; an d

an d magn i fy : i m H v ery good .
(Gen . wi thout im was H
for ev er . i. n ot anythi ng mad e
t hat was mad e .

( St ohn i I ,
. J .
 2 88 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
The first series of stu d ie s called on the su b t i t le ,
’
-

page 4 C reatio n occupy on e hu n d red an d fift y t h ree

,
’
-

pages ; while the seco n d se ries te rmed Red e m p t io n ,

’
,
’

fill o ne hu n dred an d fift y n i n e pages -

.

I n a letter to C hri st i n a ( October 8 h er , ,

brother Da n te Gabriel says that he fi n d s Seek an d

full of eloque n t beautie s an d the n add s
’
F ind ,

I am so rry to otice that my o n wn —

view i t is — in
most seriously damaged , for almost all i f n ot fo r al l
readers, by the con fu sion o f re fe re n ces i n the text wh i ch ,

they completely smother Surely these sh ould all h a ve .

bee n m argi n al , an d n ot n early so n umerou s [M r . .

F rederic] Shield s, wh o was o f course much i n terested i n

seei n g the boo k, too k quite the same vie w i n thi s
’
.

The volume mi ght cert ai n ly have bee n better arran ged .

B ut , thi s obj ec tio n stated little but praise ou ght to be

,

g ive n to a w or k that co n tai n s so ma n y n oble p ro se

seque n ces I t is the S

. pirit t hat quic ken et h — Chri sti n a
Rossetti without kn o wi n g Hebre w an d Greek was
, , ,

n evert hele ss freque n tly able to flash li ght on a S

, crip
tural phrase or series o f phrases owi n g to a devou t
, ,

u se o f her poet s i n tuitio n for ge n erally spea k i n g sh e

’
, , ,

approaches eve n her prose work from the stan dpoi n t o f

a poet Throu ghout See k an d F i n d her Characteristi c
.

i n cli n ation toward s symbolism is everywhere di splayed

an d mai n ly w ith h appy e ffect althou gh o n ce an d agai n , ,

as in her di squi sitio n on the co n n ectio n bet wee n fi shes

an d men she appears to carry her symboli sm a little

,

t oo far . Perhaps the fi n e st di squi sition in the book is

—
that o n an gel s a di squi sition val u able n ot o n ly for the
ideas Set forth therei n but bec au se some of these ideas
,

seem to be more fully t he outcome of her per so n al

experie n ce tha n is u sual eve n with Chri sti n a Ro ssetti .

 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
of these has a separate headi n g The first o f these head .

i n gs i s al ways styled The Sacred Text ‘

t h e sec on d .

B iographical A ddition s the third APrayer a co m , ,

’

position writte n wholly by C hri sti n a Rossetti an d part l y ,

based on the characteri stics o f the especial sa i n t C o m

m emo rat c d The n come s wh at is de si gn at ed a s A
.

M em ori al These m c mo ria ls are n oteworthy i n m an y

’ ’
.

w ays an d are o ften o f co n sid erable le n gth the m e m ori al

, ,

Of S t A . n dre w for e x ample ext en di n g to t en p ag e s o t

, ,

fairly close type They Show their author s i n t i m at e

.
’

ac q u ai n t an ce w ith the B ibl e an d her great po we r i n

,

b r i n gi n g the p assage s she C ite s t o bear o n t he pa rt i c ula r

subject sh e h as i n h an d Eac h O f the pages i n t hese
.

memori al s i s divid ed m id way i n to t wo po rt io n s .

-
At the O pen i n g O f t he le ft han d colum n a re t he fi rst
-

word s o f some brie f c o mm e n t at o ry m att er sti ppl ied ,

by Chri sti n a Ro ssetti an d pri n t ed i n bloc k t y pc a n d t h ese

, ,

c o mmen t at o ry word s are i n t erspersed i n t he l e ft h a n d -

c olum n O f the memori al s throughout t he boo k F o r .

purposes o f ex ampl e thi s c o m men t atory matter i n t he

first three p ages o f the m emori al to St An dre w h as b een .

g i ven b e
‘
l o w a n d pri n ted
, co n secutively but to sa v e Sp a c e , , ,

mo re closely th an i n t he author s text asteri sks b e i ng ’

placed where brea ks occur in the ori gi n al

St An dre w o f B eth said a
. learn s of St J o h n .

B apti st fo llo ws C hri st an d abide s with him th at d a y

, ,

bri n gs t o o u r L ord h is brother on wh o m a ,

n ew n ame i s be sto wed is c alled from the n e t s t o

i s ord ai n ed A
,

be fi sher o f men , postle .

’

F ollo wi n g each of
the se detached phrase s an d se t in ,

the same type as t he rest O f the volu me are Sc riptu re ,

p a ssages rel at i n g either t o the Sai n t s hi story or mai n lv

’

i n terpret i n g it I n the ri ght ha n d colum n are te x ts

.
-
 EVO TI O N AL RO SE ALLED To E SAI N TS
’
29 1
‘

D P C B

fro m t he B ible al so i n u sual type illu strative O f but no t ,

d irectly re ferri n g to the sai n t F urther there i s a little

, .

tre ati se O fte n most delic ately p

, hrased relati n g t o ,

so m e flo wer an d t o each o f the sai n t s she appropri ate s

,

so m e particul ar flower To St An drew fo r i n stan ce . .

, ,

sh e appropri ate s the d ai sy She add s li ke wi se i n the .

,

c ase o f the A postles a short di squi sitio n o n each ,

pa rticular preciou s ston e with which She associates

them the di squi sitio n s i n their c ase bei n g su ggested by
,

Rev xxi I 4 :
. .

Ad n the wall of the C ity had t welve fou n d atio n s ,

an d in them the n ame s o f the t welve apo stle s o f the

L amb
’
.

She follows the order of the preciou s sto n e s give n

i n the same C hapter o f R e vel atio n verses 1 9 an d 20 , ,

an d ,adopti n g the E ccle siastic al C ale n dar i n the

assi gn me n t o f the ston e s
give s the j asper to S t A n dre w , .

an d proceedi n i re ul ar order give s the a methy st

, g n g , ,

t he l ast o f t he sto n e s me n tio n ed to S t J ude — the , .

latest apo stle i n the Ecclesi astic al Cale n d ar Scattered .

throu ghout the prose text moreover are some o f her

most exqui site an d solem n lyrics fervid an d i n te n se i n ,

their piety ecst atic i n their r apture but these as they

, , ,

are di scu ssed in C hapter VI I n eed n ot be re ferred to .

,

i n detail here .

F ollowi n g R ev iv 7 : . .

And
the first be ast was li ke a lion and t he seco n d ,

beast li ke a cal f an d the third beast had a face as a

,

man an d the fourth bea st was li ke a flyi n g e agle

’

, ,

and t he trad ition s of man y ce n turies she ap propriate s the ,

fourth livi n g creature the ea gle to St Joh n with a few , , .

,

word s C harged with fitti n g symbo l i sm whil e in a Similar

 C HRI STI NA RO SSETTI
m an n er she gives t he fi rst livi n g crea t u re a l i o n to , ,

St M ark ; the third livi n g creatu re an an ge l t o St

.
, ,
.

M atthe w ; an d the secon d livi n g creatu re an o x t o , ,

St L u ke
. .

The prose of The Key to my B oo k is fu ll o f that

q
rhythmical beauty n oticeable especially i n mu c h o f her
d evotion al prose — perhaps bec ause the men tal u al ities
, ,

required i n order to write such p ro se with a high d egree

o f excelle n c e were preci sely the qualitie s she s se ssed
, po .

s s s —
Her imple yet e n uou mi n d a mi n d sto red with
s

—
poetic imagery fou n d i n such wor k a stimulu s t o lofty
achieveme n t N o r i n her case is thi s lo fty ac h ie ve
.
, ,

m en t ever gai n ed by elaborate artifice Her ar ra nge .

men t an d Choice o f word s are as u n art i fic ial as t h e wi ld

flowers o f En gl an d which she pre fers to a ssociate
,

with the sai n ts she love s rather th an the fl o ra of ,

P ale sti n e Very t en der an d touchi n g are these O pe ni ng

.

word s

Hw beauti ful
o the arm s which have e m b raced
are

C hri st the h an d s which h ave touched C hri st t h e eyes

, ,

which have gazed upo n Chri st the lips whic h have ,

spo ken with C hri st the feet which have fo llowed

,

C hri st
How beauti ful are the hand s which have w orked
.

the works O f C hri st the feet which treadi n g i n his foot

,

step s have go n e about doi n g good the lips th a t have ,

spread abroad h is n ame t he li ve s which have been,

cou n ted lo ss fo r him .

’

Her descriptio n o f Hepaticas which she allocates

t o M atthias is an excel le n t example of her ad mi ra

ble po wer o f id eali si n g a merely botan ical d esc rip

tio n . Wor k such as t hi s is exceedi n gly d i fli c u l t I f .

ordi n ary l an gu age he u sed the n the effect i s comm on ,

place an d dull I f o v ermuch symboli sm be employed

. .
 2 94 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
s hortly have been fo r ever left u n don e ; an d agai n , w hen
I fulfilled a promi se w hich beyon d ca lcu l ati o n t here
’
rem ai n ed but sc an t lei sure to fulfil .

Asto thi s p assage M r William . Rossetti h as sen t

me the followi n g commu n icatio n

[C o those re fe ren ces made by Chri st i n a in

n cern i n g ]

C alled to be S ai n t s
”
As to doi ng i n bare ti m e what
.

would shortly have bee n u n do able the n a tural

- -
,

i n fere n ce seem s to b e that she did somethi n g o r o ther

i n relatio n t o a perso n who soo n a fte rward s di ed As .

to a promi se which was fulfilled but o n ly j u st i n t i m e a

, ,

simil ar i n fere n ce agai n su gge sts itsel f I t is ju st as .

li kely as n ot that the i n cide n ts were i n them se l v es of

the very slightest co n seque n ce possible for C [h r i st i na]
O fte n bore such matters i n mi n d i f an y sort o f p r i n ci ple
,

seemed to be i n vo lved i n them

’
.

The l ast quo tation that shall be made from C alled

to be Sai n ts is from her med itation o n St M ichae l and .

Al l An gel s an d may be said to be a complem en t to

,

the passage co n cern i n g an gel s i n See k an d F i n d lately

re ferred to The extract s which he re follow Show how
.

deep was the spirituality o f her n ature .

N ow all which i s that which is made kn own

of ,

u n to u s is u n doubtedly made kn o wn fo r our profit

L et u s n ot fail to love God all the more becau se e H
hat h given H is A n gel s C harge co n cer n i n g Hi s own to
keep them i n all their w ays ; becau se the a rmi e s of
heaven pitch their camp arou n d the fait hful when n eed
ari ses ; becau se blessed spirits mi n i ster to the hei r s of
salv ati on ; becau se they rejoice over o n e si n n er t hat
repe n teth fo r all thi s we kn ow assuredly whet he r or
-
,

n ot with a multitude o f piou s soul s we so lace ourselves

by the thought o f o n e An gel gu ardia n assign ed t o each

bapti sed person . Whe n it seem s ( as so meti mes
throu gh revul sion o f feeli ng an d urge n cy of Satan it
may seem ) th at ou r yo ke is u n easy an d our burd en
 D I I VO TI O N A
-
L PRO SE— ‘
L ETTER AN D SP I RI T
’
2 95

un bearabl e becau se our li fe i s pared do wn an d su tid ued

,

a n d repressed t o an i n tolerable level : an d so i n on e .

m om en t every i n sti n ct o f o ur whole sel f revolt s agai n st

o u r lot an d we loathe thi s d a O f quiet n e ss an d o f
, y
sitt i n g still an d w rithe u n der a sudde n se n se O f all we
,

h a ve i rrecoverably forego n e o f the ri ght h an d o r foot , , ,

or eye cast from u s o f the h alti n gn ess an d m aim ed n ess

,

f o u r e n tran ce ( i f e n t er we do at l ast i to li f —t
o
) n e h en ,

the Seraphim of I sai ah s vi sion m aki n g mu sic i n o u r ’

m emory revive hope i n ou r he art

’
.

P robably w ith the si n gle exceptio n O f The Face of

the Deep Called t o he Sai n ts i s more thorou ghly
,
’
.

an d beauti fu lly built up throu h symboli sm th an an y

g
other o f Christi n a Rossetti s devotio n al boo ks ’
.

L ady M ou n t T emple fou n d j oy i n Called ft o be

’
-

Sai n ts ( t o u se M r Shield s s h appy phrase) He told

’
.
’
.

thi s t o Chri sti n a who i n a letter to him n ow be fore me , ,

e x presse s her great sati sfaction at heari n g it .

L etter an d Spirit : N otes o n the C omm an dmen ts

‘ ’
,

publi shed i n 1 883 i s dedicated ,

To
M y M ot her
i n than kfu l n ess for her
dear an d hon oured
examp le
.

— a dedicatio n pecially i n tere sti n g i n vie w o f some word s

s

to M r S hield s which may here be i n serted Writi n g

.
, ,

from C hurch Hill B irchi n gto n o n S u n der d ate ’

ea ,
- -
,

Augu st 23 1 883 Chri sti n a says :

, ,

Than k you for welcomi n g L etter an d Spirit “

my M other s li fe is a far mo re forcib le comm en t

’
on

Comm an dme n ts th an are word s of mi n e

’
the .

As it s t it le i s '
doubtle ss mea n t to i n dic ate ,
‘
Letter
an d Spirit ’
is a tre ati se on the i n n er mean i n g of t he
 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
C omman dmen t s . places i n full on the fi r st
C hri sti n a
page o f her book C hrist s ex po sition o f t he D ecalog u e
’

as it i s give n i n M ar k x n 2 8 30 an d M att x x n 39 4 0
.
-
,
— . .
,

an d the n quote s the e n tire Decalogu e itsel f the rest o f ,

the wor k bei n g an exposition of it The vol u me en d s .

with a Harm on y o n I C ori n thian s xiii an d in t h e

. .

ri ght colum n parallel sayi ngs o f J esu s culled fro m t h e

Gospel s .

O n a first glan ce at thi s boo k on e i s apt t o th i n k

th at i n form at least it parta kes too much of t h e
, ,

C haracter o f the ordi n ary reli iou s comme n tary N ot

g .

till we have loo ked further i n to it do we perceive it

fi lled with the same qualities which have made h er
—
other devotio al prose remarkable the qualitie s I m e an
n

o f symboli sm an d a ch aste n ed form of im agi n at i o n .

The ori gi n al m an u script of Letter an d Spirit i s n ow i n

the possession o f M r F airfax M urray an d he has bee n
.
,

g ood e n ou g h to a llo w me to exami n e it w ith some c a re .

L i ke man y other o f her man u sc ripts particul arly t he ,

m an u scripts of her later prose works it is writte n on ,

ordi n ary blue paper qu arto si ze an d i n somewhat large

, ,

ha n d writi n g with co n siderable space betwee n t he li n es

, ,

an d with comp aratively few erasure s .

L etter an d Spirit is the o n ly on e o f her books

‘ ’
,

except See k an d F i n d an d Spe aki n g L i ke n e sses

’ ’

, ,

which co n t ai n s n o verse o f her o wn I t is li kewi se n ote .

w orthy from the fact th at o n ly t wo li n e s o f verse o f other

w riters are quoted the li n e s of B i shop Heber

Ri c her by fa r is the heart s adorat ion

’
,

Dearer t o God are t he ra ers of

p y the po or
.

Seldom i n her boo ks did she quote the verses of

other poets Pro bably thi s was becau se i n her case it
.
, ,
 EVO TI O N AL RO SE LETTE R AN D SP I RI T
’
D P 2 99 ,

w as so easy to write verse B u t was there an othe r .

r e aso n I t i s a somewhat i n teresti n g field O f specula

In on e of her boo ks does she approach more n early

n

to theological d i squi sitio n than i n the volume at prese n t ‘

u n der di scu ssio n Aco n spicuou s i n stan ce o f thi s i s to

.

b e see n i n her remar ks about the Tri n ity Aportion o f .

th ese rem arks may be quoted to show her i n a polemical

—
mood a mood u n u su al w ith her
Hear O I srael The L ord our God is o n e L ord
,

an d thou shalt love t h e L ord thy God with all thy he art ,

an d with all thy soul an d w ith all thy mi n d an d w ith

, ,

al l thy stre n gt h .

Thi s first the Gre at Comman dme n t i s c harac t er

, ,
m

i sed by u n ity W h atever el se we fin d i n it thi s is on e

An d
.
,

o f i t s e sse n ti al feature s i f n ot i t s le adi n g fe ature

, .
,

i n fact withi n thi s u n ity i s bou n d up the e n tire multi

,

tude o f our dutie s out of thi s o n e supreme comman d w -

me n t h ave to be developed all the detail s of every on e ‘

o f o u r u n n umbered O bli gatio n s .

He ar O I srael ; the L ord our God i s on e Lo rd

,
.

While the Chri sti an verity decl ares to u s the mystery

o f the A l l Holy Tri n ity
-
the Catholic reli gion assert S s

Athan asian C reed]

,

t he i n viol able U n ity o f the Godhead [

An d touchi n g these t wo mysteries it seem s th at to grasp , ,

hold fast ado re the C atholic M ystery lead s up to m an s

’

, .

ob li gatio n t o grasp hold fast adore the C hri sti an

, , ,

My stery rather tha n t hi s to the other What is .

Catholic u n derlies wh at i s C hri stian : o n the Cat holic .

basi s alo n e c an the C hri stia n structure be rai sed eve n

while to rai se th at superstru cture on that fou n d atio n i s .

t he bou n de n duty O f every soul w ithi n reach of the fu l l

Divi n e R evel atio n I n God s i n scrutable Provide n ce it ’
.

has ple ased H im th at millio n s o f the hum an race should

live in u n avoid able ign ora n ce o f Chri sti an doctri n e : to
that fu n d ame n tal doctri n e O f God s u n ity from which
’
, .

t he other i s developed He has graciou sly vouch safed a

,

freer curre n cy so that while the Jew i sh C hurch kn e w it t

by revel atio n multitude s o f the Ge n tile wo rld kn e w or ,

,
3oo C H RIS TINA RO SSETTI

at least surmi sed it by i n tellectu al or spiritu al e n l i g h t e n

me n t L et u s than k God that thi s m ai n po i n t o f k n o w
.

led ge we hold in common with so vast a n um be r o f o u r

dear hum an brothers an d si sters children alon g w i t h
oursel ves o f the all lovi n g F ather ; let u s than k Hi m
,

th rou gh j esu s C hri st th at we Chri stian s are i n st r u c t ed

ho w t hu s acceptably to th an k H im let u s beseec h H im
i n that all prev aili n g N ame to ad d to e ach of u s w h a t
-
,

soever we be every l ac ki n g gi ft an d grace

Whil st U
, .

n ity appears the sole exi ste n ce e sse n t i a l t o

be co n cei ved ou r co n ceivi n g it as separate from o u r se l f

,

atte st s at o n ce our li ke n ess an d our u n li ke n ess t o i t .

That w hich we con ceive is o n our own sho wi n g o t h er

t ha n oursel v e s who co n ceive it : yet to co n ceive t h a t
which has n o exi ste n ce i s ( I revere n tly a ssu me ) t h e
exclu si v e attribute o f A lmi ghty God Who ou t o f ,

n othi n g cre at ed all thi n s

g T o modi fy by a bou n d l e ss

lice n ce o f imagi n atio n the V oice o f R

.

evel atio n o r o f ,

t raditio n or o u r o w n perceptio n s co n cern i n g the u n ive r se

it s R
, , ,

ul er i n h abitan t s features ori gi n desti n ie s fal l s

withi n the ran ge o f hum an faculties A
, , , , ,

n d thu s may n o t .

light be thro wn on th at m ass o f bewilderi n g error ( w h o se

n ame is le gio n ) which at every tur n meeti n g u s as m a n s
'

i n ve n tio n is after all a more or le ss clo se trave stie o f

,

truth ? So li ke i n det ail so u n li ke as a whole to t h e

, ,

t ruth it simulates th at alter n ately we i n cli n e to ask

, If
so much i s k n o w n w ithout immedi ate r evel atio n where ,

fo re reveal I f truth perv ades such errors i f such e rr o rs ,

c an b e grafted upo n truth i s truth it sel f di sti n gui sh abl e

,

or is it wo rth di sti n gui shi n g ?

At first si ght an d appare n tly the e asiest o f al l
co n ceptio n s t o reali se I yet suppose that the re m ay
,

i n the lo n g ru n be n o co n ceptio n mo re d i fficult fo r

ourselve s t o cle n ch an d retai n th an thi s o f absol u te
U n ity thi s O n e n e ss at al l time s in al l co n n exio n s fo r
, ,

all purpo se s
’
.

The follo wi n g p assage importan ce both becau se

h as
i t sho ws the stre n gth o f her co n victio n s an d becau se
it come s from the pen o f a great poet with a poetic
en viro n m en t al most —
u n ique from a poet moreover
30 2 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
w ith soi n e stimabl e a gai n or loss at stake wit h s u c h a ,

pri ze of our h i gh c al l i n g in Chri st Jesu s to yearn fo r all ,

we forego or c an by an y po ssibili t y be requi red t o fo r eg o

, .

—
becomes could we but behold it with purged i m p ar t i al
eyes becomes as n othi n g True al l our lives l o n g w e
— .
,

sh all be bou n d to re frai n our soul an d keep it l o w but

wh at the n ? F o r the boo ks we n o w forbear to re a d w e ,

I shal l o n e d a
y be e n dued w ith w i sdom an d k n o w l e d g e .

F o r the mu sic we will n o t li ste n to we shall j oi n i n t h e ,

so n g o f the redeemed F or the pictures from wh i c h w e

.

turn we shall ga ze u n abashed on the B eat i fic V i si o n

,
.

F o r the compa n ion ship we shu n we shall be wel c o m e d ,

i n to an gelic society an d the commu n ion o f triu m p h a n t

sai n ts . F or the amu se men ts we avoid w e sh al l kee p t h e ,

supreme J ubilee F o r the ple asure s we mi ss w e sh al l

.
,

abide an d fo r evermore abide i n the rapture o f he a v e n

, ,
.

I t c an n ot be much o f a hard ship to d re ss mode stl y a n d

at small cost rather th an richly an d fashion ably i f w i th a ,
“
vivid con viction we are awaiti n g the white ro bes o f
t he redeem ed An d i n deed thi s a n ticipat ion o f pu re
.
,

an d simple white robe s for etern al wear m ay fairly sh a k e

belief i n the ge n ui n e beauty o f elaborate sho wi n e ss e v e n
“
fo r such clothe s as befit u s i n the prese n t di stress
Solomo n i n all h is glo ry was outdon e by a lily o f t h e
field an d all h is glo ry le ft him a prey to sen suality : a n d
,

thi s l au n ched him i n to shamele ss p atron age o f id o l

worship u n til the glory o f h is great n e ss an d the l u st re
o f h i s gi ft s co mbi n ed w ith hei n ou sn ess o f his de fec t i on
, ,

have rem ai n ed bequeathed to all ages as an awful wa rn

i n g beaco n
’
.

N othi n g ismore u n reason able th an the O pi n io n so

o fte n expre ssed an d apparen tly t ruly felt that the poetic
mi n d i s deficie n t i n practical attributes The ex act .

reverse is n ot seldom the case with the hi gher types of

poetic ge n iu s an d certai n ly n othi n g could be more
,

practical than the exhortation s of Chri sti n a Rossetti in

thi s boo k She re fers to En gla nd by n ame an d i s per
.
-
,

su ad ed that our n atio n al ho n our w eal t h credit already , , ,

i mpaire d probably implies u n less we repe n t t he ,

 D EVO TI O N AL P RO SE LE TTER AN D SP I RI T
,

3 3
0

’
co mme n ceme n t o f our chast i seme n t
‘
B y an d by she .

r e mar ks that it i s n o li ght o ffen ce to traduce t he

‘

d ead I f we believe th at every man an d w om an born

’
.

i n to the world si n ce i t s begi n n in g still lives a li fe

u n bro ke n by de ath — still ret ai n s o n e co n ti n uity o f
‘

i n dividual e x i ste n ce from birth to thi s mome n t from ,

thi s mome n t to the D ay o f J ud gme n t — i f we feel assured

th at with them we sh all ourselves be jud ged then
, , ,

m u st we reali se i n full th at to cheri sh m alice toward s

t hem is simply devili sh — th e n mu st we realise wh at a
solem n thi n g it i s to write hi story an d sh e co n clude s

by thi s perso n al re fere n ce stri ki n g i n i t s grace ful ho mel i

,

n ess :

I feel
it a solem n thi n g to write co njectu ral sketch es
of S cripture characters ; filli n g u p o utli n es as l fan c y ,

but c an n ot be certai n may possibly have bee n the c ase

,

m aki n g o n e fi gure st an d fo r thi s virtue an d an other fo r

t hat vice attributi n g motive s an d colouri n g co n d u ct
, .

Y et I hope my mi sta kes w ill be forgive n me while I d o ,

most earn estly de sire every o n e o f my perso n ages to be

i n truth superior to my sketch
’
.

We have li kew i se some care fully thought ou t rem ar ks

o n t he arran geme n t o f d aily li fe o n the rel ative import

a nce o f re st an d wor k ; an d o n wh at really co n stitutes

work what re st ,
.

The beauti fu l H armon y alluded to already ope n s ,

’
,

with a little n ote i n which she tell s her readers th at it

,

was i n part i f no t wholly su gge sted t o me an d thou gh

’

the perso n who made the su ggestio n i s n ot certai n ly

kn o wn it was most probably her si ster M aria
,
.

She appro aches as said be fo re i n L etter an d Spirit

’

, ,

more n early th an i n her other w riti n gs to theological

di squi sition She was n ot a pro fessed theologian She
. .

—
had too d isti n ct a bias to the symbolical t o the poetic
3 4
0 C H RIS TI N A ROSSETTI
—an d was t oo little touched by the merely i n t e l l e c t u al ,

to excel i n theological di squi sition Occasio n a l l y h ow .

,

e ver particul arly i n her p rose devotio n al works w e c o me

, ,

upon passages i n which her n atu ra l co mmo n se n se a nd

her n atu ral eloquen ce en able her to d eal w ith t h e m es
more or less theo logical w ith m u ch po we r .

Time F l ies : AReadi n g Diary with t he app r o p r ia te ,

’

mo tto Ad ay s marc h n earer home from Jam es M o n t

’

gomery w
, as publi s hed i n 1 88 5 I t was dedic at e
.d t h u s :

M y B eloved Example , F rien d ,

M O THER .

Yer chi ld ren ar i se

J u
p, a nd ( al l her blessed .

Time F lies the disti n ctio n o f con tai n i n g m o re

’
has
frequen t perso n al re feren ces than any other o f her b o o ks ,

u n less it be The F ace o f the Deep

‘
I n deed i t m ay .
’

al mo st be called a ki n d o f spiritual autobiography F or .

eve n whe n there are n o ob vi ou s perso n al allusion s m any

o f the o ri gi n al thoughts an d pregn an t sayin gs that
e n rich the boo k must have had their root i n her o wn
spiritual experie n c e Probably havi n g to write so me
.

thi n g about each d ay i n the year somethi n g that m ust ,

n ece ssarily be short an d th at ou ht al so t o be co n ci se

, g
an d pithy she fell bac k u n co n sciou sly o n her o wn w ide
, , ,

experie n ce w ide n ot i n the outer but i n the i n n er se nse

, , .

B e thi s as it may what has ju st bee n said give s an

,

added an d peculiar value to Time F lies altogether ,

’

apart from the remarkable literary merit o f the boo k .

As showi n g Chri sti n a Rossetti s breadth o f mi n d and

’

a mple charity de spite her firm an d u n waveri n faith

, g
n ot o n l y i n reli gio n but i n do gma it i s worthy of n ote , ,
 C HRI STI NA ROSSETTI
an d he fou n d t hat A
ho w, when gath a re m a i n ed a

Chri stian and repell ed h is overtures hi s a fl ec t ion

'

toward s her bec ame repugn ance She n arrat e s fu rt her

.

how he exhau st ed c ruel t y an d torture on he r i n v ain .

an d how subseq u e n tly A g a t ha di ed i n pri so n T he n .

she di scu sses an e w w ith simplicity an d fo r c e

, t he ,

fami l iar problem o f ho w far a man or a wo m a n may

di ffer o n importan t poi n ts an d yet love o ne a n o ther .

Her con clu sio n i s th at much real a ffection m a y exist

despite importan t di fferen ces of O pi n ion an d sh e c loses ,

her rem arks by quoti n g St Pa ul s word s at At h ens

.
’

I fou n d an alt ar with thi s i n scription T o the U

“
n k n own
,

God .

‘
Tim e F lies
con tai n s man y sayi n gs o f C h r i st i na s
’ ’

full o f stri ki n g commo n se n se such as thi s F o r m an y arc

“
they of whom the world is both n o t wort h y and
ign oran t or th i s u n der date of F eb ruary 1 8 wh e re she
’
, ,

add u ce s some excelle n t lesso n s from the quai n t r e m ark

o f a frie n d who sai d co n cern i n g her own
,
— n ot C h ri st i na

Rossetti s feet that it was a good thi n g they w ere so

— ’
,

large for thu s an yon e could wear her boots Th e n we .

have a n eat an d sen sible litt le homily w ith con si d erable ,

fresh n ess on the squ ar e man i n a rou n d hol e Later

’
, .

we have a cheer ful little exhort ation o n the subj ect of

’
dirt as the symbol o f so methi n g out of place Still
later there is a timely di squi sitio n o n the r elative
d utie s of hospitality i n which she poi n ts out that

‘
m an y cases the perso n who an n oy s an d the
In
pe rson who is an n oyed are b ot h in the ri ght or ( i f you ,

please ) are both i n the wron g

i llu strati her propo sitio n by the di f
f eri st a dard s of
ng n g n

co urtesy of an A rab ch ie f an d h is En gli sh gue st .

 D EVO TI O N AL P RO SE TI M E F LI ES 3 7
0

In e pon se to an en qui ry as to
r s whe t her the poem
a l l o cated to F ebruary I be i i
5 g n n n g
M y l ove whose hear t i s t en der, sa id to me,

an d e n di n g
An d sti ll she keeps my heart a nd keeps i t s key,

re fers to her sister her you n ger brother , writes to me

‘
Icertai n ly regard it as applyi n g to M aria The .

zu d li n e a moo n l ac ks li ght
, & c i s con cl usive to me .
, .

M ari a had a very rou n d face an d C hri sti n a was much i n ,

the h abit o f c alli n g her M oo n M oo n y & c I have n o , , .

doubt that M aria on some occ asion made thi s her cue
fo r sayi n g some t hi n g very li ke w hat appe ars i n the
poem However I n ever kn ew her t o c all C [hri sti n a]
.

”
her Su n or a n ythi n g of the sort
, .
’

At F ebruary 8 ome subtle an d carefully d i f

are s

feren t i at ed rem ar ks respecti n g heave n an d mu sic i n the ,

course o f which Chri sti n a poi n t s out that mu sic to be

mu sic mu st n ot be mo n oto n ou s an d th at therefore a ,

heave n of mu sic eve n i f that co n ceptio n of heave n

,
’

be n ot somewh at n arrow an d u n reason able would be ,

a pl ace o f variety n ot o f mo n oto n y U n der d ate o f

, .

M arch 2 8 an d A pril 1 6 she shows con clusively th at, ,

what she aptly c all s phy sical grievou s besetme n t s may

’

n ot rel atively be di sadva n tageou s she al so at the seco n d

d ate avers how even our mo st cheri shed O pi n io ns almost

i nevitably are modified by time drawi n g therefrom thi s ,

cheerful moral
0

If even time la sts lo n g e n ou gh to reverse a verdict

Of time how much more eter n ity
,

L et u s t ake coura ge secon d ary as we m ay fo r the,

r se t app a r O f our selve s li ke wi se the comparative

p e n e .

’
aspect will fade away the po sitive will rem ai n ,
.

At M ar c h7 we meet with a few word s about Vivia

 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
Perpetua the martyr on t he subject of whose pa t hetic
, ,

career the author o f N eare r my God to Thee w r ote a

d rama full of force an d poetical en t husi asm C h r i sti na .

Rossetti s special powers O f reaso n i n g are ad m i rably

u sed i n her moralisin gs o n the F east o f St G eo rge .
,

M artyr T he e n try u n der M ay 8 has pec uli ar i n t erest

.
,

an d reveal s her love o f William B la ke :

‘
There a de si gn by William B lake sym b o l i c of
is
t he R esurrection I n it I behold the descen di n g soul
.

an d the ari si n g body ru shi n g to gether i n an i n di sso luble

embrace an d the desi gn amo n g all I recoll ec t t o h ave ,

see n stan d s alo n e i n expre ssi n g the raptu re o f t hat

,

reu n ion
— an pi n ion worth quoti n g whe n we recoll ect how
O

re at appare n tly was the i n flue n ce o f B l ake o n her

g , ,

o wn wor k thou gh it i s ri ght to add what M r W il l ia m

, .

Rossetti tell s me
‘
I t would I thi n k be an error to su ppose that
C [hri sti n a ] at an y time re ad B [l ake ] much or c on
st an t l y — certai n ly she pri zed the little she did rea d .
’

The e n try u n der M ay 8 closes with a su itabl e

quotatio n from Cayley s tran slatio n o f D an te s ’ ’
P ara
di se Can to X I V
,
’
.

U n der d ate O f Au gu st 30 tact is di scu ssed shre wdly .

Her e n try for the followi n g day ( where she d wel l s on ,

the resembl an ce o n ce poi n ted out to her bet wee n a

, ,

rey p a rrot an d an eleph an t ) seem s at first si ght to h ave

g
a quality a k i n t o humour were it n o t for the g ri m ,

seriou sn e ss o f the word s w ith which she co n clud es

I t i s st artli n g to reflect that you an d I may be

wal ki n g about u n abashed an d j au n ty, whil st our fellows
observe very queer li ke n esses amon gst u s
A
.

n y o n e m ay be the ob server : an d equally an y o ne

may be the ob served .

3 I o C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
su pposi n g t hat C hrist i na Rosset t i s kno wled ge o f t he ’

B oo k o f the R evel atio n an d her fon d n ess for it h ad t h eir

, ,

ori gi n i n very early days probably i n M r W i l l iam , ,

.

Rossett i s O pi n ion by t he age of ei ght or n i ne Sh o u ld

,
.

such be the c ase an d the i n fere n ce i s j u st it i s st ri k i n g

, ,

an d be auti ful to thi n k that her last an d i n some respec ts ,

her greatest literary achieveme n t was a comme n t ary on ,

the B oo k she had loved as a C hild .

The F ace of t he Deep deal s systemat ical ly w i t h ’

the e n tire B oo k o f the Revelatio n of St Joh n a c hap t er .

,
’

i n the comme n t ary bei n g devoted to each Chapter o f t h e

B oo k . O n e t wo or three verses o f the C hapter u n d er
, ,

co n sideratio n are pl aced i n bloc k type bei n g fol lo w ed ,

by a paragraph or paragraphs o f commen t .

Two an d a h al f o r perh aps three years el apsed

,

between the date at which she fi rst comme n ced t o wr i t e

her treati se an d the d ate on which she han d ed t h e
completed ma n u script to her publi shers .

The comme n tary as i n dicated by the su b title is o f

,
-
,

course l argely devotio n al N o e ffort o f set purpo se i s

.

made on t he author s part t o expou n d prophecy n o r

’

doe s she ma ke an y fixed attempt at exege sis Thro u gh .

out the reader i s impressed by her childli ke hum ili t y

,

an d by her u n c o n sciou sn e ss o f the fact th at she posse ssed ,

i n additio n t o her other gi fts n o small sh are o f mi s ,

c ell an eo u s le arn i n V ery freque n tly w he n a word o r

g .

phrase su ggests somethi n g to awaken her lyrical gi ft she ,

breaks forth i n to sn atches O f exqui site son g Throu gh .

out the commen tary we h ave al so m an y n oble prose

litan ies (to u se the apt word by which M r Shi eld s .

spo ke o f them to me ) I n t hese sequen ces her r ic h

.

dictio n an d fin e ear for t h e rhyt hm of prose en able her

to excel Some of these i n deed m ost of them are
.
, ,
DE AL RO SE THEF ACEO F THED EEP
’
VO TI O N P 3 1 I

c h oice example s o f rhy t hmi c ally balan ced an d delicate -

p r o se O. n ce an d a ai n
g i n deed sh e reache
,
s such a ,

h i gh level of style that her work i s comparable with

t h e fi n est masterpiece s of pro se compo sition i n the
En gli sh l an guage with the work for ex ample of the
—
, ,

t ra n slators o f the authori sed versio n of the E n gli sh

—
B ible of J ames the F irst s time o f the compilers of
’

Th e B ook of Commo n Prayer an d with great—

w riters li ke Hoo ker an d J eremy Taylor .

Her Prefatory N ote with it s referen ce to her ,

’

si ster M aria h as bee n spo ke n of i n C hapter I I

, at page .

63. I t i s couched i n that characteri stic vei n o f di gn ified

humility ( the phrase is u sed for l ac k of a better) with
which stude n t s of her writi n gs are famili ar Thi s .
,

i n deed is the secret o f her wide i n fluen ce

, Very .

o ri gi n al li kewi se are the ope n i n g word s w herei n sh e

implies that i f she can n ot dive an d bri n g u p pearl s

she may at least collect amber Though she add s I .
’
,
’

,
‘

fail to iden ti fy Paradisaical bdellium I still may hope ,

to search out beauties of the o n yx ston e These .

word s are the key n ote o f the e n tire com me n tary .

O f a comme n tary O f such co n siderable len gt h

The F ace of the Deep ( exten di n g to five hu n dred an d
,
’

fifty t wo pages) it i s ma n i festly u n desi rable even i f

-
,

space permitted to g ive a full an d detailed an alysi s

, .

The i n terspersed verse h as bee n discussed i n Chapter

VI I an d it will there fore be su fficie n t to advert to
.
,

some O f t h e more importa n t prose pa ssage s .

She bases her O pe n i n g sen ten ces o n the first t wo

verses of chapter i of the Revelatio n an d writes
.
,

Thi n gs which mu st shortly come to pass .

— At th ” e

end o f 1 800 ye ars we are still repeati n g t hi s shortly ,

because it i s the word of God an d the testimo n y o f
3 1 2 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
Jesu s Chri st ; thu s starting i n fellowship o f p a t i en ce
w ith that blessed Joh n who own s al l Ch ri sti a n s as his
brethren ( see ver .

so emphasi si ng an ew what she regard s as the cen t r a l id ea

o f the bo o k I n the course o f her remarks on R
. ev i 12 . .

1 6 we have o n e o f t he first outbursts o f d e v o t i o n al

,

feeli n g which n oticeable i n all C hri sti n a Ro sse tti 5

,

religiou s wor ks are especially so i n The F ac e o f t he

,
‘

Deep An d these outbursts of devotion al O f ec static

.
’
—
feeli n g grew i n i n te n sity as she proceeded i n th e w r i ti ng
o f thi s tre ati se — as the sublimity o f her theme gr a d u ally

too k a deeper hold of her mi n d N othi ng sho ws m ore .

clearly her esse n tial san ity her essen tial com mo n sen se ,

— qualities i n w hich her mi n d was a ki n to the r eatest

g
mi n d s o f al l ages tha n that n ever th ro ugho u t The
—
F ace of th e Deep h as she o n ce departed eith er from
’

san ity or commo n se n se An d rememberi ng the tem p ra

.

tio n s which the O bsc u rity as well as the abo u n di ng ,

symboli sm o f the theme mu st have had for h er who , ,

was at o n ce so devout so poetic an d so pro n e to sy m , ,

b ol ism to say thi s o f The F ace o f the Deep is t o say

,

much and yet n ot to laud it u n duly

, .

Co n spicuou s ex amples o f her lita n ie s are to be

fou n d on pages 1 32 1 5 I 1 5 5 1 75 209 2 26 26 5 2 80 2 82
, , , , , , , , .

3 3.
2 39 8. 407. 40 8. 42 6. 45 6. 47 2. an d 474 . O ne of the
s hort est thou gh n ot less expressi ve
, of these , is th at on

t h e page fi rst n am ed

O Saviour show compa ssion ,

B ecau se I f Thou reject u s who shall receive u s ? ,

O Savi our Sho w compassion , .

B ecau se we are h al f dead yet n ot wholly dead , ,

O Saviour show compassio n , ,

‘
B ecau se Thou art the Good Samaritan the ,
Good
3 I 4 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
Tho u Who wast Cen tre of a fun eral proce ssi o n at
N ai n ,
B le ss
our mour n i n g .

Thou Who wast Cen tre of Samaria as Thou sa t t est

o n the well ,

B ri n g bac k st r ayed soul s .

Thou Who wast Cen tre O f all hei ghts on t h e M o u n t

o f B eati tude s ,

Gra n t u s to sit wi t h Thee i n heaven ly p l a c es .

Thou Who wast Cen t re of su fferers by t he P o o l O f

B ethesda ,

Heal u s .

Thou Who wast Ce n tre o f all harvest gro u n d w hen

Thou wen test throu gh the c orn field s wi t h Thy d i sc i p les ,

M ake u s bri n g forth to Thee thirty si x t y a , ,

hu n dred fold .
’

The litan y begi n n i n g ,

Jesu s Who did st touch t h e leper

‘
,

Deliver u s from an tipathies

Who did st d well amon g t he N azaren es ,
’
Deliver u s from i n compatibility ,

is i n troduced by w hat the author term s Purlieu s an d ‘

Approache s which ten d toward s or border upo n H a t red

of the R i ghteou s part o f her comme n tary on t he text ,

Sayi n g , Ht
ur n ott h e ear t h , n or t h e sea, n o r t he
t rees, t ill w e h av e seal ed t h e ser van t s of ou r God i n
’
t h ei r forehead s .

She tabulates an d n umbers ei ght of these purl ieu s and

appro ache s a foresaid u n der va riou s headi ngs Some .

o f these headi n gs are n otably ori gi n al as t hi s ,

6 Reciprocal an gles yours al ways in the w ron g

.
, ,
’

or thi s
7 R
. eciprocal sore n ess I al ways i n t he ri ht
g , ,
’

an d t he paragraph succeedi n the se headi i q a i tl

g n gs s u n y
e ffective :
 EVOTI O N AI RO SE THEFAC EO F THED EEP
’
D P
.
3 1 5
‘
Taki n g on e a day requ ire a wee k an d a
, yo u will
d ay for your sel f re form I alas foresee requiri n g much
-
.
,

m ore than a wee k an d a day for mi n e

’
.

Equally quai n t is her dictio n the passage con cern in

i n g the tran sce n de n t riche s of po verty where the holy
’

w oma n u n me n tion ed by n ame was her sister M ari a

’

, , ,

w h o had give n her a piece of their mother s n eedle wor k

’
.

Somewhat further on we have thi s thou ght ful ob ser ,

v atio n — ivi a limp e i to her w mi d

g n g g s n o n n

Ab
olute darkn ess e n gul fs me when I attempt t o
s .

reali se the ori gi n o f evil Yet eve n i n th at d ar kn ess .

w hich may be felt an d which I feel on e poi n t I dare ,

n o t he sitate to hold fast an d assert : evil had i t s ori gi n

i n the free choice o f a free will Without free will there .

c an be n either virtue nor vice ; without free choice

n eith er O ffe n ce n or merit
’
.

The lita n y which follows her expo sition of Re

v . xviii
2 2 , 2 3, an d eem s su gge sted al so by M ark VI I I
which s .

3 6 ,37 i s n o t,
quite so succe ssf ul i n literary qualitie s ,

for it does n ot reach the hi gh level o f style o f some o f

its predece ssors Studen t s of C hri sti n a R
. ossetti should
not however fail to read an d study n oble examples
, ,

of lita n ies at pages 45 6 472 an d 474 i n which they , , ,

will fin d fin e i n stan ce s of the skil ful u se o f an tithe si s .

The rem arkable phrase There was n o more sea

( R ev xxi I )
. h as O fte n .cau sed perplexity n o t u n mi n gled
with a vague feeli n g o f regret I s the phrase to be ta ken .

literally or is the sea to be regarded merely as an em

,

—
blem of sorrow sorrow that is to be don e away St .

John wrote the Apoc alypse i n Patmos an i sla n d t he

— —

sea w o u ld there fore n ecessarily seem to him ( each time

that with weary heart he looked upon it) as somethi n g

, ,

that sepa rated him from those he loved best Thu s by .

a men tal process wi t h which all th i n kers are familiar the

, ,
3 1 6 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
ca se u would
appear even tually to stan d for the e ffec t ,

an d the sea itsel f would become u n co n sciou sly an e m b l e m

of separation N o r mu st we forget that the passi o n fo r

.

the sea i s a passi on o f comparatively modern ti mes It .

was a passion u n felt by the an cie n ts .

Chri sti n a R
’
ossetti s ob servatio n s on t h i s po i n t are

so frau ght w ith her own peculiar symboli sm so fu l l o f ,

the idiosyn crasies of her o wn me n tal attitude i n r eg ar d

to i n terpretatio n that they are well worth y of qu ot a t i o n
,
.

She says 31 the course o f her commen ta ry on C h a p ter

‘
I . An d
I saw a n ew h eav en an d a n ew eart h :
for t h e first h eav en an d t h e first eart h w ere passed
aw ay ; an d t here w as n o mor e sea .

Heaven an d earth are to be ren e wed N ot so t he

A
.

sea There was n o more sea ”

n d where fo re n o t t h e
.

Regardi n g
the first creatio n as symbolic al o ne ,

an swer ( however i n adequate please God n ot c on t rad ic

, ,

tory of truth ) su ggests itsel f The harvest of earth .

ripe n ed was reaped was garn ered the sea n ou ri sh ed

, ,

an d brou ght up n o h arvest I t bore n o fruits wh i ch

.

remai n it wrou ght n o wor ks which follow it I t was

, .

moreover ori gi n ally con stituted as a passage n ot as an ,

abode : across it man toiled in rowi n g to the h aven

w here he would be but itsel f n ever was an d n ever could
,

become that haven Thu s it presen ts to u s a picture of

.

all wh ich mu st be left behi n d .

Yet how shall we be co n soled fo r our lost sea with

i t s fam iliar fa sci n atio n i t s deli ght s it s li felo n g e n de ared
, ,

n ess ? L o !heave n e n shri n es i t s own proper sea o f glass

as it were mi n gled w ith fire an d the upli fted voice of,

the redeem ed i s as the sou n d o f ma n y waters There .

at last i s ful n e ss o f that joy where as the sea n ever yet

,

was full there plen teou sn ess o f pleasures as a river .

There mu sic u n heard hitherto u n imagi n able i n lieu of , ,

the lo n g drawn wail of our bitter sea

-
.
 C HRI STI NA ROSSETTI
l amour o f eloq u e n ce sed u ction of i magi n at i ve e m o t i o n
g ,

strip it o f eve ry adorn me n t let it stan d o u t bal d a s i n

,

the Ten stern C omman dmen ts Stu dy sin when st u d y it .

,

we mu st n ot as a reli shi n g pastime b u t as an em bi t t e r i n g

, ,

deterren t Lavi sh sympathy on the sin n er n ev e r o n

.
,

the sin Say i f we will an d i f we mean it Would G o d I

.
, ,

had di ed for thee n evert heless let u s flee at t he c r y o f

’
such lest the eart h swallo w u s up al so
, .

The passage imm ediately en sui n g i s giv e n h e re

chiefly becau se of i t s autobiographical all usio n an d i t s
C haracteri stic admi ssio n o f error How few au t h o rs .

would h ave bee n equ ally ca n did ! The person re fe r r ed

to was probably her si ster M aria
‘
I t was o n ce poi n ted out to me that i n the B i b le ,

t he first me n tio n o f a l amb occurs i n con n ectio n w ith

Abraham s virtu al sacrifice o f I saac : I saac sp ake
’

u n to A brah am his father an d said M y F ather an d he

An d he said B ehold t he fire
, ,

said Here am I my so n
, , .
,

an d the wood but where is the l amb for a burn t o ffer

in g ? An d Abraham said M y so n” God will prov ide
An d I thi n k t h e
, ,

H im sel f a l amb for a burn t O fferi n g -

.

obse rvatio n is essen tially correct d espite the seven e we ,

”
lambs o f the precedi n g chapter i n asmuch as these d o
n o t belo n g ( so to say ) to the same spiritual co n text .

Yet had I bee n aware o f both texts I should n ot ( i n

, ,

Seek an d F i n d ) without a modi fyi n g clau se h ave re ferred

to I saac s word s as absolutely first
’
.

[ Which over si ght i n vites me to t wo wholesome pro

c eed i n gs : to b eg my reader s pard on for my errors ; ’

an d ever to write modestly u n der correctio n ] .

M r Shield s h as poi n ted out to me how n aive yet how

.
,

ch armi n gly i n dividual is thi s se n ten ce which she pl aced

,

at the close o f The F ace o f the Deep — her latest an d ,

as I can n ot help thi n ki n g i n virtue o f ma n y fin e qu alities

,

both of thought an d o f style her n oblest p rose work ,

If I ha v e been ov er bol d i n at t empt i ng sue/t a work a:

ti: i s, I beg par d on
’
.
 CH AP TER X
CRITIC AL SU RVEY

Remarks respec t i n
g vari ous aspec ts Christ ina
of ossett iR ’
s work, and

r easo ns why i t is l ikel t o retai n i t s val

y u e .

I T i s n otpo ssible to acce n tuate overmuch the in flu

en ce on Christi n a Rossetti o f her I talia n li neage her early ,

surrou n di n gs an d the fac t that when quite you n her

, g , ,

mi n d was saturat ed with I tal ian literature She was .

probably i n fluen ced first by her father an d at a little , ,

later date by M etastasio the lyric poet Her survi vi n g

,
.

brother tell s me that she n ever cared much for Petrarch :

an d o f B occaccio he remar ks she n ever I should sa
’
, , y , ,

read a do ze n li n es .
’

He add s
B u t she was greatly fasci n ated by Tasso w he n she first
read that poet abo ut 1 848 She al so en joyed parts
A
.

of riosto thou gh she forebore to read him freely for

“
fear of comi n g upo n improper passages
’
.

She was as d eeply i n fl uen ced by Dan te as was an y other

member o f the R ossetti family b u t thi s was n ot u n til a
,

sub sequen t period I n mature li fe her kn owl ed ge of

.

Dan te an d even o f Petrarch was great as is shown by

, ,

the skil fully chose n quotation s from both these writers ,

refix e d to each of t h e so n n ets i n her n oble so n n et

p
M on n a I n n omi n ata
’
sequ e n ce

H
.

er elder brother told M r Arthur H ughes an d .

,
3 2 0 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
s eve ral o f his other earl y frien d s that he regret t e d t h e ,

morbidi t y o f his si ster s work A ’

n d t here c an b e no .

d oubt that there is some grou n d for the regre t M an y .

,

even o f the fi n er O f her earlier poem s have an a t m o ,

sphere which i n an other poet we should c o n si d er

, , ,

u n rea so n ably sad Greatn ess however is j u stified o f i t s

.
, ,

re sults an d we are tempt ed to feel that eve n C hr i st i n a

,

Rossetti s most morbid strai n s the skel et on s of C h ris

ti n a s variou s closets to quote a droll ph rase fro m a
’ ’
,

l etter by her brot her the poet to her mother a l e t t er

, , ,

di sti n guished becau se o f i ts rather grim humour) w er e

ri ght an d reason able merely because they we re h ers .

N or mu st it be forgotte n that man y you n g poets T en n y ,

son i s a fam iliar example had a ten de n cy tow ard s ,

m orbidity or at l east to melan choly i n their e ar ly

, ,

w or k . I t may be as M r J S C otton the well kn o w n

, . . .
,
-

scholar on ce said to me w he n di scu ssi n g thi s su bj

,
ec t ,

that sad n ess i n itsel f is sometimes a si gn of the posses

sion o f the hi gher poetic qualitie s i n imperfect dev el op

men t .

The critic of the far future of whom we hear so ,

much an d thi n k so little w ill accord a high pl ace ,

amo n g the great poets O f thi s ce n tury to the poet t o

whom we owe A mor M u n di A n A

’
pple Gatheri n g ,
‘
,
’

M aude C lare The Co n ve n t Threshold an d M aid en

’ ’
, ,

Son g He will si n gle out as amon gst the fi n e st l o ve

.
’

son gs i n our la n guage su ch a flawle ss lyric as Whe n I

,
—
am dead my dearest a lyric so full of atmosphere so ,

perfect i n it s te n dern ess an d i n its portrayal of a ffecti o n .

C hristi n a Rossetti was a ki n to B lake an d her ki n ship ,

to some o f the Eli zabetha n poets such as Southwel l , ,

was hardly le ss n ear Her own symbo lism was allied

.

t o the symboli sm o f B la ke n otably i n such a piece as ,

 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
women wer e qually firm believers in t he esse n ti al t r u t h s
e

of C hri sti a n ity N o doubt E

. li zabet h B arret t B ro w n i n g
was t he more learn ed o f t he t wo i n t he academ i c sen se ,

o f the w ord fo r u n li ke the author of Wi n e o f C y p r u s

’
‘
, , ,

C hri sti n a R ossetti was u n acquai n ted wi th Gree k o r

Hebrew n or had she that i n tuitive sympathy wi th t h e
,

cl assic attributes temper an d mood o f mi n d w h i c h is

, ,

sometimes appare n t i n the w ork of E li zabeth B a rre tt

B rown i n g . C ertai n ly t he outloo k on l i fe o f t he
t wo great writers u n der co n sideration was n o t a l itt le
di ffere n t the l ast n amed was n atu rally dispo sed to
broader views both in social an d e t hical matte rs than
was C hri sti n a R ossetti .

Thou gh as ju st i n dicated both had great fon d u es

, ,

for I taly t heir views as to liberty i n gen eral an d po ssi bly

, ,

as to l iberated I taly were n ot the same ,

The author .

of Casa Guidi Wi n dows held stro n gly the co n ception

o f liberty almo st as a good i n itsel f ( which was o n e o f
‘

t he te n et s o f a certai n group of thi n kers amon g whom

she moved in l ater li fe ) rather tha n as me rely a mean s

to an en d .

The fi n est work of C hri sti n a Rossetti i n verse reaches

a hi gher poi n t o f tech n ical excelle n ce t h an t he fi nest

work o f E li zabeth B arrett B rown i n g ; i n deed it might ,

be said that Chri sti n a s verse as a whole is o f higher

’

tech n ical excellen ce tha n that of Eli zabeth B arrett

B rown i n g . I n reli gio n the l atter had a much wider
view than had Chri sti n a for her mi n d was less con cerned
,

w ith t he doctri n al aspects O f faith th an w ith probl ems ,

such as the problem o f the myste ry o f su fferi n g which lie ,

j u st beyon d the sphere o f —

devotio n p roblem s such as
that which she dealt with in C owpe r s Grave ’
.
’

I t i s well worthy o f n ote that both E li zabeth B arrett

 CRI TI C AL SURVEv— E . B . B RO W N I N G 3 3
2

B i
r o w n n g an d Chri sti n a Rossetti
disti n gui shed as were
w r i ters o f so n n ets The latter s elder brother is reported
.
’

t o h ave said that h is si ster could n o t have w ritte n

th e Son n ets from the Portugue se The j u stice of .

’

t h e rem ark may appe ar doubt ful w he n we recollect

t h e superb an d i n divi d ual series o f so n n et s c alled M o n n a ,

I n n omi n ata so n n ets char ed

-
g w ith the mo s t eth e

r ea li sed love p assio n i n it s mos t spiritual developme n t .

I n al l comi n g time it will be o n e o f the chie f glories o f

C hri sti n a R ossetti th at M on n a I n n omi n ata thou gh ’

b ased o n the same ge n eral theme as the So n n ets from

t h e Portu gue se should sho w n o i n debted n e ss to the m
’

i n thou ght or i n metrical re source .

Perhaps N o xliii of t he So n n ets from the Portu

. .

g u ese be g i n n i n g

Hw do o I love t hee ? Let me c ou n t t he ways .

I l ove t hee to t he dept h an d breadt h an d height

M y sou l c an reac h,

is most aki n to C hri sti n a Rossetti s method an d thi s ’

,

an d that yet more n oble so n n et by E li zabeth B arrett

B rown i n g e n titled Perplexed M u sic comm en c i n g
’

, ,

Eperien c e like a pale mu sic ian holds

x , ,

Ad u lcime of pat ience in his han dr

o et i n theme con ception an d executio n o n e of the

a s nn , , ,

—
most per fect i n the l an gu age should be ex ami n ed care
fully by t he stude n t O f poetic form who w i shes to see the
aspects of similarity an d o f di fferen ce betwee n our two
more famous women poets Such a co mpari so n wil l .

q
show furthermore that it is simple eleme n tal emotio n , ,

ade uately expressed which m akes a poem really great , ,

not A rt alo n e thou gh of course A

, rt whe n properly u sed
, , ,

is an i n valuable aid Da n te Gabriel passed som e severe

.
3 4
2 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
s tricture s on certai n of his si ster s poems owi n g to what ’

he c all ed t he fal setto mu scul arity o f the i r B arrett

B rown i n g st yle " Perso n ally I am not of opin ion that
.

these strictures were j u st i fiable I I I my view h ard ly any .

, ,

i f any trace O f the i n flue n ce o f E

, li zabeth B arret t B rown
i n g i s d i scern ible i n C hri sti n a Rossetti s work ’
.

Had space permitted it would have been well to

g ive a detail ed a n aly si s accomp a n i ed by fu l l q uo
,
t a

tion s of the way i n which Chri sti n a Rossett i 5 t reatment

,

o f the love passio n v arie s from that o f E l i zabeth Barrett

B rown i n g Possibly it may be admitted that t he latt er
.

writer has i n some re spec ts a greater hum an i n terest in

, ,

poem s li ke The R hyme o f t he Duch ess M ay Bertha ,

’

i n t he L a n e an d T he L ay of the B rown R osar y T his

’ ’
, .

is becau se her way o f looki n g at li fe was broa der than

C hri sti n a R ossetti s and she had perhaps a d eeper ln’

si ght i nto ordi n ary social i n tercourse F or t h i s reason .

I do not thi n k C hri sti n a R

q
'

ossetti could have given us

poem s li ke The Lady s Yes AM an s Re u i rements
’
’ ’ ’
,
,

or Amy s C ruelty poem s which Show great kn owledge

—’

o f the n u ances w hich to ma k e up every d a y con

g o

duct . A M a n s R ’
equirem en ts might almo t be c ll s a e d
a satire o n the di sposition of the co n ve n tio n al male
whe n con templati n g love maki n g Amy s Crueltl "-
.
’

agai thou gh i ti ct with equal fidelity an d truth g

n , n s n oe s
,

deeper an d tell s u s as on ly a woman o f ge n iu s could

, ,

tell u s a wom an s feeli n gs with regard to love But

’
.
, .

after all these poem s o we their success n ot t o their

,

qualitie as poem s but to their vivid n e ss an d i n sig t

s h in

depicti n g the con ditio n s they describe Reader s o f .

See!D an te Gabr i el Rossett i Hi F : ami ly L etters; rvi t b a Mi mi“

vol . i i p 323
. . .
3 2 6 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
B u t when ou r swallows fly back t o t he Sou t h ,

To t he sweet Sout h, t o the sweet Sou th,

The t ears may come again in to my eyes
O n t he ol d wi se ,

An d the sweet name to my mou th .

I am tempted irresi stibly to make some co m par ison ,

however short betwee n Chri sti n a Rossett i s w o r k and

,
’

th at o f Jean I n gelow B oth poets have give n u s t e

.

markable poem s which deal wi t h varyi n g aspe c t s o f the

supern atural T .hou gh Chri sti n a R ossetti s The H o ur and
’

the Ghost an d Jean I n gelow s R

,
’
equie scat i n P ace are
’ ’

di ssimilar i n much they are similar i n thi s t h a t both

, ,

achieve the d ifli c u lt task o f i n troducin g t h e super

‘

n atural by simple me an s i n both poem s the fin e effects

are the result o f atmosphere o f i n tuitio n ra t h e r than
, ,

o f defi n ite st ateme n t N O poem o f the supern at u ral can

.

be really e ffective u n less it reaches it s hi gher e ffects by

su gge stio n I t i s so w ith C olerid ge s C hri stabe l and it ’
’
.
,

i s thi s qu ality i n the t w o poem s u n der di scu ssi o n whi ch

g ive s them a r an k a lmo st cla ssic .

B oth poet s ar e fi rm believers i n the veritie s o f t he

Chri stian faith though Jean I n gelow has le ss symboli sm
, ,

an d loo ks o n reli gio n from a some wh at di ffe r e n t and

perh aps a more En gli sh sta n dpoi n t .

The prese n t mo n ograph is a record as well as a

study ; therefore it may n ot be u n fit t i n i f certain
g
critical rem ar ks by co n tempora ry writers as to C hri stina
Rossetti are i n troduced here M r Sw i n burn e s ad mira
. .
’

tion i s well kn o wn an d is expressed i n th ese li n es taken

,

from h is B all ad o f A ppe al to her ’

B l ith e r mad e all the d i m sen se c l ear

ve se

That smil es of babbli ng babes con ceal

P rayer s perfec t h eart spake here an d h ere
’
 CRITI CAL SU RVEY— C ON TEM PO RARY O P I N I O N 3 7
2

Rose n otes of blameless woe an d weal ,

M ore soft t han t his poor song s appea

’
l .

Where orchard s bask , wh ere c orn fiel d s wave,

They d ropped like rain s t hat Clean se an d lave ,

An d scatt ered all the year al ong ,

L ike d ewfall on an A p r i l grave ,

Sweet wat er from t he wel l o f son g .

Whe n writi n g t o M r . Hall C ai n e , her elder brother

say s :

M
[ ]r Sw i n bur n e wh o i s a va st admirer o f my si ster s
’

thi n ks the Adve n t perh ap s the n oblest o f al l her

.
, ,

poem s an d al so specially loves the Pa ssi n g Away

, I .

do n ot kn ow that I quite agree w ith your decided

—
prefere n ce fo r the t wo so n n ets of hers yo u si gn ali se the ,
” ”
World is very fin e but the other Dead be fore Death
I thi n k A
, , ,

a little se n sation al f or ber fter De ath o ne

After Commu n io n I n my
.

”
of her n obl est an d the o n e
, .

ow n vie w the gre atest o f al l her poem s is th at o n

A very
,

F ran ce after the siege To d ay for M e .

sple n did piece o f femi n i n e ascetic passio n i s The “

Co n ve n t Thre shold
”
.

In Pre face con tributed t o M r A C Pollard s

a . . .
’

edition o f Herric k M r Swi n bur n e w rite s ( an d thi s

, .

further prai se i s emph atic o n accou n t o f i t s co n n ectio n )

‘
I t has o fte n bee n objected th at he [Herric k] d id
mi stake him sel f fo r a sacred poet an d it can n ot be
de n ied that hi s sacred verse at i t s worst is as O ffe n sive
as h is secul ar verse at i t s w orst ; n o r c an it be de n ied
th at n o Severer se n te n ce o f co n dem n atio n c an be passed
upo n an y poet s w ork B u t n either Herbert n o r Crash aw
’
.

could have bettered such a divi n ely beauti ful triplet as

t hi s
H
We see im c ome, an d kn ow im ou rs, H
Wh o wit h Hi s su n sh n i e an d Hi h s s owers
Tu rn s all t he pat i
en t rou n d
g to flowers .

Th at i s w orthy o f M i ss o ssetti R hersel f : an d prai se

of such work c an go n o hi gher
’
.
3 2 8 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
Mr W M. . . Rossetti
ever achieved better c ri t ical n

work than whe n in h is spiri ted de fe n ce of his O l d fri end

, ,

M r Swi n burn e he wrote ch aracteri stically a n d with

.
’
, ,

admirable an d subtle perception abo ut his own sister : ,

The reader will fin d in o n e pl ace a re feren c e t o t he

e t I n gs o f a member o f my o wn family I ad v i sed ly .

keep thi s exactly as it stood bei n g better pleased that ,

it should be publi shed with my n ame to it t h a n (as

would have bee n don e accordi n g to the ori gi n al sc h eme)
an on ymou sly I should not have shirked to h av e t he
.

an on ym ou s tribute traced home to me ; an d a m still

—
less loth to avow that tribute sayi n g i n it , as I have
do n e, n othi n g beyon d what I kn ow or believe to be
true . The last man who n eed love the an o n y mous
sy stem i s a sel f re specti n
g critic-
acquai n ted w it h m any

O f t he perso n s co n cern i n g whom it i s h i s lot to w rite .

‘
The last our presen t poetic quartett Ch r isti na
of

Rossetti is a si nger of a di fferen t order from all t hese

,

, .

reachi n g tru e arti stic e ffect s with appare n tly littl e study
an d as little o f mere ch an ce — rather by an i n tern al
se n se o f fit n e ss a me n tal touch as delic ate as the fin ger
,

tips O i the bli n d She simply as it were pours words

.
, ,

i n to the mould o f her idea ; an d the resultan t effigy

comes ri ght bec au se the idea and the mi n d of whic h it
, ,

i s a ph ase are beauti ful o n e s seriou s yet femi n in e and

, , ,

i n part almost pl ayful There is n o poet with a more .

marked i n sti n ct for fu si ng the thou ght i n to the i mage and ,

t he image i n to the thou ght : the fact i s al ways to her

em o tio n al n ot merely positive an d the emotion clothed
, ,

i n a sen sible shape n o t merely abstract , N 0 treatment .

c an b e more arti stic ally wom an ly i n

ge n e ral scope than

this which appears to u s the most esse n ti al disti n ction

o f M i ss R
,

ossetti s writi n gs I t mi ght be fu t ile to seek

’
.

for an y poi n t s o f direct an alogy or o f memo rable

diverge n ce bet wee n M r Swi n burn e an d M i ss R ossetti .

The prevalen t cade n ce o f the poem Rococo and the

.

”
,
”
lyric al structure o f M ado n n a M ia may however , ,
.

su gge st that the poet i s a n ot u n sympathetic reader of

Swi n bu m e r P oems an d B al lads ACn t i a rm

'
’ ‘

. .
330 C HB I STI N A ROSSETTI
B ro w n i n g, M i ss P roc t o r, an d M rs em an s B u t fo r . H .

t he qu ality o f co n sciou s art , an d for mu sic an d c o l o u r o f

word s i n regu l ar com position , M iss ossett i se e m s t o R
mysel f to have bee n u n matched The faul t s o f h i t s . .

B rown i n g she did n o t follow, an d c u rio u s it is t h a t t he

more learn ed l ady sho ws most o f t h e err o rs whi c h l e ar n
i n g is Suppo sed to cou n t eract Thi n gs o f M iss o sse t t i s
. R ’

w ill l ive wi t h thi n gs o f C arew s an d S uc kli n g s ' ’ ’

Dr Richard Garn ett

. in The Dict ion ary o f N a t io n al
B iography said
”
Her Gobl i n M ar ket
ori gi n al i n con c e p t i o n is
A
,

sty l e an d structure
, as im ag i n ative as the , n c i en t

M ari n er
”
an d C omparabl e
, o n ly to Shakespea r e fo r
th e i n si ght shown i n to u n hum an an d yet sp i r i t u al
n at u re s
’
.

In ‘
The N ew Review ’
o f F ebru ary 1 89 5 , M rs .

M ey n ell Spo ke fi n ely thu s

To the n am e o f poet her ri ght ure that p roo f is SO s

o f it i s t o be fou n d eve ry where i n her u n co n si d e red

”
ways an d al way s irre fut ably
,
Ho w d oes thi s po e t or .

th at approach the best beauties o f h i s poem P F rom

the side o f poetry or from the side o f commo n pl ace ?
C hri sti n a R
,

ossetti al way s drew n e ar from the side o f

poetry from wh at t o u s who are n o t altogether poets , .

i s the further side She c ame fro m beyo n d those hi ll s

. .

She i s n o t o fte n o n the hei ghts but al l her access i s by ,

p oetry O f few i n deed i s thi s so true

. .
’

Mr . Arthur Chri stopher B e n so n , i n ‘

The N ation al
Review of F ebru ary 1 89 5 , rem ar ked d iscem in gly about
her :
Some w riters h ave the power o f c reat i n g a spec ies of
ae ri al l an d scape i n t he mi n d s o f their re aders o ften ,

v ague an d sh adowy n ot obtrudi n g itsel f stro n gly u pon

,

t he co n sciou sn ess but formi n g a quiet b ac kgrou n d li ke

, ,

the sce n ery o f portraits i n which the actio n o f the lyric

,

or the so n n et seem s to lie I am n ot n ow speaki n g of .

pictorial writi n g which defi n itely aim s at produ c in g

, ,
 CRI TI C AL SU RVEY— C ON TEM PO RARY O PI N I O N 33 1

w ith more less vivid n ess a hou se a p ar k a valley but

or , , , ,

lyrics an d poem s o f pu re thou ght an d feeli n g which ,

h ave n on e the less a h au n ti n g se n se o f loc ality i n which

the mood dream s itsel f ou t
Chri sti n a R
.

ossetti s mi re en seen e is a pl ace of

’
- -
’

g a rd en s orch,
a rd s w ooded di n gle s
, w ith a churchy ard i n ,

the di stan ce The scen e shi fts a littl e but the spirit n ever
.
,

wan ders far afield an d it i s C ert ai n l y Si n gu l ar th at on e

who lived o u t almo st the w hol e o f her li fe i n a city so
m ajestic sober an d i n spi ri n g as L o n don should n ever
, , ,

bri n g the co n sciou sn ess of streets an d thorou gh fares an d

populou s murmur i n to her writi n gs She whose he art .
,

was so w ith bird s an d fruit s co rn fiel d s an d farmyard ,

sou n d s n ever eve n revolts agai n st o r de spairs of the hu ge

,

desol ation the laboriou s mo n oto n y o f a great to wn She

, .

doe s n ot si n g o f the caged bird with exotic memorie s ,

O f freedom stirred by the flashi n w ater the h an gi n g

g ,

g rou n d sel o f her w ired pri so n but w ith a w i l d voic e with

, ,

vi sion s o n ly limited by the ru stic con ve n tio n alitie s o f

toil an d till age The dewy En gli sh w oodlan d the Sharp
.
,

sile n ces O f w i n ter the gloom o f l o w hu n g cloud s an d

,
-
,

the Si gh of weepi n g rai n s are her bac kgrou n d s .

’

In The Poets the Poetry o f the Ce n tu ry M r

an d
’
.

Arthur Symo n s has poi n ted out certai n aspects o f her

ge n iu s with much lucidity a n d force :

The ecret s [o f her tyle

seem s ] — hich
inno
ws

c en t ly u n aw are o f i ts o wn beauty
n o doubt —i ts
is, ,

si n cerity le adi n g to the employme n t o f homely word s

,

where homely word s are wan ted an d al way s of n atural ,

an d re ally expre ssive word s yet n o t si n cer ity on ly but ,

si n cerity as the serv an t o f a fi n ely touched an d ex ce

p
t io n al ly seei ng n ature Apower of seei n g fi n ely beyon d
.

the scope O f ordi n ary vi sio n th at i n a few word s is

t h e n ote o f M i ss R
, ,

ossetti s ge n iu s an d it bri n gs w ith it

’

a subtle an d as if i n sti n ctive power o f expre ssi n g subtl e

an d yet as i f i n sti n ctive co n ception s al way s C learly ,

al ways simply w ith a si n gul ar an d ofte n startli n g h omel i

,

n e ss yet i n a wa an d abo ut subject s as far removed from

, y
the borders o f common place as possible Thi s power is .

shown i n every d ivi sion of her poetry ; i n the peculiar

 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
witc hery o f the poem s d ea li n g wi t h t h e supern a t u ra l , in
t he exaltatio n s of the d evotio n al poems, i n t he p a r t i c u
lar charm o f the child so n gs, bi rd son gs, and n a t u re- -

lyrics, in the special variety and the special e x c e l l e n ee

of t he poem s of a ffection an d m editati o n Th e u n i o n .

o f homely yet al way s select lite ral n ess o f t reatm e n t w i t h

mysti cal vi sion ari n ess or vi sio n ari ness which i s som e t i m e s
mystical , con st itutes t he peculiar qu al ity of her p o e t ry
— poetry which has, all the same, seve ral po i n t s o f
approach an d d i sti n ct v arietie s o f c haracteri stic
’
.

M r L io nel Joh n so n i n
.
, The Academy ’
of J u ly 25 ,

1 896 h as remarked con cern i ng her with true c r i t i c al

Doubtless her poem s n ow compri sed i n three c o l ,

l ec t ed vol umes i n clude man y a piece o f airy fa n t asy

, ,

man y a l au ghi n g lyric m an y a poem born o f extern a l c i r

,

c u mst an c e ; but her characteri stic great n e ss lies i n h er

most i n timate most severe most passion ate an d sa c red
, ,

poems : i n the work which sets her i n the co mpa n y

o f Herbert Vau ghan the con verted Don n e C ra sh aw
, , , ,

F ath er Sou t hwell t he divi n e Herric k Cardi n al N ewm a n

An d by t his it is not mean t that her obviously an d osten
.
, ,

sib ly sacred poem s are alon e her greatest : m a n y

ot h ers poem s o f meditatio n or of passion w ith n o di st i n ct
, ,

Chri stia n cry i n them stan d side by side w ith t he ,

poem s divi n e an d devout Her fair an d ste m philo .

sophy o f li fe which n ever fail s to draw t o itsel f her

,

choicest po wers o f art is that whi ch marks out her ,

poetry for di sti n ction an d for ad miration Her more .

extern al work w ith it s gaieties an d beauti ful imagi n i n gs

, ,

i s full o f deli ghts

’
.

Chri sti n a Rossetti wa

l ways h appy i n her choice
s n ot a

of title s thou gh occasio n ally i n title s li ke A

, mor M u n d i , ,

li ke The Hour an d the Ghost or li ke The F ace of ,

’

the Deep her choice was particul arly good I have

,
’
.

rea son to suppo se th at she experie n ced some di fficulty

i n fi n di n g titl e s which pleased her B u t whether my .

,
 CI I RI STI N A RO SSETTI

urged (an d I have he ard i t so urged ) that her n a r r o w n ess

o f ra n ge an d her te n de n c y to d well too much o n o n e se t
,

o f emotio n s ma ke her work mo n oto n ou s

, I n su c h a c o n
.

te n tion there is a residuum o f truth An d i f fo r t h is .

’
,

reason alo n e her wor k i s the less li kely ever to b e c o m e

,

popular a a whole n the trict e se

, s i .s s n N ev er t h e l
. e ss
,

we mu st remember that there i s i n our l ite rature a g r o u p

o f w riters of whom i n rece n t time s sh e i s perh a p s t h e
, ,

—
chie f represen tative writers who u n burden t h e i r fu ll
,

hearts without thou ght o f arti fice or O f ar t i stic res t r a i n t

, ,

an d w ho are co n te n t i f a port io n o f th eir wor k i s r ead ,

d wells in the mem o ry or is l oo ked at agai n i n quiet h o u r s

,
.

Such w riters do n ot al ways con cern them selves wi t h t h e

g e n eral e ffect o f their w or k co n sidered i n i t s e n ti re t y .

I t has bee n said that in givi n g so much t i m e ,

thou ght an d l abour to reli giou s poem s an d to d e v o

, ,

t ion al an d other pro se wor k she impaired her po e tic

,

g i f
.t Our opi n io n as to the importa n ce o f thi s re m a r k
mu st depe n d m ai n ly o n the vie w we take as to w h at
con stitute s poetry an d as to what i s it s chie f value I s i t
, .

t o be chiefly valued as an exhibitio n o f metri c al hi gh A rt

or fo r i t s me ssage I S an author to be j ud ged by t h e

value o f h is me ssage an d n o t merely by the form in
,

which he expre sse s it P I s he to feel th at the respo n si

b il ity o f the li fe o f letters i s grave an d th at by his i n flu
,

e n ce on others h is pl ace w ill fi n ally be determi n ed P I f

we hold the message t o be the really importan t thi n g
so importa n t i n deed th at i f the w riter thi n ks he c an be st
, ,

deliver that me ssage i n prose it i s h i s duty to write prose

-
then we mu st hold her bl ameless in an y case I f o n .
,

the co n trary we hold the message u n importan t t hen

, ,

we mu st co n dem n her i f it be true as perh aps it i s tha t

, ,

she lost some of her poetic facul t y b y writi n g so much

 CRI TI C AL SU RVEY— TEAC HI N G IN PO ETRY 335

devotio n al m atter B u t even i f such be our opi n io n

.
, ,

we can n ot fail to admire the n oble purpo se s o f her

sacred lyric s o r the fin e qu alitie s o f her sacred pro se
, .

El sewhere i n thi s mon ograph I have made allusio n s

to or su gge sted the compari so n o f her wor k with that o f
,

variou s other poets o f reli gio n B u t n eve rtheless it may .

n o t b e o u t o f pl ace at thi s poi n t to ma ke some further

.

observatio n s on thi s topic She was as co n sciou s of the .

teachi n g po wer i n poetry an d believed as stron gly in it , ,

as the mo st u n im agi n ative verse w riter B u t her n atural .

aptitude fo r symboli sm an d her l arge poetic vocabul ary

preven ted her from ever becomi n g prosaic a n otable —

thi n g to say whe n we remember that some o f ou r fi n est

En gli sh poets h ave O fte n bee n prosaic I do n ot fin d .

in her reli giou s verse the i n flue n ce o f au t h ors li ke

I
Cowper an d Ng y tom thou gh i n some degree she was
at on e with them i n havi n g a did actic aim ; but to
Keble to F aber an d particularly to N e wma n she had
, , , ,

i n my jud gme n t much poetic ki n ship thou gh M r W M

, , . . .

Rossett i i n form s me that she thou ght n ot/t i ng of Kebl e

’
as a poet .

Her father s volume o f sacred verse LA

’ ’
rpa ,

Evan gelica given to the world it will be recollected

,
’
, ,

whe n he was n eari n g the clo se o f h i s stri ki n g c areer had a ,

m arked e ffect upo n her Such poem s as L A . n n u n zia

’

zio n e an d L a Pen tecoste were certai n to touch an d

u n con sciou sly Shape her thou ghts O f both Keats an d .

Shelley she was very fon d An d i f u n li ke most o f .

,

our sacred poets she was al way s poetic it was in a

, ,

large measure becau se she i n fu sed i n to sacred themes

t he same passion ate i n te n sity the same beauty ,

bo t h of l an guage an d of substa n ce which the se poets ,

u sed i n their mo st lo fty secular verse .

336 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI

in T
I n virtue of t he stately ,
the dign ified prose se u e n ces
he F ace of the Deep which I have ve n tu r e d t o c all
,
’
q
li tan ies I claim for Chri sti n a R
, ossetti a h i g h p l ace

amo n g t he very few great m asters of t hat rar e ki n d of

En glish prose which while disti n ct from po e t ry yet
, , ,

seem s to st an d on i t s t hresho ld .

Without possessi n g pro fou n d erudi ti on s h e had

su ffi cie n t of the learn i n g o f fact for t he purposes o f t h ose

o f her boo ks which she co n secrated absolutely t o r e lig i o n .

M oreover what she lac ked i n dry as du st eru diti o n w as far

- -

more t han m ade up by an exception al an alm ost u n su r ,

passed gi ft O f i n sight i n to t he i n n er mean i ng o f pa ssages .

Thi s was partly n o doubt the resu lt of her poet ic

, ,

i n tuitio n and t hi s feature m akes her work o f t h i s ki n d

,

a n ew glo y of Protesta n t theology

r .

I should have deemed that her sacred pro se gave

eviden ce o f her deep study of seve n tee n t h C e n t u ry
reli giou s writers an d that her study o f volu mes li ke
,

the prose treati se c all ed The M ou n t o f Olive s b y t he ,

’

poet best kn own u n der the n ame of He n ry Vau ghan ,

the Siluri st had n oticeably don e much to form her st yle

, ,

had not her you nger brother a ft er readi n g o ver my ,

man u script writte n to me

,

Deep study o f 1 7th cen tu ry reli giou s wri t ers

Did she study them at all ? Jeremy Taylor was a
g reat favou r ite with our mo t her an d I suppo se C [hri s
,ti n a]
—
h ad some kn owled ge o f h i m Vau gha n s M ou n t of
’

” —
Olives was I fan cy absolutely u n kn o wn to her an d I
'
questio n whether she c an have read a li n e o f V[aughan ] s
noet y earlier than I 8 5 or so
’
r 7 .

That an author s person ality is gen erally to be traced

’

or her work has so freque n tly bee n remarked that

i n h is
the remark has become a trui sm B ut it is especi ally .
 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
fo rget that C h risti n a R —
ossetti whether we loo k t o t he
—
qual ity or to the quan tity of her poet ry of devot i o n was
pre -
emi n en t amon g t he il l ustriou s En glish po et s who
h ave e n riched the l i te ratu re of Chri sti an teac h i n g by
t heir ge n iu s
. As lon g as Christi an ity remai n s t h e most
v ital force in the lives o f million s o f E n gli sh sp eak i n g
-

p e ople , the memory o f that po et o f th eir faith w h o ga v e

t hem such a poem as Passi n g away saith t he w o rld

,

passi n g away or P aradi se wi t h i ts exqui si t e la

,
’
,
’
s

st a n za the very qui n te sse n ce of C hri stia n ex pe c t atio n

,

-
who gave them that be auti ful hym n part o f w h i ch, .

begi n n i n g The Porter watches at the gate w as su ng ,

’

so fit t in ly at her fu n eral service — wh o ave th m t he

g g e

perfect li n es begi n n i n g Thy lovely sai n ts d o b ri ng

,

Thee love — will be cheri shed an d hon oured .

 B I B L I OG RAP HY
By J . P . AN DERSO N ,
B ri t i sh M u seu m

CO N T I B R UTI O N S TO MAGAZ INES ETC

ATHEN EUM . P oem . D eat h ’
s Ch ill B et ween O c t 1 4, .
’
. 1 848,
p . Reprin ted in v ol . i . of B ean tz el P oet r ,
fi y 1 85 3,

p 248

H
. .

P oem . eart s 848, p

’
C hi ll B et ween .
’
Oct . 21 , 1 .

P oem ‘
M irrors of Life an d D eath
.
’
M arc h 1 7, 1 877 e . . R
pri n t ed in P a g ean t , an d ot k A
e r P oems 1 88 1
, , p
2 5 . .

P oem n O c t ob er Gard en
.
’
AO ct 2 7, 1 877 epr in t ed in . R
A
. .

P agean t , an d otker P oems, 1 88 1 , p 1 0 3 . .

Son n et .
‘
Resu rgam .
’
J an . 2 8, 1 882, p . 1 24 . Repri n ted in
P oems, 89 1 , p 378 1 . .

P oem ‘
B irc hin gt on Ch u rc hyard
.
’
pr i l 29, . A 1 882, p .
538 .

Reprin t ed in P oems, 1 89 1 , p 3 1 8 . .

P oem ‘
M ic hael F M
. ossett i
’
F eb 1 7, . . R . . 1 883, p . 21 4 .

Reprin t ed in N ew P oems, p 1 81 . .

P oem Card inal N ewman

.
‘
ug 1 6, 1 890, p 2 2 5 e .
’
A . . . R
p ri n t e d in N e w P o em s, p 2 6 1 . .

THE GERM P oem D ream Lan d

.
’
By
. ll en lleyn, N o i . E A . .

J a n 1 8 5 , p
0 . 2 0 e p r i n t ed i.n Go b l i n M . a r keR
t, an d otker
P oems, 1 862, p 33 . .

P oem ‘
n
. nd
’
AE
B y llen l l eyn No i J
. E
an 1 85 0, p 48 A . . . . . .

R
epri n t ed in [V igkt i ng al e Val l ey , ed i t ed b y W i ll iam ll i n g A
ham, 1 85 9, an d in Gobli n M ar ket, and otker P oems, 1 86 2,
p 60 . .

P oem ‘
P au se of T
. A
h ough t ’
By E llen lleyn N 0 I I F eb . A . . . .

1 85 0, p 5 7 . . R
epri n t ed in Gobl i n M ar ket , an d otker P oems,

1 86 2, p 94 . .

Son g B y l len l l eyn N o i i F eb 1 85 0, p 64

. E A epri n t ed
. . . . . . R
i n Gobl i n M ar ket, an d otker P oems, I 862, p 6 5 . .

Poem . A
Test imon y B y llen ll eyn N 0 ii F eb 1 85 0,
’
. E A . . . .

p 3 7. ep ri n t
. ed i n G o b l iRn M a r ket , an d o tl re r P oems, 1 86 2,

p . 1 60 .
340 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
Poem .
‘
Repin ing .
’
By Ellen Alleyn . N O i ii . . M arc h 1 850,
p . 1 1 1 . Repri n ted
in N ew P oems, p 4 . .

P oem . Sweet D eat h ’

By l l en l leyn N o i i i M arch
. E A . . .

85 0,
1 p I I 7.epr i n t ed i n
. Gob li n MRa r ket , an d o t ke r P oems,

1 86 2, p 1 5 3 . .

TH E B OUQ UE T C ULLED F RO M M ARvLEE O N EGA RD EN S . Poem

Versi ( I tal ian )
’
. J une 1 85 1 t o Jan 1 85 2 p 1 7 5 .
, . . Re
pri n t ed in N ew P oems, p 269 . .

Poem ‘
L I n c ogn it a ( I t al ian )
’
.
’
J un e 1 85 1 t o Ja n 1 85 2, . .

p 2 1
. 6 R e p r i n t e
. d i n N e w P o e m s , p 2 7 0 . .

Corri spon d en za F amigl iare ’

J a n t o J u l y 85 2, p p
1 . . .

2 1 8, 2 1 9 ; J u l y t o D ec 1 85 2, pp 1 4, 1 5 , 5 5 5 7 . .
-
.

AI K EN S YEAR (probab l y con t ributed t o) Poem

’
B eh o ld I . .

St an d at t he D oor an d Knoc k ’
1 85 2 5 4 Re pr in ted in .
-
.

N ew P oems, 1 896, p 1 98 ( See N ot es b y W M R . . ossetti . .

at p 389 of N ew P oems ). .

ME M OI R S or M A LL E T D U P AN Tran slat ed b y M r w M
H
.
. . .

Rosset t i and M r B enjamin Paul P art of t he t ran slation . . .

was execu t ed b y C h rist in a R ossett i t oward s 1 85

‘

I M PE RI AL D I CTI O N ARY o r B I OG RAP H v ( 1 85 7 Ed it ed by

D r W all er C on t ai n s man y art i cles b y Ch ri sti n a R
'
. . ossett i

on I t al ian w ri t ers an d ot h er celeb ri t ies .

THE C RAY ON ( N ew York) The Lost Tit ian ( Th is tale ap

‘ ’
. .

p e a re d i n T h e C r ay on a b o u t R e p r i n t e d i n C om m o n

p l a ce , a n d otk e r S k o r t S t o r i es , 1 8 7 0 , pp 1 4 5
— 1 6 3 . .

O N CEA W E EK P oem ‘
M aud e Clare
.
’
. Vol i N ov . . . .

pp 3 , 3 8 I . 82 R e p ri n t ed i n. G o bl i n M a r k e t , a n d o t ke r P o em s ,

1 86 2, p 76 . .

MA CM I LLA N SM A
’
OA zI N E P oem Up-h ill Vol i ii F eb 1 861
’
. . . . . .

p 3 5 2. R e p ri n t e
. d i n G o b l i n M a r k e t ,
a n d o tk er P o em s ,
1 86 2

p 1 2 8
A
. .

Poem ‘
B irt hd ay
.
’
A Vol iii p r i l 1 8 6. 1 , p 49 8 R.e p ri n ted . . .

in Gobl i n M ar ket , and otker P oems, 1 862, p 5 6 . .

Poem ‘
An Apple Gat hering Vol iv Aug 1 86 1 , p 329
.
’ -
. . . . .

R
eprin t ed i n Gobl i n A f ar ket, and otker P oems, 1 86 2, p 73
P oem ‘
Light Love
.
’
Vol vii F eb 1 86 3, p 287 R . eprinted
. . . . .

in T be P r i nce s P r ogr ess, a nd otlrer P oems, 1 866, p 92

’
. .

P oem The B ou m e Vol v ii M arch 1 863, p 382 Reprinted

.
’
. . . . .

in T be P r i nce s P r og r ess, and otlI er P oems, I 866, p 1 07

’
. .

Poem The F airy P ri nc e who rrived t oo Late Vol VII !

.
’
A . .

May 1 863, p 36 . .

P oem ‘
B ird s eye View
.
’
-
A ’
Vol viii J u l y 1 863, p 207 . . . .

Reprin ted i n Tke P ri nce s P rogr ess, an d otker P oems, 1 866,

'

p 86 . .
 342 C HRI STI NA ROSSETTI
P oem .
‘
A Royal
P rin c ess, pp 2 1 0 epri n t ed in The ’
.
-
. R
P r i n ce s P rog r ess, an d other P oems, I 866, p 1 23
’
. .

A WELCO M E O rigin al c ont rib ut ion s i n poet ry an d prose L on d on, .

1 86 3 Poem .D eam Lo e, pp 3 66
r v
’
6 — eprin t ed i n T
. he -
. . R
P r i nce s P r ogr ess, an d other P oems, I 866, p 5 9
’
. .

L YRA U E
CH ARI SI I CA Ed it ed b y ev 0 Shipley, 1 863 P oem
‘ ‘
. R . . . .

Th e Offerin g Of t h e N ew Law, t he On e O b lat io n o n ce

'

O flered , p 48
’
Reprin ted in N ew P oems, p 247
. . . .

P oem Conferen c e b etween C h ri st , t he Sain t s an d t h e Soul,

.

p . l 6 7 e p ri.n t ed i n GRo b l i n M ar k et , T h e P r i n c e
’
s P r o

g r es s a n d ot her P oem s , p
2 6 0 u n d er t h e t i tl e Of ‘
I w i l l l ift

H
, , .

u p mi ne eyes u n t o t he i ll s ’
.

LYRA EUCHARI STI CA . Secon d ed it i on . Ed it ed by Rev 0 . .

Shipl ey , 1 864 . P oem . Come un to M e, p 5 ’

. . Reprin ted
Poem .
‘
J esus , do I l ove Th ee ,
’
p 35 5 . .

LY RA M ESSI AN I CA . Ed it ed by R ev 0 Shipl ey,

. . 1 864 . P oem
‘
I kn ow you n ot , p 2 8 ’
. . Reprin t ed in N ew P oems, p 2 5 8 . .

Poem B efore t he pal in g

. of t he Stars, p 6 3 Repri n ted
’
. .

in A220 P p oems, . 2 44 .

P oem ‘
. Good F riday, p 2 36
’
epri n t ed in T he P r i nci s . . R
P r og r ess, an d other P oems, 1 866, p 2 1 4 . .

P oem East er Ev en , p 2 5 1 epri n t ed in N ew P oems, p 245

.
’
. . R . .

LY RA M E SSI A N I CA, 1 86 5 P oem ‘

W i t h i n t h e Vei l ’
ep ri n t e
.d . . R
Poem . P arad ise i n a Symbo l .
’

Poem . P arad ise in a D ream .

’

LY RA M YSTI CA . E
d it ed by ev 0 Sh i pl ey, 1 86 5 Poem ft er R . . . .
‘
A
t h i s t he J u d gm en t , p 33
’
epri n t ed i n T
'
h e P r i n ce s P ro . . R
ss, a nd ot her P oems, 1 866, p 2 1 0
g r e . .

Poem M art yr s Son g, p 42 7

. Repri n ted in The P ri nce:
’ ’
. .

P r og r ess, an d other P oems, 1 86 6, p 206 . .

THE SHI LL I N G M AGAZ I N E P oem Amor M u n d i W ith a

’
. . .

d rawi n g b y F San d ys Vol i 1 86 5 , p 1 93 Reprin t ed in

. . . . . .

Gobl i n M ar ket, T he P r i n ce s P r ogr ess, an d other P oems,

’

1 87 5 . p 1 92
THE A RGOSY . H M etamo rph osi s Vol i Jan 1 866, pp
ero a .
’
. . .
.

1 5 6 1 65
-
. Reprin t ed in Commonpl ace, and other Short
Stori es, 870, pp 1 83 2 1 1 1 .
-
.

P oem ‘
.Who shal l del iver M e ? ’
Vol i F eb 1 866, p
. . . . 288

Repri n t ed i n Gobl i n M a r ket , The P r i nce s P rogr ess,

’ and

other P oems,
87 5 , p 26 3 1 . .

P oem I f ( wit h an i l l u st rat ion b y F

. San d ys) Vol i . A . . . .

M arc h 1 866, p 336 epri n t ed i n N ew P oems, p 1 45

. . R . .
 B I B L I OG RAP HY 343
P oem Twil igh t N ight
.
‘
.
’
Vol . v .
J an . 1 868, p . 1 03 . Reprin t ed
in Gobl i n M ar ket The ,
P r i n ce s P r og r ess, ’
an d other P oems,
1 87 5 , p . 1 80 .

Two Son ne t s . I .
‘
Ven u s s ’
Lookin g Gl ass .
’
II . Love L ies
B l eed in g .
’
Vol . xv . J an . 1 873, p 3 1 . . Repri n t ed in Gobl i n
M ar ket , The P r i nces P r og ress,
’
a nd ot her P oems, I 875 ,

Poem . AD irge .
’
Vol . xv i i .
J an . 1 874, p . 25 . Reprin ted in
Gobl i n M ar ket , The P r i n ce s P r og r ess,
’
and ot her P oems,
89
P oem . AB rid e So ng .
’
Vol . x x i .
J an . 1 87 5 , p . 25 . Rep in t ed r

in Gobl i n M ar ket , The P r i nce s ’

P r og ress, a nd ot her P oems,
1 87 5 , p 1 0 2 . .

CHURC HM AN SSHI L L I N G M AGAZ I N E

’
The W av es of th is Troub le
Hast in gs Ten Years Ago Vol i
.

som e W orl d : a Tal e Of .

’
. .

186 7, pp . 1 8 1
2 -
93, 29 1 -
3 4
0 . Reprin t ed in Commonpl ace,
an d other Shor t St or i es , 1 870,
pp 2 7 1 —
3 9
2 . .

St ory . Some P ros an d Con s ab ou t P ews ’

. Vol . i . 1 86 7,
pp 49 6.
5 00 epr i n t ed i n Comm onpl a ce
.
, a n d ot R
her Shor t
St ori es, 1 87 , pp 2 5 7 267
0 — . .

Essay D an t e, an En gl ish C l assic Vol 1 1 1 867, pp 200—20 5

.
’
. . . . .

St ory .
‘
A Safe I n v est men t .
’
Vol . 11 . 1867, pp 2 87 292 .
-
.

Reprint ed i n Commonfil aee, an d ot her Shor t St or i es, 1 870,

PP 2 41 -
135 3

Sc RI BN ERs M O N THLY ’
( C EN TURY ) P oem A C h ri st mas . . .
‘

C arol Vol i ii Jan . 1 872 p

’
2 78 Reprin ted in Gobli n
. . .
, . .

M a r ket , The P r i n ce s P r og r ess, ’

an d ot her P oems, 1 875
p . 22 1 .

P oem . D ays O f Van it y .

’
Vol . v . N ov . 1 872, p . 21 . Reprin ted
in Gobl i n M ar ket , The P ri nce s P r ogr ess, ’
a n d other P oems,
1875 , p 68 . .

P oem ‘
B i rd. A Son g .
’
Vol . v .
J an . 1 87 3, p 336 . . Reprin t ed in
Gobl i n M ar ket , The P r i n ce s P r ogr ess,
’
an d ot her P oems,
1 84
THE C EN TURY . Essay . D an t e . The P oet i ll u st rat ed ou t Of

t h e P oem 884, pp 5 66—5 73 F eb

’
. . 1 . .

P oem ‘
O n e Sea-sid e G rave M ay 1 884, p 1 34
.
’
epri n t ed . . . R
i n P oe ms, 1 89 1 , p 339 . .

P 1 C TUR E P O SI ES, poems c h iefl y b y l iv mg au t h ors, 1 874 P oem . .

A E
n n g l ish D rawin g-room , p 5 0
’
epri n t ed u n d er t he . . R
t it e l "
of, 86 5, in G oblEn ric a
i n M a r ket ,
The P r i n ce s
’
1
’

P r ogr ess, a n d ot her P oems, I 875 .

P oem ‘
B y t he Sea, p 5 9
.
’
Reprin t ed in Gobl i n M ar ket , . .

The P n n ee s P r og ress, an d other P oems, 1 875 , p 5 9

’
. .
 C HRI STI NA ROSSETTI
Sin g-Song . Anoth e r ed it ion . George Routl ed ge an d So ns .

Lon d on , 1 878, 1 6 mo .

Si n g Son g
- . An ot her ed i t ion . M ac millan 8: Co Lon d o n , . 1 893 .

8v0
An n us D omin i
.

d ay oaf t h era
p yye
er ar fo un d e d o n a for eac h

H R H
, ,

t ext of ol y S c ript u re ( Ed it ed b y[ t h e ev
] W B u r ro w s
. . . . .

J ames Parker Co Lond on, 1 874, 32mo . .

An n u s D omi n i R
ob ert s B ros B ost on , n d 1 8mo

H
. . . . .

Speak in g Likenesses W ith pic tu res t hereo f b y rth u r u g hes. A .

M ac mil lan 874, 8vo C O Lon d on ,

. 1 .

Speakin g Liken esses ob ert s B ro s B ost on , 1 874, 1 2 mo

. R . .

Gob l in M arket, The P r in c e s Progress, an d oth er Poem s

’
. “1 th
four d esign s b y D G R osset t i N ew ed it io n M ac m i l l an
. . . .

Co , Lon d on , 1 875 , 8v o
. Reprint ed 1 879, 1 884, 1 888 . .

Seek an d F in d Ad oub l e series of short st udi es of t h e B en e

.

d ic it e Soc iet y for P romot in g Christ ian K n owl ed ge, L o n d o n

.
.

1 879, 8vo .

APagean t, an d ot h er Poems M ac millan CO Lon do n , 1 88 1 . . .

8vo .

Call ed t o b e Sai n t s : t h e M i nor F est i val s dev ot ion ally st u d ied .

Soc iet y for P romot ing C h ri st ian K n owl ed ge, Lon d on , 1 88 1 ,

8vo P assages from t h e B ibl e rel at in g t o t h e S
. ain t s, w i t h

med i t at ion s .

P oems R ob ert s B ros B ost on , 1 882, 8vo

. . .
°

The fron t i spiec e i s t h e port rai t of Ch rist in a G osset t i , from . R

t he origi n al d rawin g b y D an t e G osset t i i n t h e po ssession of . R
Mr . W M ossett i
. . R .

Lett er an d S pi ri t N o t es on t h e
. C om m a n d m en t s S oc i e ty for .

P romot ing Chr ist ian K n ow ledge , L o n d o n ,

1 883, 8vo .

Time F l ies : a read in g D iary . Soc iet y for P romot in g Ch r i st ian

K n owledge Lon d on 1 885 8y o , , , .

Time F l ies R ob ert s B ros B ost on

. .
, 1 886, 1 2 m0 .

P oem s .
( W it h fou r d esign s b y D . G . Rossett i ) . N ew an d en arged l
ed it ion M ac mill an
. CO Lon d on , O c t ob er . 1 890 , 8v o . Re
pr in t ed D ec emb er 1 890, F eb ru ary an d Aug u st 1 89 1 , 1 89 2, 1 894,

The Fac e of t h e d ev ot ion al commen t ary on t h e

D eep : p o c
a A
al ypse ( W i t h. t h e T ex t ) S oc i et y for P ro m ot i n g Ch r i st ian .

K nowl ed ge, Lon d on , 1 892, 8y o .

Th e F ac e of t h e D eep E an d J B You n g 8: C o N ew York, . . . . .

1 892, 8v0

H
.

Gob l in M arket I l l u st rat ed b y Lau ren c e

. ou sman M ac millan, .

8 C O Lon d on , 1 893, 8y o
:
. O n e h un d red an d sixt y copies of a .

l arge paper ed it ion were pri n t ed .

Verses . R epri n t ed fro m C a ll ed t o b e

‘
Sain t s ,
’ ‘
Time Fli es,
’
and
 B I B LI O G RAPHY

The Face Of t h e D eep .

’
Soc iet y for Promot in g Chri st ian
K n owledge , Lon d on ,893, 8vo 1 .

N ew Poems, b y C h ri st i n a R
osset t i h ith ert o u npub l ished or un c ol

lec t ed . E d ited b y W i ll iam M ichael ossett i M acm il lan C o R . .

Lon d on an d
896, 8vo N ew York, 1 .

Th e R ossett i B irt h day B ook d it ed b y O l iv ia . E Rossett i . M ac mil lan

C o Lon d on an d N ew York, 1 896 ,
. 1 6mo .

M au de W it h an in t rod u c t ion b y W M
. . . Rossett i . J ames B owd en ,

Lon d on , 1 897, 8vo .

AN A
Eyl es
.

, F . AH
P opu lar P oet s of t he Period
. . . Lon d on , 1 889, 8v0 .

M iss C h rist in a G R osset t i

’
B y J ohn . . W alker, pp 2 34 240 .
-
.

( Select ion s from h er poems, wit h a n ot ic e )

H
.

F orman , . B uxt on O ur Livin g P oet s ; an

. Essay in C r it ic ism .

Lo n don , 87 1 , 8v o 1 .

C h r ist in a Gab ri el a osset t i, pp 2 3 1 2 5 3

’
R .
-
.

A
rt ic le i n C el eb ri t ies O f t h e C en t u r , ed it ed b
y y Ll oyd C . San
d ers, on C h ri sti n a R osset t i .

G arn et t, Richa d r . D ic t ion ar y of N at io n al B iograph y, Vol X L I X . .

Art icle on Rossett i Chr i st i n a

HHarlakenden Ann e Gil christ H
.

Gi l c h ri st, . .
, er Life an d W ri t i n gs .

Lon don, 1 887, 8vo . N umerous referen c es t o Christ in a Rosset t i .

Gosse, Edmun d . C ri t ic al K it -K at s . Lon d on , 1 896, 8vo .

‘
C h ri st in a
Rossett i pp 1 33 1 62 ’
-

A Short Hist ry Of
,
. .

o M odern En gl ish Lit erat ure, Lon d on ,

1 898, 8y o .

‘
C hr ist in a
ossett i, pp 380 382 R ’ -

H
. .

ake, D r Gord on M emories O f igh t y Year s

. . Lon d on , E . 1 892,
8v0 C on t ai n s referen ces t o C h ri st i n a osset t i R
Hill
. .

, G eorg e B i rkb ec k L et t ers o f D a n t e Gab r i el o sset t i to

. R
A
W i ll iam ll in gh am 1 85 4—1 870 Lon d on , 1 897, 8vo N ew York, . .

1 898 ( be fore t h eir pu b l i c at ion in book form a port ion of t h ese

l ett ers appeared in The Atl an t i e M on thly M ay— August

C on tain s referen c es t o C hri st in a osset t i R
H
.

u efler, F ord M F ord M ad ox B row n a ecord R

'

. Of hi s L ife an d

Work . Lon d on , 1 896, 8vo . Con t ain s severa l referen ces to

C h ri st in a Rosset t i .

M .
’ ‘
The At hen aeum August 7, 8 97 r t ic l e en t i t l ed P o et i c 1 . A A
Trio, c on tain in g a l et ter b y C h rist in a osset t i, pp 1 93 1 94
’ — R
H
. .

M i l es, lfred A The P oet s an d the P oet ry of th e Cen t u ry, v ol v u

. . .

en t i t led
‘
J oan n a B aill ie t o M ath il de B l in d, Lond on , 1 893, 8vo
’
.

Chri st in a G . Rosset t i . By Ath r ur Symon s, wit h l

se ec t ion s

from her poet ic al works, pp 41 7—448 . .

Nash , ev J J R
Gl en d in n in g memorial
. . . . A sermon preac hed at
348 c n msr mn Rosser n

Ch rist C hu rch, W ob u m S uare, for th e lat e Chri st in a G e o r gi n a

R osset t i Lon d on , 1 89 5 , 8y o
.
q .

N obl e, J ames shc roft A

I mpression s an d M emori es . L o n d on . .

1 895 , 8 o v T h e B u. rd e n o f Ch ri st i n a osse t t i ,
’
pp 5 5
— 6 4 R . .

P roc t or, llen E AA

B rief M emoir of C hri st in a G
. osset t i W it h . R .

a prefac e b y W M osset t i Lon d on , 1 895 , 8vc

. . R . .

R ob ert son , ric S En gl ish P oet esses

E . Lon don , 1 88 3 ,
. .

R
Ch ri st in a osset t i, pp 338 348
’
.
-
.

Rosset t i, D an t e Gab riel, h is F amil y Lett ers W ith a mem o i r b y .

W ill iam M ichael ossett i 2 vols Lon d on , 1 89 5 , 8vo R . . .

Con t ain s n umerous references t o Chri st in a R osset t i, w it h a

p o rt ra i t p ai n t ed b y D a n t e G o s se tt i , an d se v e r a l l et t ers t o h e r . R .

R osset t i , W i l l iam M D an t e Gab riel osset t i as D esign e r a n d

. R
W ri t er Lond on , 1 889, 8vo
. .

N umerou s referen c es t o Ch rist in a osset t i R .

R osset t i, W ill iam M Swin b u rne s Poems an d B all ads

’
. C ri t i . A
c i sm Lon d on , 1 866, 8vo
. .

C on tain s referen c es t o Ch ri st in a osset t i R .

Chamb ers s n c yc l ope d ia

’ )
E
rt i c le, C hri st in a G osset t i
’
A . R .

Lo n d on , 1 89 5 , v ol v i ii , p 8 1 5 . . . .

Sc ot t, W ill iam B el l A
u t ob iogr aph ic al N ot es of t h e Li fe of W i l l iam
.

B el l S cot t d i t ed b y W ill iam M in t o

. E Lon do n , 1 89 2, 8vo . .

C on t ai n s referen c es t o C hr ist in a osset t i R .

E
St ed man , d mun d C l arenc e Vic torian P oet s Lon d on, 1 887, 8vc . . .

R
Christ ina osset t i, pp 2 80, 443
’

H
. .

A
Swin b u rn e, l gern on C har les AM id su mmer ol iday an d o t her .

P oems Lon d on , 1 884, sv c

. B al lad of ppea l t o C hr ist i na . A A
G R . osset t i, p 1 1 2
’
. .

‘
A Cent ury of Roun d el s, Lon don , 1 883, 8vo D ed icat ion
’
.

t o C hr ist in a osset t i
’
R .

Symon s , Art hur . St ud ies in Two Li teratu res .

’
Lon d on , 1 897.

8 vo. Essay on Ch r ist in a R osset t i, pp 1 3 5 1 49 .

-
.

Tayl or , B ayard . C rit ical E ssays an d Lit erary N ot es . N ew York ,

880, 8vo Ch r ist in a R ossett i, pp 330 332

’
1 -

H
. . .

W alker, ugh . A
The ge of Ten n yson , Lon don , 1 897 . C hri st ina
R
osset t i, pp
’
. 2 44 246 -
.

W ood Est her , . D an t e Rossett i and t he P re Raphael it e M o - ve ment .

Lon d on, 1 894, 8v o . Referen c es t o Chri st in a Rosset ti .

REVI EW S c s m c nsms M EM O RI AL P O EM S ETC

, , ,

Rosset t i Christ ina G — Tbc Cat/coli c Wor l d by F ARudd vol i

, .
, . .
, . v .

186 7, pp 839 846 .

-
. M ag azi ne, vol v , 1 869, pp
Yi m ley
'
'
: . . .
—
59 67 .

TIn F or t mghtty Rev i ew, b y W il l iam Sharp, vol xxxix N S, . . . .

35 0 c n n rsr ma Rosser rr '

Rossett i C h r i st i n a G L e tt e rs o f D G o ss e tt i T he t l a n t i c R A
H
. . . .

A
,

M ont hly , M ay ug 1 896, b y George B -

. i ll . .

N ew P oems, 1 896 The then e u m, Feb 1 5 , 1 896, p p 2 0 7

. A . .

209 The Sat u r day evi ew, Feb 2 2, 1 896, pp 1 94 1 9 7

. R 7 764! .
-
.

m
.

Spectat , Feor b 29, 1 8 6

9 , pp 3 9 3 . 0 1 0 P o et -l
o r e , M ar c h , 1 . .

pp 49, 5
1 1 0 T h e G u a.r di an , M a rc h 1 8, 1 8 96 , p 4 3 2 fi e . .

A
.

A t lant i c M ont hly , p , r i l 1 8 6

9 , pp 5 7 , 5 70A 1 T he c ad e ,
b y . .
m
L io n e l J o h n s on , J u l y 5, 2 1 8 6
9 pp 5
, 9 -
6 0 . .

N ew Year s ve,
'
E A
The N i neteen th Co rt ney , b y l g e r n o n
. A
C harles S win b u rne, F eb 1 89 5 , pp 367, 368
H
. . .

Pagean t and other P oems, The cademy , b y T all C a i n e, A A

A
. .

A u g 2 7, 1 88 1 , p 1 5 2
. The thene um, b y Theodore W a t t s
. .

[ D u n t on ] , S ep 1 0, 1 881 , pp 327, 328 ; same art ic l e,

. T h e .

E cl ect i c M agazi ne, v ol xxx i v N S, pp 708 7 1 2 . . . . .

-
.

P oems of The Sat u r day ev i ew, J un e 23, 1 866, pp 76 1 , 7 6 2

. R .

same art ic le, T he clect i c M a azi ne, vol

g E i v N S, 1 866 , p p . . . . .

3 22 —
3 2 5 T h e S p
. e c t a t or , S e p 1 , 1 8 6 6, pp 974, 9 75 7 2: . . .

Cathol i c Wor ld, vol xxiv , 1 877, pp 1 2 2 1 29 . The N at i on , b y

. .
-
.

J . R D enn. et t , v o l i i i , 1 866 , pp 47.

, 4 8 The b ndon Quar ter ly
. . .

Rev i ew, vol lxv iii , 1 887, pp 338 35 0 The cademy, b y

. . .
-
. A
Richard Le Gall ien n e, F eb 7, 1 89 1 , pp 1 30, 1 3 1 . . .

Poet ry of The B m hman ( with port rait ), b y K atheri n e Tyn an

H
.

( M rs in ks on ,
.
) D ec 1 89 3, pp 78, 79 The M on t hly P ac ket , . . .

by C . R
Coleridge, M arch, 1 89 5 pp 2 76 282
. The I Vest
‘
. .
-

A
.

R
mi nster ev i ew , b y l ice Law, pril, 1 89 5 , pp 444 45 3 A .
-

A
.

P rin ce s P rogress, an d other Poems, T he The thena-u m,

’
.

J un e 2 3, 866 , pp 8 24, 82 5 1 . .

Rem in i scen ces of The N i neteenth Cen t u ry , b y . Theodore

W at t s [D un ton] , F eb 1 89 5 , pp 35 5 —366 . . .

Th e Rossettis . The L ondon Q uar ter ly Revi ew , Oct . 1 896, pp .

1 -
1 6 .

Sh ort Tal es of T he S pec t at or O c t 2 9, 870, pp 1 292 1 293

1
.
, . .

he A
.
,

Sin g Son g T - then a u m, J an 6, 1 872, p 1 1

. TheAcademy , . .

b y Sid n ey Col vin , J an 1 5 , 1 872, pp 23, 24 . . .

Some R emin isc en c es of The Atlan ti c M on thly b y “ l i lliam .

,

Sharp J un e, 1 89 5 , pp 736 749 ; T he B w hman , b y Kath eri n e -

H
.
,

Tyn an ( M rs inkson ) F eb 1 89 5 , pp 1 41 , 1 42
.
, . . .

To ( Verse), Good Wor d s b y D ora Greenwel l v ol xvn 1 876

.
; , . .
,

p 824 The L i tera r y W or l d b y M ac ken zi e B el l, Jan 4 1 89 5 , ,

The Academy
.

A
. .
,

p 21 b y M i c hael F iel d , pri l 4, 1 896, p 2 84 ,

A
. . . .

Two Christmastid es, The then a u m, b y Th eod ore Watt s

’ '

D u n t on , Jan 1 2, 1 895 , p 49 . . .

Verses The theneeu m, D ec 1 6, 1 893, pp 842, 843 A

H
. . .

The Su nday at ome ( with port rait ), b y Li ly Wat son , M ay

1 894, pp 42 5 42 8 -
.
 LI ST OF PO RTRAI TS 35 1

C HRO N O LOG I CAL L I ST O F W O RK S

Verses
Gob l in M arket an d oth er P oems
The P rin c e s P rogress an d ot her Poems
’

C ommon pl ac e an d ot her Sh ort St ories

,

Sin g Son g
-

An n us D om i n i
Speakin g Liken esses
Seek an d F in d
APagean t an d ot he r Poems
C all ed t o b e Sai n t s
Lett er an d Spiri t
Time F l ies
P oems . N ew l
an d en a rged ed it ion

Th e F ac e of t he D eep
V erses

N ew P oems Hith ert o U p b l ish

n u ed o r Un coll ect ed . 896
1

M au d e 1 897

C HRO N O LO G I CAL LI ST O F P O RTRAI TS .

PH O TOG R AP HS ETC , .

B y M AC K EN Z I E B EL L

Port rait ( wat ercol ou r) b y F il ippo P i st ru c c i, 1 838 . Reprod uced

in th e presen t vo l um e, p 8 . .

Et ch in g fro m t he ab ove wat erc ol our b y W ill iam B ell Scot t ,

An ot h er wat er c o l our by Fil ippo ( b ad ), ciP ist ru c c i

r ca 1 840 very .

Pen c i l d rawin g b y an t e G
- D a b r i el o ss e t t i , 1 — R
847 bein g a fron t is
piec e t o a co py o f V e rses,
’
1 84 7 ,
n o w i n t h e pos se ss i on of M r .

Will iam M ichael osset t i R .

Port rait ( oil ) b y D an t e Gab riel osset t i , 1 848 R

P roc essed in .

Dan t e Gab riel osset t i R

h is F ami l y Lett ers ’

H
.

ead ( pen c i l ) b y D an t e Gab ri el ossett i, ci r ca R 1 848 . It n ow

belon gs t o M r . Syd n ey M orse . Rep od uced in t he presen t

r l
vo u me,
t o fac e p 1 5
H d (p
. .

ea l ) a t rac in g of a d rawing b y D an t e Gab riel Rosset t i

rofi e ,
.

Reprodu ced t o face p 2 5 9 of D an te Gab riel Rossett i s Let ters t o

.
’

Will i am All in gham 1 85 4 I t i s st at ed in t hat v ol u me t hat

rt hu r H
,
‘
Mr A . ughes in wh ose possession t he trac in g i s bel iev es
, ,
35 2 C HRI STI N A RO SSETTI
t hat th e d rawin g i s mad e as a st u d y for th e head of t he Vi rgi n i n
Rossett i s first Prseraphael it e pict u re
’
, The Gi r lhood of M ary Vi rg i n ,
pai n t ed in 1 848
H
ead of M ary in
‘
Th e Girlh ood of M ary V irgin, b y D an t e
’

Gab riel R o sset t i , 1 849

H
.

ead b y D an t e Gab riel R

o sset t i ( perhaps prel i min ary st u d y

for ‘
cc e E An ci ll a D om in i, 1 849
’
P roc essed in N ew P oems, 1 89 6
’

R
. .

P ort rai t (oi l ) b y J ames C ol l in son , 1 849 epr od u ced fo r t h e .

first t i me i n t he presen t vol u me, t o fac e p 1 7

H
. .

ead i n T A
he n n u n ciat ion b y Dan t e Gab ri el osset t i, 1 85 0 R .

Pen c il d rawi n g b y D an t e Gab riel ossett i, execu t ed i n O c t obe r ,

-
R
1 85 2, in th e possession of W M ossett i eprod u c ed fo r t h e
. . R . R
first t ime i n t h e presen t v ol u me, t o fac e p 2 7 . .

P enc d rawin g ( profil e) b y D an t e Gab ri el

i l - Rossett i ,
in th e

po sse ssion o f M r W M o
. s sett i,
. ci r ca 1 855 . R .

D an te Gab riel
’
R
osset t i s d esign of K i n g At h
r ur an d th e
Weepin g Q ueens in i l lust rat ed ed i t ion o f Tennyson ’
s I dy l l s of t he
E
'

K i ng , pub l i sh ed b y d ward M oxon ( 1 85 6 One of t he femal e

h ead s i s Ch ri st in a osset t i R .

P hotograph ( full len gt h ), 1 86 1

- .

Phot ograph of Chri st in a R

ossett i an d her mot h er, n ow in t he

r W M osset t i , taken by L R
ewis C arroll
°

po ssessio n Of M ’
( t h e

H
. . .

R ev C harles Lu t wid ge D od gson ) in t he gard en O f T

. u d or ouse,

1 6 C heyn e W alk, t oward s 1 86 3 . Reprod uc ed in the presen t

v ol u me, t o face p 1 3 5 . .

P hot ograph of Chri st i n a , fam i lRossett i

yg rou p c on si st i ng in a

of h er moth er, h er si st er M ari a, h er b roth ers D an t e Gab riel an d

W il l iam M ichael, and herself, al so t aken b y Lewis Carroll, in t he ’

ga rd e n of T u d or o u se, H
ci r c a 1 86 4 o r 1 86 5 .

C hal k d rawin g b y D an t e Gab riel R osset t i (face rest in g on

han d s), 1 866 . R

eprod u c ed i n t h e presen t v ol ume as fro n t i spiec e .

Port rai t ( in chal k) of Ch ri st in a osset t i an d M rs R R

osset t i by .

R
D an t e Gab riel osset t i, 1 877, no w in N at ion al Port rai t Gal l ery .

Two head s ( in c halk) by Dan te Gab riel Rossett i, 1 877 .

P hot ograph ( M essrs E F .

—
ll iott an d ry) F u ll face, 1 877 -
.

P hot ograph ( M essrs F .

— E
l liott an d ry) D own east eyes, 1 877 .

R
Ch ri st in a osset t i sat for Lad y J an e B eaufort i n W il l iam Bel l
Scot t s d i st emper pain t in g at Pen ki ll Cast l e, represen t in g J ames I
’
.

of S cot lan d , h i s first sigh t of Lad y J an e B eau fort .

N ot e b y M r . W M Rosset t i
. . aft er readin g foregoi ng l ist of

port rai t s
l h ave lat ely b een han dl in g 2 ot her i b y G[ ab riel]
‘
port ra t s

ic h]
wh[ seem wort h men t ion in g . 1 is a profi e,
l n ot lat er than
 I N D EX

AD VENT ,
’
Ch rist in a Rosset t i s ’
, B on apart e, Pri nc e Lou is N apo
M r Swin b u rne on , 244 l eon , 6
After Co mmu n ion , Christ ina
.

B onapar t e, Prince Pierre, 6

‘ ’

Rosset t i s 2 30 ’
B on apart e, P ri nc ess C hrist i n a 6
Aft e Deat h C hrist in a Rosset t i s R H
, ,
’
Bo n ar , o rat i u s, h is oem
’
r ev D r
, , . .
p
2 1 0, 2 1 1 q u ot ed , 2 4
5
Ag il Mn his can tata l
Gob i n
q
B ran d on s B oth , R
’
u ar, , C hrist in a os

M arket , ’
210 sett i s,
’
uo t ed , 2 26

Al bina O n , C hrist i n a
’
Rosset t i s ’
, l
B ron t e fam i y, t he, 3
R
,

1 64 B rot h er Bru i n , C h rist i na osset t i a

Alleyn Ellen a pse d onym of
,

u q uot ed 2 32

C hrist i a R See E
, , .

osset t i n lle n B ro wn , F o rd M ado x , h as C hrist in a

Alleyn R
.

osset t i fo r a
p pu i i n d ra wli n
g
Amen Rosset t i s
,

C h ist in a 1 6 ; his C hri st Washes Pet er s

’ ’ ‘
’

ql
, ,

q ot ed 245
u F eet , 2 8, 2 9 ; h is d iary u o t ed ,
’
q
Am M nd i Chri st i na Rossett i s
,

or u ,
’ ’
, l
33 ; et t er fro m , u o t ed , 5 2
2 30 , 2 3 1 B ro wn , M rs F o rd M ad ox , et t e r t o ,
A Ch rist ina R R
.

n nu s D om i n i , o sset t i
’
s, from C h ri st i n a o sset t i , 33 ,
34 ;
the d ev o t i on a v erse in , 2 41 l men t i on ed , 68
p u b i calt ion o f, 2 8 5 ; d esc ri b ed , B rown , O l iv er M ad ox , reference to ,
l
an a ysed , an d u o t ed , 2 85 2 87 q - l
i n et t ers from C h rist ina , 41 , 1 1 3
A n t i - Christ , Ch rist i n a osset t i o n , R let t er t o , fro m C h rist ina R
osset t i ,

15 9 x60 67
A l A El
,

pp g ’e - at heri n
g n
’
Ch rist i na B rown in g, izabet h Bar rett , C hris
R R
, ,

osset t i s, 2 1 4 t i na o sset t i o n , 90 , 9 3 ro osed

p p
A
q
ut u mn , C hrist in a Rosset t i li fe O f, 90 ; c ompared wit h C h ris
‘ ’ '
s,

uo t ed , 2 2 2 t in a 32 1 324
.
-

J
B u r n e on es, Lad y m en t i on ed , 30
-
.

her sist ers 30 ,

‘
B ALL AD B O D I N G , Ch rist i n a
OF
’
B u rns as a d ramat ic yri st , 4 l
R
osset t i s, u o t ed , 2 26 , 2 2 7 q B urro ws, Cano n , pro posed l i fe o f
B eau ty i s Vain , Christ i n a R
,

1 6 2 ; h is co mmen d at o ry n o t e t o
’
os

set ti s, 2 1 8, 2 1 9
’
An n u s D omi n i , 2 85
Benson , M r C , on Chr ist i n a A
R
. . .

o ssett i , 330,
33 1
Besan t , S ir Wa t er, 1 5 8 l CAI N E, M R T H
ALL , referred t o ,
R
. .

B ake, W i iam, Ch rist i na ossett i s

l ll 8 1 . 82 , 85 . 94, 3 2 7
’

ad mirat io n fo r, 308 ; h is an d her Cal l ed t o he Sai n ts, C h rist i na m R

symbo ism , 320 , 32 1 l set t i s, v erse i n , 2 4 1 , 2 42 ;
’

pu b
Bodi c hon , M ad ame, Christ i n a os R l ished , 2 89 ; d esc ri b ed , an al ysed ,
set t i on , 6 7, 68 an d q u ot ed , 2 89 2 9
5 -

AA 2
 I ND EX 35 9
M o rris, Wi lliam , men ti oned , 205 ,
Penh i , ll A yrshi re, C h rist i n a v 1 s1 ts

72 2 t h ere, 5 0 her d esc ri pti o n o fi t , 5 1

M o ther Chil d , b y Chri sti na
an d
’
R
P et rarch , Christ i na ossett i s appre
’

R
osset t i , Dan t e Gab n el ossett i R c iat i o n o f, 3 1 9

o n , 1 96 l
Pistru cc i , F i i ppo , pai n ts po rtrai t s
M o u n tain S c en ery, C hr ist in a os R of t he Rossett i fami y, 8 ; his l
sett i on , 43— 48 p o rt rai t o f Christ i na, 8

M ou n t -T emp e, Lad y, 2 9 5 l P oems, C hristin a R

osset t i s
’

M u rray, M r F airfax , 2 98 2 30 - 2 32
R
.

M u sic , C hrist i na osset ti s att itu d e

’
P oems 2 32
t o wards, 1 6 7 l
Po id ori , D r ( physic ian t o Lo rd
R
.

M y Dream, C hristi na osset ti s,

’ ’
B yron ). 5 . x49. 1 5 !
214 l
Po id ori , Gaetan o ( matern a
g l
ran d
fat her of Christ i na Ro sset t i ), his

N A SH ev R G end in n ing, l
on
c o t tage at Hl
o mer G reen , 9
R
.

C hrist in a s v isi ts t here, 9- 1 1

’

C h ri sti na hab its of

’
osset t i s
c om posi t ion , 1 45 ; men tioned , p r in ts p r i vate l
y C h ri s t i n a
’
s fi rst
l
vo u me Ver ses ), 15 ; de
1 68, 1 69, 1 79, 1 80 , 1 8 1 , 1 82 , 1 83
N ew P oems, by Christ ina osset t i , R sc r i bed by D r C . .
J H . are, 2 1
C hrist ina s affec ti on for, 2 1 h is
’

l
1 4 ; pu b ished , 2 33 3 d esc ri bed ,
refac e t o t he V
ana ysed , an d q u ot ed , 2 33- 239
l p er ses 1 93

l
d evotion a verse in , 2 5 9 , 260
l
Po id ori , M argaret , El
iza, an d C har
N ext of K i n , Chr ist ina R
’
ossett i s,
l
o t t e ( au n t s of Christ ina R
osset t i ),

5 1 5 2 5 6 6 5 78 1 9 1 43
H
. . . . . 1 .
29
N ick, Ch rist i na osset t i s, 2 7, 2 73
’ ’
R Po l yd ore,
R
en rietta,
osset t i s poems o n her cousi n ,
’
C hristina
Ni n na-Nan na ( t rans ation s in to l 2 2 , 2 9 ; men t ioned , 35
l
I ta ian ), 2 39
l
Po yd ora, H l
en ry ( u nc e o f C h rist i n a
N o, t han k you , ohn , C hristi na
’
J R
R
osset t i s, 2 1 3
’ osse t t i ), 2 2 , 39
Poor Ghost , T R
A he, Christ in a
’

l J
N ob e, ames shcro ft , men tioned ,
set t i s, 2 1 9
’
os

73 q uoted , 206 , 2 07 R
Port rai ts, Chr ist i n a ossett i s, 29 ,
’ ’

Nort on , M rs , on Gob in M arket ,

.
’
l
3°
P rayin g Al
wa s, Christ i n a
’
os R
set t i s, q uot
’

Oc t ossa GA RD EN , N , Christina A ’
25 5
P r i n ce s P r ogr ess an d other P oems,
’

R
osset t i s, 2 2 5
’
The, Christi na ossett i s, pub R’

oh roses for t he flush o f yout h, ’

l ish ed , 2 1 4 d escribed , ana ysed , l
by Christ in a R osset t i , 203
an d q u ot ed , 2 1 5 - 2 24 d evo ti ona l
Old wo rl d Thicket , n , Christ i na
- ’
A v erse i n , 245 , 246
R '
ossetti s, 2 2 5
roc t er , A
d elaide, A
Christ in a
R osset t i on , 89
Pagean t and ot her P oems, , Chris A Proc t or , M iss, her memoir of Chris
ti na R
ossett i s,
’
pu b ished , 8 2 , l t ina R
osset t i , 1 41 ; qu o t ed , 1 5 8
224 men t ion ed in et t er , 82 de l
l
scri bed , an a ysed , an d u oted, 224 q Q UARL ESS Emblems
’
, 2 53
230 d evo t iona verse i n , 246 , 247 l
Par d ise!Ch rist i na ossett i s, 247,
’
R RADC L I F F E Ann e Christ ina Ros
a
, ,

set t i s a l y ac q ain tanc wi t h h r

’
33 e r u e e
‘
Parsifa , Wagner s, C hrist ina os
l ’ ’
R works, 14;
p p
ro osed b iography
set ti on , 1 24 f. 9 1 . 92
o

Passin g A Christi na
q R
q
Repini n g, Christ ina osset t i s, R
’ ’ ’
way, os
sett i s, 243 ; an d
’
u ot ed , 244 u o t ed , 2 35

Pat more, M r an d M rs Coven t ry, R est iv e, C hrist i na

’
R
osset t i s, 2 5 2
’

R R
. .

1 4° ighi , t he, Christi na osset t i on ,

A
Pause, , Christ ina osset t i s, 2 37
’ ’
R 44: 45
36 0 cn m sr l x a Ro ssrzrr r '

A
Ri A Ch risti n a Rss t t have su ffered f m 1 85 2 )
’
Posy, i s, ( ro a n gi na
?
,
o e

p er / on ! 2 7 ; a tt en d e d b y S i r
R
,

o sse
ggiar de ll ’
O ri en t e, I l,
’
Wi iam enn er , 28 her expec ta
ll J
C hrist i na R t ion o f ear ly d eath , 29 her v erses
’
osset ti s, 41
Rosset t i , Christi na Geo rgina , h er fo r frien d s, 30 ; an u nhappy o v e l
u n iq ue c harm , 1 her i fe ac ki n g l l i m ss ag c .
’
3 x : 45 U p p er l
b an y A
i n i nc id en t b u t passed ami d St reet , 32 her mi sc e lan eo us i t er l l
n o tetvort hy su rrou n d i n gs, 2 her ary work , 32 ,
33 ; on t h e d ea t h o f
l
n at u ra en d owmen t s d ev e o ped b y l Art hu r M adox B rown , 33, 34 her
t rai n i ng an d c i rcu mst an ces, 3 i n c ome from it erat u re, 34, 3 5 l
l
I ta ian spoken in fam i y, 3 muc h l her v i si t s t o t he seasi d e, 35 ; her
o f her finest work t he v ei ed ex l heal t h , 35 ; meets Do ra Green
p re ss i o n o f h er o wn i n d iv id u w el l , 36 , 37 ; at S ho t t ermi , 37 ; ll
ali t y, 4 w hy her perso na i t y was l d esc ri b ed b y A n n e G i c hrist
3 7 l ,

so i n t erest i ng, 4 ; her b irt h , 5 ; M i ss ( i race G i c hrist s remi n i s

’
l
her fat her an d mo t her , 5 , 6 ; her c e n c es o f her 38, 39 ; at
g od mo t hers, 6 , 7 F i l i pp o I ’
is l
C he t en ham an d G lo u cest er, 39 ;
t ru cc i s po rt rai t o f h er at sev en
’
e
l
her fe ing for symbo i sm , 39, 9 3, l
y ea r s o f ag e , 8 h e r e a r l y c h i l d 2 49 1 2 5 0. 29 2 : 2 93, 303, 3 ,
2 0
hoo d , 9 referen c es t o i t i n Three 32 1 on N ai vem , 40 ; a secon d
F l i es, 9—1 1 her c hi d ish amuse l o ffer o f marria e recei ved
g a nd

men ts, 1 2 her fon d n ess fo r j

re ec t ed , 40 , 4 1 ;
‘
a t horough
an i mals, her home
q E n gl ish wo man , h
’
1 2, 1 41 4 2 , 43 ; e r e x

ed uc at io n , 1 3 her u ic k t emper, p e ri en c e o f fo rei n t rave ( 1 86 1

g l
13 l
d esu t ory i n hab i ts o f st u d y, an d 43, i t s i n fluen ce
13 her ear y read in g, 1 3, 1 4 l o n her v erse , 44 48 ; her prose
-

h er fi rst v erses, 1 5 ; her first c o mmen ts t hereo n , —

45 48 ; her
l
v o u me o f v erse, 1 5 , 1 9 1 —1 99 fri en d shi p for D r L i t t ledal e and .

h er d rawi ngs t herei n , 1 5 , 1 6 ; a t he au t ho r 49 , 5 0 ; her favouri t e

,

p l
u pi o f F ord M ad o x B ro wn 1 6 p ort rai t o f herse f,
5 0 ; h elr v isi ts

ql A
,

p ro b a b y l h er b ro t h e r D a n t e t o Pen ki l l ( yrshi re ), 5 0 , 5 1 ; 5 6
l
Gab ri e s first mod e , 1 6 ; hi s
’
l l i u st o n S uare, 5 2 ; she su ffers
p o rt r a i t o f h e r a t s e v en t ee n 1 6 fro m ex o pht ha mi c b ron choce e l
U
,

her por trait by ames C o i n so n , J ll SN 52 ; her

17 si ts fo r t he Virgi n i n D an t e anc e i n mid d e age, 5 3 ; t he l
G ab ri e s l '

G irl hood o f M a ry p h o t o gr a hi c
p p ort r a i t s o f her ,

Vi rgi n an d E c ce n c i ll a A 5 3, 5 4 ; her ph ilan t hro pi c abo urs, l

Do mi n i , 1 7, 1 8 at Bright o n , 1 8 ;
’
54 55, ; at ast bo u rn E e , 55 5, 6
her perso na appearan c e, 1 8, 1 9 l her d evo t ion t o her re at io n s, 5 6 ; l
she si t s t o M r o man . Hl un t fo r H l
her o vi n g apprec iat io n o f her
‘
The Light o f t he Wor d , 1 9 ; ’
l sist er M a ria F ra n c es,
5 7 6 3 , 72 -

h er u n c er t ai n hea t h at seven t een l t ti rlen t , ad m i rer , an d c ri t ic of

or eigh t een , 1 9 ; h er sen se o f D n t e, 5 8 ; her strong prac t ical
a

hu mo u r, 20 D r C c o m mo n se n se , 6 1
’
I I a re sn o t es J 6 2 a guest at
H
-
. . .

con cern i n g her , 20 , 2 1 her d eep K elmsc o t t M an or ouse ( 1 871

l
ov e fo r her mo t her an d at tac h
men t t o her gran d fat her, 2 1 ; h er
c o n versat i o n al c harac t e ri st i c s, 2 2
64 ; she set t l es wi t h her
mo t her at 30 To rr in gt o n S uare,
Lon d o n 6 5 ; o n t he
q
her c on st i t u t ion a me an ch o y, 2 2 , l l l c l emat i s, 6 8, 69 ; on t he phe
23 her reserv e dd emeanou r , 2 3 n o men a o f su n ri se ,
70 , 7 1 ; at
assi st s her mot her i n k eepi ng d a
y H u n t er s F o rest al l ,
'

7 1 ; o n J .

l
sc hoo s i n Lo n d o n an d at F ro mc , Ashc ro ft N o ble, 73 ; m o ral ises

24 her kn o w ed ge o f Nat u re, l on

‘
a a rab le o f nat u re, 75 , 76
p
’

25 l
her ife at P romo, 2 5 , 2 6 her c o n t ri b u t es to The Al hemt u m,
b ro ther Dan t e Gab ri e on her l 7 8 ; c o m m en t s o n son n e t s by
p i c to r i a e y e ,
’
l2 7 i s s u pp o s ed to her b ro t her Dan t e Gab riel ,
3 6 2 C HRI STI N A ROSSETTI
Rossett i , Ch ri st i n
a Geo r i n a, l et t ers,
g her marriage, 5 a C hurc h w o man ,
o r ex t rac t sfro m l et t ers, by ; 33, 34, 6 ; t eac hes her c hi d ren t h e B i ble l
3 7 . 3 8 . 4 0 . 4 1 . 4 2 . 4s. 46 , an d Catec h ism , 1 2, 1 3 ; C h ris

S 5 3 SS 5 6 6 5 . 66 . 67. 68. ti n a s affec t i on fo r, 2 1 d esc ri bed

’
5 0 . i : . . .

69 . 79 . 72 . 73. 74. 7s. 76 . 77. 78. b y Dr C l i are, 2 1 ; k eeps

. .
J .

79 9 80 1 8 "82 : 831 84. 85 , 86 , day sc hoo sin Lo ndon an d F ro mc ,

-
l
89 90 . 9 1 . 92 . 93. 94.
. 24 ; et ter l
to her so n D an t e
96 . 9 7. 98. 99 . 1 00. 1 01 . 1 02 . l
Gab rie , 40 arran gesfor m em ori a l
1 0 3 , 1 04, 1 0 5 , 1 06 , 1 07, 1 08, wi nd o w t o Da nte G ab r i e l in
B irchingt o n C hurc h, 95 h er

1 20 , 1 21 , 1 22, 1 2 3, 1 24, 1 25 ,
d eat h, 1 1 4 her t ombst on e, 1 85
1 26, 1 27, 1 28, 1 2 9, 1 30, 1 3 1 , referred t o i n C hri st i n a s
’
et t ers l
1 33, 134 1 4 0 1 5 0 1 55 1 5 8, p a ssi m
R
, , , ,

1 61 , 1 6 2, 2 1 9, 2 9 5 osset t i , Gab rie e ( father o f C hri s l

R osset t i , Dan t e Gab ri e , M r F red l . ti na osset t i ),R p oe t , r e for m e r ,

eri c S l
hie ds on , 2 ; his work as an d ro fesso r of I ta l i an, 5
p
p oe t a n d p a i n t e r, 3 h is b i rt h , 5 l
main y a freethinker , 6 h is
has his sist er C hrist in a fo r a l
a t ered v iewson re igiou s su bj ect s l
l
mod e , 1 6 , 1 7 ; his first fin ished h is re igiou s poems ( L l ’
rpa A
p ai n t in 1 6 ; his
‘
Gir hood o f l E vangel rea ), 6, 3 1 5 p
’

oe m o n hi s
M ary irgin an d c ce E A ll n ci a dau ght ers, t he fr i e n d of

D omin i , 1 7, 1 8 his ad orati on

’
l
exi es, 7 ; fai ure o f hi s h ea t h, l l
o f hi s sist er Chr isti na, 20 ; his 241 ; his d eat h , 32 h is t o m bst o n e,
’
l
F o u n d , 2 6 et t ers from , 2 6, 2 7, 1 84
81 his d rawi ng of C hristi na Rosset ti M aria F ran cesca ( sist er of
Ch rist ina R
,

2 7 ; men t ioned , 28, osset t i ), her b irt h 5

3 0, ,

64 ; his port rai t o f Christ i na po rt rai ts o f, 8 her c hil dish

5 0 h i s m e m o r i a w iln d ow amuse men ts, 1 2 ; q uo t ed , 1 3

t o M argaret P o idori , 5 2 l et t ersl bec omes a govern ess, 24 ; en ters
t o , fro m Chr ist i na, 5 5 , 5 6 , 66 , t he An gl ican Sisterhood of A ll
6 7, 6 8, 69, 72 75 , 76 - 8 1 , 82 85
- - Sain ts ’
, 54 ; her Shad o w of
at B o n o r , 6 i her fu n eral,
5 7, 5 9 6 1
’
g 5 ; h s s o n n e t s in D an t e, -

A
Tbe t hen m em , 79, 80 ; h is 7 2 re fer re d t o 3, 2 8 , 4 , 4 , 5
1 2 2
Rl
, ,

a eigh, 82 ; his F ran c esc a, 66

’
‘ ’
5 6 5 7 6 2 6 3 1 4 6 20 7 3 70
R
. . . . . . .

l
84 ; t he fata c h o ral , 85 ; h is l ’
osset t i , M i chae F ord M ado x. l
E
ve o f t he P asso ver ,
’
97 ; h is C hristin a ossett i s poem o n , 1 86
’
R
Vero n ica Veron ese, ’
La Be a ll R ossett i , W i iam M ic hael (you nger ll
M an o , an d Beat ri x, 1 2 1 , 1 2 2
’ ’
b rot her of Chri st ina osset t i ), a R
h is H an d an d S ou ,
’
l1 2 2 , 1 23 n otab e c o n t em or l p w ri t er, 3
referred t o , 1 9 , 1 42
3 o n Char es l his birt h , 5 ; on his ather , 6 on
Whi tehead , 1 64 ; on his sister Lady D u d ey St uart , 6 ; Maria l
Christ i n a s M ot her an d Chi d ,
’ ’
l F ran cesc a osset ti on , 1 3 i n t he R
1 96 ; his c o n t ri bu t io n s t o 7 7 m C i vi S l
er vi ce, 24 ; his marriage

q
.

Ger m , 203 ; h is design s for 65 C hri st in a osset t i s ove a nd

’
R l
Gobli n A
far éet , 205 ; h is fon d respec t for , 1 72 ; uo t ed , o r c i ted ,
n ess fo r an ima s, 2 08, 209 ; o n l c o nc ern i ng his si st er C hrist in a and
C hrist i n a s Co n ven t Thresho d , l
’
h er wo rk, 1 1 , 1 2 , 1 4, 1 5 , 1 6 , 1 9.
’

h is d esi gn s for T ke P r i nce s 28. 6

’
21 2 2 1 . 2 3. 3 .
P rogr ess, 2 1 5 on Christ i na s
’
37 44. 4 . 9 5
. 8 4 . 2 . 54 55. 5
.
8
To d ay for M e, 2 3 1 ; his po r’
19 1 . 1 02 .
t rai t o f Christ in a in N ew P oems, 1 46 . 1 48. 1 54
, I SS : I 61
on Christ i n a s S
’
2 33 ; eek a n d 1 6 7, 1 70 , 1 71 , 1 72 , 1 77 , 1 1,
F i nd , 2 88 o n C hrist in a s poet ry 1 83, 1 84, 1 85 , 1 86 ,
’
20 2 , 203.
gen era y, 324 ll 206 , 2 0 7, 20 8, 209 , 21 1 2 1 2,
R
,

o sset t i , F ran c es M ary Lavin ia 21 3 22 0 , 2 2 1 2 34, 2 36 , 2 38, 273.

R
, ,

m
( ot her of Christ ina osset t i ), 2 77. 2 78. 2 79 . 294. 308. 309 .
 IN D E X 6
3 3

3 1 9 9. 32 8. 32 9. 333. 335 .
3 1 Songs in Corn field , Christ i na
a
’

Rosset t i s, 2 1 8
.

6 8
’
33 ; r eferen c es t o , 3 , 42 , 43,
45 2 5 2 : 5 82 6 5 1 66a 73 , 73s S
p eak i n
g L i kenesses, Chr ist in a Ros

74, 82 , 90 , 1 03 , 1 1 3, 1 1 8, 1 1 9, set t i s d edi cat ion of, 5

’
d escri bed ,
1 20 , 1 2 3, 1 35 ,
I
lett
74 .

ers t o ,
1
1 49,

79 .
1 68, 1 71 ,
20 3.
from Chri st i na
2 331
.
2 34,
Rsset ti
o
2 39
3
,
an a lysed
St ead W T
,

St ephen s M r ,
.
, an d
.
,

.
q F
q uoted
u ot ed ,

. G .
,
,

3 5
2
men ti on ed ,
1 08, 1 2 7- 1 29 , 1
55 2 8, 1 80
Rosset ti , M rs W M ( M iss Lucy . . . St ev en son , RL . .
, hisv erses fo r ch i l
M ad o x B ro wn ), l et t ers t o, from d ren , 2 62
C hri st i n a Rosset t i , 41 42 , 6 5 , 69 , Stuart , Lad y D ud ey ( Pri n cess l
70, 1 06 , 1 1 3, 1 1 7, 1 20, C hri st in a B on apart e ), god mot her
1 2 7 1 29 o f C hrist i n a osset t i , 6 R
q
-

Royal Prin c ess, A, Christ ina Ros

’
Su mm er , b y C hrist i n a osset t i ,
’
R
set t i s, 2 1 u o t ed , 1 96
’
9, 2 20
Ruin d C e ro ss, The ’
by Christ ina Summ er is n d ed ,
’
E
Chr ist ina
Ross t ti R
,

96 osset t i s, q u ot ed , 238
’
e 1
R
,

Sunrise, C hrist i na osset t i on , 70, 7 1

Sar a I N VESTM ENT A Christ in a Swi n b u rn e, M n , his e egy on
q l
’

Rssetti R
, ,

s st ory, 2 78
’
o Ch rist in a osset t i uot ed , 1 78 ;
Sand ys M r F A his i ll ust rat ion l
his O i v e, 26 1 ; hrs i ki ng for
‘ ’
l
Am
q
. .
, .
,

of or M u ndi, ’
2 30, 2 3 1 ‘
Van n a s Twin s,
’ ’
2 78 ; hi s
San giovan n i Ben ed et t o , a mod ell er Bal lad o f ppeal , ’
A
u ot ed , 32 6 ,
H
,

in l
c ay , 9 , 1 43 32 7 h is essay on erri ck q uo t ed ,
Sco t t , Wi iam B e , his etchin g
ll ll 3 7
2
from P ist ru c c r s po rt rait o f C hri s Symbol s, b y Christ i n a osset ti ,
’
R
ti na R
osset t i , 8, h is first meet i n
g 244
wi t h C hri st i na osset t i , 1 5 R is A
Sym on s, M r rt hu r, on C hrist ina
R
.

vi si t ed by Ch risti n a at N ewcast e, l osset t i , 33 1 , 332

3 6 re f e r re d t o 4 9 80
R R
, ,

Seek an d F w d , Ch risti na osset ti s ’

Tasso Christi n a ossetti s apprec ia
,
’

p u b i cl
a t i on o f 2 8 7 d e sc ri be d , t i on o f, 3 1 9
Temptat ion , Sen sual , C hri st in a Ros
,

ana ysed an d q uot ed , 2 87 289

l -

Sen t en ce, 7 7re, by ugust a Webster, A set t i 300 302

on ,

1 61 Ten n yson fami y, t he, 2 , 3 l

Sharp, W i iam, his emin isc ences
ll ‘
R Test i mony, A, Christi na Ros
’

of C h ri st i na osset ti R
quot ed , 1 1 , set t i s, 204

q
’

1 38, 1 6 1 Th eol ogic a d is uisrt i on , C hrist in a

l
Shie d s, F red eric , o n Dant e Gab rie
l l Rosset t i ap roac hes once, 2 99
R ossett i , 2 et t ers l
t o , from l p
The who e end is sic k an d t he
C hrist i n a osset t i , R w ho e heart fain t , q uot ed , 2 35
l ’

96 1 1 1 , 1 77 ; men t ion ed , 5 0 , 9 3,
- They d esire a bet ter c ou n try, ’

1 1 4, 1 25 , 1 5 0, 1 80, 3 1 8 ; me C hri sti n a osset ti s, 247 R ’

l
moria wi n d ow to Dan t e Gab rie l Thr ee Enemies, The, C hrist ina ’

R osset t i i n B i rc hi n gt on Chu rch , R osset t i s, 243

’

95 hi d t i s f t h h a l Three N u n s, Christ ina osset t i s,

’
R
Hll
s ec or a c
o n r e l
hi
; o

at E
at on a , 1 08- 1 1 0 ; s 2 36
Good S hepherd , 1 04, 1 5 0, 1 5 2 ;
’
Time an d i ts emp oyment , Christ i na l
Chr isti na ossett i on , 1 5 2 R Rosset t i on , 1 5 9
R Ti me F l i er , Christ ina osset t i s, 9 R
q
Si ng Song , Christina ossetti s, 1 29,
-
’

1 73 ; d esc ribed , ana ysed , an d l qu ot at ion s from, 9, 1 0, 1 1 , 26 ,

u ot ed , 26 1 2 70 -
.

34 3 5 3 39 6 7 4 4 5
, 4 46 : 47:

E
7 1 » 3

St r ustace Grey, by Chri st ina ’

49 : 5 0 ; 5 5 2 6 1 7 6 2 1 6 32 72 2 75 1 76)
R osset t i , 1 9 7, 1 98 1 5 4, 1 5 9 , 1 60 , 1 7 1 refer red t o ,
A
Sketch, , by C hri st ina osset t i ,
’
R 1 07, 1 08, 1 24 ; d evot ion a v erse l
1 53 in , 2 5 8 p u b i ca t io n o f, l
3 4;
0
 6
3 4 c a msr ma RO SSETTI
d escribed , anal ysed , an d quoted Waters of
Baby on , By t he , l ’

R
,
Christ ina oss et ti s, 87
’
3 4
0 -
3 9
0
To day
- for M e, Christ ma ’
Ros Wat ts D an ton , Th eod ore, on Ch r i s
-

se t t i s,
’
Dan te Gabri e osset ti lR on , t i na R ’
ossett i 5 p e rs on a a pp l
e a r
231 an c e, 1 8, 1 9 ; on her knowled g e
Torri ngt on Square NO 3 0 d e of N at u re, 2 5 ; o n Dan te Gabr i e l

R
.
, ,

sc ribed , 1 42 1 44, 1 48- 1 5 2 ossett i , 64 ; his p r om is e d

q
-

Touching N ever, Christin a s os

’ ’
R l
vo u me
’
o f remi ni sc en ces, 65
set ti s, 2 29 his d escripti on o f su nri se, uot ed .
’

’
A
Tri ad , , Christ i na osset t i s, 2 1 3
’
R 7 1 M s ss t tRi ’
s i n fl c
H
o n r o e uen e
°
.

Tudor ouse, Che sea, Christi na l o ver Christ i na, and Christi n a s
’

Rosset ti on , 1 34, 1 35 in fluen ce ov er Dan t e Gabri el ,

Twice, Christ i na osset t i s, 2 1 9
’ ’
R 1 1 5 , 1 1 6 ; his
‘
Two Christmas
Twi ight Ca m, Christina os
l ’
l R ~
Tides, quot ed , 1 82 ,
’
on
set t i s, 2 1 4 aspec ts of Chri st i n a s c arac t er ,
h
’ ’

Two Thoughts of Death, Chris ’

88 1 90 referen ces t o, i n C hr i s
1 ’
-
°

t i na R
osset t i s, 2 38
’
l
t i na s et t ers, 77, 82 , 85 , 1 0 3,
Tynan , M iss K atheri ne ( M rs 1 2 2, 1 2 3, 1 2 6 ; q uo t ed , 78, 1 3 7 ,
H
.

i n kso n ), qu ot ed , 1 48 m . 329. 333 1 men ti on ed . 1 49 .

1 80 , 1 81 , 2 1 4, 26 1
Un n sa THE Rosa Ch isti a ’
r n
‘
We know n ot a voice of that
Rsset t i 2 20 ; change f ti t le R R
,

iver, Christ i na osset ti s, 2 5 7

’ ’ ’
o s, o
A
,

2 20 Webster, ugusta, ett ers t o, from l

Up hil l
-
,
’
Ch rist ina Rosset ti s ’
, 21 4 Christi n a R
osset t i , 1 1 1, 1 12 ;
Christ ina on 7k Sen t enee, 1 6 1
‘
Va x n F A1 11 ,
v
'

Christ ina os
’
R Westcot t , D r Bishop of Du rham ,
R
.

set t i s, 2 36 on Christ in a osset t i , 1 78, 1 79

’

Van i ty of Van i ti es, Christina os

’
R What C hri stina R
osset ti s,
’

set t i s, 1 98
’
3 0 ; i ts au t obiogra h ica i n t erest
p l
R
,

Van n a sTwins, C hristin a osset t i s

’ ’
3 1
st ory, 2 78 Wh en I am d ead , my dearest ,
’

Vaughan s, ’
en ry, H
M ou n t of facsimil e of M S of, 1 47 t he t ex t .

l
O i v es, 336 ’
o f, 2 1 1
Ven us s Loo ki ng G ass, C hri st ina
’ ’
l W hen I was dead , my spi ri t turn ed ,
R
osset ti s, 2 3 1
’
R
C hrist i n a osset t i s, 2 1 0
’

Verga, Si or, t he n ove ist , 1 30, 1 3 1 l ‘

W hen my hear t is vexed I w ill
(1 C hrist i na s osset t i s
’ ’
R comp ai n ,
’
l
Christ i n a osset t i s,
’
R
l
first vo u me so-c a ed , pri vat e y ll l 247
ri n t ed , 1 5 , 1 9 1 ; i ustrat ed b y ll Wh it ehead C h D a t Gla b ie l
p
ar e s n e r
Rossett i on , 1 64
, ,

er, 1 5 , 1 6 ; facsi mil e of t it e l

a
p ge, 1 92 Why, Christ ina R
’
osset t i s, q uoted ,
Ver se: C h ri st in a o sset t i s R ’
2 46
l
re i i ou s,
g 1 6 8 ; d e sc r i bed a n a Wi d I rish Boy, M at u ri n s 1 4
l ’ ’

aac , C hri st i n a R
, .

l q Wi iams, I s
ll osset ti s
'

yse d , an d u o t ed , 247 2 5 8 -

a prec iat i o n
p o f, 1 6 5, 1 66 ; h i s

W AG N ERS ’
Parsifa l ’
Christ in a Har mony
of M e F ou r E vange .

Rsset ti on 1 24
,

o l i st s, 2 87
Ros
,

W al t on ou the N aze
- - -
, Christ in a Wi son , M iss Lisa, 1 80, 1 81 See
l .

set t i on , 77 Fior d e Lisa - -

Women s Rights, Christi n a os R

.

W aste To what pu rpo se i s t hi s, ’ ’ ’

R
,

Christ i na osset t i s, q u o ted , 2 5 5

’
set ti o n , 1 1 1 , 1 1 2
Wat er Spi ri t s So ng, The, Chris
’ ’
Word s, i nad eq uac y of, as means of
t i na
’
R
osset t i s, q u ot ed , 1 95 , 1 96 expressi on , 1

Spot t iswood e 6 Co P r i n ter s, {Venn t r ee! S

“ -
.
q
u a r e, L on don .
h i s gen t e emot i on s T
l h erefore. he may be . an d restrai ned . The m a st er y
desc ri bed as a sa fe co m an i on r at h er t han
p met res i s con sprc u ous I t sh o u l
H ll
.

as a st arry gu i d e e Wi n o t fire t h e so u ;
. l t hat t hese Pi c t ures a r e p r e t t i l y
"

ll
h e wi no t d ecei v e t h e ear W hat soever of . an d no ees p re t tli y b o u n d l .

l
b al m i ves i n h i s v erse may be we represen t ed ll l
assu red y enh a n ce t h e au t h o r s r
'

by Ev en i n g i n t h e F orest o f M eu d o n ”
. a poet .

I t were we ll
if more of ou r poet s co u d l
b rea t he t h u s gen t y i n st ead of mau i n g l . l Th e D ail y M ai l Lo n d on.
fir mamen t s an d frac t uri ng rai n b o ws
.

There i s so me q u i et go o d w
.

M acken zi e B e s P i c t ur es o f ll '

Th e D ai l y N ew s say s
ot her P oems
"
P ea fo r F ai r . A l
t he t ruest an d most h u man n o t e 1
'

M r M ac ken zi e B ell s P i c t u res of Travel

'
.
wh ic h even i n t hi s age of n eg l e c t
an d o t h er P oems i s v er y mu c h i n t he Spi ri t
.

ll l
wi cer t ai n y fin d man y appr e c i a t i v

q
"
o f h is Spri n g s I mmor t al i t y I t i s t he
'

H
.

h ar vest o f t he u iet eye e exce s i n t he . l

p i c t u re o f w h a t ma y b e ca ed t h e st i i fe o f ll ll l Ll o y d s
’
W ee k l y N e w ep n p e
an i mat e t h i n gs Take. for examp e, t he l Every page ofd ai n t y v o l e
t h i s
Eveni ng i n t he F orest of Meud on
.

evi d en ce t h a t t h e wri t er h a s

Ret u rn i n g somet i mes from t h e fie d s l of i p o w er I f

. h e d oes n o t st i r t o eaal

sl eep .
mov e t o t ea rs he co mpe s t h e . l
I seem t o see t hat t wi ligh t on ce agai n . t he read er b y h i s vi vi d d epi c t i o n
That t wi i gh t as myst eri ou s ri c h . an d d eep,
l scen ery an d d ee
“
reli gi ous f
A
s yon d er b ac kbi r d s st rai n l ‘
.

l ongest poe m h e B at t e s P an . l '

.

i magi epi sod e at W at er l oo

.

l .

I see t h e so mb re o v el i n ess arou n d

vari o u s orc ee i n t hat momen t o us
I fee t he l sen se o f awe, t he en t h ra i n g ll have a b rief s for reflec t ion .

i s t here h i s l i e
O f N at ure s w ood an d si en ce, for
‘
l l no so u n d
.

l
M akes h ere t h at si en ce c ease W ast in g t hr o ugh care and l ust of

E l
.

Th e effec t he e i s so full and c o mplet of i ts

r e
as we llas young ng i sh said
t h ou gh t s fly from t h e sc ene of
ki n d t h at we al most resen t t h e su d d en
b u rst o f so n g t h at su dd n l y b reaks t h e spell ll
t h eir v i age h ome s and t hose n ear
A l
e "
t o t hem
.
"
t ho ug h i t is en t i r el y i n t h e sc h eme o f t he
. P ea for F ai t h t on
oem O ne of t h e mo e c on si derab l e piec es o f t he d eep myst eri e s of i fe an d l
p
.
r
m
.

15 The B at t le s P au se "
Thi s i s a momen
'
jyo a n d g ri ef rem e b e r t hat G od
mi ght an d wi sdom M r Be ll
.

t ar b reak i n t h e st o m o f war at W at er l oo
g
.
r
.

wi t t h e reflec t i o n s t hat ass t h rou gh t he

.
l
sc ru pu o u s care t o avoid an yt hi ng
p b l e x ag ger a t i on of t hough
mi n d s of men o n ei t h er s1 de whi e w ai t i n g l p er o e or

for t he n ex t on set M ost o f t h em t h i n k o f at t r ac t i v e an d art i st i ca y wrought ve ll

i s at h i s b est in such pi ec es as T
.

h o me i n t h ei r o w n w ay so me b y i t s pure y l he

p e r son a
.

a s sl
oc i at i o n s, o t h e rs b y st a t e y l sophy of O u r F ee i n gs
"
ere we l . H
i c t u r es o f t a ve assoc i a t ed w i t h l t h i fin e t h ou gh t ex pres sed i n perfec t lo
p r e r
n a t i ve p aces l The more i mpo rt an t o f t hese rh y t h m an d
. t he vo u me con tain l
b reaks c on si st s o f a fine passage d esc ri pt i ve su c h exa mp es l .

o f t h e o ld -fash i o n ed mer c h an t men s passi n g

’

ou t o f t he est u ar y o f t h e M er sey w i t h a J D " in. . Th e St ar . says

favou rab e wi n d l Sev era o f t h e piec es
. l Some M r B ell s Pictures of
of
‘

l l
.

are of a r e i gi o u s ca st i n c u di ng on e i n and ot h er P oems mig h t have been

R
.

memor y o f C h r i st i n a osset t i .

b y W o rd sw ort h Simple seri ous thi .

si n gs si m l y an d seri ously wi th the .

h o mel y c ar m t hat ever hangsround

Th e St a n d a r d says
si m l i c i t y S h li s as ti
p uc ne
M r M ac ken zi e B ell as t hose kn o w w ho F red er ic k T en n yso n and to Ch
Rosset t i are good t o read The latt
.
.

h av e read h i s r ec en t exc e en t b i ogr aph y o f ll

R
.

C h r i st i n a osset t i i s a
p o e t wi t h a seri o u s t r i b u t e wor t h y of t he serene and
an d l
c u t i v at ed i t erary t ast e l
i s n ew . H spi ri t w h ose i n fl uen ce seems t o
l
v o u me o f v erses P ic t u res o f Tr ave , "
. l man y of t hese poems .

l
bear s add i t ion a t est i mo n y t o t he fac t .

D . P i t l ret h l y ”i n Th e M orni ng L
1 am
Th e G l ob e says
.

Lovers of t r ave l an d of Nam

Th rough ou t t h e b oo k t he st y e i s c ear l l l
we c o me M r . B el ls '
d i rec t and mm:
 Th e Q u ee n says of h i s ad mirers T he Pi c t u res o f T
. r

M ken zie B e
a c wh ose L i fe of ll are a seri es of d escri pt i v e an d red
R
.

tin a o sset t i
"
was on e o f t h e most i eces w hi c h are memori al s o f v i si
t a u t l i t erary b iogr aphi es pu b i sh ed l wi t zer l an d t h e P yren ees & c
. The . .

ea r a n d wen t i ke h i s ast v o u me o f l l l ev i d en ce of carefu l observ at i o n an d re

T
.

Spri n g s I mmor t a i t y "

a mo st l l t i l f l i h m t i m t t

q
'
s p oe ca ee n g e o s .
p o r an
T
. .

i s j u st m v o l u me h B
“
:l i a t e l y i n t o a secon d ed i t i o n . po e i n t h e i s e
i n whi c h t h e prob ab l e so lil o
"
hin g a n ew v o u me of p oe m s l P au se
F ren c h an d E
. .

A
.

P i c t ures o f Trave l a n u mb er of t ypi ca l

"
ed mon g t h e
sol Jier s d u r i ng an i n t er va l at W at er]
.

r c l a ss c ri t i c s w h at o n e m i gh t ca the
. ll .

C lu b S c hoo l M r B e s poems enj oy ll r esen t ed wi t h c on si d erab l e i magi

'

p The religi o us poems are i n t u

. .

c o n s i d erat i on for t h ei r d eep fee i n g l o rc e .

me d i t a t i ven ess .
devo t ion al key .

Th e C h r i st i an Ag e u yr
Li fe say s
longest poem i n t he c ollec t io
fa r t h e n

8 ca lled The B at t le s P au se i n whic h

“ ’ " The b ook sho w s ev i den ce of m u c h
B e l l d e pic t s wi t h man y a c l e er t ouc h
.

v l
of r e igi o u s t hou gh t an d t h er e i s a fr .

in i n n e r visi on s
.

w h i c h h e i magi nes t o
.

l
of st y e an d v i gou r of r h yt h m i n

o c c u rr ed to so me of t h e war -w o rn
of t h e v erse whi c h appea s spec i a y l ll
er s d u ri n g i n t he
a momen t ary l u ll r ead er Th e B at t e s Pau se i s t he
.
"
l ’
l
l y b a t t e-st orm at W at er oo
l There are l p oem an d .co n t ai n s s o me n o t e w o r t h y si
Th e G reat N apoleo n
.

“ "
r a l r e l i gi ou s oems al l excel en t a i ke i n l l on t he
p
.

l
g b t a n d m a n ner
.
Greys an d I n n i ski i ngs and o ll .

l
.

M ersey at L i v erpoo i n 1 8 1 5 .

“
h e I l l u st r at ed L o n d on N e w e say s

ir M i n c e eb rat i n g t h e
a c ken zi e Be ll . l Th e P eop l e say s

"
a n t es P yr en ees in h i s “
P i c t u res o f C on t ai n s man y pret t y t h ou gh t s fra
v el a n d ot h er P oems
. a so t akes mo re . l smoo t h v er si ficat i o n Th e au t h or hi .

e o f t h e ho me y an d h u man as ec t s o f l to take h i gh posi t i on amon g E n g an d s l ’

p
se m o u n tai n s t h an o f t h ei r su b i me so i l l po et s ; h e u n q u es t i o n ab y p sesse
os l
P er haps an ext rac t fro m t h i s i t t e l l i i f i i m l
q
es t t n t a as
poe c g e x ce p o n e u re
.
.

m N ear S
. t S au v eu r wi gi v e a fai r y
.
. ll l
u a t e idea of t he poet s gen t e M u se
'
l .

Th e W ee k l y D i sp a t c h says
Th e C hurc h Ti m es says Pi c t u res of Trav el an d o t h er P
‘

ll
i b er e wi be fou n d i n t h ese pages man y
b y M ac ken zie B e i s a d e i gh t fu vol ll . l l
apt t h ou gh t grac e fu e s ed ll p o em s M e o .d i o u s si mp e l
a n d u n a . l .
y x p re s .

t h ey are fu of w h at ever y ll r ead er

rec ogn i se as t h e t rue poet i c i n spi rat i o n
c an d o wi t h mu c h more poet r y 0
G r e et Th o u g h t s say s c harac t er .

Mr M ac kenzie Bell P i c t u res o f T l

’
. rave s
1 8 a very pret t y v o u me. an d t h e i u s l ll
tt i o n s. evi d en t l t h e ou t co me of t he Th e Revi ew
d Church say s
thor s K od ak . a d con siderab e i n t erest t o
'
l
e oems so me of t he best of w h i c h embod
p
M r M ac ken zi e B ell , h as made h i s
y
.

kn o wn so t hat h is n ew v o l u me o f gr
.

e s i ri t o f t he sc en es de i c t ed M ll
p p B
H
r e .

R ver se wi ll recei ve a wel c ome

. .

5 mu c h o f t he d evo u t n ess of M i ss osset t i e is .

star t l i n g yet al w ays t h ou gh t fu l

.

l
nose i fe he wr ote l ast ear and occ asi on a
y y . ll . an d .

3 catc h i n h i s v erses remi n d ers of her t i mes o ri gi n al ; w e are n ev er shoc k

mint an d vi vi d st y e l .
hi m b u t oft en st ri ke on pret t y fan c i
.

when h e speaks of t he b ird s si n gi n

sc ar c e aware t h ey si n g . M r B ell.

ash amed h i s r e i gi ou s fai t h — he h

of l
T
h e Ch u r c h F ami l y N ew sp ap er says
t r ac e o f can t b u t i s man y an d di g l
.

Mr Macken zie B ell h as al read y gai n ed an d evi n c es a w e -ba an ced mi n d ll l

book. w h i c h i s d ed icated t o A
. .

ni ce as amon t h m m i i f r ch d
g e o re pro s n g o o u r
mnger poet s The resen t vol u me con t ai n s
. l
Si n c ai r i s ver y we br ou ht out . an d ll
mypoems t hat wi l in c rease the c o nfiden ce a port m t o f t he au t hor an si x i u st rai ll
 ken zi e B e fo rm ll b oo k an at t r ac t i ve in E ar y S l
u mmer ASu m m e r E .
.

Rl
.

i h t he W oo ds
.

3 M i sce an eou s. ll
e i gi o u s an d P ic st an d s ou t pr e e m i n en
Th e 1
.

esq u e poem s ar e c har mi n g y pen n ed l beau t y of wo rd pen n i n g - .

.

l
he B at t e 5 P au se ( an i magi nary e pi so d e P au se t he on gest poem l
is a

q
'
. .

Wat er oo ) wi fin d man y ad mirer s, for i t

l ll l
so d i er v i si o n s pat h et i ca y a n d grap ll “

v er s w i t h ac t i on an d
p a t h o s Th e re are .
to d l In
.
“
To a Worker am o n g t he l
l
i l u st rat i o n s t he best b ei ng a por t rai t of
.
o u r poet has man y fin e i nes O t h er l .

poet l
whi ch p ease u s e u a y as we ll a r e ll
R
.

for F ai t h .
"
W il s and Sn o w
’

ose .

B o y j ust D ead
"
an d W i n d F a n c i es
.
.

Th e h av e read so me harsh an d w e t hi n k 1
'

P r e sb y t e r i an says : .
.

c ri t i c i sm on t h ese poem s o f w h i c h s e
Ve l ike muc h t h e pervadi n g spi ri t of fai t h .

h ope i n h i s ver se The book i s i u s ll no heed b u t are t han kfu fo r t h i s c

.
1 l
ed W i t h a po r t rai t an d so me h a f d o zen
.

l -
ll
refreshi n g ga ery o f t r a vel pi c t u r es s
.

wi rt gs of sc en es d esc r ib ed i n P i c t u res of
v el

I ll u st r a t ed C h u r c h N e w s n

Th e B ap t i st M ag a zi n e Sa ws:
Pi c t ures o f Tr av e fo r m b u t 3 l
7“ H ap/ t i t ll aga zrn e ga v e an ear y wel
‘
'

l p o r t i o n o f t h i s v o u me w h i c h i n c l ude l .

l
.

M M k i
c ellan eo u s an d re i gi ou s poem s in a d l .

t o t he o n ger poems o f T
e se ver a t
l s Spr i n g I mmo rt al i t
'
ye a r s ago

an d expressed
o r ac en z e .

l h e B a t t e s P3 3 l '
:

To a W or ker amon g t h e P oo r an !
'

igh t i n t he pi c t u r es w h i c h w e h av e
.

.
P lea fo r F ai t h M r M ac ken zie
e i n so me sen ses a c on t i n u at i o n M r Be . . ll ms al ways gi ve u s great pleasu re
. .

l
a si n cer e ov e o f n at ure po rt ra ys i t w i t h
l i t y an d i n t erpret s i t s d eeper mean i n gs
.
fi r t he mar ks an d i n spi ra t i o n o f a

“
'
.

u sympat h y an d d i sc ri mi n at i on is H p oe t . a n d a re e x p res sed i n d e i gh t f u l l

l
ms are arge y o f t he reflec t i ve o rder n o t l
.

an d l
an gu age M an of th e poems
l
ct l y myst i c a . b u t t i n ged t hrou gh ou t wi t h
,
l
a read y a peered i n t e co u mn s of rm l
T l
H an d week y peri od i c al s h ey w il n o n e :
l i gi ou s spi ri t is w or kman sh i p i s c are
.

an d ar t i st i c free fro m exagger at i on an d

.

l l
ess be we c o med in t hei r prese n t form
'
.

O n e of t h e b est l ec es i n t he b oo k i s
ll
w i pro ve wor t h y o f t h e au t ho r s reput
'

n .

te B at t e s P a u se, l
"
esc ri b i n g v i si o n s o f
g ai n e d i n S r i n g s I m mo rt a i t y and
’
l .

sc en es w h i c h c o me t o so d i ers o f l P oems T e vo me con ta i n

. u s 5 1 1 l l .

er en t n at i on al t t es d u r i n g a u at W at er l ll ll
i u st rat i on s. and i s pr i n t ed and p u b l i s
h
e :

“
A l
P ea fo r F ai t h i s n o t ewor t h y an d
an at t rac t i ve st y e l .

ms a st ron g apo oget i c l .

Th e Hm o e N ew s say s

Th e Refer ee say s Thi s i s t he wor k of a gen u i n e c rafts zl m

h ere i s m u c h i n M r B e s n ew v o u me ll ’
l Th ou gh n o t a great poet . Mr . Ma de
ll
.

t i t i s a p easu re t o r emembe r l Be h as t h ou gh t t o some pur p se

o . as

q uat rai n t o C h ri st i n a osset t i is a gem R we ll

aware t h at n ob e t h ough t s d ma d
l n
e
T 1
.

f
c orrespo n d i ng d igni t y o ex p r essi on O 1 !

en d h e h as b een at pai n s t o fin d t he 6 m
word an d t o set i t i n i t s plac e and sc
A HHy at t Th e En fl el d
i

Mr
.
in l
approac h as near as may b e, t hat i d
. .

ea 4
ser v er a n d Th e M i d d l eeex G a ze t t e
.

i n wh i c h ev er y wo rd h e ps expression l .

says :
can n ot be removed rep aced u t “ l
or
fr
ac ken zi e Be ll s n ew
’
b o ok, Pi c t u res of i n j u ry t o c ea r n ess an d prec i si on
l M .
‘

1
v el .
"
c o mes as a we l c ome vo u l me to h e di sd ai n t o l et hi s ea r gr o w l oo m s
"

re w ho hi t her t o ad mi red
h av e his sen si t i v e t o t he sub t e me od y an d s wa m " l l
”
i r i n g s I m mort a i t y
'
an d t h e rec en t l o f su c h r h yt h m
R
.

g p
r a h i c a w o r k "
l C h r i st i n a osse t ti.
"
.

AS cou ld t hey h ear t h e damned w il l!

p oe m s c on t ai n ed i n t h e v o u me b efo re l .

make n oi se
.

i f few i n n u mber ar e fu o f h appy . ll B ut l i sten

no

u gh t s an d . b ei n g ex pressed i n si m p e l .

gu age make t hem all t h e mo re ac c e pt a b e l The fo o wi n g i n es i n memor y of

ll C lh u s

R
. . .

n y o f t h e st u d i es sh o w h i s sympat h y w i t h o sset t i n eed n o co m men d at i o n .

on
.

tu re. an d m hi s su n se t pi c t u res on e see ms ll

i u st r at i o n s ad d t o t h e at t rac t iven e s

eel t h e peace t h at i s ev en t i d e s We ’
boo k w h i c h i n o ne or t wo p ace s 11 3 m "! l .

A
.

c
t l y ad mi re “
ft er Su n set o fl P aui ac .
"
ll mi sses th e pi t ch of perman en t pussy
Ther e i sso methi ng W ordswor t hi an i n t hi s W e hav e ev i den t l y a ri si n g
p t
N at ure i s great an d man i s i mpo t en t . . M ac ken zi e B el wh o ha vi n g w o r k l
ll
Yet st i h o w mu c h hi s ar t h at h made an d w e ll
d u ri ng so me yea rs h a
. .

i nc rease v an c ed fr o m bei n
g a respec t ab l e
To t h i s rare st ore of beau t y ac h . E t o b ec o mi n g a favo ur i t e
sma ll
.

at c h
P ercei ve u po n t h e mo u n t ai n si de . re g
c lai med Th e N or t h B r i t i sh D ai l y I n!
F ro m barren wi derness w h at po wer i t l . Every read er of t hi s c ha rm i n g
hat h verse can har d y he p fee i n g t h a t t l l l
To c heer t he eye To me i t oft en seems i s a gen u i n e t per meat ed wi t h
A pz
z
.

s t h ou gh n o pr ospec t reac h ed p er o f n at u re an c ft ed wi th abi i t y t o l

'

fec t ion t i ll w h ic h are so se dom fou n d co m bi h l

I t sh owed some ki n d y t rac e of h u man l same i n di vid u a l H
i s d esc ri pt i o n s .

t oi l whi c h he has ac t ua y seen are c ll

M r B e s re igi ou s poems wi be read
. ll ’
l ll i sed b y a li vi ng g o w an at m o s l
wi t h apprec i at io n b y man y perp exed m i n d s l l
rea i t y t hat co m pe s ap red ati o n l
.

They pea k wi t h an a most pon t i fical assur l

.

l "

s B at t e s P au se t hose st
'
on e 0
l
ance o evi fin di n g i ts ou t c om e i n good an d .
t i on s of al l n oise t h at i s assu m
.

th e
y ar e we come for t hei r wh o e- hear t ed l l happen ed at W ater loo . M r B el ha
.

l
There i s not h i ng i n t h em of t he d e H
.

san i t y a v er i t ab e t ri n m h l
e d esex
fi
.
.

cad en ce t hat h as mar ked so mu c h r ec en t

l
rare d e icac y of fee n g an d b ri ll i a n
v er se . A
l l t h ro u gh t h e b oo k are t rac es o f t i on t he v i si on s t hat fl i t th ro u gh t h
t he d ept h of i v i n g sy mpat h y t ha t mad e M r l .
so me o f t he co mbat an t s d u r i ng su
ll
B e s ear i er wor k poet ry
'
l B ut Pi c t ur es .

b efore t he con fli c t reco mmen c res

of T rave an d o t h er P oem s l d oes n o t c on l
dou b ed fu ry an d reca ls t h eir l
t ai n hi s great poem F or t h at we are st i . ll spi ri t s t o t h e gri m con t rast o f m
.

m
l oo ki n g ho pefu y an d h is n ew v o u me i s a ll . l l
re i gi ou s ms are a so dist i n g u i si l
fresh assu ran c e t h at i t w i c o me Mr Be ll . ll d ept h an h e pu ri t y of t hei r sen t i
h as seen muc h w h i c h h e t e s so t h at men . ll wi ll n o do u b t assi st c o n sid erab y i n l
wi ll like t o read of i t B u t t h ough at t i mes .
.
.

M r B e s sph ere of in flu en ce ll ’
.

h e comes very near i t he h as n ot yet seen

. .

o r at east l
h e h as n o t b een ab e t o w ri te l
Th e G l asg ow Ev en i n g
. .

ab o u t t h e i gh t t h at n ev er was o n sea o r l N ew s

lan d .e has i n deed H t h e co n sc i ou sn ess . Mr . M ac ken zie B ell s n am e

‘
ha s
q
t hat t h i s u est i s fo r h i m ; an d t hat he can . a cer t ain fami i ari t y as t he l n th
as he d oes make hi s read ers share t h at mu c h d ebat ed b i ograph ica st l
R H
.

co n sc i ou sn ess i s i t se f an ear nest of real i sa l C h ri st i na osset t i e has al so I .

t ion W e have n ot heard t h e ast o f M r

. l . l
v o u me of oet ry en t i t l ed
p p ri n g
§
M ac ken zi e B e ll . l
t a i t y an d ot h er P oems
"
i b e en .

t h e pre s e t v o u me co n si st o f a sec c
n l
Th e G l asg o w H e r al d say s of t h e
“
P i c t u res of Trave i nc u d l l
I n t hi s vo l u me
M r M ac ken zie B ell gi ves . . former v o u me a ong poem en t i t l l . l
u s amo n g o t h er t h i n gs a seco n d seri es of
. . B at t e s Pau sel ’
an d so me mi .

p i c t u res d rawn from h i s ex per i en c e as an an d rel i o u s poems M r B el i s . . l

oc casi on al t ravell er i n F r an ce I t ca n b e sai d . a man 0 d ee fee i n g and hi s v erse l .

fo r t hem t h at whi l e t h e exh i bi t n o part ic u and free rom t an ta i si ng ob sc l

l ar o ri gi n al i t y or force t ey are c om men d ab l e .
p h r a si n g .

fo r t hei r si m l ici t y of for m an d pu ri t y o f

t o n e an d st y e p . The l ongest poe m in t he
Th e Refo r m ed
b oo k i s T “
h e B at t e s P au se wh i c h i s an l P r esb y t er i a n
'
.

i magi n ary epi sod e at W at er oo The devi ce l

Asecon d
.

l
i s poe t ic a an d i s ski fu y e abo rat ed. Th e l ll l .
vo u l me of poems fron
l
t se ec t s cer t ai n so d i er s an d makes t h em l .
of M r M ac ken zi e B ell wi ll b e wel
.

t n t h e b ri ef su spen si on o f t he ac t i on d r ea m all w h o h av e a t ast e for gen u i n '

o f h ome an d t h e vari ou s i n c i d en t s o f t h ei r The pi c t u res o f t ravel are t al

a st i f e j u st as perso n s d r o w n i n g are su p
l M eu d on t he G aro nn e. t he Lake 01
p . .

p o se d t o d o I t i s a gen t e an d fanc i fu piec e l l an d o t h er p ac es on t h e C on t i n l

A l boo k i n c u d es Th e B at t e s P au
.

o f v erse
“
P ea for F ai t h i s t h ou gh t fu
. l .
l l '

ll
M r B e has i n deed a re igi ou s b ias an d a l l
P ea for F ai t h wi t h severa sh m l
Rl
.
. .

few pages are d ev oted t o re i gi ou s t h emes l .

u n d er e i i o u s an d M iscel an eo
g l
w h i c h h e t reat s i n a q u iet , t hough t fu t on e l l l
B el s st y e i s so met i mes bo d an d
'
l
A port rai t of M r B e i s prefixed t o th e
.

ll as a b last i n t h e ea r y S p g
r i n an l
l A
.
.

vo ul me .
sweet an d gen t e as a mi d ut u mn l
 Th e L eed s M erc u r y says Th e M an c h est er Ev en i n g Ob r o
ar e wi ll b e e fr o m M r M ac ken zie
t d
‘
M r M ac ken zi e B ell has t
’

Hi
x
pec e . . a poe
s i n ce h e t oo k hi s
p l ace i n t h e l i t er ary a poet s ear
‘
s v erses are al wa
R
.

:1 a s t h e b i ographer o f C h ri st i n a osset t i : hi s th ou gh t s ru min an t an d refl ec t i

i n t h i s case ex pec t at i on i s real i sed is . H t hemes are i n v ariab y i n har mo n l
v o l u m e of
p oe m s sh o ws m o re m . a t u re t hou gh t s an d hi s st y e l .

g i n a n d a more fin i sh ed st yle t han was

A
.

d i n h i s earl i er wor ks l t oget her

H
.

n e w v o l u me o f M r M ac ken zie B el l s i s Th e Ar b r o a t h
'
.
er al d say
w e l c o me ; an d we must add t hat i t s
Mr M ac ken zi e B ell i s al reac
d o ze n i ll u st rat i on s are d el igh t fu lly
.

kn own as a wr i t er of ex cellen t
Li l y o f i t .

l
t h i s v o u me i s ike y t o ex t en d t l l
fav ou r whi c h he en oys Th ere j .

Th e B r i st o l M er c u r y say s su ri si n g n o t hi n g rev ol u t i o n ar
H
.

l ll B el s wo r k e co mes wi t h a c l
'

h e r e i s a si mp e c h ar m ab o u t M r B e s
'
.

l
.

e w h i c h i s su re t o appea t o t he over of l l a c a m mi n d t o t he st u d y o f t h e

:r y . H
i s desc ri pt i on s o f n at u re are sweet an d t en d er n ess of n at u re. an d t h

p r e t t y
— a fa c t w h i c h i s c e ar y sh o wn l l an d san c t i t i es of h u man i fe : an l
l
.

l
ex a m p e i n h i s poem. O n t he L ake o f h i s i mpressi on s i n t o me od i ou s v e
te v a .C on sid erab e po wer of i magi n at i o n l h as i n i t t h e c h ar m o f ar t i st i c p
ev i n c ed i n t h e i n t erest i n g
p oe m T h e
h appy c ou plet an d t he sweet .

t l e s P au se i m i i c h ast en ed spi ri t t o wh om t i me an
( y p sode at
‘

a n ag n a r e
l
t er oo ) I n t h i s poe m t he aut hor re at es
. l ha v e mad e t h i n gs c lear .

d r ea m s of differen t so d i ers The wri ter l .

f a med i t at i ve t u r n o f mi n d
H al d
. .

Th e D u n oo n er sa

B ir m i n g h am D ai l y G a ze t t e says ; M r B ell i s at hi s b est i n his d

.

I n t hese i n d w d . we 3
es
4 r M ac ken zi e B e h as a deser ved repu t a
. ll e i s more an art i st t h an a
.
.

ri fo r d ai n t
y y ri c a poe mls a n d hi s nl ew .
l
B at t e s P au se afiord s amp e e
'
l
u m e wi p ea ll l
se Th e m os t a mbi t i ou s
.

t hi s i n i t s graphic an d pat het i c d

or: i s Th e B at t e s P ause l
M r Be s
' '
ll o f v i si o n s w hi c h appear t o eac h so
. .

ume ll
i s i ust ra t ed an d t he au t h or s
'
.
l l
i es re i ev ed for a mo men t i n su dde
t r a i t serves as a fr on t i spi ece
The
'
.

o n t h e b at t e fiel d
-
" “
Pi l .

Trave fro m wh ic h t he v o u m
l l
Th e
.

N e w c ast l e D a ll y L e ad er says l
t i t e presen t t o t he mi n d vi vid
.

“ac ken zi e Pi c t u re of Trave

Be ll s‘
l wha t M r B e hi mse f has see
. ll l
t t i n u e a seri es whi c h is t o fo u n d i n o n e o f l l
i t t e poems seem t o h ave t h e mer
for mer v o u mes lTh ey are . t hapa w r i t t en o n t h e s ot so sweet l
p .

:t c h es r at h r
e t h an
p i c t u r es— s m a p i ec es l b reat he ou t t h e ai r of t he su m
i m pressi oni sm at o n c e d esc r i pt i ve of a sc ri b e Th at M r B e h as t h e a
. . ll
ne an d expressi ve o f a mood The . r at h er t han t he poet s t he e e w
‘
.

tc h es are firm si mp e d ec i d ed . M r Be l . . . ll for pi c t u res uen ess rat h er t an 1 q

as n ot ai m at prod u c i ng gran d effec t s . t hin gs. we assu me from t h ese i ne l
ere i s not hi n g i n hi s wor k w h i c h i s ei t h er
To me i t ms
in d i ose or v ague i s t a en t i s o f a
. H l As t ho gh n o prospec t reac h ed
u
o ft en see

ll
to y u n preten d i n g ki n d ; b u t i t i s t he t i ll
en t of one w h o h as t he t rue ar t i st i c I t sho wed so me ki n d l y tr ace
t i nct . H
is not e i s ui et reveren t . si n cere q . .
t oi l
Pic t u res o f T "
l
.

t he best ra ve in

There
Th e Tor
i s a sweet t o n e i n t h
q u ay O b ser v er . sa

M r M ac ken zi e B e
.
p u b i sh ed ll . l
en g agi n g t i t e o f Pi c t u res o f Tr a l

Th e Ro ss sh i r e -
Jou r n sl .
Th i s boo k of M r M ac ken zie B e
Th e M an c h este r
.

C o u r i er says
fit t ed for c o mpan y i n a ei su re h l
these poems Mr . Be ll sh ows a h appy ed i fyi ng an d peac efu i n i t s effec t s l
 i r -see i n g
a e
y e an
The v o l
v

has gi ven t o al l rea d ers o f v erse so me ver y

u

of h o me and o v ed ones l .

pr et t
y pi c t ur es o f sig h t s i n fo r ei gn an d s l .
i s c h ast el y bou n d an d ad o rn ed w i t
t r at io n s an d a po rt rai t o f t he a n t
o f fron t i spi ece i s o n e t h a t c a n .

Th e En i l el d C h r on i c l e say s ,
b ri n g si ncere pleasu re t o all o v er s l
So me t i me ago wh en we gav e so me at ten t ion
t o hi s wo rk. we regard ed M r M ac ken zie B ell
.

as on e of t he more pro mi si n g o f t he Th e Y o u n g M an say s

At
.

mi n or poet s of h is day . t h e presen t Pi c t u res of Trav e and o t h er l

t i me we c on si der Mr . B ell t o be o n e c on t ai n s so me o f M r Be s m . ll ’

of t he best w ri t ers o f h i s d ay i n hi s o w n wor k

H
.

d epart men t i s n ew vo u me P i c t u res of l

T
.

l
rave an d ot her P oems. whi c h h e d ed i ca t es
to A
rc hd eacon S i n c ai r . w i b e fou n d t o l ll Th e C h r i st i a n say s
warr an t o u r hi h opi n i on I t i s a c h ar mi ng
vo u l me beau t i f ll y p i
u
.

r n t ed . an d i ll us t r
at ed
All wh o h a e ad M M ac k v re r . en

d l i gh t fu l book o f Sp i n g
.

in a t ru ly ar t istic man n er .
e
t al i t y
rse
w i ll gi e a read y w l c o v
ve . r

. e
l at e t en t u re i n t h field s f poesy
s v e o
Trav el H
.
"
of an d ot her P oems
Th e L i v er p o o l M er c u r y say s
t h e same loft y reveren ce of c o n c e
. e

Pi c t u res o f T rave i s s b ook of oems. l remov ed fro m al l t h at i s base

p .

of w hi c h t h e first par t wh i c h su pp i es t he . l l
c earn ess o f vi sion an d m usi ca l si
l
t i t e i s a con t i n u at i on of a sc h eme o f
.
ph ra s e M r B e . i s e mi n en t ya ll l
l
.

v erses b egu n i n h i s for mer v o u me I n t he .

p p
eo e T
l h e s h o
. r t poe m s o f t r a
w o rd Pi c t u res t h ese n a t u re st u d i es are man y gems o f desc ri pt i ve b ea n t
v er
y fi t l d esc r i bed Even i n g i n th e .
most am b i t i ous effo r t i n t he
F or est 0 M eu d on i s a ver y fav ou rab e l l
B at t e s P au se i s at o n c e n o vel i n
'

l l
.

exam p e o f t h i s c ass as an effec t i ve i ec fin e i n exec u t i o n

p e .

o f w o rd i n t in g
M r B e i s n arr at i v e po w er s of w h i c h h e
’
.
.

ave earn est i n a sw i n gi n g b a ad i n hi s ll Th e C h i ) r c h m an my:

or mer b oo k hav e grea t
y r i pen ed The l
M r M ac ken zi e B ell i s l
.
.

B at t e s P au se l i s a o n g oe m d esc r i pt i v e
'
l . a read y f
o f an i magi n ar e i sod e at
p st i H kn o w n i n t h e wor d o f et t ers as t l l
l
er c o e r e
o f a c h ar mi n g b oo k o f ver se
.

ll
M r B e u ses an gu age wi t h an i n st i n c t i ve .

l
I mmor t a i t y an d o t h er P oems
.

fee i n g for r h y t h m ic b eau t y an d pi c t u resq u e

l .

fo rc e I t i s u po n t h i s poem t h at t h e ad v an ce w ri t er of t wo v a uab e c ri t i ca b i o l l l
C h ar es W hi t ehead
l
.

an d
he h as mad e i n h i s ar t m u st b e est i mat ed
R osse t t i an d as a t h ou gh t fu
'
i s
l
i t i s h ere t h at he st r i kes a deeper n o t e t h an
he h as yet reac h ed c r i m i n at i n g essayi st e ha s ad d . H
l
.

repu t at i o n b y t he d e i ca t e an d gr ac e
an d t h e st ro n g c ear . b l an k v l
Th e H
.

P er t h sh i r e C o n st i t u t i on al say s
p r e se n t v o u m e i s l
w ri t i n g sh e .

We h av e bee n so mewh at o n g i n n ot i c i ng l an d apprec i at i v e sym pat h y wi t h

l
t h i s b eau t i fu v o u me, b u t wi t h al l t h e great erl her v ar yi n g mood s an d an ear swi i .

p lea su r e d o w e n o w b r i n g i t b efo re t h e at t en l
t h e esso n s wh i c h as t h e v i si b e l
t he E
.

t i o n o f ou r readers Th e n ame of M ac ken zie t er n a M i n d she suggest s l

R
.
.
.

ll
B e need s n o i n t rod u c t i o n t o t h ose w h o kn ow M eu d on " “
oses an d. Sn ow
w h at i s good i n c on t em po r ar y ost r y. an d i n G ar on n e St Sau veu r '
G er . .

i n t u n e w i th Ts
.

t h e r esen t v o u me h i s n ame l
oes n o t b e i e l sh o w a mi n d
i t sel H
ere we fin d g en u i n e poet i c fee i n g, l W ord swort h The ongest poe . l
l u m i n o u s, an d st ren gt h en i n g t h o u gh t kee n , l
B at t e s P au se
‘

i s a se ries o f vi go .

d i scer n men t of b ea u t y an d sym pat h e t i c i h . n at i v e sc en es i n t he rh yt h m o f S c

t erpret at i on o f N at u re s mood s T h e man n er st ro n g h u man sympat h ies o f t he

'
.

i s i n appro pri at e keepi n g w i t h t h e su b ec t j sh o wn i n Th e W orker amo ng"st t l

mat t er — v i gor o u s expr essi on h ere an d d ai n t y The P hi oso ph y "o f F ee i ngs T l l .

The vi n d i c a1
.

w o rkman sh i p t h ere The P i c t u res o f . so b y o f F ai l ur e .

Trave wh i c h gi ve t hei r t i t e t o t h e v o u me
l l l r e i gi o u s b e ief. wh i c h i s apart fro l
A
. .

fo rm a sec on d seri es t o t h ose i n c u d ed i n t h at l an d d emon st rat i on i s gi ven i n

c h ar mi n g c o ec t i o n ll
Spri n g s I mmor t a i t y '
l F ai t h “
C h ri st i n a o sset t i R .

j u st Dead an d M i rac es Th
. .

an d o t h er P oem s B ut pe r h aps t he .
. .
"
. l
st ron gest pi ec e i n t h e presen t v o u me i s t h at l l
c h ar m i n g y pri n t ed an d i ust rated ll .