Delphi Complete Poetical Works of Christina Rossetti

by Christina Rossetti

Lord, Thou hast tried and broken me,

  And yet Thy Mercy shall prevail.

  Saviour, through Thee I am forgiven —

  Do Thou receive my soul, blood-shriven,

  O Christ, Who art the Gate of Heaven!

  THE MARTYR

  See, the sun hath risen!

  Lead her from the prison;

  She is young and tender, lead her tenderly:

  May no fear subdue her,

  Lest the Saints be fewer,

  Lest her place in Heaven be lost eternally.

  Forth she came, not trembling,

  No, nor yet dissembling

  An o’erwhelming terror weighing her down — down;

  Little, little heeding

  Earth, but inly pleading

  For the strength to triumph and to win a crown.

  All her might was rallied

  To her heart; not pallid

  Was her cheek, but glowing with a glorious red,

  Glorious red and saintly,

  Never paling faintly,

  But still flushing, kindling still, without thought of dread.

  On she went, on faster,

  Trusting in her Master,

  Feeling that His Eye watched o’er her lovingly;

  He would prove and try her,

  But would not deny her,

  When her soul had pass’d, for His sake, patiently.

  “Christ,” she said, “receive me,

  Let no terrors grieve me,

  Take my soul and guard it with Thy heavenly cares:

  Take my soul and guard it,

  Take it and reward it

  With the Love Thou bearest for the love it bears.”

  Quickened with a fire

  Of sublime desire,

  She looked up to Heaven, and she cried aloud,

  “Death, I do entreat thee,

  Come! I go to meet thee;

  Wrap me in the whiteness of a virgin shroud.”

  On she went, hope-laden;

  Happy, happy maiden!

  Never more to tremble, and to weep no more:

  All her sins forgiven,

  Straight the path to Heaven

  Through the glowing fire lay her feet before.

  On she went, on quickly,

  And her breath came thickly,

  With the longing to see God coming pantingly:

  Now the fire is kindled,

  And her flesh has dwindled

  Unto dust; — her soul is mounting up on high:

  Higher, higher mounting,

  The swift moments counting,

  Fear is left beneath her, and the chastening rod:

  Tears no more shall blind her,

  Trouble lies behind her,

  Satisfied with hopeful rest, and replete with God.

  THE END OF TIME

  Thou who art dreary

  With a cureless woe,

  Thou who art weary

  Of all things below,

  Thou who art weeping

  By the loved sick-bed,

  Thou who art keeping

  Watches o’er the dead,

  Hope, hope! old Time flies fast upon his way,

  And soon will cease the night, and soon will dawn the day.

  The rose blooms brightly,

  But it fades ere night;

  And youth flies lightly,

  Yet how sure its flight!

  And still the river

  Merges in the sea,

  And death reigns ever

  Whilst old Time shall be;

  Yet hope! old Time flies fast upon his way,

  And soon will cease the night, and soon will dawn the day.

  All we most cherish

  In this world below,

  What tho’ it perish?

  It has aye been so.

  So thro’ all ages

  It has ever been

  To fools and sages,

  Noble men and mean:

  Yet hope, still hope! for Time flies on his way,

  And soon will end the night, and soon will dawn the day.

  All of each nation

  Shall that morning see

  With exultation

  Or with misery:

  From watery slumbers,

  From the opening sod,

  Shall rise up numbers

  To be judged by God.

  Then hope and fear, for Time speeds on his way,

  And soon must end the night, and soon must dawn the day.

  RESURRECTION EVE

  He resteth: weep not!

  The living sleep not

  With so much calm:

  He hears no chiding

  And no deriding,

  Hath joy for sorrow,

  For night hath morrow,

  For wounds hath balm,

  For life’s strange riot

  Hath death and quiet.

  Who would recall him

  Of those that love him?

  No fears appal him,

  No ills befal him;

  There’s nought above him

  Save turf and flowers

  And pleasant grass.

  Pass the swift hours,

  How swiftly pass!

  The hours of slumber

  He doth not number;

  Grey hours of morning

  Ere the day’s dawning:

  Brightened by gleams

  Of the sun-beams,

  By the foreseeing

  Of Resurrection,

  Of glorious being,

  Of full perfection,

  Of sins forgiven

  Before the face

  Of men and spirits;

  Of God in Heaven,

  The Resting Place

  That he inherits.

  ZARA

  See Maturin’s “Women.”

  Now the pain beginneth and the word is spoken; —

  Hark unto the tolling of the churchyard chime! —

  Once my heart was gladsome, now my heart is broken, —

  Once my love was noble, now it is a crime.

  But the fear is over; yea, what now shall pain me?

  Arm thee in thy sorrow, O most Desolate!

  Weariness and weakness, these shall now sustain me, —

  Pride and bitter grieving, burning love and hate.

  Yea, the fear is over, the strong fear and trembling;

  I can doubt no longer, he is gone indeed.

  Rend thy hair, lost woman, weep without dissembling;

  The heart torn forth from it, shall the breast not bleed?

  Happy she who looketh on his beauty’s glory!

  Happy she who listeneth to his gentle word!

  Yet, O happy maiden, sorrow lies before thee;

  Greeting hath been given, parting must be heard.

  He shall leave thee also, he who now hath left me,

  With a weary spirit and an aching heart;

  Thou shalt be bereaved by him who hath bereft me;

  Thou hast sucked the honey, — feel the stinging’s smart.

  Let the cold gaze on him, let the heartless hear him,

  For he shall not hurt them, they are safe in sooth:

  But let loving women shun that man and fear him,

  Full of cruel kindness and devoid of ruth.

  When ye call upon him, hope for no replying;

  When ye gaze upon him, think not he will look;

  Hope not for his pity when your heart is sighing;

  Such another, waiting, weeping, he forsook.

  Hath the Heaven no thunder wherewith to denounce him?

  Hath the Heaven no lightning wherewith to chastise?

  O my heart and spirit, O my soul, renounce him

  Who hath called for vengeance from the distant skies.

  Vengeance which pursues thee, vengeance which shall find thee,

  Crushing thy false spirit, scathing thy fair limb: —

  O ye thunders deafen, O ye lightnings blind me,

  Winds and storms from heaven, strike me but spare him.


  I forgive thee, dearest, cruel, I forgive thee; —

  May thy cup of sorrow be poured out for me;

  Though the dregs be bitter yet they shall not grieve me,

  Knowing that I drink them, O my love, for thee.

  VERSI

  Figli, la madre disse:

  Guardati dall’ Amore;

  È crudo, è traditore, —

  Che vuoi saper di più?

  Non fargli mai sperare

  D’entrare nel tuo petto;

  Chè chi gli diè ricetto

  Sempre tradito fu.

  Colla sua benda al ciglio

  È un bel fanciullo, è vero:

  Ma sempre è menzognero;

  Ma sempre tradirà.

  Semplice tu se fidi

  Nel riso suo fallace;

  Tu perderai la pace

  Nè mai ritornerà.

  Ma vedo: già sei stanca

  Del mio parlar prudente;

  Già volgi nella mente

  Il quando, il come, e il chi.

  Odimi: i detti miei

  Già sai se son sincere;

  E se son falsi o very

  Saprai per prova un dì.

  L’INCOGNITA

  Nobil rosa ancor non crebbe

  Senza spine in sullo stelo :

  Se vi fosse, allor sarebbe

  Atta immagine di te.

  È la luna in mezzo al cielo

  Bella è ver ma passeggiera:

  Passa ancor la Primavera:

  Ah! l’immagin tua dov’ è?

  PURPUREA ROSA

  Purpurea rosa

  Dolce, odorosa,

  È molto bella,

  Ma pur non è,

  O mia Nigella,

  Rival di te.

  Donna nel velo,

  Fior sullo stelo,

  Ciascun l’amore

  Reclama a se:

  Ma pass ail fiore,

  Tu resti a me.

  SOUL RUDDERLESS, UNBRACED

  Soul rudderless, unbraced,

  The Body’s friend and guest,

  Whither away today?

  Unsuppled, pale, discased,

  Dumb to thy wonted jest.

  ANIMUCCIA, VAGANTUCCIA, MORBIDUCCIA

  Animuccia, vagantuccia, morbiduccia,

  Oste del corpo e suora,

  Ove or farai dimora?

  Palliduccia, irrigidita, svestituccia,

  Non più scherzante or ora.

  UNPUBLISHED POEMS

  CONTENTS

  HEAVEN

  HYMN

  CORYDON’S LAMENT AND RESOLUTION

  ROSALIND

  PITIA A DAMONE

  THE FAITHLESS SHEPHERDESS

  ARIADNE TO THESEUS

  ON ALBINA

  A HYMN FOR CHRISTMAS DAY

  LOVE AND DEATH

  DESPAIR

  FORGET ME NOT

  EASTER MORNING

  A TIRSI

  THE LAST WORDS OF ST. TELEMACHUS

  LORD THOMAS AND FAIR MARGARET

  LINES TO MY GRANDFATHER

  CHARADE

  HOPE IN GRIEF

  LISETTA ALL’ AMANTE

  SONG

  PRAISE OF LOVE

  I HAVE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT

  WISHES

  ELEANOR

  ISIDORA

  THE NOVICE

  IMMALEE

  LADY ISABELLA

  NIGHT AND DEATH

  YOUNG MEN AYE WERE FICKLE FOUND SINCE SUMMER TREES WERE LEAFY

  THE LOTUS-EATERS

  SONNET: FROM THE PSALMS

  SONG: THE STREAM MOANETH AS IT FLOWETH

  A COUNSEL

  THE WORLD’S HARMONIES

  LINES: GIVEN WITH A PENWIPER

  THE LAST ANSWER

  ONE OF THE DEAD

  THE WHOLE HEAD IS SICK, AND THE WHOLE HEART FAINT

  I DO SET MY BOW IN THE CLOUD

  O DEATH WHERE IS THY STING?

  UNDINE

  LADY MONTREVOR

  FLORAL TEACHING

  DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY

  DEATH

  A HOPELESS CASE

  ELLEN MIDDLETON

  ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH

  GROWN COLD.: SONNET

  ZARA

  RUIN

  I SIT AMONG GREEN SHADY VALLEYS OFT

  LISTEN, AND I WILL TELL YOU OF A FACE

  WOULDST THOU GIVE ME A HEAVY JEWELED CROWN

  I SAID WITHIN MYSELF: I AM A FOOL

  METHINKS THE ILLS OF LIFE I FAIN WOULD SHUN

  STRANGE VOICES SING AMONG THE PLANETS WHICH

  SLEEP, SLEEP, HAPPY CHILD

  WHAT SAPPHO WOULD HAVE SAID HAD HER LEAP CURED INSTEAD OF KILLING HER

  ON KEATS

  HAVE PATIENCE

  TO LALLA, READING MY VERSES TOPSY-TURVY

  SONNET: SOME SAY THAT LOVE AND JOY ARE ONE: AND SO

  THE LAST COMPLAINT

  HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN?

  A CHRISTMAS CAROL, (ON THE STROKE OF MIDNIGHT.)

  FOR ADVENT

  TWO PURSUITS

  LOOKING FORWARD

  LIFE HIDDEN

  QUEEN ROSE

  HOW ONE CHOSE

  SEEKING REST

  A YEAR AFTERWARDS

  TWO THOUGHTS OF DEATH

  THREE MOMENTS

  ONCE

  THREE NUNS

  SONG: WE BURIED HER AMONG THE FLOWERS

  THE WATCHERS

  ANNIE

  A DIRGE

  SONG: IT IS NOT FOR HER EVEN BROW

  A DREAM

  A FAIR WORLD THO’ A FALLEN

  ADVENT: “COME,” THOU DOST SAY TO ANGELS

  ALL SAINTS

  EYE HATH NOT SEEN

  ST. ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY

  MOONSHINE

  THE SUMMER IS ENDED

  I LOOK FOR THE LORD

  SONG: I HAVE LOVED YOU FOR LONG LONG YEARS ELLEN

  A DISCOVERY

  FROM THE ANTIQUE

  THE HEART KNOWETH ITS OWN BITTERNESS

  TO WHAT PURPOSE IS THIS WASTE?

  NEXT OF KIN

  LET THEM REJOICE IN THEIR BEDS

  PORTRAITS

  WHITSUN EVE

  WHAT?

  A PAUSE

  HOLY INNOCENTS

  THERE REMAINETH THEREFORE A REST FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD

  ANNIE: IT’S NOT FOR EARTHLY BREAD

  SEASONS

  THOU SLEEPEST WHERE THE LILIES FADE

  I WISH I WERE A LITTLE BIRD

  TWO PARTED

  ALL NIGHT I DREAM YOU LOVE ME WELL

  FOR ROSALINE’S ALBUM

  CARE FLIETH

  EPITAPH

  THE P. R. B

  SEASONS: CROCUSES AND SNOWDROPS WITHER

  WHO HAVE A FORM OF GODLINESS

  BALLAD

  A STUDY. (A SOUL.)

  THERE REMAINETH THEREFORE A REST

  YE HAVE FORGOTTEN THE EXHORTATION

  GUESSES

  FROM THE ANTIQUE

  THREE STAGES

  LONG LOOKED FOR

  LISTENING

  ZARA

  THE LAST LOOK

  I HAVE A MESSAGE UNTO THEE

  COBWEBS

  UNFORGOTTEN

  AN AFTERTHOUGHT

  TO THE END

  ZION SAID

  MAY

  RIVER THAMES (?)

  A CHILLY NIGHT

  LET PATIENCE HAVE HER PERFECT WORK

  A MARTYR

  IN THE LANE

  ACME

  A BED OF FORGET-ME-NOTS

  THE CHIEFEST AMONG TEN THOUSAND

  LOOK ON THIS PICTURE AND ON THIS

  NOW THEY DESIRE

  A CHRISTMAS CAROL, FOR MY GODCHILDREN

  NOT YOURS BUT YOU

  AN ANSWER

  SIR WINTER

  IN AN ARTIST’S STUDIO

  INTROSPECTIVE

  THE HEART KNOWETH ITS OWN BITTERNESS

  REFLECTION

  A COAST-NIGHTMARE

  FOR ONE SAKE

  MY OL
D FRIENDS

  YET A LITTLE WHILE

  ONLY BELIEVE

  RIVALS

  A YAWN

  FOR H. P

  THEN THEY THAT FEARED THE LORD SPAKE OFTEN ONE TO ANOTHER

  WHAT GOOD SHALL MY LIFE DO ME?

  THE MASSACRE OF PERUGIA

  I HAVE DONE WITH HOPE

  PROMISES LIKE PIECRUST

  BY THE WATERS OF BABYLON

  BETTER SO

  OUR WIDOWED QUEEN

  IN PROGRESS

  OUT OF THE DEEP

  FOR A MERCY RECEIVED

  SUMMER

  A DUMB FRIEND

  MARGERY

  IN PATIENCE

  SUNSHINE

  MEETING

  NONE WITH HIM

  UNDER WILLOWS

  A SKETCH

  IF I HAD WORDS

  WHAT TO DO?

  YOUNG DEATH

  IN A CERTAIN PLACE

  CANNOT SWEETEN

  OF MY LIFE

  YES, I TOO COULD FACE DEATH AND NEVER SHRINK

  WOULD THAT I WERE A TURNIP WHITE

  I FANCY THE GOOD FAIRIES DRESSED IN WHITE

  SOME LADIES DRESS IN MUSLIN FULL AND WHITE

  AUTUMN

  IL ROSSEGGIAR DELL’ ORIENTE CANZONIERE

  AMOR DORMENTE?

  AMOR SI SVEGLIA?

  SI RIMANDA LA TOCCA-CALDAJA

  BLUMINE” RISPONDE

  LASSÙ FIA CARO IL RIVEDERCI

  NON SON IO LA ROSA MA VI STETTI APPRESSO

  LASSUSO IL CARO FIORE

  SAPESSI PURE!

  IDDIO C’ILLUMINI!

  AMICIZIA

  LUSCIOUS AND SORROWFUL

  OH FORZA IRRESISTIBILE

  FINESTRA MIA ORIENTALE

  EPPURE ALLORA VENIVI

  PER PREFERENZA

  OGGI

  SE FOSSI ANDATA A HASTINGS

  RIPETIZIONE

  AMICO E PIÙ CHE AMICO MIO

  NOSTRE VOLUNTÀ QUIETI VIRTÙ DI CARITI

  SE COSÌ FOSSE

  BY WAY OF REMEMBRANCE

  REMEMBER, IF I CLAIM TOO MUCH OF YOU

  WILL YOU BE THERE? MY YEARNING HEART HAS CRIED

  IN RESURRECTION IS IT AWFULLER

  I LOVE YOU AND YOU KNOW IT — THIS AT LEAST

  VALENTINES FROM C.G.R

  FAIRER THAN YOUNGER BEAUTIES, MORE BELOVED

  A VALENTINE, 1877

  A VALENTINE, 1878

  A VALENTINE, 1879

  A VALENTINE, 1880

  ST. VALENTINE’S DAY, 1881

  A VALENTINE 1882

  FEBRUARY 14. 1883

  A VALENTINE, 1884