Identifier: lifelettersoffre00shie (find matches)
Title: The life and letters of Frederic Shields
Year: 1912 (1910s)
Authors: Shields, Frederic, 1833-1911 Mills, Ernestine Bell, ed
Subjects: Shields, Frederic, 1833-1911
Publisher: London New York (etc.) : Longmans
Contributing Library: Boston Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston Public Library

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y. I write this line because I expect Mrs. Gilchrist andher son about 5 to-morrow, and I thought I should tellyou so. But I daresay you wont think this forbids work.Hoping to see you,—Your ever affec. D. G. R. WILLIAM BLAKE (To Frederic Shields, on his Sketch of Blakes Work-room andDeath-room, 3 Fountain Court, Strand.) This is the place—Even here the dauntless soul, The unflinching hand, wrought on ; till in that nook, As on that very bed, his life partook New birth and passed. Yon rivers distant shoal Whereto the close-built coiling lanes unroll, Faced his work window, whence his eyes would stare Thought-wandering, unto nought that met them there, But to the unfettered irreversible goal. This cupboard, Holy of Holies, held the cloudOf his soul writ and limned; this other oneHis true wifes charge, full oft to their abodeYielded for daily bread the martyrs stone,Ere yet their food might be that Bread aloneThe words now home speech in the mouth of God. D. G. Rossetti.20th May 1880.
Text Appearing After Image:
cq ROSSETTIS SONNET 25*7 In the original the fifth line runs: Beyond the steep wynds teeming gully hole,and the last: The words now home-heard from the mouth of God. A little later Rossetti wrote again:— My dear Shields,—I was very sorry to hear of Mrs.Shields being unwell on Friday. I hope she is betternow, and that I shall not fail to see you on Tuesday. Ihave done the Mike Holy Family sonnet and think itis quite good. I want much to look with you at thedesign of the archers. I am sending the Blake sonnetto the Athenceum with the inscription to you.—Youraffect. D. G. R. In the article in the Manchester Quarterly Shields says:— In connection with Blakes illustrations to theNight Thoughts, I asked Rossetti what was his estimateof Young; and he, pre-eminently a poet of the super-natural, replied: Young was the greatest poet of hiscentury. That Blake caught fire from the fervent heatof the Night Thoughts, that blazed into many of his sub-limest designs, is brilliantly evidenced.

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