University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The Works of Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Edited with Preface and Notes by William M. Rossetti: Revised and Enlarged Edition

expand sectionI. 
expand sectionII. 
expand sectionIII. 
expand section 
expand section 
collapse section 
collapse section 
collapse sectionI. 
  
expand section 
expand section 
collapse section 
 I. 
 II. 
 III. 
III Sonnet
 IV. 
 V. 
 VI. 
  
 VII. 
 VIII. 
  
 IX. 
 X. 
 XI. 
 XII. 
 XIII. 
 XIV. 
 XV. 
 XVI. 
 XVII. 
  
  
  
 XVIII. 
  
 XIX. 
  
 XX. 
 XXI. 
 XXII. 
 XXIII. 
 XXIV. 
 XXV. 
 XXVI. 
 XXVII. 
 XXVIII. 
  
expand section 
expand section 
expand section 
  
expand section 
expand section 
  
  
  
  
expand section 
expand sectionII. 
expand section 


358

III
Sonnet

He compares all Things with his Lady, and finds them wanting

Beauty in woman; the high will's decree;
Fair knighthood armed for manly exercise;
The pleasant song of birds; love's soft replies;
The strength of rapid ships upon the sea;
The serene air when light begins to be;
The white snow, without wind that falls and lies;
Fields of all flower; the place where waters rise;
Silver and gold; azure in jewellery:—
Weighed against these, the sweet and quiet worth
Which my dear lady cherishes at heart
Might seem a little matter to be shown;
Being truly, over these, as much apart
As the whole heaven is greater than this earth.
All good to kindred natures cleaveth soon.