The Works of Dante Gabriel Rossetti :: :: University of Virginia Library

The Works of Dante Gabriel Rossetti

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

Rossetti, Dante Gabriel (1828-1882)

THE BURDEN OF NINEVEH

[A Sonnet is a moment's monument,—]

Part I.—YOUTH AND CHANGE

II.

Part II.—CHANGE AND FATE

II.

II.—MISCELLANEOUS POEMS

III.

VERSICLES AND FRAGMENTS

FOREIGN

JUVENILIA AND GROTESQUES

TRANSLATIONS

TRANSLATIONS from the GERMAN, ITALIAN, FRENCH, AND GREEK

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III
Sonnet

Of Messer Ugolino

If any one had anything to say
To the Lord Ugolino, because he's
Not staunch, and never minds his promises,
'Twere hardly courteous, for it is his way.
Courteous it were to say such sayings nay:
As thus: He's true, sir, only takes his ease
And don't care merely if it plague or please,
And has good thoughts, no doubt, if they would stay.
Now I know he's so loyal every whit
And altogether worth such a good word
As worst would best and best would worst befit.
He'd love his party with a dear accord
If only he could once quite care for it,
But can't run post for any Law or Lord.

The character here drawn certainly suggests Count Ugolino de' Gherardeschi, though it would seem that Rustico died nearly twenty years before the tragedy of the Tower of Famine.

University of Virginia Library

III Sonnet

Of Messer Ugolino

III
Sonnet