Ashley MS A1842, 4354

'Rosamond' (no title in the MS.): a verse tragedy by A. C. Swinburne; [1857-1860]. Two autograph drafts, the earlier (4354) containing the greater part of scene I, scenes II to IV, and approximately two thirds of scene V, the other (A1842), containing fragments of a later version of scene III.

In a letter to Edwin Heath written 17 Feb. 1858 Swinburne first mentions this work, saying '. . . Rosamond is about my favourite poem, and is now verging on a satisfactory completion. The first scene as rewritten is an acknowledged improvement.' The work was published in 1860 as part of The Queen Mother Rosamond Two Plays. Since the text given in 4354 differs markedly throughout from the published version, it seems likely that this MS. was written nearer the beginning of the period 1857-1860 than the end. A1842, on the other hand, includes the two French songs which are found in the published version, but not in 4354, and must therefore represent an intermediate stage of the text. Ashley Library No. 4355 in the Department of Printed Books is a typewritten transcript of 4354. Ashley Library Catalogue, vi, pp. 42-43, 46-47.