Ashley MS 4354

'Rosamond'. Draft of the greater part of scene I, scenes II-IV, and approximately two thirds of scene V, written on both sides of twenty three quarto leaves of white laid paper, and on one side only of another (f. 24). No watermark. The leaves are mounted on guards. The text is throughout very different from the published version, although the plan of the work and the number of scenes is the same. In particular the part of Arthur is not found (see also C. Y. Lang, Swinburne Letters, i, 1959, p. 27), nor are any of the Latin or French songs, although a song omitted from the published version is found on f. 3b. As well as the revisions and cancellations made throughout in the same ink as the text, there are pencil cancellations and additions on ff. 4, 7b, 8, 8b, 12, 16, 19b and 24. The last two scenes appear to have been written in greater haste, and the characters are indicated by initials. The text breaks off at the foot of f. 24, and the verso is blank. Possibly Swinburne abandoned the draft at this point. The MS. has been misbound by Wise, and f. 17 should follow f. 2. Even when this is corrected, however, there is still a hiatus between f. 17b and f. 3a.

Quarto; ff. i+24.

Poetry ENGLISH: Algernon Charles Swinburne, poet: Verse tragedy, 'Rosamond', by Algernon Charles Swinburne: [1857?]: Autogr. draft.