Ashley MS A1873

'Bothwell': a verse drama by A. C. Swinburne, [1872-1873].

1. Synopsis of Act V, Scene III; [1872-1873]. Autograph fair copy, with an addition at the end, written on one side only of two octavo leaves of grey laid paper. No watermark. From the evidence of Swinburne's letters it seems likely that the scene was written in 1872 or 1873. The synopsis agrees closely with the version found in the First Edition. ff. 34, 35.

2. 'Dédicace / A Victor Hugo': dedicatory sonnet placed at the beginning of Bothwell; 1873. Autograph draft written on one side only of an octavo leaf of cream laid paper, signed and dated 'A.C.S., janvier 1873'. Watermark '[ ]e Note / [ ] & Co'. Fr. Although most of the rhyme-words are the same, only two lines of the draft are identical with the text in the First Edition. Swinburne had considerable trouble in making the French acceptable to French critics (see his letter, of February 1873, to J. M. de Hérédia, printed in C. Y. Lang, Swinburne Letters, ii, 1959, pp. 222-225). Another early draft of the sonnet is in the Berg Collection, New York Public Library. f. 36.

3. Letter from Edmund Gosse to Swinburne concerning Bothwell's career after Mary, Queen of Scots left Scotland; 30 Aug. 1872. ff. 37-38b.

includes:

• ff. 34, 35 Drama ENGLISH: Algernon Charles Swinburne, poet: Verse tragedy, 'Bothwell'. Synopsis of Act V, Sc. iii, by Algernon Charles Swinburne: [1872-1873]: Autogr. draft.
• f. 36 Algernon Charles Swinburne, poet: Vicomte Victor Marie Hugo,; author: Sonnet, 'À Victor Hugo', by Algernon Charles Swinburne: 1873: Fr: Autogr. draft.
• ff. 37-38b James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell: Sir Edmund William Gosse, writer: Algernon Charles Swinburne, poet: Letter to Algernon Charles Swinburne from Sir Edmund William Gosse with biographical notes rel. to Earl of Bothwell: 1872.