Hesterna Rosa

Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882) Hesterna Rosa signed 'Dante Rossetti' (lower left) and and signed again with initials 'DR' (lower right) and inscribed 'composed. 1850. drawn and given to his P.R. Brother Frederic G. Stephens. 1853.' (lower centre) and further inscribed with verse 'Quoth tongue of neither maid nor wife/ To heart of neither wife nor maid:/ 'Lead we not here a jolly life Betwixt the shine and shade?'/ Quoth heart of neither maid nor wife /To tongue of neither wife nor maid:/ 'Thou wag'st, but I am worn with strife, /And feel like flowers that fade.' (lower centre) pencil, pen and brown ink on buff paper 5 ¼ x 6 ¼ in. (13.4 x 15.9 cm.)