John Ruskin | Autograph manuscript poem 'Ah no - withdraw not thus thy trust', 1840s

John Ruskin

Autograph manuscript poem, beginning "Ah no - withdraw not thus thy trust"

three quatrains, with a comment in prose ("You know I never own verses - and I suppose your friend will never believe me"), signed, 1 page, 4to, [late 1830s?]

"...Pain is our servant. Doubt is death.

Earth's hold of Heaven is all in this -

The heart may bear to lose its bliss

But not its faith."

A rare autograph poem by Ruskin. This is probably one of the series of poems written by the youthful Ruskin for Adele Domecq, the daughter of his father's business partner. The poem appears to be unpublished.

PROVENANCE:

Ian Hodgkin; Roy Davids; sale of his collection, Part 3, Bonhams, 8 May 2013, lot 410