It is in great part owing to his generously enthusiastic praise that I now send these for your inspection; but also because much of what may be good in them is owing to your gratefully remembered personal influence and kindness, as well as your own beautiful work.”
His kindly critic answered:
Jan., 1881.
My dear Sharp,
I have only this evening read your poems, and am quite amazed at the vast gain in distinction and reality upon anything I had seen of yours before. I read “Motherhood” first and think it best on the whole. It is full of fine things and strange variety. “The Dead Bridegroom” is less equal, but some touches are extremely fine. The close after the crisis strikes me as done with a certain difficulty and wants some pointing. As a narrative poem, I do not yet think it quite distinct enough, though it always rises at the right moment. The execution of your work needs some reform in detail. The adjectives, especially when monosyllabic, are too crowded. There are continual assonances of ings, ants, ows, etc., midway in the lines. However, the sonorousness is sometimes striking and the grip of the phrases complete at its best. I am sure you have benefited much by association with Philip Marston, though I do not mean to say that such things as these can have their mainspring elsewhere than in native gift.
I will keep the poems a few days yet and then return them.
Yours sincerely,
D. G. Rossetti.
A letter from the younger poet, written a few days later, reached me in Rome:
24: 1: 81.