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1863]

"SIDONIA THE SORCERESS"

457

in a state of transitional and enfeebled powers just now, in which every touch would be destructive. Never let the drawing get near his house again-I will send it wherever you like-but don't leave it there. Never mind about the Caius Cestius don't leave your walls disconsolate; I've plenty. I shall probably be in town the whole of the winter after the middle of December. I may be over in France again for a day or two, and shall be at Winnington a few days before then, but then shall be settled. The better way to manage about the Dante will be to write immediately to Rossetti, making him promise not to touch it, and to tell him to let me have it if I ask for it. I will ask in a few days, and when you get it back, don't send it about any more, to any one. It should never be moved, or somebody will always be asking for it.

I knew perfectly that you did not doubt my being useful at Winnington. What I thought you did not see was that they were useful to me-which poor little, good Constance can't be at present, but I am very glad to know about her.

You seem mightily scandalised about Sidonia-I have never read the book.2 Edward told me only she was a witch. I never told him the drawings were for a young lady, or he would have told me more about it as it was, I saw no more harm in it than in his drawings of Medea and Circe, or any other of his pet witches and mine. I'm devoted to Circe, for instance; and he's making me a drawing of her poisoning the meat and going all round the table like a cat-it will be lovely.

I was glad to hear of the Manchester Courts.3 I shall not be in Leeds or anywhere else north this year, but still hope to see you in London.-Always faithfully yours, J. RUSKIN.

To Miss ELLEN HEATON

[DENMARK HILL] Sunday, November 23, 1863.

DEAR MISS HEATON,-Thank you for pleasant letter. I am glad to hear what you and my other friends say of the photograph. I don't think it like me on the evil side it is as scandalous as both the

[Probably Turner's drawing of "Rome from Monte Testaccio" (with the Pyramid of Caius Cestius in the foreground), engraved in Hakewill's Italy.]

2 [William Meinhold's Sidonia the Sorceress, a romance for which Rossetti had "a positive passion" (W. M. Rossetti's D. G. Rossetti, vol. i. p. 101), and which inspired two small water-colours by Edward Burne-Jones, "Sidonia von Bork" and "Clara von Bork."]

3 [For another reference to the Manchester Law Courts, see Vol. XVIII. pp. lxxv.-lxxvi.]

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