ABSTRACT
Swinburne's several references to Donne suggest that Donne's poetry loomed large in his mind. He sometimes develops a critical comment by way of championing the 'magisterial Donne' of the long poems. A copy ofGrosart's edition of Donne's poems, 1872, went for 12S. at the sale of Swinburne's library in June 1916 (see Sale Catalogues of Libraries of Eminent Persons, vi, ed. J . Woolford, 1972, p. 279.)
crossing and breaking flames, and how rich in deep grave harmonics of splendid and sonorous sadness! How did he for once learq such music, and then return to his habitual discords 'like the sow that is washed to her wallowing in the mire'?
