Poem written by a 13-year-old sells for $140,000
The extremely rare manuscript, measuring a scant three square inches, sold at Bonhams Auction House for about 拢100,000 (about $140,000 USD) 鈥� more than twice its estimated worth, reported .
Most famous for "Jane Eyre," which she wrote under the pseudonym "Currer Bell," Charlotte Bront毛 also wrote poetry.
Titled "I've Been Wandering in the Greenwoods," signed "C. Bront毛," and dated December 14, 1829, the poem is one of about four of Charlotte Bront毛's 200 poems in private hands. The rest have been collected by institutions. All the Bront毛 siblings (including Emily, Anne, and brother Branwell) wrote with small, cramped letters to get the most out of their limited, expensive supply of paper. The poem is difficult to read unaided.
"Greenwoods"聽appeared in "The Young Man's Intelligencer,"聽the Bront毛 sibling's literary magazine that they wrote and edited themselves. Charlotte took over editing the magazine from Branwell in 1829, the year the poem was published.
Here's the text of the poem:
"I've Been Wandering in the Greenwoods"
I've been wandering in the greenwoods聽
And mid flowery smiling plains聽
I've been listening to the dark floods聽
To the thrushes thrilling strains
I have gathered the pale primrose聽
And the purple violet sweet聽
I've been where the Asphodel grows聽
And where lives the red deer fleet.
I've been to the distant mountain,聽
To the silver singing rill聽
By the crystal murmering fountain,聽
And the shady verdant hill.
I've been where the poplar is springing聽
From the fair Inamelled ground聽
Where the nightingale is singing聽
With a solemn plaintive sound.
-C. Bront毛, December 14, 1829
Ben Frederick is a contributor to 海角大神
