VERLAINE, Paul (1844–1896).

Draft of a poem from *Dans les Limbes*. This is piece XV of the collection *Dans les Limbes* (1894). The manuscript contains crossings-out and corrections, with alternative versions. It is worth noting that Verlaine wavered over the numbering: XIV, XVI and finally XVI. In the margin he has counted the lines (300/308), with ‘18 lines’ at the end. ‘I was blaspheming. God is the Father and He is the Master. We both come from Him, He is the source of being, […] To live? Yes? Is it not so? Let this existence come!” This draft is written on the reverse of a handwritten letter, crossed out with a few strokes, Broussais Hospital, 8 January 1893, to an editor of La Lorraine Artiste: “I am back in hospital but only for a short while, ill… and other things. But I hope. I plan to go abroad soon, on a lecture tour. It’s worked for me before in Holland […] So please send me the three copies of La Lorraine Artiste containing ‘Souvenirs d’un Messin’. […] I’m preparing a volume of Mélanges where it might fit. Please announce the reprint of *Amour*, *Liturgies intimes* and *Parallèlement* – the ‘imminent’ publication of *Odes en son honneur* and *Élégies*, love poems, as well as *Dans les limbes*, currently in preparation. Also, *Histoires comme ça*, short stories, and *Dédicaces*, greatly expanded, all published by Vanier”…