901. EBB to Hugh Stuart Boyd
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 5, 215–216.
[London]
Friday evening. [14 January 1842] [1]
Thank you, my dear friend, for all your kindness. It is very welcome to me—and indeed, in spite of it, I am in some straight as to how my business is to be completed. I shd not like to be incorrect .. to leave out poets & misplace dates .. when every fault must become prominent, not merely in black & white, but in printed black. Would that I cd talk to you for one hour.
I return the paper intended for the Athenæum, with a very grateful appreciation of the praise you lavish upon me in it. But dear Mr Boyd, it is too much! You should not have done it. Particularly that opposition between eminent persons, Rollin [2] & me!! particularly that, does strike me & will of course strike others, as so extravagant, that I venture to supplicate you to strike it out. People will think you are “making game” of me! Do strike it out, I beg of you–
Well—& then, I fear that the Athenæum, which never will nourish the snake of a controversy in its bosom, may reject your paper altogether. [3] Of course you have a perfect right to object to my note, [4] but the paper you have written might be compressed, shortened .. & thus the chances of its appearance wd be increased tenfold. Leave out some of my compliments—all about my preface, for instance—& let the “Lover of literary justice” go upon justice, barely & briefly.
If I can find or make room for more translations from Gregory, I will do your bidding faithfully. Depend upon that. But I have just finished the whole of that immensely long ode to his soul, asking her what she pleased to do. It is too long for my purpose—I was tempted by the variety of its merits besides the occasional great beauty, & by some touches of satire which you do not find very often out of his prose writings.
God bless you, my dear friend!
Forgive me for suggesting that the Athenæum paper shd be transcribed by somebody who can spell correctly.
Your affecte
EBB.
You shall hear when I have anything in the Athenæum. I shall not, next Saturday. Thank you about Mr Clarke’s book. [5] I wish very much to see that.
Address: H S Boyd Esqr / 21 Downshire Hill / Hampstead.
Publication: EBB-HSB, pp. 243–244.
Manuscript: Wellesley College.
1. This letter was postmarked 15 January 1842, a Saturday.
2. Charles Rollin (1661–1741), author and historian, materially assisted in the revival of interest in the study of Greek while Rector of the University of Paris, 1694–95. His most important work was Traité des études (1726–31).
3. EBB was right; his paper was not printed.
4. i.e., the prefatory note to her translation of three of Gregory Nazianzen’s hymns in The Athenæum. She had anticipated that it would displease Boyd (see letter 894).
5. See letter 894, note 5.
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