Correspondence

1084.  EBB to Mary Russell Mitford

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 6, 216–217.

[London]

Dec. 11 [sic, for 12]. 1842– [1]

It is over .. the suffering of your beloved one—and now it is for him (—if [2] the sense of human tribulation be permitted to reach the delivered spirits)—it is for him to lean over you pityingly & tenderly .. you have changed your relative positions. My dearest dearest friend, in all your natural affliction, you will not at least be afflicted that he now shd be happier than you are: & every tear you shed & every bitter thought which turns into a sigh, simply prove that he is. Think so, my dearest, dear friend! I expect that the tender generous love which has done so much in working for & watching & softening the life you lament, shd become the most active human cause of your consolation.

For the rest—thank you, thank you, for caring to see me now. I receive the expression of that wish as the strongest, dearest & most touching proof of your affection. I am very grateful for it. And if I am not with you my beloved friend, it is not because I do not wish it—and if I am with you constantly in my heart & hope, it is the necessity of my earnest love for you which leads me to you.

I am sorry & penitent for having neglected to ask you to send me a list of persons to be written to, & to offer myself as your secretary. Can I do anything now in that way or another? Shall I supply you with paper, for instance, .. the mourning paper which is dear in country towns? Suffer me to send you a supply. For your future, I will not write of it today—but I think of it & of you always, always–

I wish I cd look with you on that serene beauty of death,—where the last footstep of the happy spirit has touched the earthly remains into a celestial peace. I never saw the dead. [3] You are happier in your sorrows my dearest friend, than I have been in many ways. And, so, justest!

You go to bed early, & sleep late .. do you not? you take nourishment & wine—do you not? will you not? will you not for my sake, my dearest Miss Mitford?– This shivering, I cannot like to hear of, whatever Mr May may argue of it. You are exhausted, over-agitated—how can I like to hear of it?– I beseech you to repose—to cast your spirit into the arms of God,—& your body on the bed—& draw the curtains & lie quietly. You may trust K_____ surely with a good part of the painful business which is necessary—and it is necessary for you to be tranquil & quiet, & rescue, so, your heart & brain from certain evils of your position. I am very glad that Mr Geo. Dawson will be with you. But quiet, quiet! that is necessary. I beseech you my dearest dearest friend, to spare yourself—& your health. You have done beyond the work of the love of women—that was for others—the memory belonging to you as a crown for your heart for ever & ever! Now you must repose. Now you must be quiet! And if that too must be for others, let it be for me—let it be (if my vanity does not exceed in imagining such a thing) for me—& I will be very proud & thankful, I promise you.

If you do not tell me not to send the paper, I mean to send it.

May God bless you in Jesus Christ! in Him who was ‘made perfect’, as a Savior, ‘through suffering’, [4] —& of whom it is said ‘He wept’, when men spoke to Him of the grave of a friend. [5]

Does little Flush keep close to you? My Flush never sees me shed tears without running to kiss me & rub his little brown ears against my face. He learnt love from you. There is no wonder that he shd be complete in his lesson.

Believe, my beloved friend, how near I am to you in thought, in prayer, in sympathy of tender affection.

And in all these things I

am your EBB–

Publication: EBB-MRM, II, 116–118.

Manuscript: Wellesley College.

1. Because Dr. Mitford died on Sunday 11 December 1842, EBB could not have received Miss Mitford’s letter, apprising her of the fact, before Monday.

2. Underscored three times.

3. Mary Moulton-Barrett had died while away from home; EBB’s brother Sam and uncle Sam had both died in Jamaica; and her beloved Bro had drowned, his body not being immediately recovered; she therefore saw none of them in death.

4. Cf. Hebrews, 2:10.

5. Cf. John, 11:31–35.

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