1160. EBB to Hugh Stuart Boyd

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 6, 338.

[London]

Friday– [24] Feb. 1843. [1]

My very dear friend,

I snatch eagerly at the next post to assure you that I am not “annoyed” by your candour, .. altho’ I can by no means accept your invitation to “despise your stupidity.” Oh no! I am sorry of course to have missed your approbation which is always most pleasant to me—and to have missed it by that want of clearness which I struggle against so vainly. For I am used to be told that nobody can understand me—that is my destiny– I was probably “built in an ecclipse & rigged with curses dark”! [2] My wonder is simply, that you shd be the first to complain to me of the unintelligibility of these particular poems. The Americans must have fancied they understood them, or they would not talk of their “successfulness” [3] ——unless indeed they take me for a right down riddle maker, & take the hardest riddles for the best ones. Well! If I am as dark as the archbishop of Canterbury whose charade is past guessing, forgive me for his sake. [4]

And now my dearest Mr Boyd, instead of reproaching you, who are always as kind as your incorruptible truth will let you be, .. let me thank you for being sincere with me on this occasion as always– You speak of one (& therefore think) far too well in general. That I know, knowing what is in me–

Gratefully & affectionately yours

Elizabeth Barrett B.

Publication: EBB-HSB, pp. 257–258.

Manuscript: Wellesley College.

1. This letter is a response to 1158.

2. Milton, “Lycidas,” line 101.

3. EBB refers to the comments in Graham’s Magazine; for the full text, see pp. 379–380.

4. The significance of this remark eludes us.

___________________