1370. EBB to Thomas Westwood
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 7, 307–308.
50 Wimpole Street
September 2d 1843.
Dear Mr Westwood,
Your letter comes to remind me how much I ought to be ashamed of myself–
Several days ago I began a note to you, & being interrupted, forgot to go on with it, & thus fell into this scrape with my conscience. For your part, do forgive me. I received the book in all safety & read your kind words about my Rosary with more grateful satisfaction than appears from the evidence .. It is great pleasure to me to have written for such readers—and it is great hope to me, to be able to write on for them–
The transcription of the Rosary is a compliment which I never anticipated, or you shd have had the ms copy you asked for, although I have not a perfect one in my hands– The poem is full of faults—as indeed all my poems appear to myself to be, when I look back upon them instead of looking down. I hope to be worthier in poetry some day, of the generous appreciation which you & your friends have paid to me in advance.
Tennyson is a great poet I think—and Browning, the author of Paracelsus has to my mind very noble capabilities. Do you know Mr Horne’s Orion .. the poem published ‘for a farthing’ to the wonder of booksellers & bookbuyers who could not understand “the speculation in its eyes”?– [1] There are very fine things in this poem, & altogether I recommend it to your attention– But what is ‘wanting,’ in Tennyson? He can think—he can feel,—and his language is highly expressive, characteristic, & harmonious. I am very fond of Tennyson. He makes me thrill sometimes to the end of my fingers—as only a true great poet can.
You praise me kindly—& if indeed the considerations you speak of could be true of me, I am not one who could lament having “learnt in suffering what I taught in song.” [2] In any case, working for the future & counting gladly on those who are likely to consider any work of mine acceptable to themselves, I shall be very sure not to forget my friends at Enfield.
Dear Mr Westwood,
I remain sincerely yours
Elizabeth B Barrett.
Publication: LEBB, I, 150–151 (in part).
Manuscript: Wellesley College.
1. Cf. Macbeth, III, 4, 94.
2. Shelley, “Julian and Maddalo,” line 545, slightly misquoted (Posthumous Poems, 1824, p. 23).
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