1554. EBB to Richard Hengist Horne
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 8, 234–235.
[London]
Tuesday—one o’clock [Postmark: 27 February 1844]
I am almost afraid of writing to you in your whirlwind of the latter days’ consternation for fear of adding something to the press of occupation & haste. But a note is always to be thrown away on one side at pleasure—& therefore I write.
Also I have something to say about the book—namely, to remonstrate seriously against your cavalier conduct about yourself & to yourself. I start up in horror at the idea (just presented by this last proof) that you positively mean, from such a motive as “want of time”, to throw off your own Orion & your tragedies. I have never mentioned you & your works, in reference to the book, .. because (to tell you the precise truth) I fancied that you might fancy that I wanted to do some of the criticism on you—& because I was perfectly aware that you had friends who were more capable of the task; especially with reference to the dramatic side of you. That you shd be passed over in silence, never occurred to me for one moment! And the word about ‘Orion’ is next to silence, if not the actual thing. [1] There is only one consolatory way of looking at it,—that it might have been unpleasant to you to assume the only position belonging to you, under your own editorship,—& might have given an imaginary handle to certain jealousies & ignorances—jealousies of authors & ignorances of critics. Also the work itself is a memorial of power; & you may say, like the architect, “circumspice”. [2] That last article [3] is worthy of your highest poetry– It has filled me with delight. But the “groundlings” will “not understand a word of it”, .. be sure; and you are right in talking of the “courage” necessary to writing & printing it. Who could expect to hear such words uttered out of a dream, in the nineteenth century, here in England.? The poetry of Orion strikes through it. Moreover it is true doctrine, .. truth as God sees it—and he who denies it, is the blind man denying the sun.
In any wise, there is your portrait—is there not? on the first page.? “Say yea, say yea.” [4]
Thank you for every word of kindness—not one falling among stones, [5] .. on whatever otherwise unworthy ground.
Ever truly yours
EBB
Address: R H Horne Esqr / 5. Fortess Terrace / Kentish Town.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.
1. The only reference to Horne’s own writings occurs in the last article: “While treating of works of design, we should not be deterred from submitting a few remarks concerning ‘Orion’ … but want of space warns us to pass on to the works of others, which it is our duty to discuss in preference” (II, 298).
2. Referring to the inscription in St. Paul’s Cathedral, attributed to Christopher Wren’s son: “Si monumentum requiris, circumspice.” (“If you would see his monument, look around.”)
3. Horne inserted the following above the line: “(on the author of ‘Festus’[)].”
4. Cf. II Corinthians, 1:17. Horne’s own portrait did not appear in A New Spirit.
5. Cf. Matthew, 13:5.
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