Correspondence

1846.  EBB to Mary Russell Mitford

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 10, 85–87.

[London]

Friday. [21] Feb 1845. [1]

Thank you my dear dearest friend. That description, however, I have read before,—and it was just that, which I could not remember definitely, but which gave me, my notion of Balzac’s black hair & eyes. The sarcasm of the mouth must be expressed strongly, as in so courteous or rather courtly a book as the ‘Cent et un’, our Duchesse could not help mentioning it—but you see he has friends & can love them. [2] I agree with you, and would willingly read twelve volumes of personality all about & about him. If the goddess Dulness [3] herself were to inspire the writer, I wd gratefully accept the dedication. Twelve volumes? double them. And as to his practical wickedness, why the best argument against it, appears to be that the most licentious writers have generally been moral men—they let their bad blood flow away with the ink. Poor Balzac! But if he had never blasphemed virtue, I shd not be blaspheming him! he must thank himself for it–

I had no idea of the state of your roads. No—it wd be very wrong of you to run any risks on such roads—I agree at once!—and moreover my beloved friend, I have really half a mind to propose the further delay of a few days, of the great boon which you promise—for my voice has gone away again in most of its notes, and my heart is ‘hopping and skipping’ more like a grasshopper than a heart at all. I do not complain of myself. I am wonderfully well considering that it’s I. But you are not quite right in giving me credit for having spent a better winter than last winter—and indeed, considering that beyond any comparison we have had severer weather this winter than has been known for years, [4] it could not very well have been otherwise. I do not write of myself—I am tired of that subject. Also, it is no worse with me than the circumstances make necessary nor so bad!– I have a weak organ which is irritated by the falling of the thermometer below sixty—and we cannot help it with all our fires. I am not ill—it is a mere weakness of the organ, .. but the heart & voice go wrong, & I lose strength for the day, by means of it.

Now my dearest friend, do not exaggerate a word I say to you. Only, if you can come on thursday instead of the monday before it, I may have a voice to say how glad I am, instead of whispering it. And also your roads may be fitter for you. I would not for the world, that you should have to walk to & fro Reading on roads such as you describe—and it is wiser, I believe, for both of us that we shd put off for a few days the day which, whenever it comes, will be my holiday par excellence. Write & tell me if there is an objection to thursday. Oh—that hearts should jump as mine does, & not for joy!– It is the influence of extreme cold on a weak organ—but I have had none of the worst symptoms– It is just irritation. Few things are clearer to me than that if I lived in an irreproachable climate (and where on earth is there such a thing?) I should be quite well. As it is, there is no great harm. Mind you dont exaggerate me. That would be the worst thing of all.

Will you tell me how often you change your books? I owe you a sovereign, if not more, I remember—but it is not for that I ask—but for a half plan I have in my head,—which is to subscribe myself to Rolandi for three months, to try the pleasure of searching your catalogue & reading side by side with you. Of course there must be a twofold subscription, I mean two separate subscriptions,—but the parcel to you & from you might pass through my hands if I took oath not to delay it .. for you shd swear me fast to the conditions, before we sealed the agreement. But what do you think? what do you say? Speak out like a man, if you please—. Could we manage it?—and would anything be gained, I wonder? I shd be sure (for one thing) that the arrangement of Rolandi was in no degree expensive to you—& I would not indeed vex you by keeping back the books. I know too well what that vexation is. Well—what do you say? My own fancy rather leans towards trying it .. & also Rolandi’s catalogue. Saunders & Ottley do not satisfy me,—although I shall not give them up—only have a secret fairy-fountain at Rolandi– I require so much refreshment,—& drink so fast.

 

Mynheer van Brunck

Who never was drunk

But drank brandy & water daily, [5]

never took in such floods of excitation & exhilaration, as I, with the two blue aureoles round my eyes, which seem to grow bluer & bluer through these frosty days. Write to me, my dearest friend.

Oh yes, indeed I did scold! Be certain I did. The pride of sex is wonderful in those men, to be sure—and even at Mr Hunter’s age, you see, he has not grown out of it! For my brothers, it is different—. There is hope for them.

May God bless you.

Your ever affectionate

EBB.

I hear that the committee received my refusal very kindly, .. more kindly than I deserved .. just as you speak.

Address: Miss Mitford / Three Mile Cross / near Reading.

Publication: EBB-MRM, III, 82–84.

Manuscript: Fitzwilliam Museum and Wellesley College.

1. Day provided by postmark.

2. This description of Balzac appeared in Mme. D’Abrantès’s article “L’Abbaye aux Bois” in volume one of Paris; ou Le Livre des cent-et-un (1832–34): “Regardez avec attention ce jeune homme à l’œil charbonné, à la chevelure de jais; … regardez son nez, sa bouche surtout, lorsqu’un sourire malin vient en relever les coins; voyez-vous une sorte de dédain et de malice dominer dans son regard, où cependant il y a de la bonté pour ses amis. Ce jeune homme, c’est M. de Balzac” (p. 374).

3. The personified goddess against whom Pope’s satire is directed in The Dunciad.

4. A report in The Athenæum for 29 March 1845 stated that “The mean of the month [February] was lower than that of any February in the present century.”

5. Cf. George Colman, the Younger, “Mynheer Vandunck,” lines 1–2.

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