305. EBB to Hugh Stuart Boyd
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 2, 142–145.
Hope End
May 28th [–29] 1828.
My dear Sir,
You must have thought the letter which took no notice of yours, and its accompanying papers, a very odd & ungrateful one: but I could not thank you for what I had not received,—nor could I possibly know, that, while I was writing to you, a packet from you was on its road to me, & that I should receive it an hour after I had sent away my letter. How could I? I [1] am quite ignorant of the “four arts” which are “more wonderful than craniology.”
With regard to the first sentence of your letter,—and it is impossible to help noticing that, first,—I may assure you, that, if wishing were as efficient now as in the classic days of Fortunatus [2] & black puddings, I should certainly have known you all my life. Judging from the intercourse I have had with you, I may say that the accomplishment of such a wish would not only have tended to increase my knowledge, but my happiness .. & perhaps, according to your suggestion, my vanity,—in an equal degree. It is natural & reasonable that you should begin to have some self-reproaches & misgivings as to the probable result of your orientalisms: and the letter which crossed yours,—in which my “modesty and diffidence” took upon themselves to descant upon Gregory,—is likely to afflict your conscience still more, with a merited uneasiness. Did you mean to correct the impression by saying what you did, of idols? Did you intend a severe allusion to the calf-worship in the wilderness? That would be annihilating!!
I am at once sorry & pleased that you should have actually read thro’ the little book [3] which forms the subject of your letter—sorry, to have inflicted such dulness on you,—& pleased, to receive such a proof of your friendship. About three years ago, I attempted to read it myself,—and I assure you I found my skipping propensity irresistible. It is a very uncommon case, when the kindness of a friend proves stronger than one’s own self love!——
Your idea respecting Aonian was exactly mine when I wrote the line, & when I subsequently defended the epithet to Sir Uvedale Price. [4] I applied it in exactly the sense in which Lucretius applied Pierio to carmine—&, I cannot but continue to think, with scarcely less propriety. When Shenstone says (speaking of Dennis)
—[“]Many an epic to his rage shall yield
And many a poet quit th’ Aonian field”,— [5]
he was referring to English, not to Greek poetry. The point is however as you observe, of so little importance, that I will alter the line if I ever have the opportunity. I am obstinate, too, about elisions,—in opinion,—tho’ I will try not to be so in practice. They seem to me sanctioned not only by reason & analogy, but by authority. Somebody says
My life is my true happiness’ disease,— [6]
and here, “happiness” has no “lap”, & no capital H! But such trifles are not worth disputing about! I owe Sir Uvedale Price much gratitude, and have a high respect for taste, which so entirely deserves Mr Barker’s epithet—“exquisite”. I never met with a mind equally poetical,—out of a poet! And I am surprised, that, where Nature gave such a susceptibility to poetical impressions, she should have denied the impressive poetical faculty. If you have not read the Essay on the Picturesque, will you let me send it to you,—& will you promise to read more than “two pages & a half”? I need not exact such a promise! It is one of the books which I read for the sake of its style, without feeling an interest in its subject; and I think that if you do the same, you will be pleased. The style has not much eloquence brilliancy or energy,—but it is natural, chaste, graceful & harmonious, to a captivating degree. I think I told you what Dr Parr once said respecting it.—. [7]
Your criticism is unquestionably the most elaborate & complete, of any which I have seen. Considered as a composition, it is most interesting & animated; & pervaded as much by spirit as by kindness. That it is very much valued,—is one of those useless assurances which I cannot help repeating! I am extremely obliged to you for the autographs. They shall be prized triply, on account of their writers, on account of their subject, & on account of the person to whom they were addressed. Was it your intention to send me a part or the whole of Dr Burgess’s [8] letter? In the case of your having intended to send the whole,—& a part having been accidentally omitted, I will mention that only the cover was enclosed to me.
If you disapprove of the investigation of the prophecies,—and you must do so if you disapprove of the object of Mr Irving’s book, [9] —will you tell me how you read the prophetic scriptures, & why, according to your views, they were written. What do you understand by the assurance “the wise shall understand”—what, by the command “to count the number of the Beast”,—& what, by the benediction at the commencement of the Apocalypse, “Blessed is he that readeth”? If you do not admit the millennial reign, what do you understand by St Peters “new Heavens & new earth”, [10] —& what by the word αποκαταστασις re-establishment—in the 3d chapter of Acts? [11] Do you observe what Gregory says in his funeral oration on Cæsarius, with reference to this renewing of creation at the resurrection? He says that he expects the last trumpet, the voice of the Archangel, “την γης μεταποιησιν—την κοσμου παντος ανακαινισιν.” [12]
Thursday. I received your note last night, & am able to say this morning, that if Bradley Cottage be not taken (we have heard a sinister report about it!) we shall take it immediately, upon trial. If it be taken, & if, after all, our house should be at a distance from yours, you may depend upon seeing me as frequently as possible, at any rate. Do you think imagination is necessary, to make me anxious to visit you frequently? I hope you do not, & cannot think so.
I am sorry to hear of Mrs Boyd’s indisposition; but perhaps it is better on every account,—except on that,—that the pleasure my Mother anticipates in seeing her, should be deferred for a little while longer. For the last few days, my dear Mother has herself, not been so well as usual. Mr. Carden however who saw her yesterday, does not give us cause of alarm but rather of comfort, in his opinion: and in a short time, when the weather has become more settled, I trust she is likely to be better able to derive pleasure from Mrs Boyd’s visit. Besides, Hope End begs to be seen for the first time, in sunshine—for the sake of its vanity!–
Pray do not think of sending your letters to Mrs Trant’s. You may direct them to me at her house, if you like, & I can receive them as usual, from thence. I have always plenty of means of having my letters conveyed to you, without applying to the general Post.
There is a great deal written, of my new poem, [13] tho’ it is not in a state yet to be read by anybody. When it is, I should extremely like to submit it to you. I do not like your advice, at all! When I published last, I did not know any person whose opinion I considered very valuable, and therefore did not communicate with any person, out of my own family, on the subject. Now, I cannot see why I should throw away my privileges, for fear people should suspect me of abusing them.
In the event of Bradley Cottage being let, we certainly shall not take Spring Cottage, & therefore we certainly shall be nearer to you, than I contemplated at one time.
Believe me ever
Your sincere friend
E B Barrett.
Perhaps you had better send your letters to me by the general post, till Grandmama comes.
Publication: EBB-HSB, pp. 42–45.
Manuscript: Wellesley College.
1. Underscored twice.
2. The legendary hero to whom Fortune gave a bottomless purse. On his travels he stole a magic wishing cap from the Sultan of Cairo, but the two treasures proved the ruin of himself and his sons.
3. EBB’s The Battle of Marathon.
4. For EBB’s argument, see letter 233 to Price.
5. Stanza 29 of The Schoolmistress by William Shenstone (1714–63).
6. We have not been able to identify this quotation.
7. See letter 281.
8. George Burges (1786?–1864), classical scholar and editor, and a frequent contributor to The Classical Journal.
9. The Coming of Messiah … sent with letter 292.
10. These biblical references are, respectively, to Daniel, 12:10; Revelations, 13:18; Revelations, 1:3 and Revelations, 21:1.
11. The word occurs in verse 21. In the King James’ Bible, it is rendered as “restitution.”
12. “The alteration of the earth, and the renewal of order” (I, 174 of Jacques de Billy’s 1690 edition).
13. “The Development of Genius.”
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