Correspondence

543.  EBB to Hugh Stuart Boyd

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 3, 200–201.

[London]

[Postmark: 26 November 1836]

My dear Mr Boyd,

I have been so busy that I have not been able until this morning to take breath or inspiration to answer your lyrics. You shall see me soon,—but I am sorry to say it cant be Monday or Tuesday–

I have had another note from the Editor of the New Monthly Magazine—very flattering, & praying for farther supplies. The ‘Angels’ were not ready,—and I was obliged to send something else which I will not ask you to read! So dont be very uneasy.

Arabel’s & my best love to Annie—& believe me in a great hurry—for I wont miss this post——

Yours affectionately

E B Barrett.

 

Your lyrics found me dull as prose [1]

Among a file of papers

And analyzing London fogs

To nothing but the vapours.

 

They knew their part; but thro’ the fog

Their flaming lightening raising;

They missed my fancy, and instead,

My choler set a blazing.

 

Quoth I “I need not care a pin

For charge unjust, unsparing—

Yet oh! for ancient bodkin [2] keen,

To punish this pindàring.

 

Yet oh! that I a female Jove

These fogs sublime might float on,

Where eagle-like my dove might show

A very “ὑγρον νωτον”! [3]

 

Then, lightening should for lightening flash,

Vexation for vexation—

And shades of St John’s wood should glow

In awful conflagration.”

 

I spoke!– when lo! my birds of peace,

The vengeance disallowing,

Replied, “Coo, coo!”—— But keep in mind

That cooing is not cowing.

Address, on integral page: H S Boyd Esqr / 3 Circus Road / St John’s Wood.

Publication: LEBB, I, 39–40.

Manuscript: Wellesley College.

1. EBB enclosed this poem as an answer to the parody acknowledged in letter 541.

2. EBB put an asterisk here, and another at the bottom of page with the comment: “The bodkin seems to be a favorite weapon with ancient dames whose genius was for killing.”

3. “Supple back” (Pindar’s Pythian Odes, I, 17).

___________________

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