1033. William Wordsworth [1] to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 6, 121–122.
Rydal Mount
Octb 26th 42.
Dear Miss Barrett
Through our common Friend Mr Haydon I have received a Sonnet which his Portrait of me suggested. I should have thanked you sooner for this effusion of a feeling towards myself, with which I am much gratified, but I have been absent from home and much occupied.
The conception of your Sonnet is in full accordance with the Painters intended work, and the expression vigorous; yet the word “ebb” though I do not myself object to it, nor wish it altered, will I fear prove obscure to nine readers out of ten. [2]
“A vision free
And noble Haydon hath thine Art released,”
Owing to the want of inflexions in our language this construction here is obscure. Would it not be a little thus?– I was going to write a small change in the order of the words, but I find it would not remove the objection. The sense as I take it, could be somewhat clearer thus, if you could tolerate the redundant syllable
By a vision free
And noble, Haydon, is thine Art released. [3]
I had the gratification of receiving a good while ago, two copies of a volume of your writing, [4] which I have read with much pleasure, and beg that the thanks which I charged a Friend to offer may be repeated through you.
It grieved me much to hear from Mr Kenyon, and now also from Mr Haydon that your health is so much deranged– But for that cause I should have presumed to call upon you when I was in London last spring. With every good wish—I remain dear Miss Barrett
your ever obliged
Wm Wordsworth
Address: Miss Barrett / 50 Wimpole Street / London.
Publication: LEBB, I, 113–114.
Manuscript: Berg Collection.
1. For details of EBB’s acquaintance with Wordsworth, see pp. 364-367.
2. The passage reads: “Let the cloud / Ebb audibly along the mountain-wind” (lines 1–2). Despite Wordsworth’s fears, EBB made no change to these lines when the sonnet was reprinted in Poems (1844).
3. EBB herself had expressed reservations about these lines to Miss Mitford in letter 1028, and they were changed when the sonnet was reprinted (see letter 1028, note 5), but not in accordance with Wordsworth’s suggestion
4. Presumably EBB’s last-published volume, The Seraphim.
___________________
