1041. EBB to Thomas Westwood
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 6, 136.
50, Wimpole Street.
Nov. 3rd 1842.
Certainly, dear Sir, if I did find it possible to be “offended” by such a letter as this of yours, one might very well marvel at the singular organization of my temper. I have heard of eccentric persons who sneeze at a rose—even faint at one—the possibility of dying of one “in aromatic pain”, [1] is on poetic record—but to scold at a rose in aromatic ill-temper is something beyond my calculation of probabilities in ordinary cases, and quite out of the question, believe me, in my own experience. All I can say is, that you are a great deal too kind to me, and that I most cordially and gratefully feel the expression of your kindness. The end of writing, though not always the motive, is to move and obtain sympathy—and therefore such sympathy as you send me so generously and with open hands is an important gift to me and one very touchingly welcome. You who are familiar with my poems, are also familiar with their faults, and especially you must too well be aware of that obscurity with which they are commonly reproached. But your charity has covered the multitude of my sins—and my courage must take heart of grace of such “gentle charities” [2] and try to do better in future.
If I could live, I think sometimes, under a patchwork made of summers sewn together with sunbeams, how strong I should grow. <***>
Publication: None traced.
Source: Kenyon Typescript, British Library.
1. Pope, Essay on Man (1732–34), Epistle 1, line 200.
2. We have not located the source of this quotation.
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