1096. EBB to Hugh Stuart Boyd
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 6, 237–238.
[London]
Dec. 24. 1842–
My very dear friend,
I am afraid that you will infer from my silence that you have affronted me into ill temper by your parody upon my sonnet. Yet ‘lucus a non lucendo’ [1] were a truer derivation. I laughed & thanked you over the parody,—& put off writing to you until I had the headache which forced me to put it off again.
The extreme difficulty, nay, the impossibility of advising you in respect to Mary Hunter, had something moreover, to do,—I wont deny it,—with my silence. I cannot wish to prevent you from inviting her to your house—and I cannot wish to persuade you into the same. I have much affection for Mary Hunter, as you are aware—and yet, she might not suit you as a companion, I am aware. If intelligence & kindheartedness & good & upright principles were all you needed, I shd say .. take her. But you are particular in respect to manners & voice & gentleness,—& altho’ Mary is ladylike, she is apt to be a little hasty & abrupt, & to walk & talk too little according to your music; & I am in great difficulty how to give counsel about her.
My very dear friend, if you shd determine upon making the trial, the proposition should certainly go directly from you to Mr Hunter. I mentioned to him that you had thoughts in your head which referred to Mary,—& he will be prepared to reply to the very few lines it wd be necessary for you to address to him– Decide, then, yourself—& write yourself! [2] —and let Mr Hunter on the other side act upon his own opinion. I am afraid of saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’ for fear I shd say wrong: I am afraid of making a mistake & a gesture at the same time– And then, perhaps after all, Mr Hunter wd find it impossible to spare her at present—but I dont know how this may be–
May God bless you my dear Mr Boyd– Mr Savage Landor once said that anybody who cd write a parody deserved to be shot—but as he has written one himself since saying so, [3] he has probably changed his mind. Arabel sends her love–
Ever your affectionate & grateful
Elizabeth Barrett B.
Do you think of Dr Turnbull? I hope so.
Address: H S Boyd Esqr / 21 Downshire Hill / Hampstead.
Publication: EBB-HSB, pp. 255–256.
Manuscript: Wellesley College.
1. A Latin proverb, “A grove [so called] from not being lucent,” derived from Quintilian: “Lucus, a grove, is so called because, from the dense shade, there is very little light there” (De Institutione Oratoria, bk. I, ch. 6, sec. 34).
2. Arabella Moulton-Barrett wrote to Hunter on Boyd’s behalf (see letter 1114).
3. EBB apparently refers to his “Imaginary Conversation,” which had offended her sense of fitness (see letter 1076).
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