1117. EBB to Richard Hengist Horne
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 6, 272–273.
[London]
Jany. 6. 1843
I looked about for your second edition of the profile, [1] & saw nothing—but to be sure, there is no wonder that you who have a feeling for high Art shdnt choose to trust me with my chef d’œuvre of the original head. I might have caused it to figure, as much as a head could do, on the walls of the National Gallery, or have rejoiced the adyta [2] of the British Museum with the light of it. It is a Vandyke [3] ––all but the form & color—to be sure! So, being just, I cant remonstrate against your resolution of keeping it to yourself, though I shd like very much to see your lines of correction–
Yes, there is certainly that likeness. I am delighted to have found it out, & that you acknowledge the truth of the discovery of it– But what do you mean by the ‘family likeness’–? I am not stupid if you please. I understand what you may mean. But do you mean .. in the flesh or in the spirit?, “family likeness” in which sense? Have you an actual relationship with Keats? or is it only “as poets use.”?
Believe me, I am as unconscious of my theological anger as you are of your theological crime—your Euthanasia. [4] I was not talking of any sort of theological dogma– There is a popular prejudice against putting people to death; & I, fancying that you took the other side of the question with Napoleon & Plato,—fancying it, remember, not merely by Euthanasia but by what had passed before,—said what I did .. whatever that might be– Plato says distinctly, you may remember, that in all cases of chronic maladies, the patients, for the good of the individual & community, ought to be put to death [5] —& I rather took for granted that you leant to the same opinion. I beg your pardon for doing so– Certainly, where the death agony is prolonged .. completely clouding the faculties & distorting the moral nature, there may be room for a doubt. Still, the principle of the doubt is dangerous. Your physician looks to the physical— and our nature is complex & full of mysteries– Intense pain & light & serenity of soul do often go together—& spectators & physicians cannot always judge of the actual condition of the patient. And pain does good to us often—& God’s grace often is flowing in an undercurrent under the seemingly most rocky ground. I believe in what is called a particular Providence—I believe in God’s grace– You wdnt call those, dogmas? No—you wdnt smile at them for dogmas. If they are, they are as old & true as Christianity itself–
I am not ‘fortunate’ my dear Mr Horne, I am sorry to say, about booksellers. My bookseller had a vision I suppose, recommending prudence or predicting rain, & I had his palinodia [6] a few days after I had begun to count upon his benignities– Still, my belief is from what is said to me, that a bookseller would undertake the poems—supposing that I determined on printing & enquiring. Was not your Chaucer undertaken? And if it be profane to talk together of Chaucer & me, still .. other poets do get publishers—you would, if you brought miscellaneous poems instead of tragedies. I believe you would. I believe that even I [7] should. I shall try some day—but perhaps not just now, my inward temptation to do so having passed away as far from me as any of St Anthony’s. [8]
I shall read you in the Church of England quarterly [9] —in spite of dogmas.
Ever yours
EBB–
Address: R H Horne Esqre / 36. New Broad Street / City. [10]
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: R.H. Taylor Collection.
1. i.e., the amended sketch of Keats (see letter 1116).
2. “Sanctuaries; innermost parts.”
3. Sir Anthony van Dyck (1599–1641) was admired for his refined and elegant style.
4. See letters 1098 and 1116.
5. Not quite accurate; Plato did not advocate active euthanasia, but proposed withholding medical treatment from the incurable (Republic, I, 408–409).
6. “Retraction.”
7. Underscored twice.
8. St. Anthony (ca. 251–356) spent most of his life in solitude, mainly in the desert, and was often assailed by temptations, artistic representations of which have taken the form of ugly demons, fantastic creatures or naked women.
9. i.e., his article on Albertus Magnus (see letter 1116).
10. The envelope is missing; the address is based on a transcript made by H. Buxton Forman.
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