1186.5. John Kenyon to EBB
Addendum to The Brownings’ Correspondence, vol. 7.
4 Harley Place
March 25 [1843]
My dear Cousin
I had this bottle of Eau de Cologne (which affects to be good) in my pocket yesterday for you– I forgot to give it you, and am glad thereat, because today it will come prop[it]iatory of some very distasteful criticism—for which your Ladyship will not like me the better– To cut short to the matter—why will you make your poetry more than needful on any occasion “Scripture” Poetry? I am led to this by your clinging to the “true and just and honest” because it is Scripture– Can you not be made aware, my sweet Cousin, how very distasteful to almost every body that Class of poetry is? Do you know (I will say out of your own family—because if they disliked it they would have told you so[)] any persons who like or approve it? You cannot think how this tendency has hurt your popularity– If to write this sort of poetry were a duty—then popularity would be less than the lightest feather, that ever flew, in the scale—but it is not so—and therefore I must be bold and tell you my tell– Persons not religious (and there are many such among readers of verse) dislike this strain—because they have no sympathy for it– These you might be prepared to class with the “Fool who hath said in his heart” but it is not alone these “Incredulous odes” that you have to deal with– These are repelled a little– The pious are scandalized– They will not consent to have such themes made week day themes—not like the “non pious” rejecting the preachment (for so from association they call it) altogether—root and branch they will not consent to be preached to except on a Sunday. The less religious dislike it as belonging to the Conventide—the more religious as out of place and time. All this rigmarole of mine—the true & just & honest—does not bear so much on the text—(Few will observe it to be a text)—but on the sudden use of the Word “Christ” is one of the Stanzas—“One who died in Zion[”] is just the right sort of expression that folk will bear–
I should be sure in reading the other aloud that—one way or another, I should annoy four out of five persons– Our religion is not vital—not weekday—enough– You did not dislike the Spirit of a Gipsy carol I once showed you–
Most persons think it highly irreverent. I recollect even my friend Poole objecting in Wordsworth’s Sonnet on Westminster Bridge—to “Dear God—the very houses seem asleep—” and “Great God! I’d rather be a pagan” meets with as little pardon–
Now pray get rid of the word Christ– You cannot think how these Scriptural Expressions of yours throw both classes of readers out of sympathy with you. I have heard it as often as your works have been spoken of– Do you yourself tolerate these expressions in others– In Cowper for instance? Now sniff the Eau de Cologne and forgive me—but with my good leave you shall not hurt your own verses.
Yours always
John Kenyon
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.
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