1253. EBB to John Kenyon
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 7, 138.
[London]
May 19. 1843.
Thank you my dear cousin for all your kindness to me! There is ivy enough for a thyrsus .. and I almost feel ready to enact a sort of Bacchus triumphalis [1] “for jollitie” [2] as I see it already planted & looking in at me through the window. I never thought to see such a sight as that in my London room!,—& am overwhelmed with my own glory.
And then Mr Browning’s note! Unless you say ‘nay’ to me, I shall keep this note which has pleased me so much [3] —yet not more than it ought– Now I forgive Mr Merivale for his hard thoughts of my easy rhymes.– [4] But all this pleasure my dear Mr Kenyon, I owe to you, & shall remember that I do–
Ever affectionately yours
EBB–
Publication: LEBB, I, 143.
Manuscript: Wellesley College.
1. “Triumphal Bacchus.”
2. Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales (Prologue, 680).
4. Kenyon had shown “The Dead Pan” to John Herman Merivale (see letter 1228, SD1189 and SD1190).
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