1289. EBB to Richard Hengist Horne
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 7, 189–190.
Wimpole Street,
June 16. 1843–
I am so sorry my dear Mr Horne at your remaining unwell against all my hopes, that I am more sorry than I was this morning at having written a very silly note to you a few days since– [1] That it was simply silly .. meaning that it was’nt seriously silly, I beg you to believe. I am apt to write the thought or the jest, (as it may be) which is uppermost—& sometimes too when it is not uppermost, I struggle against a sadness which is strong, by putting a levity in the place of it– Now you will wonder what I have been writing, if you have not received the note yet—& so I will explain to you that it was only some foolishness about the twentyfive copies .. about Miss Mitford’s victory & my defeat .. κ .. τ. λ– [2]
My grave & real thoughts are these—that I think you exceedingly kind to both of us .. kinder than you ought to be; & that I was pleased, instead of the contrary, by your giving up the point to her; for several reasons, some more obvious than others– I love her & admire her, & wd give her the first place everywhere, .. if there cd be any question as to such precedence– And then, she has more in her power .. she can do more for the poem .. she counts an amount of ‘learned & accomplished friends’ above any person I ever knew or heard of——& for a good private advertiser, never was anyone superior to her own self– For which reasons, I wd rather give up the whole twentyfive copies to her, & so I have told her, .. without a reserve of five or one for myself. I have one copy from you already which I keep in my covetousness, as your gift,––& the few others I require, shall be arrived at by your instructions, from this second edition … or the twentysecond– On the success of the poem, I congratulate you & everybody worthy of the joy of it! Still, the very success must be loss in a certain way—& I cannot help wishing that it had been otherwise.
My dear Mr Horne, all this while you are very unwell I do fear. You have advice .. have you not? and are taking care of yourself not carelessly?– Do, when it does not teaze you to write, let me hear if you are better. May God bless you– As you were prudent enough not to send me an address, you are as safe from me as Orion under Mr Miller’s bed, [3] & I can only send this note to rejoin two others at New Broad Street–
Ever truly yours
EBB–
Address: R H Horne Esqr / 36. New Broad Street / City.
Publication: EBB-RHH, I, 61–63 (in part).
Manuscript: Pierpont Morgan Library.
2. “Καί τά λοιπά” (“and the rest; et cetera”).
3. Horne told EBB in letter 1277 that he could not ask Miller, the publisher, “to exhume 6 copies from beneath his bed,” where a supply had been hidden.
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