1307. Katharine Cockell [1] to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 7, 216.
[Devonshire]
Friday Evening. [30 June 1843] [2]
<***> All this, & not a word about “Orion”! How I wish I had had the power to write my first feelings of delight! “Feelings”—because I have no skill to judge of Artistic power, &c &c yet I think I could see, or feel, the unity & elevation of design you speak of; but I am not sure I see all the author means; & again, I fancy I see, or am looking for, more than he means. However this may be, I could not put Orion out of my hands for my needful food,—nor out of my head for my more needful sleep. I was wholly possessed, rapt away into some new sphere never before dreamt of, & all this, (& much more than this) tho’ I have no classical enthusiasm (of course not) real or affected; & tho’ I have a particular antipathy to Giants. In vain does Mr Horne apologize for his height as not seeming beyond the heroic mould. That it was so enough to disturb my fancy,—& as oft as the unhappy void caught my eye, I was quite disenchanted till I could forget it.
Oh let me write again soon!
Dear friend how are you? I hope you are taken to the drawing room daily. Have you yet been out? I am just going.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Pierpont Morgan Library.
1. Elizabeth Katharine Cockell (1799–1863), daughter of Nicholas Cockell, of Boyers, Westbury, Wilts., and his wife Elizabeth (née Whitehead). EBB describes her in letter 1314, where she spells her name “Katherine.”
2. Dated by letter 1309, in which EBB enclosed part of this letter, saying it had been “just received.”
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