1480.7. John Kenyon to EBB
Addendum to The Brownings’ Correspondence, vol. 8.
40 York Terrace
Monday Night [1844]
Many and sincere thanks, dear Coz—for your proofs—in proportion to the sincere pleasure they have given me—I quarrel, as you will say I always do, with your perverse insolent lyrics, but I find that I generally like them better on the second or third reading, because (as I suppose) I have come to understand them better. The blank verse is—as danolies say of arie—undeniable. I have read with new pleasure the dialogue of Adam and Eve (which I had read before[)]—p. 97—99—and the 101st page—onward—to that exquisite touch (quarelling per’istrada with some of the lyrics—quarelling some—what—not very much) to that exquisite touch I say—(the matter beginning in the early part of the poem with “Sing My Morning Star[”]) to that touching passage—p 117–
Untrue! Untrue. Oh! Morning Star—Oh Shine!
All things grow sadder to me & Be by Be”
And I love the sonnets some more—some less—but I must read them again and again—before I know which I am finally to prefer– They are not “too querulous”—but very touching and I perceive the foundation—thought—of the most pathetic ones– For the moment “discontent” and “Past and Future” recur to me. Your life indeed my dear friend has been no playing at skittles—but God in his bounty has given compensation– He has given you in no common measure the vision and the faculty divine—with the power of creating that which will leave its good impress behind when you and I are gone—and better still he has made you loving and to be loved by all who live with you—the wine hath not “all run out of the cup”– But I will think no more on this–
And the “Romaunt of the Page” seems to be better than ever—I suppose because I am constant and have loved it before– And wished the “Brown Rosary”—which I had never read before—as long again– And the Mournful Mother and Valediction both please me highly– I am sure we shall do—spite of our insolence and perverseness– And now—good night—except that I am to offer you from my friend Burges one of his architectural drawings—as he said—from Greek to Greek– JK.
Thank you too for remembering what I had asked for Miss Bailey.
Again yours always
J. Kenyon
Address, on integral page: Miss Barrett.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.
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