155. Mary Moulton-Barrett to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 152–153.
[Hope End]
To my own beloved Elizabeth.
March 6th 1822
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Fondly I would invoke Parnassus heights
To bless me with one strain of love to thee,
Unheard my prayer– chill silence sadly blights
Th’ ambitious hope so vainly formed by me!
But tho’ the magic of thy own loved Muse
Be to my lay, for ever thus denied
Tho’ she the concord of her lyre refuse
Won by thy hand, it is much more my pride!
On thee, my dearly loved, the tuneful nine
All emulous have smiled, in reasons dawn,
And sought in thy sad sufferings to entwine
The cheering laurel, with thy couch of thorn!
But tho’ thus cradled in th’ “enchanting shell”
Lulled by th’ Æolian lyre thy infant rest,
Strong tho’ the charm of genius’ magic spell,
’Tis not for this thy Mother loves thee best!
More dear to her the unrepining smile
Which radiant in thy suffering brow does shine,
The patience that could months of pain beguile
The Christians peace! sure pledge of love divine!
For this her heart in thankfulness is raised
To Him who gives the sorrow & its balm
Well, for affliction, may His name be praised
While Resignation brings thee, Heaven-sent calm!
Thus richly blessed! child of my fondest love
What would thy Mother’s prayer add to thy store?
But that returning health, may gladly prove
“Mercy that does so much, can still do more.”
And while thy Parents bless thy natal day
Hushed be each sigh, & dried be every tear,
While Hope shall cheering shed her brightest ray
On Health & peace thy lot! for many a year!
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If a darkened room [1] did not conceal my blushes, I should not find courage to send these uncouth lines to my dearest Ba! but critic as she is, the hasty & faulty effort shall go, for it comes from the heart & disowns all connection with the head!– Vanity makes only one clause, & that is, that no one sees it but your own dear self—on this, I must be peremptory—
Homer himself could not tell you how earnestly I wish you many happy years, nor how dear you are to your fondly attached
Mother.
Excuse a trembling hand!–
Address, on integral page: To / My dearest Ba.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: British Library.
1. Septimus had been born less than a month before. Apparently Mary Moulton-Barrett was still recuperating.
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