1599.5. John Kenyon to EBB
Addendum to The Brownings’ Correspondence, vol. 8.
40 Y. T.
18th April [1844]
My over docile cousin
I dare to turn critic in the honest and strong desire that you will cling to your own opinion wherever you see reason. I am not goose enough to think of upsetting at a glance what it has often cost you much thought to build up– Then again deciding at a moment I judge from text—you from context—I catch the disjecta membra—you have the whole harmony of the thing in your mind. Then I am apt to decide too rapidly—in these matters at least—and to express myself too strongly– In fact I continually repeat one of my criticisms—I recal [sic] what I said about “I swam dilating with delirious fire”– Now I find no objection to it—or will find none– I much prefer it to the “outstrokes of delirious fire.” The [“]firmamental ocean” and the “Swam” have lead [sic] you into this too literal metaphor– Swam is an admirable word for a planet– “When a new planet swims upon his sight”– Firmamental ocean is grand too– But swam is not a good word for a planet in the brachial or finny sense– Pray retain the first line that I may not have the guilt of verse slaughter on my soul—disconnect your too docile connection– I think curdling—tho’ not a very good word—much better than stagnant—and I like a pa[r]ticiple there better than an adjective—crouching?—glimmering? curdling—whatever you like but not stagnant–
I think impassive does very well– With calm steadfast eyes—would give something of the same feeling—but I do not think it would be better.
p. 6. line 3—We like that word in heaven—“The in has escaped them and us—printers & readers[”]–
I repeat—the more I read your poem—the more fully I understand it– With fair attention it is never obscure—and the more I am struck with its delineation and sustainment of character & what strikes me as the high poetry as well as the exquisite rhythm of the Choruses generally–
In page 23—l. 9. I think I have a shadow of preference for—“She droppeth heavily—and—Her body heaves—as if apostrophizing himself—but I do not dwell on this for one tenth part of a moment.
I have had people with me to interrupt me all day. More proofs! More proofs!
J. Kenyon
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.
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