1723. EBB to Hugh Stuart Boyd
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 9, 156–157.
[London]
Tuesday– Sept. 22. [sic, for 24] 1844. [1]
Thank you my dearest friend for your song called the “Force of Truth,” [2] which had force enough to make me laugh, although by no means with its truth. If you praise me on the same sheet on which you make epigrams on Wordsworth, people will say that there is as little ground for one as the other, & that you mean it to be understood so. Is it possible that you were in earnest as the ground-work of this song–? that, like wits in general, you did not think more of your flower than of your root? I will try to believe that you did, in any case,—and so, I thank you for the flower!– I like the first stanzas best:—“but the pity of it, Iago”! [3] Arabel should have told you that I had a letter the other day, & a most kind letter, from Mr Serjeant Talfourd, [4] who has taken a cottage at the Lakes to be near Mr Wordsworth, whom he calls his “illustrious neighbour.” He (Mr Serjeant Talfourd) after speaking very kindly of the Drama of Exile and the ‘Vision of Poets,’ singles out as one of his especial favorites among the minor poems, “Cyprus Wine”, & does me the honour of imagining that Mr Boyd must be pleased with it. He says besides, that my books have been the companions of his pleasantest walks in that romantic country,—& I am glad that the mountains & lakes had not power to put the poems to shame– And oh, such a letter as I have had from Harriet Martineau! [5] – She had bound herself by a promise to tell me the full truth about the books, .. let it be pleasant or unpleasant truth: and because her letter was long in coming, I began to fear that it wd be unpleasant. But there never was a more delightful generous letter, or one fuller of fervent sympathy. She tells me that every day she has had the volumes open before her, & that their power over her is of the deepest. What particularly pleases me, is, that her “predominant impression”, she says, is of their entire “originality.” Also she observes upon what she calls the “immense advance” on the former work—being of opinion, nevertheless, that “a few of the pieces” of that former work, might be considered “worthy of a place in this”. I was very much delighted by this letter from such a person, who unites to high logic, a deep sensibility to poetry—certainly the most manlike woman (in the best sense of man) in the three kingdoms.
I should tell you however that she complains of a general impression of monotony, after reading the “Drama of Exile,”—and that she prefers upon the whole, the smaller poems– “Lady Geraldine’s Courtship” she singles out for praise, & says of it that she felt herself “swept through it”– Now it is curious, that people in general are pleased with “Lady Geraldine’[’]: & it is true that I always hear of their being pleased with it, with a feeling like a sense of escape,—seeing that some peculiar circumstances attended its composition. Do not tell anybody,—people might & would immediately call me a careless, hasty writer, .. but the last thirteen of those printed pages were written, .. composed & written, .. in one day. It was dangerous & might have been fatal speed. When people praise the poem, I always think, “What stuff it might have been!”——and that is very natural. [6]
Dearest Mr Boyd, I hear of your talking of more generosity about the Cyprus Wine– Now I do beseech you not to think of such a thing any more. When I go to see you, you shall give me a whole glass of it,—only if you wont see Flush, you wont be able to see me– He & I are inseparable companions, and I have vowed him my perpetual society in exchange for his devotion. Why if he were to bite you even, it wd do you no harm, unless he were mad: and if he were mad, I wd not send him to see you. Consider this logic, & believe me always
your very affectionate
Elibet–
Address: H S Boyd Esqr / 24 (a) Grove End Road / St John’s Wood. [7]
Publication: EBB-HSB, pp. 262–264.
Manuscript: Huntington Library and Wellesley College.
1. This letter is postmarked 25 September 1844; the 22nd was a Sunday.
2. We are unable to clarify this reference.
3. Cf. Othello, IV, 1, 195.
4. See letter 1714 for extracts from EBB’s reply to this letter.
6. See letter 1662 for EBB’s earlier comments regarding the composition of “Lady Geraldine’s Courtship.”
7. The envelope is at Wellesley College.
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