175. EBB to Henrietta Moulton-Barrett
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 173.
[Hope End]
[4 March] [?1823] [1]
“I dont know what to write.”
Laureates Meditations.
Nothing being certain but death, taxes, & birthday letters, certainties are not always pleasant things. In this note of mine, I have to do with nothing but the last. i.e. birthday letters .. & I heartily hope it may be the last I have to do with. It is miserable to be obliged to put your thoughts into papers, before you put your thoughts on paper,—to make your imagination frisser,—& your good taste frissoner [2] at leisure. I cant bear writing birthday letters.
Today there is an extra difficulty. We are taught by compositional rules to adapt our style to our subject—and I am apprehensive that, on this occasion, mine will be found deficient in the difficult requisites—simplicity, elegance, & grace.
Many happy returns of the day to my dearest, dearest Henrietta! I like her much better than I like her birthday; &, out of compliment to her, make my birthday note resemble the venus de medicis, in being .... very short!!
Her always attached Ba.
Address, on integral page: Miss Henrietta Barrett.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: In private collection.
1. This letter was probably written in 1823, a year for which there is no dated birthday message from EBB to Henrietta.
2. EBB misspelled the French words “friser,” meaning “to curl,” and “frissonner,” meaning “to shiver.”
___________________
