187. EBB to Henrietta Moulton-Barrett

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 189–190.

Hope End

March 4th 1824

I sent a message to the Muse,

Last night, to leave Castalian dews,

And speed here, if twere in her power,

This morning at the breakfast hour—

But, above all, to keep in time,

As Reason would not wait for rhyme!

When lo (I never heard a better)

’Stead of the Goddess, comes a letter—

A curious MS, to be writ

By hand divine—and this is it!!

“You will not think I treat you ill,

When, tho’ my presence I refuse,

I use a whole Mæonian quill [1]

To write a billet in excuse.

Nor call my absense unpolite,

Nor want of condescension deem,

For all that stays my Hope End flight,

I speak sincerely, is your theme!

To say the truth, on Beauty’s eyes,

When gentle Poets softly think,

I oft Parnassus’ glowing dyes,

Have mingled with my vot’ry’s ink!

And some instead of charms of face,

Good humour’s charms have lov’d t’ impart,

And then my smile hath gilt each grace,

Each dear enchantment of the heart!

But modesty with beauty joined,

And temper’s sweetness, in one letter?!

Oh no! I cant sing all combined,

I wont attempt your Henrietta!!

Yet let not this, my note, astound her,

Nor be thou wroth at my excuse!

With all the laughing Graces round her

She surely will not miss

The Muse—[”]

Many many happy returns of the day to my dearest Henrietta, [2] and if she be inclined with Pope to “trust the Muse” [3] for the sincerity of her apology, may she also forgive her uninspired votary for attempting so weighty a subject without divine aid, remembering amongst other classical quotations that I am not the only one who has been in at the scratch without being one of the fancy!

Ever my dearest Addles most affecte

Ba—

Address, on integral page: To / Miss H Barrett.

Publication: HUP, II, 38–39.

Manuscript: University of Texas.

1. An allusion to Homer, sometimes called the Mæonian poet.

2. Her 15th birthday.

3. Rape of the Lock (1714), V, 123.

___________________