2055. EBB to RB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 11, 112.
[London]
[6 October 1845] [1]
Ah but the good things do not come together—for just as your letter comes I am driven to asking you to leave tuesday for wednesday.
On tuesday Mr Kenyon is to be here or not to be here, he says—there’s a doubt .. & you would rather go to a clear day. So if you do not hear from me again I shall expect you on wednesday unless I hear to the contrary from you:—and if anything happens to wednesday you shall hear. Mr Kenyon is in town for only two days, or three. I never could grumble against him, so good & kind as he is:—but he may not come after all tomorrow—so it is not grudging the obolus to Belisarius, [2] .. but the squandering of the last golden days at the bottom of the purse.
Do I ‘stand’– Do I walk? Yes—most ‘uprightly’– I ‘walk uprightly every day.’ Do I go out?—no, never. And I am not to be scolded for that—because when you were looking at the sun today, I was marking the east wind—& perhaps if I had breathed a breath of it .. farewell Pisa– People who can walk dont always walk into the lion’s den as a consequence—do they? should they? Are you “sure that they should.”?
I write in great haste– So wednesday then .. perhaps!
And yours every day.
You understand. Wednesday—if nothing to the contrary.
Address: Robert Browning Esqre / New Cross / Hatcham / Surrey.
Postmark: 10FN10 OC7 1845 A.
Docket, in RB’s hand: 63.
Publication: RB-EBB, p. 224.
Manuscript: Wellesley College.
1. Dated by postmark and EBB’s reference to Kenyon’s forthcoming visit.
2. Belisarius (d. 565), the greatest of Justinian’s generals, was accused of conspiracy and reduced to begging; legend says he put a sign over his dwelling which read: “Give an obolus to poor old Belisarius.”
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