1989. EBB to Richard Hengist Horne
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 11, 11–12.
[London]
[late July 1845] [1]
<***> of suspense of faculty almost—: the indolence is exemplary, I assure you–
I am very glad to have the good news of your book of Ballads [2] —& Miss Mitford tells me that the subjects of them are well-chosen. Who publishes for you?– You know how I care for ballads– They carry so much .. slight vehicle as they seem to be. All the passion of the heart will go into a ballad, & feel at home. And shall I confess that I was disappointed with your ‘Blind Beggar’ in Jerrold, when I went about expecting something tragic?—another ‘Delora’ perhaps. [3] People are so unreasonable in their expectations.
And this is enough for today—though after all I may not have thanked you enough.
But I remain dear Mr. Horne always,
Sincerely & gratefully yours
Elizabeth B Barrett.
You may trust me about the letter– Could you think me capable of showing it?– Oh! I know the poet fashion & idiom of Shiraz too well for that .. be sure! [4]
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Pierpont Morgan Library.
1. Conjectural dating based upon EBB’s comment to Kenyon in letter 1981 that Horne had written to her “to announce a volume of ballads which he has in preparation.” We conclude that this letter is an acknowledgement of Horne’s letter.
2. Horne’s Ballad Romances was advertised as early as 1 November 1845 in The Examiner. The Athenæum for 27 December announced that it was “to be published next Monday [i.e., 29 December].”
3. Horne’s “The Ballad of Delora” had been published in 1836; “The Blind Beggar” had appeared in Douglas Jerrold’s Shilling Magazine for July 1845 (vol. 2, no. 7, pp. 65–69).
4. An allusion to the Persian city famous for its wine and the poets Sa’di and Hafiz, the latter being known as “the Persian Anacreon.” EBB is doubtless referring to their odes of wine and love which included the theme of betrayal as well, secrecy being one of the principal obligations of an Oriental lover.
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