226. Mary Moulton-Barrett to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 232–234.
[Hope End]
Sunday– [8 January 1826] [1]
Canto 2d Stanza 16.
Colei Sofronia, Olindo egli s’appella;
D’una Cittate entrambi, e d’una fede,
Ei che modesto è si, com’essa é bella,
Brama assai, poco spera, e nulla chiede
Nè sa scoprirsi, o non ardisce; ed ella
O lo sprezza, o nol vede, o non s’ avvede
Cosi finora il misero ha servito
O non visto, o mal noto, o mal gradito. [2]
I should really be sorry if you see it necessary to abandon your pretty motto, & hope you will agree with me, that it may serve as well in the 3d as first person, tho’ of that you will best judge– I am glad however that you used the precaution of referring to the line, much as the commodities in that well filled store house of yours may be depended upon to be of sterling value– All your assurances of love on the birth of 1826, delighted our hearts dearest Ba.– May it shower on your own dear head every blessing! We rejoice in the reports of dearest Bro’s mirth-stirring disguises, as sources of amusement to dear Granny & you all, & as proofs of his being really in health & spirits– hearing of all this revelry & happiness, reconciles me to the diminution in our sports, & Xmas joy, in missing three of the dear faces, which have ever been the leaders & promoters of it all: Arabel & Sam, have been your active substitutes, & I fancy her pen is now employed in reporting the excellence of the cake, which was most gratefully enjoyed, a subject likely to elicit so much eloquence, that I can only presume to make a slight allusion to the beauty of Septimus & Octavius [3] dressed in the Grecian finery, which once shone upon you & Bro, with the rather unclassical additions of wreaths of flowers, & seated upon the table in the drawing room, with the dazzling cake before them, Seppy brandishing the carving knife! Mr Moncrieff amuses us extremely, & I hope we shall hear more of him. [4] As to his dismal prognostics, I am as little inclined to pin my faith on them, as on the 500£ for two songs—he must be of a very romantic turn of mind!– it is forming too low an estimate of this “thinking people,” to deny all prospect of success to a poem on such a subject & to make a silly song, a mine of wealth, tho’ it cannot be denied, that but too large a portion of this wise nation may lean to the song– I long to see the lines which charmed the black-holed critic, into more gentle bearing.– A most kind letter from dear Mary last night, gave me infinite pain, by mentioning the necessity for her consulting Dr Babbington about her little ailments as she calls them. [5] I find from Sam, he does not wish much allusion to be made to them to her– God grant they may speedily be removed: as she assures me Dr B. promises they shall but that she must remain immediately under his inspection for some little time, & her kind proposal is, that yours & Hentta’s return home, should not be thought of, till she can bring you—& hopes you may first, go to W—— [6] this I think will be the plan, dearest Ba, for tho’ no words can tell how much I long to see you both & beloved Bro, I really think it no way desirable that he should make this long journey so near the close of the holidays, as it would be at the risk of his catching cold, when he will, I fear want all his strength, to exchange his present kind care & comforts for the roughnesses of that seat of learning– You will too, I suspect, be better pleased to linger a little longer, near dearest Granny, & to warm yourself at Sam’s well heaped hearth, ere you return to your snow clad hills, & elevated bed room [7] —& for my part, I comfort myself with the hope that sweet Marys better health & your return, will not be long delayed.— Even I must acknowledge it to be bitter cold.– We have had snow all this week, & it seems little likely to leave us– With such weather, holidays have been limited to three days, with rather shorter lessons on others– Do tell Hentta how well Mary Brimmel officiated in churning & cleaning the dairy, since poor Mary has been obliged to return home—she is a handy little thing– Rebecca is come to see us from Cheltenham, grown quite fat, & a blaze of fashion– she does not seem to rest in any place since she left us—C[heltenham]. she says, is not full[—]houses in the Crescent, let at 3 guineas & ½– We have invitations to Mr Foleys plays next week. [“]She stoops to Conquer”, & [“]Roland for an Oliver,” with “Charles 2” but vain his histrionic talents to us, this year! Miss Commeline comes for a few days on the 12th— the fair Maria fears her sore throat must prevent her– it is Miss Cs own proposal, & she hopes to find you! hopes in vain– James C. [8] hears much better– Bell seems unusually gay, & all quite well– I think I told you of Emma H[eseltine]’s arrival– I am anxious to receive accts of Fanny– Many loves & kisses– I will write Henrietta soon–
Ever my beloved Ba’s
Most affecte Mother
How anxious we are to have your acct of the blooming bride!
Address, on integral page: Ba.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: British Library.
1. Mary Moulton-Barrett’s thanks for greetings “on the birth of 1826,” suggest that the letter was written after 1 January 1826. She also mentions that Miss Commeline plans to visit on the 12th. The only Sunday between 1 and 12 January in that year was the 8th.
2. Torquato Tasso (1544–95), Gerusalemme Liberata (1581):
“Sophronia she, Olindo hight the youth,
Both of one town, both in one faith were taught,
She fair, he full of bashfulness and truth,
Lov’d much, hop’d little, and desired nought;
He durst not speak, by suit to purchase ruth,
She saw not, mark’d not, wist not what he sought;
Thus lov’d, thus serv’d he long, but not regarded,
Unseen, unmark’d, unpitied, unrewarded.”
Edward Fairfax’s 1817 translation)
The fourth line of the Italian text was used by EBB as the “motto” mentioned by her mother. It appeared on the title page of An Essay on Mind.
3. Octavius Moulton-Barrett, born 11 April 1824.
4. Probably William Thomas Moncrieff (1794–1857). Although prominent primarily in the theatre, he did write articles for various magazines. His “dismal prognostics” may refer to An Essay on Mind, but we cannot clarify.
5. Probably William Babington (1756–1833), well-known London physician.
6. Walthamstow, home of Mary and Samuel Moulton-Barrett, 6 m. N.E. of London.
7. EBB’s bedroom and sitting-room were in the highest part of the house.
8. In letter 222, Mary Moulton-Barrett had expressed doubts about James Commeline’s recovering his hearing.
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