2284. EBB to Edgar Allan Poe
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 12, 197–198.
50 Wimpole Street
April. 1846.
Dear Sir,
Receiving a book from you [1] seems to authorize or at least encourage me to try to express what I have felt long before,—my sense of the high honour you have done me, in the eyes of your country & mine, by the dedication of your poems. It is too great a distinction, conferred by a hand of too liberal a generosity: I wish for my own sake I were worthier of it. But I may endeavour, by future work, to justify a little what I cannot deserve anywise now, .. & in the meanwhile I may be grateful—because gratitude is the virtue of the humblest.
After which imperfect acknowledgment of my personal obligation, may I thank you as another reader would .. thank you for this vivid writing, this power which is felt? Your ‘Raven’ has produced a sensation .. a “fit horror” .. here in England. Some of my friends are taken by the fear of it, & some by the music—I hear of persons haunted by the “Nevermore” .. and one acquaintance of mine who has the misfortune of possessing a “bust of Pallas,” [2] never can bear to look at it in the twilight. I think you will like to be told that our great poet Mr Browning, the author of ‘Paracelsus’ & the ‘Bells & Pomegranates,’ was struck much by the rhythm of that poem.
Then there is a tale of yours which I do not find in this volume, but which is going the round of the newspapers, about mesmerism [3] .. throwing us all into “most admired disorder”, [4] & dreadful doubts as to whether “it can be true,” as the children say of ghost stories. The certain thing in the tale in question, is the power of the writer, & the faculty he has of making horrible improbabilities seem near & familiar.
And now will you permit me, dear Mr Poe, as one who though a stranger is grateful to you, & has the right of esteeming you though unseen by your eyes, … will you permit me to remain
very truly yours always
Elizabeth Barrett Barrett.
Publication: Century Magazine, October 1894, p. 859.
Manuscript: Berg Collection.
1. In letter 2262, EBB told RB that “Mr. Poe has sent me his poems & tales—so now I must write to thank him for his dedication.”
2. Cf. Poe, “The Raven,” line 104.
3. “The Facts of M. Valdemar’s Case”; see letter 2185, note 3.
4. Cf. Macbeth, III, 4, 109.
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