254. Octavius Moulton-Barrett to EBB

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 2, 37.

Hope End

March 6th 1827.

A little pretty fairy Elf [1]

Scarcely bigger than myself

Came whisp’ring in my listening ear

“The much loved sixth of March is here!

The Muses at Apollos’ feet

In council seek an offering mete

Their brightest gems for her they love

Their magic power in Ba to prove:

But trust me,[”] said the little Elf

“Much as she prizes Learnings pelf

Affection gives her heart more joys

Than Pluto’s or Apollos’ toys

Octavius, tell her with a kiss

How much her birth has formed the bliss

Of all, who smiling round her here

More fondly love her every year![”]

Address, on integral page: My own dear Ba—

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: British Library.

1. Written for Octavius in an unidentified hand. He was not quite three years old at the time. A draft of this poem, in an unidentified hand, is in the possession of Gordon E. Moulton-Barrett. It has minor variant readings from the text reproduced here.

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