2665. RB to Richard Monckton Milnes
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 14, 164–165.
Pisa,
March 31, ’47.
Dear Milnes, When I left England, I bade my Sister at Home open all letters sent to me, and only forward the pith of them: but a little note of your writing was all pith, so I got it in its entireness—and very pleasantly your voice sounded, in the few words of it, as I read them here under the grim Campanile—the top of which, when the earth next quakes in these parts, will just hit the roof of this huge old Collegio Ferdinando, “where Bartolo,” of crabbed memory, “once taught”—as an inscription states—and where I now write—you patience, if your goodnature reads to the end. [1] Well—your good wishes for my sake have been wonderfully realised. My wife is quite well, and now that the weather permits, we begin our spring progress, Florence being the first stage, whence, when the heat obliges, we mean to go the round of Siena, Colle, Volterra, Lucca, Pescia, Prato, Pistoia—Bologna—and so get, at the year’s end, to Venice for the winter. Next winter to that—(if one dares look forward so far)—finding us in Rome.
Now I want to speak to you—and your old kindness will understand, I am sure. A six month’s residence in Pisa is favourable to a great deal of speculation and political study—and though last week’s papers prove that a capital speech about Cracow may be as well studied in Pall Mall as on the spot—yet here—what shall I say?—here—one sees more clearly than elsewhere, that .. why, only that England must,—needs must not loiter behind the very Grand Turk in policy, [2] but send a minister, before the year ends, to this fine fellow, Pio Nono—as certain, that is, as that his name will be Lord Somebody—against which, the time is not yet come to complain.
But I should like to have to remember that I asked you, whose sympathy I am sure of, to mention in the proper quarter, should you see occasion, that I would be glad and proud to be the Secretary to such an Embassy, and to work like a horse in my vocation. You know I have studied Italian literature sedulously. Governments now-a-days give poets pensions—I believe one may dun them into that. Now I and my wife “keep our pen out of lenders’ books, and defy the foul fiend” [3] —we are quite independent, thro’ God’s goodness, and trust to continue so. But, as I say, I should like to remember at a future day that I proposed—(and thro’ the intervention of such a person as yourself, if you will lend it to me) to deserve well of my generation by doing, in this matter, what many circumstances embolden me to think few others could do so well. One gets excited .. at least here on the spot .. by this tiptoe straining expectation of poor dear Italy,—and yet, if I had not known you, I believe I should have looked on with the other byestanders. It is hateful to ask .. but I ask nothing; indeed—rather I concede a very sincere promise to go on bookmaking (as my wife shall) to the end of our natural life, and making the public & <…> [4] a present of our hard work, without a pretension to the pension list. Will you think of this and me? Whatever comes, I hope to remain in Italy for years—so let me shake your hand over the sea, and take that much by my motion.
Ever yours faithfully,
Robert Browning.
Address, on integral page: Angleterre, viâ France. / Richard M. Milnes Esq. M.P. / &c &c &c / Pall Mall / London.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Trinity College, Cambridge.
1. Bartolo da Sassoferrato (1314–57), a renowned professor of jurisprudence, whose teaching was enhanced by his own experience from working in the law. He taught at Pisa in the 1330’s before going on to Perugia where he held the chair of law, and where he eventually died. The inscription reads: “Ferdinandus Medices / Magnu Dux Etruriæ III / Has Edes / Quas Olim Bartolus / Iuris Interpres Celeberr. Incoluit / Nunc Renovatas Et Instructas / Adulescentibus Qui Ad / Philosophorum Et Iuris-Consultorum / Scholas Missi / Publico Urbium Atque Oppidorum Suorum / Sumptu Separatim Alebantur / Tulit An. Salutis / mdlxxxxv” (Giovanni Grazzini, Le Condizioni di Pisa alla fine de xvi e sul principio del xvii secolo sotto il granducato di Ferdinando I de’Medici, Empoli, 1898, p. 18).
2. In a report on the efforts of Pope Pius IX towards reforms in Italy, The Times for 23 March 1847 stated that “the time is come when the presence of … a representation of this country at the Court of Rome is indispensable. Even Turkey has sent an ambassador to the Vatican.” See letter 2662, note 8.
3. King Lear, III, 4, 97–98.
4. Word indecipherable, due to water damage.
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