2666. RB to Anna Brownell Jameson
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 14, 165–166.
Pisa,
April 1, ’47–
Dearest friend—let me lose no time in replying to your note, just received. Ba is next to quite well—dressed at this minute and lying on the sofa—and only affected by the weakness that is inevitable. No cold, no feverishness,—all one steady progress to perfect health, thank God, as I am sure I hope I do. This good, moreover, has been nature’s doing, without strengthening-medicine of any kind. The fine spring weather is very favorable.
And now for our travelling-projects—which go easily together, you shall see—for ours was only changed in order to meet what we took to be your convenience. We leave here on the 17th inst. for Florence,—as we always meant to do—the way to Florence was the uncertain point. Had the weather permitted, we might have made the circle of Sienna, Colle & Volterra, and returned here, to leave again, by Prato & Pistoja, for Florence. In that case, we should have seen enough of Tuscany for the present, and be ready for Bologna and the north. But, Ba’s illness changes the ulterior plans altogether—we cannot venture to do so much, I fear—and we now mean to return from Florence, when the heats oblige us, to the Baths of Lucca, as a safe place,—and as our road will lie viâ Pistoja, then will be the time for that visit, and now, (we thought) for Volterra & Sienna, as we go to Florence: we also thought this made no kind of difference to you, as, since you had arranged to see Bologna before Ravenna, thro’ Florence you could not but pass,—and we intended to order our journey, as I said, so as to coincide with your arrival, making a three days’ affair of it, or prolonging our stay at each city, just as that event should prescribe. But when your last letter mentioned your objection to even crossing Florence if it could be avoided,—I merely spoke of our being able to meet at Sienna or Volterra—for, of course, if you could reconcile yourself to Florence, we should prefer it. Now, you decide for “Florence on the 22”—do you not? If Ba had been well, and the original journey determined on, the interval of six days would have satisfied all our curiosity and punctually on the 22d should we meet: but yet another variation (the last, I do hope) fits our projects to yours most perfectly: it is this. To run no risk, and escape the possibility of the cold lingering on these high nests of Etruscan cities, we shall not see them till after our stay at Florence: it will evidently be better to go at once there, on the 17th—get Ba well rested for a month or six weeks,—then return by the aforesaid Sienna & Volterra, to Lucca & the B<aths> and thence, in early Autumn, go by the one picturesque way you mention, to Bologna and Venice. So we shall be arrived six days before you,—and the good seventh, blessed in all way, will bring you to us. There! And now a dear kiss by anticipation, if you please! Do you think we would let you leave Italy without seeing us?– And as for seeing anybody else, you cannot .. for our current of talk will hold out two mortal days and then be unexhausted, be sure! Meantime, I will make all enquiry about the books you ask for, and get them, if possible—with whatever else you may want. And you,—will you not write a word to say this last of all arrangements is also the best– Write soon—for who knows but we may coax yet another final letter out of you? Ba’s love and thanks,—the extreme of both,—to you and Geddie—mine go with them too. Can you get us any precise information about those Recoaro Baths? [1] We would have gone there, could we have ventured, and about the capabilities of Venice as a winter residence.
Ever yours,
RB.
Address, on integral page: Mrs Jameson, / Dama Inglese, / Piazza di Spagna, / Roma.
Publication: LRB, pp. 15–16.
Manuscript: Yale University.
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