2667. EBB to Anna Brownell Jameson
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 14, 167.
[Pisa]
[ca. 10 April 1847] [1]
Dearest friend, [2] As Robert’s letter of explanation seems to have missed its way to you, it shall be my turn to try to show what we wish & what we are likely to attain to, leaving to your goodness to judge, & see that if we break tryst with you it is not a matter of choice with us at least. Our first plan was to meet you at Florence or Bologna if you pleased, & go north with you at Verona .. to pass the summer there or at Recoaro, & to winter at Venice. Then came my illness .. & everything was changed. It was thought that I might get to Florence, & thence as the coolest place near at hand, retreat to the Baths of Lucca– Dr Cook recommended repose, & poor dearest Robert caught at the very first suggestion, .. & thus all our fine plans were pulled down in the face of our wishes. As to Lucca (the Baths) the idea of the place or rather of the concomitants of the place, always was most detestable to us, & except as the absolutest ‘pis aller’ [3] we should not have recourse to it, be sure– Also, it is most probable that we shall not– People grow insolent as they grow better, you know, & since I have been better, we both have begun to plot so hard against Lucca, that if we can stay & recover the necessary strength at Florence we shall certainly push on our way northward .. perhaps to Recoaro .. or remain on the Fiesole hills, till the hour for Venice strikes. If Siena was mentioned, it was thus. We saw you averse to Florence, & having an idea of going round ourselves to Florence by Volterra & Siena .. creeping round & remaining a day or two at each of the towns .. Robert suggested what threw you so into confusion– But the plain fact appears now of the impossibility of my making any such round—. Indeed I am afraid .. afraid .. afraid that the shortest journey to Florence, the directest & easiest, will be beyond my strength so soon as the 17th Dr Cook speaks of another week—and I who am hopeful, cannot hope for less than a few more days instead. If we set out on the twentieth for instance, it will by no means disappoint me– I am looking well & often feeling quite so, but to walk from one room to the other <…> [4]
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Fitzwilliam Museum.
1. Conjectural date based upon EBB’s reference to the preceding letter from RB to Mrs. Jameson, which had apparently gone unanswered. EBB reiterates many of the same points of that letter.
2. A comparison of this letter with RB’s letter of 1 April to Mrs. Jameson identifies her as the intended recipient of this letter.
3. “Last resort.”
4. EBB did not finish this letter, and it was never sent. Apparently, the Brownings heard from Mrs. Jameson, making this letter unnecessary.
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