2693. RB to George William Curtis
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 14, 278–279.
Casa Guidi, via Maggio. Florence,
Aug. 9, ’47.
Many very hearty thanks, my dear Mr. Curtis, for your welcome letter, which reached me yesterday,—no earlier, through the direction to Via della Scala– The people of the house there told us honestly on the morning of your departure, that they could only receive us for a single month, at the expiration of which were to begin certain whitewashings and repaintings—we continued our quest therefore, and at last found out this cool, airy apartment we shall occupy for another month or six weeks, whatever be our subsequent plans—for Rome, or for the Venice you describe so graphically and pleasantly– I spent a month of entire delight there, some eight years ago—and tho’ nothing I have since seen has effaced the impressions of my visit, yet your fresher feelings bring out whatever looks faint or dubious in them,—as a gentle sponging might revive the gone glory of some old picture—(you must know, I have seen an exquisite copy of a Giorgione, the original of which,—so I was told—grows only visible and intelligible while thus wetted)– I am glad the railroad and gas-lighting do Venice no more wrong, and that you find all the old strange quietness and .. ought I to be glad of this too? .. depopulation—for of late years we have heard a great deal of the returning life and prosperity of the place, and Mr. Valery, I observe, retracts his earlier bodements of a speedy extinction of what little glimmer of light he still saw [1] –– As for me, I remember that the accounts of the depreciation of the value of houses, coupled with the indifference of the inhabitants of them, were enough to set one dreaming (in one’s gondola!) of getting to be rich as Rothschild, buying all Venice, turning out everybody, and ensconcing oneself in the Doges’ Palace, among the dropping gold ornaments and flakes of what was lustrous colour in Titian’s or Tintoret’s time, waiting for the proper consummation of all things, and the sea’s advent!
But do you really find the air so light and pure in this by-night mephitic time of August, with its close calles, [2] pestilential lagunes &c &c and all that our informants here frighten us with? Should a winter in Venice prove no more formidable in its way than, it seems, a summer does—why we may have cause to regret our determination to give up our original plans. I am sure your kindness will tell us, should it be enabled, any good news of the winter and spring climate—if weak lungs may brave it with impunity—such information would greatly oblige us—and, dear Mr. Curtis, you have already obliged us so much in so unfortunately short a time!—of which, in any case we shall ever keep a most pleasant memory: I hope and expect we are yet to meet again, and a letter from you will always be a glad event to me and to my wife—who, having been gratified as I have been, desires her kindest regards, as I do, to yourself and to your brother—and our united best remembrances to the rest of your party. All good auspices attend it, prays, Dear Mr. Curtis,
Yours ever faithfully,
Robert Browning.
Publication: Harper’s New Monthly Magazine, March 1890, p. 638 (in part).
Source: Typescript at Armstrong Browning Library.
1. In Italy and Its Comforts: The Manual of Tourists (1841) by Valery (pseud. Claude Antoine Pasquin), the author states that “the population, which diminished rapidly, amounts at the present moment to 110,000 and increases every day: with sincere pleasure I retract the woeful prophecies pronounced in my Voyages against this charming city, then apparently but too probable” (p. 55).
2. “Narrow streets,” a term used particularly in Venice.
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