2776. RB to Arabella & Henrietta Moulton-Barrett
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 15, 238–239.
[Florence]
[9 March 1849] [1]
Dearest Henrietta, dearest Arabel– This is written on the 9th of March at 4 o’clock in the morning, to tell you that thro’ God’s infinite goodness our blessed Ba gave birth to a fine, strong boy [2] at a quarter past two: and is doing admirably. She was taken ill at five oclock yesterday morning, and suffered still increasing pains, with only a few minutes intermission between them, for more than twenty one hours—during the whole of which time she never once cried out, or shed a tear, acute as the pains were; I sate by her as much as I was allowed, and shall never forget what I saw, tho’ I cannot speak about it. Dr Harding assures me that, without flattery, the little creature is the very model of a beautiful boy; but the only remarkable point in him I can safely testify to, of my own knowledge, is his voice—which made me effectually aware of his existence,—before it had well begun,—thro’ a thick wall & double door. Dr H. was most kind, attentive, and indisputably clever. Mad. Biondi (of whom I dare say you have heard) was all zeal and discretion, while dear Wilson proved herself the loving soul we have always found her—so, you see, Ba was not made to feel more than could be helped that she was in a strange land. I will leave off here—and add a few lines some hours hence. But these few I could not help writing at once that you might join, when you read them, in my & Ba’s joy and thankfulness to God for this great mercy. (9 o’clock) Ba is going on perfectly well—she is as happy as human creature can be—and don’t think that she ought not to be so with you at a distance; so far from that, it is your perpetual presence with her that fills up the measure of her delight, for she keeps thinking and talking of you every moment,—“how glad you will be,” glad of this thing,—and the other,—of every thing, in short. Will you be glad, I wonder, that all her store of little caps prove too little for the great little head? I have not seen the head’s owner yet, having a reverential fear of disturbing him, but the nurse says he is “so strong, so strong”—he took whatever dainty they call it! twice in the night, and is expected to do justice to a famous specimen of a wet nurse who is to come by the middle of the day. All these professional matters will doubtless be told you with due effect by Wilson, if Ba cannot wait to be her own chronicler, and I am a poor substitute, of course, for either of them, but I know you will forgive my lame attempts for the sake of the good news they will manage to convey to you with every disadvantage. How God has rewarded our dearest, most precious of creatures for her perfect goodness, patience, selfdenial and general rationality. That resolution of leaving off the morphine, for instance—where is one among a thousand “strong men” that would have thrown himself on the mercy of an angel, as she did on mine, quite another kind of being! Then in her food, habits .. she was perfect and faultless from first to last .. the nurse says of the babe “e stato ben nutrito”, “how well nourished he has been” —It has been all God’s divine goodness in giving her first such a heart and mind, as she has,—and then, the reward of these in the present, & all previous mercies. Let him but give us thankful hearts! Now I will leave off here, having many things to do; rely on one thing,—that we will take every precaution with respect to Ba—and not allow her to put herself too forward. I have not done justice to Wilson’s kindness, nor told you half of what would interest you—but this will do for a beginning. Ba sends her best, best love with mine. She begs you to send the news to Mr & Mrs Jago with our united kindest regards. I will write again very soon—you received a letter from Ba posted here two days ago, I hope. Ever yours, dearest Henrietta and Arabel, most affectionately,
RB.
Was it not dear of Ba to refuse to look at the Babe till I could show it her? as I did. Wilson says (this minute) that the little hands and fingers are wonderfully strong, and more beautiful and delicate than a boy’s ought to be! (I find that the caps being too small, only means “as they were tied”!)
(1. oclock) Dr H has just been: Ba and Babe are quite wonderfully well: Babe has got the nurse he was beginning to call for, and is now feeding like a hungry man.
Address, on integral page: Miss Barrett.
Publication: EBB-AB, I, 234–236.
Manuscript: British Library.
1. Day and month provided by RB in his opening sentence; year, by his reference to Pen’s birth.
2. Christened Robert Wiedeman Barrett Browning (1849–1912), he was at first called Wiedeman by his parents, then “Penini” (spelled variously), which was shortened to “Peni,” and finally “Pen,” the name by which he is best known. For a biographical sketch of the Brownings’ only child, see pp. 345–354.
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