2795. EBB to Sarianna Browning
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 15, 290–291.
[Florence]
[ca. 7 June 1849] [1]
I must say to my dearest Sarianna how delighted we are at the thought of seeing her in Florence. I wish it had been before the autumn, but since autumn is decided for, we must be content to reap our golden harvest at the time for such things. Certainly the summer heat of Florence is terrible enough—only we should have carried you with us into the shade somewhere—to the sea or to the mountains—& Robert has of course told you of our Spezzia plan. The “fattling of the flock” [2] has been sheared closely of his long petticoats—did he tell you that? And you cant think how funny the little creature looks without his train, his wise baby-face appearing to approve of the whole arrangement. He talks to himself now & smiles at everybody, and admired my roses so much the other day that he wanted to eat them, .. having a sublime transcendental notion about the mouth being the receptacle of all beauty & glory in this world. Tell your dear father that certainly he is a “sweet baby” .. there’s no denying it. We lay him down on the floor to let him kick at ease, and he makes violent efforts to get up by himself—and Wilson declares that the least encouragement would set him walking. Robert’s nursing does not mend his spirits much– I shall be very glad to get him away from Florence—he has suffered too much here to rally as I long to see him do—because, dearest Sarianna, we have to live after all; & to live rightly we must turn our faces forward & press forward & not look backward morbidly for the footsteps in the dust of those beloved ones who travelled with us but yesterday. They themselves are not behind but before, and we carry with us our tendernesses living & undiminished towards them, to be completed when the round of this life is completed for us also. Dearest Sarianna, why do I say such things, but because I have known what grief is–. Oh, & how I would have compounded with you, grief for grief, mine for yours, .. for I had no last words nor gestures, Sarianna– God keep you from such a helpless bitter agony as mine then was. Dear Sarianna, you will think of us and of Florence, my dear sister, & remember how you have made us a promise & have to keep it. May God bless you & comfort you. We think of you & love you continually, and I am always your most affectionate
Ba.
Publication: LEBB, I, 408–409.
Manuscript: Lilly Library.
1. Approximate dating suggested by reference to the preceding letter, in which EBB mentions both a proposed holiday to the Gulf of Spezia and a letter RB is sending to New Cross. Probably, this letter was enclosed with RB’s, which is not extant.
2. Cf. Isaiah 11:6.
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