2820. EBB to Sarianna Browning
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 16, 26–27.
[Florence]
[Postmark: 11 November 1849]
My dearest Sarianna, I never should have dared to say a word about the house, although, for your own sake as well as for Robert’s, I have wished & longed so that you could be induced to make this exertion. For him, as we begin to talk on the subject, I will now frankly confess to you that I have quite trembled at the thought of his returning to the old associations. To say that they would be strong enough quite to prostrate & unnerve him during his visit to England, in spite of the comfort & joy of being with his father & you, is saying the least thing. You must understand, dear Sarianna, that a return of this sort, is worse than a continuance in a place. There are places in the world, which I myself, to meet the dearest in it, could never have courage to visit: [1] I would rather put my foot into that flame on the hearth. So I feel for Robert .. I know exactly how he feels in the matter. At the same time, dearest Sarianna, if it seemed good for you to stay at New Cross, we should make or find courage for the occasion, or contrive some way of taking a house for the few months, where we might be all together. But the truth is that it is not good for you to stay on at New Cross—it is very bad for you on the contrary—it is more injurious for you than you imagine; and, just in proportion to our love for you, are we anxious to take you away .. transplant you into a little more sunshine. Oh, do not say that there is no more sunshine for you! There is sunshine where God shines,—and we are to “go after”, let us remember, and not to stay always behind, .. we lose nothing so divine as love is! Then it is important that while we remain on the earth we should not lie with our faces on it as if we had lost everything; we must be patient & cheerful, & seek the means of being so, as far as we can. Now, that it will be an effort for you to leave that house, (seeing that you did not leave it at first) is certain enough—but the effort itself will be good for you, & the change very good for you and your dear father, and that you will both make it for Robert’s sake, will be a kindness for which he will be always grateful, .. and I [2] shall be very grateful too, if my gratitude should not be worthless to name. Robert fancies that Brompton would suit you well—but you will judge better than he, of course. I hope it will please God to bring us all happily together next summer,—& then, see, Sarianna, if you are likely to escape our fangs when we return to Italy! We shall sieze on you! we shall hold you fast! Little Wiedeman has learnt already to catch people whom he loves round the neck with his dimpled arms & keep them tight. How he will love you & your father! His nurse prophecies of him .. “This child will always love every one who loves him—é tanto affezionato.” [3] He has a decided vocation for kissing and hugging. Tell your father, whose “pupfellow” he is, that his other tastes go towards animated rather than still nature, & that he likes Florence, carriages, horses, and Austrian drums, (I am sorry to say) far better than our sublime & silent Lucchese mountains. He & Flush are of one mind on this subject—for when we are travelling, Flush wont condescend to look out of the carriage-window unless there shd be something more to be seen than mere trees. Baby screams with delight at being out in the streets, & draws the attention of the public to a degree scarcely agreeable to Wilson’s modesty. —For my new edition which is to be, [4] & which Robert insists on speaking to you about, I do beseech you, dearest Sarianna, to be frank in your sisterly affectionateness, & not to let me overburden your kindness at a moment when neither your spirits nor health may be equal to an undertaking of the sort. If you love me, say that you wd rather not, if you wd rather not. It seems to me that <I ought> not even to ask you such a thing—but at any rate, do not punish me by suffering me to annoy & too much trouble you. Think (for once) of being frank with me rather than kind. Tell us of your health always. It grieves us that you should suffer so from pain in the face. Speak of yourself particularly. With my grateful love to your father, I remain
your affecte sister
Ba–
Address, on integral page, in RB’s hand: Angleterre viâ France. / Miss Browning, / New Cross, Hatcham, / Surrey / near London.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Lilly Library.
2. Underscored twice.
3. “He is so affectionate.”
4. Poems (1850).
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