2897. EBB to Isa Blagden

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 16, 259.

Casa Guidi

Dec. 20– [1850] [1]

Do let me thank you, dearest Miss Blagden, for the graceful expression of a sentiment, which as a proof of your partial friendship, is very valuable to me. Thank you, dear friend, with all my heart– It is not a new thing that you should be a great deal too kind to me, nor is it, that I should be grateful to you–

You have put your finger on the true glory & full compensation of my life, in one of your lines, .. which touched me as every reference to that subject must—but remember never to receive testimony from one quarter about me:—there is a dear person who only sees & judges of me through his imagination .. which is happy for me, but deceptive to others when they want the strict measure of a thing– The “measure of a man .. or angel” [2] is quite different, you see–

Robert would take this note himself (because of us two, he is not the least thankful to you) but I cry out on account of the meazles. I should like our little Wiedeman to be as large, or at least as old, as Madme Tassinari’s magnificent Alice, before he has the complaint;—but the quarantine lasts only a few days, I suppose– My messenger is bidden to enquire how Alice is today–

Believe me your ever affectionate & obliged

Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Fitzwilliam Museum.

1. Year provided by EBB’s reference to Alice Tassinari, who is mentioned in the preceding letter.

2. Cf. Revelation 21:17.

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