299. EBB to Hugh Stuart Boyd
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 2, 132–133.
[Hope End]
[Docket: May 1828]
My dear Sir,
They have this moment sent up stairs to me, to know whether I have anything to send to Malvern. Having just received your letter, & recollecting that you wished to read Sir Uvedale Price’s sheet of remarks, I must not neglect the opportunity, tho’ it has offered itself so suddenly that I shall not be able to say half of what I have to say. Upon the sheet in question, Sir Uvedale marked the passages he liked best in my book,—& the two letters which I likewise send you, contain his defence of one or two of his criticisms. [1] I did not think them just,—& said so with unreserve. [2] Tell me whether you consider him to have been right or not. The line I quoted from Lucretius, is
Carmine Pierio rationem exponere nostram. [3]
The line from the Dunciad, is
“On Dulness’ lap the sacred head reposed” [4] —
but this is not a solitary instance of such an elision. With respect to illustrate I was unquestionably wrong—& only wonder that you did not attack me about it,—that you were not inimical to it. [5]
Thank you for your letter, & for the extract from Lord Byron’s. Neither of you could persuade me that in “imagination passion & invention”, he is Pope’s inferior: tho’ I do agree that no one should willingly imitate him—or Pope! Is it not a bad thing to imitate the best authors? Is not an imperfect original, at any time better than the most excellent copy? By the bye, I believe I told you the other day that the juvenile poem, with whose dulness you are so unnecessarily afflicting yourself, & which is so unoriginal throughout, was not intentionally plagiaristic. When I came home, & looked thro’ the preface, in order to form some idea of what you were going to endure, I found that I pleaded guilty occasionally with regard to the intention. I had really forgotten the full extent of my iniquity! [6]
I have a great deal to say about Gregory, but no time now, to say it in. How can you think that I require to be stimulated about the house! The fact is I have no influence in any way, as the business stands. I am afraid of the consequences of Mrs Trants provoking emigration, [7] —tho’ I have heard nothing against the fulfilment of the first plan. Grandmama is sure to come. We have not yet heard, upon what day. [8]
In the greatest hurry, believe me, my dear friend,
Most sincerely yours
EBB
Docket, in unidentified hand: From Miss Barrett, May, 1828.
Publication: EBB-HSB, pp. 41–42.
Manuscript: Wellesley College.
1. Letters 234 and 236.
3. “To set forth our doctrine in Pierian song” (De Rerum Natura, I, 946).
4. Bk. III, line 2, slightly misquoted.
5. This refers to line 267 of An Essay on Mind. For EBB’s defence of this line, see letter 233.
6. In the preface to The Battle of Marathon, EBB wrote: “I confess that I have chosen Homer for a model, and perhaps I have attempted to imitate his style too often and too closely. … there is no vanity, but rather wisdom, in following humbly the footsteps of perfection.”
7. Mrs. Trant had decided to surrender the lease of Spring Cottage, and EBB was concerned that her father might rent it for Mrs. Moulton’s planned visit, rather than a house closer to Boyd’s, as EBB hoped. This fear was groundless, as letter 305 indicates.
8. Mrs. Moulton’s plans to visit Malvern were interrupted by EBB’s father’s appearance in London. As he was staying with her, she felt she should delay her trip until his business was concluded. His visit was an extended one, and she eventually abandoned her plans altogether.
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