2985. RB to Thomas Noon Talfourd
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 17, 202.
Paris, Avenue des Champs Elysées, 138.
Dec. 17. 1851.
My dear Talfourd.
I received from London, I dare say a fortnight ago, an extract from the “Household Words”—a Sonnet—with an intimation that you had written it. You will believe, that but for that intimation, .. (which, indeed, amounted to an assurance,)—no amount of beauty & feeling in the verse would have justified me in attributing the authorship to such a source. It has been always the truest & deepest pride to me that you have given me, & kept me, a place in your kind esteem—this public appreciation is too much for me—but perhaps not for you, with whose character, so far as I have been privileged to know it, every kind of generosity finds itself in place. For my poor poetry—it has been the best I could do—it should have been far better to deserve your sympathy & recognition: what it may be, hereafter,—in whatever I may be able to effect yet—there is no saying: but it has been good for one of the best events of my life—it procured me the knowledge of you, the friendship with you—which would have well rewarded it if it had been infinitely better. Take my best thanks for all—& believe me ever,
My dear Talfourd,
Yours very gratefully & affectionately,
Robert Browning.
Publication: LRB, p. 37.
Manuscript: British Library.
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