3328. EBB to Mary Brotherton
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 20, 84–85.
Via Bocca di Leone–
Saturday– [?28] [January 1854] [1]
Thank you, my dear Mrs Brotherton! What you have allowed me to see has interested me very much– We dash ourselves against the stones [2] in attempting to reason on these facts .. for facts they are, let their philosophy be what it may. I have felt, myself, the pencil move in my hand .. by a sort of spiral motion like the movement of the turning tables .. though the force has hitherto been unequal (with me) to the production of words or sentences.
It is very curious, this writing in a language & character unknown to you– [3] Curious too, that, being enabled to write in this same language & character, you should write only single words without much coherence or obvious significancy. I observe generally that in most of the “manifestations,” the external evidence is stronger than the internal, which is just contrary to what has been the case hitherto with spiritual experiences– Perhaps the relation of the natural body with the spiritual universe is now to be taught– But we are at the beginning of these mysteries, I believe.
Has it occurred to you that you may be exercised in the new character & the single words in order to a more facile writing of the language afterwards? Have you known any deceased friend learned in the Greek language? I hear that the professor of Hebrew in New York, Mr Bush, has had frequent communications in Hebrew, Arabic & other eastern languages, through mediums perfectly unlearned. [4]
Do tell me whatever else may happen to you by this new law of inspiration .. rather, perhaps, a new development of old Law. There was an English distich, of which Miss Blagden told me, as coming from you,
“Heart & soul be still!
God is Life and will”–
which struck me much .. the last line being intensely .... (dont be frightened) Swedenborgian– [5] And Swedenborg has thrown more light on the nature of the whole of the present movement, though standing back from us a hundred years, than any of our thinkers & observers.
I do hope this cold weather is not hurting you– I am hiding behind the door lest it find me out–
Oh yes—I shall like to read about the Mormons– [6]
Most cordially yours
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Docket, in Mrs. Brotherton’s hand: (With the first words I had written in Greek—before sentences were formed.)
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: University of Texas.
1. Conjectural date based on EBB’s references to Mrs. Brotherton’s automatic writing in Greek and the “cold weather.” In letter 3333, EBB comments on a “cold wind … the last week” that “put a stop” to her walks, and in letter 3334 she writes that Mrs. Brotherton “sends me Greek.”
2. Cf. Matthew 4:6.
3. As indicated in letter 3334, the language was Greek.
5. In a letter to Frederick Tennyson, Mrs. Brotherton describes the writing of the distich and repeats EBB’s comment; see SD1717.
6. Subsequent correspondence fails to reveal whether EBB is referring to a book, article, or something else.
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