3394. EBB to Sarianna Browning
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 20, 189–192.
[Rome]
[ca. 19 April 1854] [1]
My dearest Sarianna I must begin a note, which I would rather not have written to you today just because I dont like to begin by telling you worse news than usual, (but Robert is in a haste about his information for Mr Page) with the admission that our precious Penini is under medical treatment for a slight disorder of the stomach. He is such a miracle of health in general that one cares more of course for any little deviation .. after the manner of the gratitude of men. But really you may trust me that it is a trifle .. which in any other climate I should scarcely think about– For the last ten days there has been a slight inclination to diarrhea, which we tried to correct by rhubarb & magnesia & other simple nursery potions. He was so well through it all in spirits, appetite & sleep, that it seemed scarcely worth thinking of, though he looked rather paler than has been customary with him for the last year– But yesterday morning for the first time he complained of pain, .. which, as Robert conjured it away with his great conjuration-trick of one .. two .. three .. “è andato via,” [2] you will understand was not of the worst description .. still, as he felt pain, we would not defer any longer having medical advice. Pantaleoni came, said that we must get rid of the symptoms at once or they would end in dysentery, observed that the child was perfectly free from fever & that he would probably be well in a day or two. In the meanwhile he administered castor oil, & a milky sort of sedative which was to reduce the irritability on the mucous membrane of the stomach, & desired us to keep applications of linseed poultice to the parts during yesterday & last night. Penini submitted to everything like an heroic martyr .. all the more meritoriously because he did’nt feel the least unwell as he said .. “only lather untappy”; the unhappiness being chiefly produced by the wet & sticky poultice which met with no manner of approbation. He had Ferdinando in to see him take his medecines, and the “Bravo, Generale!!” was a plaudit worth striving for, of course. Also, the darling told me towards evening, that “he had taken them as well as ever he could, betause he wanted to please Dod.” So frightfully angelic that child is!——
This morning he is free of poultices & running about as usual, & everybody is exerting everybody’s fascinations to keep him from dancing & singing, as he ought to be quiet for the present. The tongue is not quite clean yet, but the medecines seem to me to have made him rather rosier than paler, & his spirits are quite obstreperous .. so much so, that I could scarcely make him serious enough to do his reading lesson.
Now you may trust me, so you wont be uneasy– We went out to Mr. Marsh’s, the American ex minister at Constantinople, last night, so you may suppose that nothing even has been very wrong. The child slept like an eighth sleeper [3] all night– After telling all these truths for your satisfaction I end as truly by wishing with all my heart we were gone from Rome. I shall exhort Robert to get our sightseeing done as soon as possible & not to wait for the expiration of our tenure of these rooms– I shall be frightened fairly as the warm weather advances on us– I have dreamt dreams, broken looking glasses & presentimentalized everything unlucky ever since I had to do with Rome,—and (apart from all the superstitions for which you despise me reasonably) the climate is most pernicious, & the physical & moral miasma of the place have weighed continually on my senses & soul. I yearn to have my treasures away into a purer atmosphere. Still I must admit that Penini, until these ten days, has been blooming like a rose—only even that has not satisfied me, nor will, till we are gone.
Oh no—we dont go to Naples– We go (that’s the present plan) to Florence, & if we can get to Marseilles by land along the coast without spending much more money than by the sea-passage, we shall prefer it greatly. There are a few arrangements to make, & summer-habiliments to gather from the drawers at Florence—but we shall not linger there, be certain.
For the apartment in Paris, I shall be delighted to spend next winter there– For the purchase of furniture, we shall not be in funds, (its against my principles of economy to live in a furnished apartment but one bends to circumstances) & it would moreover be an inconvenient time & a dear season for the purchase of chairs & tables when we return from England in the autumn. Therefore, nothing can be better than the arrangement of taking Mr Byrne’s rooms– [4] I liked those rooms much—they are warm & pleasant, though a little too squeezed together– People cant talk there in dramatic asides, & expect not to be overheard– Also, Robert’s room is scarcely convenient enough—but one cant have everything– Well—then—we will have this apartment if we can get it—only we cant very well get to Paris before the first days of June, you see, & when we get there it will be just to embrace the dear nonno & you & catch you up to take you to England with us– If we go to England at all it must be at latest in the first days of July, to come back before the cold becomes injurious. Oh– I shall not like taking Penini away again from Nonno so soon, .. I begin to upbraid myself for the thought .. but what’s to be done—we must go to England .. & we shall come back to make amends in good earnest, before long.
As to Ferdinando, your idea of not grieving Penini by leaving him behind, is quite ours too. I believe that although we have talked ourselves into the opinion of its being highly economical to take a man servant to Paris & London, paying his expenses all the way, the plain reason is … not to vex Penini. The child has a complete passion for Ferdinando, who is kind & affectionate to him certainly in an unusual degree, and we have had various threatenings about how “velly untappy” we shall make him if we dont take his friend– The man is honest, warm-hearted, admirably well-conducted in his general conduct, an excellent cook … and a protestant. He does’nt speak French .. but he will learn .. he & Penini are very studious over the French word-book. Observe .. in spite of your generous proposal of taking us in & doing for us by the help of Madme Louis, [5] it will be necessary for us to forgo the economy of such a convenient arrangement for many reasons, & we must have a servant of our own. We pay Ferdinando at present just a shilling a month more than we paid Desirèe, & even if we had to raise his wages a little, from the influence of the place on his expectations, (not an improbable contingency) there are certain clear advantages in a respectable man-servant who is accustomed to our various priggeries .. not piggeries, Sarianna– Not to speak of the advantage of keeping up Penini’s Italian which it would be a shame for him to forget when he speaks it so prettily & fluently–
So we shall bring Ferdinando, if possible. Travelling by vettura (as long as we do so) the expenses are not increased by bringing him except slightly at the inns, while the travelling comforts for Robert are much heightened.
I meant to write just a few words today, & I have finished a complete business letter.
Dont be afraid for Penini. If anything should go worse you would hear directly—so let silence reassure you–
Give my love to Annie & Minnie, [6] if you see them—they are my great favorites, and Penini has written their names in his “book of friends.”
Best of loves from him & me to dear Nonno, who is to be thanked gratefully, as well as yourself, for the contributions to the bazaar—it was very kind of both of you. Penini is on the tiptoe of expectation about being taken about by his nonno to see the Paris sights.
Your ever most affectionate Ba
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Fitzwilliam Museum and Lilly Library.
1. Dating based on EBB’s remark that Pen had been in good health “until these ten days.” In letter 3409, she writes that he had been “radiant till a month ago.”
2. “It has gone away.”
3. A reference to the legendary “seven sleepers” of Ephesus. According to legend, seven Christian youths fled Ephesus during the persecution under Diocletian (A.D. 250) and sought refuge in a cave. This was walled up by their pursuers, and the youths fell asleep, to awake some 200 years later. After seeking provisions, they fell asleep again, to await the resurrection.
4. EBB refers to the Brownings’ landlord in Paris (1851–52), Miles Byrne (see letter 3029, note 3), and their apartment at 138 Avenue des Champs Élysées. He was also Sarianna and RB, Sr.’s landlord.
5. Madame Louis Cormiolle was the housekeeper for RB, Sr. and Sarianna while they lived in Paris from 1854 until the death of RB, Sr. on 14 June 1866. Sarianna later stayed with Madame Louis whenever she travelled to Paris.
6. The Thackeray girls.
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