3446. Adelaide Sartoris to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 20, 257–258.
[Bagni di Lucca]
Saturday half past eleven in the morning.–
[Postmark: 1 July 1854]
I have got your note & the lodging at 60 scudi– So now only come dear Mrs Browning as fast as ever you can. Virginia heard yesterday from Hatty, who announces her intention of coming down here to see me the moment she has said howdye do to Miss Blagden—& I am putting up a bed for her in Virginia’s room, & very pleased & happy in busying myself about her & your arrival– Our weather here up to the present moment is cool & fresh (from half past five a.m. that is) as September in England. I cannot tell you how fond I am of the place & how attached I am getting to my little home—the window at which I am now writing looks up a soft green hill—& two magnificent Catalpa trees in full bloom nod their fragrant branches in at my very balcony—the hours go as I sit & look at them & fancy first one friend & then another signing to me & greeting me. I cannot tell you how I like this gentle landscape & this sweet monotonous life—so empty & so full—dear little Penini! I am sure it will quite set him up to come here—my small ones (the smallest especially) seem full of new life & vigor– There are a great many unexceptionable English here—but—like the snakes, I find them for the most part very harmless. So you heard the Battle symphony again! [1] never mind—one can bear it when one has a friend who will make such a remark upon it for one– I wish I had heard the Barbieri [2] sing that song. I was singing it myself to her yesterday night—but though she (the Barbieri) had nothing to do the day I heard her, I was very glad to have been at the concert—the Guillaume Tell [3] was an immense enjoyment. Good bye dear Mrs Browning–
Yrs & yr husband’s
Affectionately,
Adelaide Sartoris
Ginny’s love
Address: Madame / Madame Browning– / Poste Restante / Firenze.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Yale University.
1. Popular name for “Wellington’s Victory, or The Battle near Vitoria,” op. 91 (1813), by Ludwig van Beethoven.
2. Marianna Barbieri-Nini (1818–87), a leading Italian soprano.
3. Rossini’s last opera, first performed in 1829.
___________________
