3507. EBB to Isa Blagden
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 21, 47–48.
[Florence]
[6 January 1855] [1]
Dearest Isa I was quite grieved yesterday to hear of your being unwell; & was on the point of sending Wilson to enquire today, when I heard that Marianne [2] is expected here. So I shall send this note by her just to say how I should like to go to you myself.
Robert will if he can, I dare say—but he has gone out late, & has a bunch of engagements weighing him down on one side. Penini is all but well—the cough gone– It was only the piercing air this morning which kept me from sending him out. No letters. But I shall not hear the results of today’s post till Robert’s return. He was at the Kinneys last night, & met Mr Jerves [3] & Mr Powers, & came home at past eleven. By the bye, he went away in an explosion of rash vows never [4] to go out at night in Florence again,! except to you—but he came home in a somewhat pacified state of mind. I in the meantime sate by the fire reading Tristram Shandy [5] & [‘]‘me faisant veille”. [6]
What makes you unwell, dear? what has brought on this headache? Do you vex yourself, or tire yourself, or what? Penini says “I wonder when Isa is coming to have tea wiz me?” but while you are unwell I dare not push the question– Also the weather cuts one’s throat,—it’s just the weather that ends me, & I left Robert to finish his dinner by himself today & took refuge at the fireside corner peculiar to me. I can scarcely spell you see, already—if it lasts much longer I shall fall into an infantine state of inexpressiveness– [7]
I have read the ‘Chartreuse’ [8] for the second time, & really it is magnificent. Love to dear Lou– [9]
& ever yours from the tender part
of the heart–
Ba–
Address, on integral page: Miss Blagden / Villa Torriggiani [sic, for Torrigiani].
Publication: B-IB, pp. 62–63.
Manuscript: Fitzwilliam Museum.
1. The month and year are based on EBB’s references to Pen’s health and the cold weather. She complains of the latter to other correspondents in January 1855, and Pen had recovered from his cough by 30 December 1854, as reported in letter 3506. The day is suggested by the remark that RB “was at the Kinneys last night.” Mrs. Kinney recorded on 6 January that “Mr Browning spent last evening with us” (SD1798).
2. i.e., Maryann Martin, Isa Blagden’s maid.
3. Sic, for Jarves. EBB habitually misspells the name.
4. Underscored four times.
5. The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (1759–67) by Laurence Sterne.
6. “Staying up by myself.”
7. The cold evidently affected EBB’s handwriting, causing her to make several false starts.
8. Presumably La Chartreuse de Parme (1839) by Marie Henri Beyle (1783–1842), who wrote under the pseudonym “Stendhal.”
9. Louisa Alexander.
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