3522. EBB to Isa Blagden
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 21, 79–81.
[Florence]
[22 February 1855] [1]
Thank you my dearest Isa, for this interesting letter of poor Lytton’s– I say poor Lytton—but he is noble enough to triumph at last.
What do you think of a father who sends his son to Paris with such an exhortation? For my part, it sets my soul on edge. [2]
Evidently it’s the life at Paris, & not Paris which has sickened him—but I hope he wont throw up all occupation & go to Como to wither slowly out of reach of everybody. Work is better than repose for him just now—healthy work, healthy life, kept clean & clear of the “enjoyments of youth.” [3] If his book succeeds he may get some pleasure & hope for the future out of that! [4] And yet of course if the heart is touched .. if mallows dont cure it, [5] laurels never will.
So you were out last night & have a headache today—& you keep Penini to make it worse– Wilson should have insisted on bringing him away– I have discovered that he is not the best remedy for even my headaches, not to speak of other people’s.
As you are perfectly incredulous about there having been any rain at Rome, I beg to inform you from the ‘Monitore’ [6] of yesterday the last news from the “Pontifical states”—viz, that, in consequence of “le continue e dìrotte pioggie,” the Tiber has overflowed putting under water streets & piazza .. “specialmente la piazza del Pantheon, e di San Lorenzo in Lucina, le vie di Ripetta e quelle del claustro degli Ebrei–– La violenza delle acque ha trascinato nella sua corrente una mola da molino al ponte Quattro Capi.[”] [7] The government is seeing to the disasters of families “sequestrate dalle acque” [8] in the city & in the environs.
Now, judge ye! Hatty may be “riding” or swimming, as may be—but you can scarcely go on quoting her against the ‘Monitore.’
I wont keep Wilson, lest Penini should keep you, & do you still more harm.
Your ever affectionate Ba
Publication: B-IB, pp. 66–67.
Manuscript: Fitzwilliam Museum.
1. Dated by EBB’s quotation from Il Monitore Toscano (see note 7).
2. Edward Bulwer-Lytton had struck a deal with his son in the summer of 1854, whereby the latter would be allowed to publish Clytemnestra if he gave up writing poetry for two years in order to better focus on his diplomatic career (see Personal and Literary Letters of Robert First Earl of Lytton, ed. Lady Betty Balfour, 1906, I, 62). Commenting on this arrangement, Lytton told his father on 16 September 1854: “I however entirely agree with you about the irritating effect of poetry & all imaginative labour upon the brain, and I am resolved entirely to abandon the vice of versification for 2 years to come. I feel this to be imperative. … Therefore, as, now for the first time I most strenuously & heartily embrace the Diplomatic Profession, and shall leave nothing undone to get on in it; I shall thoroughly abandon so distracting an Employment and the moment my book is out think no more of it” (ms with Cobbold).
3. Possibly a reference to The Enjoyments of Youth (1819), a moralizing treatise, published anonymously, on the dangers of youthful indulgence.
4. Clytemnestra … and Other Poems, published the following month, received several encouraging notices.
5. The herb mallow has long been known for its healing properties.
6. Il Monitore Toscano (1848–62), also titled Gazzetta di Firenze (1814–48, 1862–65), a daily newspaper published in Florence.
7. “As a result of the continuing rain, the Tiber has overflowed, putting streets and piazzas under water, especially the Piazzas of the Pantheon and of San Lorenzo in Lucina, the streets of the Ripetta and those of the Jewish quarter– The violence of the current has carried a millstone to Ponte Quattro Capi.” EBB’s information was based on an item in Il Monitore Toscano for 21 February 1855.
8. “Cut off by the waters.”
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