3526. RB to Marguerite A. Power
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 21, 91–92.
Florence,
Feb. 26. ’55.
Dear Miss Power,
How good & considerate you have been,—and in what pure waste,—I am quite grieved to think, now that I perceive how time has stolen away since I was honored by your kindest of notes. I ought to have answered it at once—but meaning to enclose a letter to Mr Lytton in the same envelope I have stupidly delayed. Will you be good enough to pardon me? For the omission of the little thing [1] .. you can hardly be serious in supposing that if it suited you rather to burn than print such a trifle I should not cheerfully acquiesce in your decision: for I was truly ashamed to send so poor a matter, [2] that is the fact,—but Mr Procter’s bidding was prompt, [3] and my wife’s contribution covered in some degree the defects of mine. As it is,—I have only to say that the rhymes are yours to do with as you will—and that, were it not that I fear to bind myself to what circumstances may so easily prevent, I would engage to send you something worthier your acceptance. I shall avail myself, as will my wife, very gladly of the permission to see & know you when we pass thro’ Paris in the Spring, as we expect to do—meantime, take her true thanks, (she bids me say) for your kind & sympathetic feeling towards her—& suffer her to add her assurances of regard to those of, Dear Miss Power,
Yours very truly & obliged
Robert Browning.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.
1. RB’s poem “Ben Karshook’s Wisdom.” Evidently, Miss Power had written to apologize for omitting it from The Keepsake for 1855, in which she had published EBB’s poem “My Kate,” and to ask for permission to use it in the next issue. RB’s poem, dated 27 April 1854, appeared in The Keepsake for 1856, which was released in November 1855 for the Christmas market.
2. RB excluded “Ben Karshook’s Wisdom” from all of his collected editions.
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