31. EBB to Edward Moulton-Barrett (brother)
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 24.
To My Dearest Brother Edward
(On His Birthday)
Hope End, June 26, 1816 [1]
Hail Brother dear! and hail this cherished day
Which on my life bestowed a gift so bright,
With joyful haste, I tune the lyre so gay
To praise thy virtues with sincere delight.
Then come blest Truth, accompany my Song,
And let not flattery mingle in my verse,
For generous feelings to thy heart belong
And kindness, which love’s lay may well rehearse.
But ne’er did powerful Rome spread more dismay
Than tattered book of harmless Latin dead,
Let fun conduct thee thro’ this happy day–
Tomorrow, may Minerva shield thy head!
Text: HUP, I, 108.
1. His ninth birthday. According to Buxton Forman, this poem was preceded on the same page by a brief composition in French, which is printed-with translation-in HUP, I, 106–107.
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