3576. EBB to Euphrasia Fanny Haworth
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 21, 201–202.
Paris–
Tuesday morning & evening [10 July 1855] [1]
My dearest Fanny I am perfectly vexed, seeing that after all, through the mystery of iniquity working [2] in high places, we cant go till tomorrow, our marriage being only feasible today. I confess to you, I am anxious still (though we have a promise) & inclined to use Robert’s safety valve .. and Mr Thackeray’s, .. under spiritual influence! [3]
I hope however we shall be happier today, and away tomorrow. Meantime I am unhappy, & miss you! If I had but known that we should stay another day—and if you had but thought that thunderstorms are brief & to be faced sometimes!
For heaven’s sake keep your “vert-vert” [4] from knowing that we are coming back in september, if she stays so long.
Dearest Fanny, try that we may meet somehow, here or in London– Either come, I mean, or stay– Let it be the winter or the summer. It seems too hard that we should travel from Florence & see just the flowers on your bonnet leaning over the “great O’s.” [5] Then I want to talk to you about the quarterleys– How civil Robert & I should be to you, now you have sate down to “quartering” as well as drawing—! [6]
I am fatigued beyond words .. like these– Scarcely can I move a finger– We go tomorrow at eleven—and having been interrupted in this note, I can tell you now that we are married (thank the pope!) and mean to live very happy for ever after–
May God bless you– Remember if you see a spirit or wish to tell me anything in this world, I am to be found at 13 Dorset street. Baker street. Pity me when you come into Paris, & the weather is all sun & air– I do hate (except for my poor Arabel) this going to England–
Written in the dark & in a state of exhaustion– Sarianna’s love, & regret not to have seen you–
Your ever affectionate Ba–
I hear there are “spiritual circles” about here. Goodbye once more–
Address: À Mademoiselle / Madelle Haworth, / Château de la Ville d’Avray / Prés de St Cloud.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Fitzwilliam Museum.
1. This letter is postmarked 11 July 1855, a Wednesday.
2. Cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:7.
3. We have been unable to determine the nature of this “safety valve.” Possibly, considering EBB’s mention of Vert-Vert below (see note 4), it may have something to do with Francis Mahony (“Father Prout”), a Roman Catholic priest, Paris resident, and acquaintance of Thackeray and the Brownings.
4. i.e., Octavia Le Vert; see letter 3563, note 2. Doubtless, EBB also has in mind the title character in the mock-epic poem Vert-Vert by Jean-Baptiste-Louis Gresset (1709–77). Originally published as Vair vert ou les Voyages du perroquet de la Visitation de Nevers (La Haye, 1734), it tells the story of a parrot raised in a convent by nuns who learns to speak in most proper and Christian French. On a journey down the river to visit another convent, he picks up the profane language of the boatmen, which he freely shares with his hostesses. Among the many English translations of the poem is one by Francis Mahony entitled “Vert-Vert, the Parrot,” first printed in the September 1834 issue of Fraser’s Magazine (pp. 321–327) and later collected in The Reliques of Father Prout (1836).
5. The antiphons sung during Advent are still known as the “seven great O’s,” since each begins with that letter (e.g., “O Sapientia”). EBB may also be punning on “spiritual circles,” which she mentions below.
6. Apparently, Fanny Haworth had recently contributed something to one of the quarterlies, but we have been unable to trace it.
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