3641. Dante Gabriel Rossetti to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 21, 284–285.
[London]
Monday [Postmark: 1 October 1855]
Dear Mrs Browning
Many thanks for your kind note. I should be very loth to put you to any trouble, but shall certainly hope to avail myself most tenaciously of the sittings you promise me next summer.
Meanwhile, have I still a chance of bringing Mr Browning to book—i.e. sketch-Book,—this time, merely for a slight drawing, to precede a proper one of him, at the same time with yours next year? [1] If so, would he kindly write me one word as to when he shall come to me or I to him. Any day & hour will suit me, except Wednesday– This however, only if it will not interrupt or inconvenience him–
Last night I copied out that old production of mine, & now enclose it. It has gained some value in my eyes since Mr Browning quoted 2 lines of it. [2] It was written long ago, but has been very little altered since except by omissions. Bearing in mind my favorite readings when I wrote it, I feel some slight misgiving lest there should be any property of his or yours in it—however “twill away, again from me to you” [3] in any case.
Believe me, dear Mrs Browning,
Yours very sincerely
D. G. Rossetti
Address: Mrs Browning / 13 Dorset Street / Manchester Square.
Publication: Rossetti, 2, 69–70.
Manuscript: Huntington Library.
1. Rossetti’s water-colour of RB (reproduced as the frontispiece to this volume) is dated by the artist “October 1855.” It is all that came of the plan mentioned. Referring to the portrait in a letter to William Allingham (25 November 1855–8 January 1856), Rossetti wrote: “I have done one in water-colours myself which hangs now over my mantel piece & which every one says is very like. Next time I have the chance, I shall paint him in oil” (ms at Morgan). According to Mrs. Sutherland Orr, the portrait was finished in Paris (see Orr, p. 184).
2. “The Blessed Damozel” (1847). Rossetti mentioned RB’s quoting from the poem in a 19 September letter to Ford Madox Brown (see SD1859). This manuscript of the poem, signed “DGR. 1847,” is now at the Pierpont Morgan Library.
3. Hamlet, V, 1, 128–129.
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