Correspondence

3754.  EBB to Isa Blagden

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 22, 160–161.

[Paris]

[late March 1856] [1]

Evviva .. on the Spanish question!– You are wise & good, & very enchantingly the contrary of what you would have been if you had persisted in that most insane scheme– Never once have I felt selfish in urging you not to go!– Which proves how decided my impression was–

Robert is afraid tonight for the Demi Monde—but some other night when he feels safer in the throat .. perhaps!– There’s a “grand peutêtre[”] [2] for you!

Your ever affectionate Ba.

I will read & return the letters– Not a word of your face– I must go & ask Fanny.

Publication: B-IB, p. 104.

Manuscript: Huntington Library.

1. Dating based on EBB’s allusion to Isa Blagden’s deciding against a trip to Madrid. In the following letter RB tells Harriet Hosmer of that decision.

2. “Great perhaps.” Cf. “Je m’en vais chercher un grand peut-être.” “I go to seek a great perhaps.” Attributed to François Rabelais on his death-bed.

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