3748. EBB to Elizabeth Eastlake
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 22, 150–151.
3. Rue du Colysée
March 10– [1856] [1]
I must write one word to you my dear Lady Eastlake to thank you for your most kind letter .. which touched me more than I could say in many words,—so let me leave it there. As to the picture, you meet all my wishes—thank you, thank you. [2] Turning it over in my mind when my own letter had gone, I had begun half to be afraid, & think within myself .. “Now perhaps Cæsar’s wife wont understand this– Perhaps Lady Eastlake may cry out on me for corrupt Italian morals—who knows?”– [3] But you did quite understand me that I never supposed the possibility of the least straining of justice or the righteousness of public arrangements for me or for a friend of mine—but simply … what you have understood & so graciously acceded to. Thank you once more. I would not have teazed you in any matter of personal vanity .. for anything less than a matter of personal obligation & gratitude.
What you say of my child comes very near– I was thinking of that when I said how much your letter touched me. Your benevolence about children would not be put to pain by him. He is a very happy child. Less repression has been necessary with him than with many at his age, on account of an excessive sweetness of temper & disposition, which makes me a little fearful however sometimes, how the world is to deal with him presently. At present he gets on with it well– He’s radiant with good spirits & warm affections .. full of play from morning to night,—at once gentle and frank—not spoilt .. which is a great merit on my part, I do think. We dont believe much in precocious children & hate the system of cramming at any age,—so that his forwardness & imaginativeness are not the result of stimulation & overteaching.
Dear Lady Eastlake, I will call upon you when we arrive in London– We were both very sorry indeed that you should have been in Florence & we not there to welcome you.
With our united compliments to Sir Charles Eastlake, I remain
Most truly yours
Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Wellesley College.
1. Year provided by reference to the return address.
3. In Plutarch’s Lives, Cæsar is asked why he divorced his wife Pompeia, and he replies: “Because … I thought my wife ought not even to be under suspicion” (Caesar, X, 6, trans. Bernadotte Perrin). This statement has been rendered proverbially as “Caesar’s wife must be above suspicion.”
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