3851. John Ruskin to RB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 23, 43–44.
Fribourg:
29th August 1856.
Dear Mr Browning
After all, you are in my debt for a letter—you know. So really I am not quite so bad as I appear to myself—thinking just now how I have been treating you. I was so ashamed of the way I had mangled that poem of yours [1] that I dared not look you—even by letter in the face—for some time afterwards .. but how the summer has gone by I know not. I came in this evening from among the pinewoods, which were all in their gold & purple of sunset at ½ past six,—dolorously wondering what I had done with the long days. The fact is, I have done nothing with them; but people used to tell me, with view to moral effect—that doing nothing made the time seem longer. I found life seemed very short when I was busy .. so this year, I tried idleness in hopes of obtaining a little ennui—but instead of that, the summer has gone like a dream—and of this dream—I have nothing to tell anybody. I really do not suppose anybody else ever passed so long a time with occurrence of fewer adventures, or ideas. I think fresh air must make one stupid– Stupid I certainly am—to a more than common degree; and I shall have, it seems to me, to add this influence of Stupefaction to the other elements of mountain power I have been trying to investigate.
I was a good deal tired when I left London in May; and it was really necessary for me to vegetate—but I did not know to what a very slow vegetation I should arrive. I had quantities of plans in my head when I began the journey—they are all gone– I was much interested in public events—but no event now possesses any particular interest for me, except breakfast.
You will not expect me, in this state of mind, to attempt writing a letter to a poet. I don’t see any use in poetry. I recollect you have written something nice about figs, somewhere [2] —but that is all I do, recollect.– I am beginning to think that, after all, there may be some sense in the kind of people who make railroads: and I entered with the profoundest sympathy the other day into the feelings of a Calf who would lie down with its eyes shut in the middle of the road, and had continually to be pulled up by the tail.
I believe we are coming home again some day soon—and I hope then to find myself better, and to come and see you– You will really get that precious book [3] of mine to-morrow—the day after you get this precious letter– I was doubtful of your address at Paris, & then thought every day you were coming to London, & then had’nt your address in London—& then wanted to write you something about my reasons for spoiling your poem before I sent you it.– I don’t remember them now– It seems to me quite natural that I should spoil anything I meddled with.
——You needn’t trouble to answer this– They say you are writing more poetry. I daresay I shall be very glad of this—some day—but I don’t care, just now– I have just enough animation left to hope heartily that you & Mrs Browning are well—& to be sure that I am always affectionately Yours,
J Ruskin.
Publication: DeLaura, pp. 335–336.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.
1. Ruskin refers to his inaccurate transcription of “The Bishop Orders His Tomb at St. Praxed’s Church” in Modern Painters, Vol. IV (1856); see letter 3721, note 5. Ruskin alters the title to “The Bishop orders his Tomb in St. Praxed’s Church,” then quotes lines 10–79, but omits (without any indication) part of line 19, part of line 29 through line 50, and lines 61, 69–71, and 75. There are numerous errors in punctuation as well.
2. Ruskin probably has in mind lines 45–47 from “England in Italy” (Dramatic Romances and Lyrics, 1845), retitled in Poems (1849), “The Englishman in Italy”: “And out upon all the flat house-roofs / Where split figs lay drying, / the girls took the frails under cover.”
3. Modern Painters, Vol. IV, published in April 1856, which RB acknowledges receipt of in letter 3872. This volume, along with vols. III, V, and the fourth edition of vol. II, sold as lot 1051 in Browning Collections (see Reconstruction, A1983).
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