Correspondence

373.  EBB to Hugh Stuart Boyd

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 2, 243–244.

[Hope End]

Wednesday. [May 1830] [1]

My dear Mr Boyd,

I will tell you exactly what I think about your verses; [2] and then, however severe you may be upon my correctness, you will have no reason to be dissatisfied with my sincerity. I will say at once, I do not think that the sheet, if published as it is, could be considered worthy of you; and yet there are some things in it, which I should be sorry not to give people an opportunity of admiring. The first poem, I like & admire (except the four commencing lines) very much, both as to the variety of cadence & the general effect. I should prefer “Than did that archetype”, to “Than the proud archetype”: the sense seems to me clearer, & the removal of the inexpressive epithet, an advantage.

I think that the second poem is open to a criticism which you yourself made, one day when I was sitting with you. It related to a passage in some translation of the Æthiopica, where Charicles calls Chariclea his “sheet anchor”; and you observed that technical expressions did not agree with a poetical & elevated diction. How do you reconcile your “line engraving”, “indian ink” & “aqua tinta”, with this very just criticism? I appeal to Philip sober, from Philip [3]  ....! I believe I do not like the poem, even otherwise,—excepting the two lines which begin “Like clustering reeds”–

The next poem “On the print of the section of the Chapter House”, I do not like either,—and if Longinus, instead of me, were writing to you, he would certainly say that it had a tendency pros to ametron. [4] Dont you think he would be correct in saying so,—& that, in comparing “the fine wrought tracery” to Heaven, you go rather too far? I will not call the four lines on the Corinthian capital, capital: I do not like them much. But I do like the four lines which conclude the last poem, very much indeed. I think they are beautiful, & would form an epigram of great effect, if separated from the rest of the poem. I do not admire the two lines immediately preceding them,—and I am inclined to believe that in such a short composition, the introduction of two apostrophic addresses is not judicious. Here is an end to my impertinence; & now I have nothing to do but to ask you to forgive it. I am afraid you will have something to do, to grant that request.

I am afraid of teazing you on another subject, and yet I believe I must ask you, in the case of your writing to Mr Barker before I see you, to tell him not to print the letters in the way you at first suggested. [5] Do not think it affectation in me. You would not,—if you knew how hard I have been trying to accustom & reconcile myself to what you seemed to wish. I wish that you had wished almost anything else. Let him print, if you desire it, whatever passages relate to works of yours,—or even an extract or two relating to other subjects, if you desire that,—but do not let him print the letters entire, & with only a few trifling omissions. I cannot reconcile myself to the idea of it. They were written for you—& if they pleased you at the time, could their writer wish for more, now or then? Could the commendation of hundreds of other readers, (supposing for a moment such an improbable supposition) make her prouder & happier? You know little indeed about her, if you think it could.

As you desire it, I will try to go to see you next week.

How sorry I shall be to see Mrs Boyd tomorrow! considering what she is going to take away,—but I suppose there is no help for it!

Believe me ever

Your sincere friend

E B Barrett.

Address, on integral page: Hugh Stuart Boyd Esqr / Great Malvern.

Publication: EBB-HSB, pp. 102–103 (in part).

Manuscript: Wellesley College.

1. Dated by Mrs. Boyd’s expected arrival to take Annie back home after her stay at Hope End (see letter 371).

2. We have been unable to trace any published verses by Boyd corresponding to the ensuing comments.

3. A reference to the story told of Philip of Macedon, who said “Appeal to whom?” when a woman expressed herself dissatisfied with his judgement. “To Philip, sober,” she replied.

4. Transliteration of πρὸς τὸ ἄμετρον, “to excess” (De Sublimitate, cap. XXXII, 7).

5. Barker had requested permission to publish the correspondence with Boyd, as well as that with Uvedale Price.

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