3932. EBB to Isa Blagden
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 23, 145–146.
[Florence]
[ca. 6 December 1856] [1]
My dearest dear Isa, how I understand—how I feel for you & with you– [2] Even as I am, I have not courage to face some ghosts– The past is always dreadful, I should think, to all of us who really live .. think & feel—but you, dear, have strength to stand on these graves with the feet of resurrection. May God bless you, & make you a blessing, which you are, to me & others, as He knows–
Robert is well, & not unduly disfigured. Penini has a horrible cold still, but, if he is better, shall go to you on monday– At any rate do you come––it is such a pleasure to us–
Hold my hand through life, dearest noble Isa—never let me go– The sympathy of natures like yours does so much good– I cannot tell you what satisfaction your feeling about my book gives me– That’s help in itself, for instance.
Robert bids me tell you that he will run & carry you any news that comes to him in newspapers & the rest.
Peni broke silence at breakfast this morning by saying sententiously– “Ferdinando thinks that it would be much better if Isa would take a wife–”
“Take a wife?”
“Well—I mean, take a husband– Its the same sing. Ferdinando thinks it would be better, & much more happier–”
“Oh– That’s Ferdinando’s opinion—is it?”
With which I leave you– Turn over the opinion– But if you accepted it, it would be worse for us all– That is my opinion, as
Your ever attached Ba–
Publication: B-IB, pp. 116–117.
Manuscript: Library of Congress.
1. Date suggested by EBB’s implication that Isa Blagden was, or had finished, reading Aurora Leigh—EBB presented her with a copy on 2 December 1856 (see letter 3899, note 2)—and by the reference to Pen’s cold—by letter 3934 he is well.
2. EBB may be alluding to recent and imminent anniversaries of deaths in Isa’s family. Her father, Thomas Bracken (1791–1850), had died in Calcutta on 10 December 1850. His brother John Bracken (1806–50) died exactly one month before, also in India (see B-IB, pp. 494–495).
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