3969. EBB to Julia Martin

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 24, 12–15.

Florence

[late] Feb [1857] [1]

My dearest Mrs Martin I need’nt say how much, how very much pleasure your letter gave me. That the poem should really have touched you, reached you, with whatever drawbacks, is a joy—and then that Mr Martin should have read it with any sort of interest .. it was more than I counted on, as you know– Thank you dearest Mrs Martin, thank both of you, for so much sympathy.

In respect to certain objections, I am quite sure you do me the justice to believe that I do not willingly give cause for offence– Without going as far as Robert who holds that I “could’nt be coarse if I tried,” (only that!) you will grant that I dont habitually dabble in the dirt,—it’s not the way of my mind or life. If therefore I move certain subjects in this work, it is because my conscience was first moved in me not to ignore them. What has given more offence in the book, than the story of Marian .. (far more ..) has been the reference to the condition of women in our cities, which a woman ought’nt to refer to by any manner of means,—says the conventional tradition. Now I have thought deeply otherwise. If a woman ignores these wrongs, then may women as a sex, continue to suffer them—there is no help for any of us—let us be dumb & die. I have spoken therefore, and in speaking, have used plain words—words which look like blots, and which you yourself would put away—words which if blurred or softened would imperil perhaps the force & righteousness of the moral influence– Still, I certainly will, when the time comes, go over the poem carefully & see where an offence can be got rid of without loss otherwise. The second edition was issued so early that Robert wd not let me alter even a comma, [2] .. would not let me look between the pages in order to the least alteration– He said (the truth) that my head was dizzy-blind with the book, & that if I changed anything it would be probably for the worse, .. like arranging a room in the dark. Oh no– Indeed he is not vexed that you should say what you do– On the contrary he was pleased because of the much more that you said. As to your friend with the susceptible “morals” [3] .. well, I could not help smiling indeed– I am assured too by a friend of my own, that the “mamas of England” in a body refuse to let their daughters read it– Still the daughters emancipate themselves & do .. that is certain; for the number of young women .. not merely “the strong-minded” as a sect, but pretty, affluent, happy women, surrounded by all the temptations of English respectability, that cover it with the most extravagant praises, is surprising to me, who was not prepared for that particular kind of welcome– It’s true that there’s a quantity of hate to balance the love—only I think it chiefly seems to come from the less advanced part of society—(see how modest that sounds, but you will know what I mean.) I mean from persons whose opinions are not in a state of growth,—& who do not like to be disturbed from a settled position. Oh, that there are faults in the book, no human being knows so well as I, .. defects, weaknesses, great gaps of intelligence,—dont let me stop to recount them–

The review in Blackwood proves to be by Mr Aytoun, & coming from the camp of the enemy (artistically & socially) cannot be considered other than generous. It is not quite so by the North British .. where another poet (Patmore) who knows more, is somewhat depreciatory I cant help feeling.

Now will you be sick of my literature, but you liked to hear, you said– If you could see besides, I would show you what George sent me the other day, a number of the ‘National magazine,’ with the most hideous engraving from a medallion, you could imagine .. the head of a ‘strong-minded’ giantess on the neck of a bull, and my name underneath! Penini said, “Its not a bit like– Its too old, and not half so pretty”——which was comforting under the trying circumstance, if anything could comfort one in despair.

The child has been frantic with joy & the carnival. He insisted (& when Peni takes to coaxing he carries everything before him) on having a little blue domino & mask of his own, & ran riot in the streets of Florence day after day, poor Wilson losing her breath with the toil of keeping up with him, & missing him in the crowd every ten minutes. Never was a gayer carnival than this year’s at Florence: and what will you say when I tell you that I, .. yes, I, .. who had not been out of the house for three months, appeared (if ‘appeared’ is the word for anyone masked & in domino) appeared at the masked opera ball, & came home at two oclock in the morning. It was an exceptionally mild night, & Robert had taken a box in order to entertain there certain of our friends [4] —and, at the last, he besought me to go & I could’nt resist. Dont imagine that I kept in the box either– Down I went into the midst of the crowd,—& was much amused & not remorseful in the chest afterwards. Such a characteristic sight! And what pleases me most, is the social equality (here in Italy), of such amusements, the Grand Duke & our servant Ferdinando elbowing one another. That such an expression of social equality should be possible, without offence to any class’s delicacy,—without rudeness, without coarseness, .. how remarkable! how instructive to an English man or woman!–

I had good letters from England a short time since—only, Henrietta’s children had all been quite ill with persistent coughs,—her dear little girl having suffered since the autumn,—& I shall feel anxious till I hear again. My father is really better, and my aunt Bell was much struck by the improvement in his looks, Arabel says. She, Bummy, is (or was) staying in Wimpole Street. The Hedleys remain in the country in spite of all aspirations & intentions, uncle Hedley being inexorable.

We have had a cold winter, though not intensely so—I have felt it colder in Florence– But the season has been worse in Rome, and indeed most capricious everywhere. Warm in Paris, bitter at Constantinople. With it all I have been well in health, almost quite free from cough, and little Penini has grown not merely tall but fat, which I care much more for.

Dearest friend, I believe we differ much in our conceptions of the next world– I am heterodox I know—but I do not think that human spirits are other than human, less individual than you & I are now. Else would death be a dreader thing to me. (It seems to me also that we have reasons for this.) I hold that John Stokes who dies on tuesday is not on wednesday much wiser or better than the John Stokes of tuesday,—not changed, except in circumstances–

—“What if earth

Be but the shadow of heaven—”? [5]

I believe it is even so, John Milton.

Not with these natural eyes & ears can we see spirits, (unless they are naturally presented, that is in view, which they have been in part, I hold—for I am persuaded that I have seen ‘hands’, so presented) [6] I agree with you so far. But if the spiritual sense in us be opened, then we see spirits—as the angels were seen at the Tomb. [7]

‘Miracle’ you say. Law, I say. It is a subject however to which a letter is scarcely equal either for the breadth or the depth of it.

Yes—some day I shall see the verses of that lovely soul, whose footstep has been so light upon the earth. How much I feel for you—how much! [8] May God bless you .. both of you. We have had a visit from the Monros, [9] & talked of you, which was pleasant.

Your ever most affectionate

I have just been shown a letter from a lady in America, [10] quite a stranger to me, who says .. (I must quote it to you to show the difference of opinion, as a pendant to your friend’s)....

“It is sad to see how some minds here are unripe for the celestial purity of Aurora Leigh, though many, many others” &c &c. This letter was not addressed to me, you understand.

Did I give you Robert’s love?

Publication: LEBB, II, 254–256 (in part).

Manuscript: Wellesley College.

1. Dating based on the quotation concerning “celestial purity” at the end of the letter. EBB quotes the same phrase towards the end of letter 3972.

2. The second edition of Aurora Leigh (actually a reprint of the first edition) was published on 12 January 1857 (see letter 3930, note 1).

3. See the sixth paragraph in letter 3965, where EBB quotes from Mrs. Martin’s friend.

4. The friends sharing the box were Isa Blagden, Annette Bracken (see letter 3971, note 5), Mary Tassinari, and “Italian gentlemen thereto appertaining” (see letter 3972).

5. Paradise Lost, V, 574–575.

6. During the séance at Ealing on 23 July 1855. In letter 3601 EBB describes the “spiritual hands” she saw.

7. Cf. John 20:11–12.

8. Presumably EBB’s remarks concern the death of Mrs. Martin’s grandniece, Letitia Brabazon (1839–56); see letter 3948, note 1.

9. Henry Monro (1817–91), a physician specializing in the treatment of the insane, married Jane Eliza Russell (1824–1904) on 5 April 1842. The Russells and EBB’s siblings had been friends in youth, Jane Eliza and Henrietta having been especially close. The Monros had seven children at this time.

10. Unidentified.

___________________