4024. EBB to Marguerite A. Power
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 24, 110–111.
La Villa. Bagni di Lucca.
August 9th [1857] [1]
My dear Miss Power,
You will have probably received by this time our little packet of poems, the arrival of which will prove to you (too late) how perfectly unfounded your imagination was about us. Dear Miss Power! never punish us again with such hard thoughts!– [2] If our trade had been to “take offence,” we could not by any manner of means have succeeded in making commerce by you, in the least circumstance which ever occurred between us—and, in that you asked for the verses, did you not really honour us so far?—honour instead of affronting?– I open my eyes in wonder that you should fancy such things about us, .. entertain such impossible speculations as our being vexed with you–! And for such a cause, too!!–
But the truth is we were inexcusable for our delay .. only not in that way, believe me. Robert is the guilty person– He had nothing by him suitable to Keepsakes, and has been so absorbed in Florence by drawing & the study of models that he put off from day to day providing the verses he sent you,—put off doing it till his arrival here where we fled from the great heat a week ago. And now the Keepsake is dead. I am sorry– Be so kind as to let us have the verses, supposing you have no use for them, some time or other– There is no need on our part,—only I was heedless enough to send you some stanzas of which I retained no copy at all, and so I shall like to have them back at your uttermost convenience—in the course of the year, say. Mr Lytton, too, had given proof of allegiance to you in the Keepsake– You will have received his packet before you get this letter. After a week together at Florence, we are living face to face here in the mountains, he in the hotel opposite. The heat has affected him a good deal, (his health is easily affected) but in this place we have cool nights & mornings to comfort us for the burning Italian sun, and the exquisite scenery, hills & chesnut forests, minister to us by moonlight & every kind of light,—and so I hope he may be quite himself in a day or two, & equal to the mountain free life to which we are called, on ponies & donkies–
I wish you had told me something of yourself, & whether England continued to satisfy you.
We unite in cordial regard to you as well as in protestation that you should have wronged it (besides our common sense) by a thought, dear Miss Power–
Do believe me rather & always
faithfully & affectionately yours
Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
The letter with the verses was sent through Mr Procter– I had mislaid your address.–
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Huntington Library.
1. Year provided by EBB’s reference to Robert Lytton’s presence “in the hotel opposite,” such a situation occurring only in 1857.
2. Cf. As You Like It, I, 2, 183–184.
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