4115. EBB to Henry Moulton-Barrett
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 25, 5–8
Florence.
January 9. 1858.
My dearest Harry, I cannot express to you what deep joy your letter has given me, but I answer it directly that you may have some idea. May God bless you and yours, my very dearly loved brother—and may God be thanked that He has blessed you already by giving you a “Yours,” something to love you & to be loved by you in that closest of relations which (when a true marriage) lasts beyond this world. [1] I am very happy for you. Often and often have I wished lately that you could marry,—but it never once struck me that you had an undevelopped angel over your head, on the point of dropping by your side. Your letter made me cry out– Amelia!– Amelia Morris!– Nobody had I heard of with such a pretty name as ‘Amelia,’ and belonging to a friend of yours– We exiles are at a great disadvantage, you see; and before I was an exile from England, I was an exile from society, so that I knew nothing even of Amelia Holland—did I?—could I?—no, indeed. But now the veil is lifted up, and I know her, or seem to know her– I know at least that you love her,—which is enough for me; and besides that knowledge, I have your charming description of her, however brightly coloured in the colours peculiar to your position, Henry .. (you will forgive me for making some deductions) & I have her over again unmistakeably, in her sweet, natural, touching letter to Henrietta—oh, that letter quite touched me! Will you tell the person who wrote it that I will love her, if she will let me, and that I believe in her fully from this moment, and have a great prejudice in favor of this marriage as if she were sure to be an affectionate sister to me, and a tender, true wife to you, my dearest Henry–
Let me tell you. Not only Robert was sitting by the fire when your packet came, but Mrs Jameson,—and I assure you, I was kissed and congratulated again and again on both sides, for I cried out, and could not conceal my ecstatical state of mind.
Dearest Henry, may you both be very happy– She is right in trusting you, as she says,—for I, who know you, know that you will not fail,—that your good kind heart and upright and manly nature will expand and give joy (as well as take it) in a genial home. May you be happy, Dear. And a happy marriage is the best form of happiness which is granted upon this earth, be very certain!
I shall be eager to hear more of your plans, .. when the great event is likely to happen, .. & where you are likely to go & settle afterwards. Send me little bits of your dreams as they turn up. Penini hears with great interest of uncle Harry’s being about to present him with another aunt. He is always interested in marriages, and hopes to be married himself “in about twelve years,”—though the object is not yet decided upon– The other morning, he suddenly broke out with, .. “Is it against the law to marry one’s own mama?” And when I said ‘yes,’ .. he gravely exclaimed .. “Oh, I do hope, that law may be broken before I am grown a great boy!” He had thought of doing me the honor of selecting me.
But more than of marrying & of giving in marriage, just now, Peni thinks of the carnival, and of how he is to mask, and in what colour he is to wear his domino. I hear of nothing but masks & dominos between the sentences of Grimm’s German stories [2] and ‘L’ami des enfants.’ [3] In spite of this he gets on, and is much more good and attentive than he was when you knew him—quite as high-spirited but more gentle & reasonable, .. in fact, a very good child: grown too, but quite unaltered, except that he has a rounder rosier face here than he wore in London ever.
Yesterday I had a visit from the celebrated Improvisatrice who has been filling the theatres here with enthusiastic crowds, the Signorina Milli. [4] I who could not go to hear her on account of the cold, happened to say that I wished she would come and see me. Instantly, somebody said, “But, if she knew you wished it, she would be pleased to come– I will enquire”. Whereupon she was made to know,—and immediately & very graciously, though she had refused every invitation pressed upon her in Florence, except the Princess Corsini’s, [5] she acceded, and came here yesterday with her mother & brother, [6] .. yes, and recited two poems with a musical voice & articulation worthy of Italy & her fame. She has beautiful eyes, and spoke with much eloquence, and without the slightest affectation. Robert ran out to fetch Mrs Jameson– Otherwise, we were alone. It was very interesting & characteristic.
Who knows but that some day you and your Amelia will come & see our Florence. Was she ever in Italy? and dont you dream (in those dreams) of marriage-tours across the Alps and the sea?–
I am happy to think of them all at Bryngwyn and of that dear kind Storm’s kindness to everybody–
And now, once more, and always, may God bless you! Try to persuade your Amelia to be prepared to love me a little, & promise her from me the right true sisterly feeling– Robert’s best love & congratulations; & a kiss from Peni.
Your ever attached
Ba–
Address: Angleterre viâ France. / Harry M. Barrett Esqre / 4. Darlington Street / Bath.
Publication: B-GB, pp. 356–358.
Manuscript: Pierpont Morgan Library.
1. Henry married on 21 April 1858, at St. Mark’s Church, Torquay, Sophia Amelia (1823–87), widow of Edward Morris and youngest daughter of Thomas Edward Holland and his wife, Sophia, of Bathwick Hill, Bath.
2. Kinder- und Haus-Märchen (Children’s and Household Tales) by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, was first published in two volumes at Berlin (1812–15). The tales were heavily revised in subsequent editions, the seventh, published in 1857, differing greatly from the first in terms of sentimentality, moral didacticism, and finish.
3. By Arnaud Berquin (1747–91); see letter 3749, note 6.
4. Giannina Milli (afterwards Cassone, 1825–88), improvisatrice and Italian patriot, was born in Teramo, where she published her first book of poetry, Poesie varie, in 1848. In a 3 July 1858 letter to the Newark Daily Advertiser (1 August 1858), Elizabeth Kinney describes one of Mlle. Milli’s performances: “Her charming voice runs into an easy flow, like an endless river, without obstruction—never weary, rarely hurried” (p. 2). She is listed in the Brownings’ address book of this period (AB-4) at Casa Borghese, Via Ghibellina.
5. Eleonora (née Rinuccini, 1813–86), wife of Don Neri, Prince Corsini (1805–59). Her beau geste of dancing with French soldiers in gratitude for their service to Italy is the subject of EBB’s poem “The Dance” (Poems Before Congress, 1860).
6. Giannina Milli was one of twelve children born to Bernardo Milli, of Teramo, and his wife, Regina (née Rossi, 1800–84). We have been unable to identify the brother mentioned here.
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