4168. EBB to Isa Blagden
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 25, 102–103.
[Florence]
[?19] [April 1858] [1]
Ah my dearest Isa, how far too kind you are to us—at least to me! First I shall tell you of Robert– He was very unwell last night as you know, and still worse in his head afterwards than when you were here: he put himself under nux in strong doses, & is now a great deal better, affirming the benefit most emphatically– Observe—under usual circumstances, he would have taken blue pill, & have been suffering this morning under the very advantages gained–
As for me—dear, it was simply a colpo d’aria, [2] & no proof of weakness: there are proofs enough otherwise– This unfortunate eye, (for which the other may weep) is decidedly better this morning, & looking & feeling considerably more like itself. As to my health generally, pazienza– [3] I certainly wont run the risk of a doctor, without a necessity, & the necessity has not come yet. I mean to have a turn for myself at the homœopathy, which cant do me harm under any circumstances, I think,—& we shall see—but Morello [4] .. oh no. I am weak—& its the consequence of a long year’s weight being borne wearily [5] —& you dont know how much I have been rent & worn– But I mean to get over it, dearest Isa– You shall see– The worst of this ‘eye’ has been keeping me from the air so much longer.
And now, dearest Isa, let me thank you with our two hearts for your goodness in this invitation—but no, dearest dear Isa—. We will talk of it however—we will think of it, & love you for it, dear–
As to me, you do me good in coming, & in a day or two, I shall be able to look at you with two eyes & say so–
Robert desires me to say that you are to call for him as agreed, & that he will be happy to ride, [6] as yesterday he feared he shd not be able. I only hope it will be an agreeable horse—or Mr Bianchi [7] will disgust him with the exercise. I cant imagine why Robert shd be bound to Bianchi, if the latter has preferred others to all his best horses.
Your ever loving &
Grateful Ba
Address: Miss Blagden.
Publication: B-IB, pp. 151–152.
Manuscript: Eton College Library.
1. Dated by EBB’s reference to the improved condition of her eye (her eye ailment lasted from 12 April to about 24 April) and to RB’s proposed “ride” (see note 6 below).
2. “Draft.”
3. “Patience,” or “never mind.”
4. Probably Dr. Carlo Morelli, whose address is given as “Pharmacie Grassellini, sous le Portique de Santa Maria Nuova” in C.D. Blanc’s, Guide de Florence (Florence, 1859), p. xxv.
5. The “weight” being her father’s death, which occurred on 17 April 1857.
6. In RB’s account book of this period, he entered a payment of 4 pauls on 19 April for a “Ride &c” (see Appendix IV).
7. Apparently a stable keeper in Florence; however, we have been unable to further identify him.
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