4193. EBB to Sarianna Browning
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 25, 135–137.
[Florence]
[ca. 17 June 1858] [1]
My dearest Sarianna, you will see by Robert’s letter that we are coming. Dear, we shall be all delighted to be with you this summer. Of course, you did me justice in supposing that my will would not keep me in Italy when we owed ourselves to you—you might be sure of that. Also, Dr Harding allows it on condition that we go to the sea as directly as we can .. to the Atlantic (a wide address!) and as there will be no obstacle to your going besides, dear Nonno & Sarianna, the heart’s duty & the medical ordinnance [sic] can be united so. If we have waited for writing, it has been because nothing seemed quite decided,—Robert kept so certain that I was not capable of the journey. But now I am much stronger,—looking another creature,—& though not quite cured of some unpleasant symptoms, yet infinitely improved, & able to inspire Annunziata in the packing up. Another fortnight will see us on the road then. Dr H forbids England altogether—so I have an answer to questions thence–. We shall spend three months with you, & then return here to pass the winter in Egypt, or if the money does’nt hold out, after this journey, in Rome, Robert being decided against Florence for another winter– A northern winter would be too great a risk for me, I suppose, considering how I have failed lately. Not that my chest has been wrong—but that the general vital powers have seemed hesitating.– Well, so you must enquire & consider where we now shall go. What we long for is quiet, & a good coast—good sands—& the open ocean. Only I think we should secure a little civilization if possible. The railway must serve us—& ought not to carry us too far from Paris. Dear Sarianna, you will look out, wont you, for a place to hold us for a week on our arrival in Paris––not high up stairs––for I am a worse climber than usual, & the effort is bad for me– I wish we had our old apartment au premier– [2] If not, could Mr By[r]ne [3] take us in down stairs somewhere? Robert has probably spoken of this. But we leave it to you– You will hear again of the day you may expect us on.
Penini is full of joy at the thought of the journey, & of his nonno & of you, and of Puck [4] & Paris generally–
I have been overtired lately by crowds of people running through Florence from Rome to Paris & London. Its the only point of the year when society teazes us– But nothing can be so unsatisfactory & so fatiguing, together, as being brushed by peoples petticoats as they run to & fro’– Then as Dr H told Robert that everytime anyone talked to me, he or she took away a portion of my life, you may suppose that he has not been very contented.
But really, really, in spite of all, I am greatly better.
If it were not for my morphine I would have taken globules. Yes, indeed you shd see how they affect Robert– The sea will do him great good, I am sure. He has been languid sometimes, since the grippe. Pen never takes anything but globule. Dont imagine (& you seem to imagine) that the starving system is recommended by homœopathists– You may eat every hour, if you like, & as much as you like. The diet excludes nothing (except coffee & vinegar) absolutely—watered wine may be taken—& even watered tea. Robert has never taken calomel for four months,—is put to rights by a globule whenever he goes wrong & remains one of the faithful accordingly.
The spirit-question increases in vehemence, but is considered most mildly in this house. Hume has written to a friend of his in Florence that difficulties have arisen about his marriage–
Dear, you wrote to Mrs Corkran, did you, that we enquired about Jessie W.? Almost I am sorry. This morning I have heard from her for the second time, encouraged by this supposed enquiry of ours. The first time she wrote (some three months ago) I did not answer her letter– She wrote then to ask if still I loved her, after all she had done & consented to? I was hard enough to be silent– Now I must write the full truth. When she was in prison I would have helped her by any effort, but afterwards, when she wrote to say she was happy & married, & when I knew her to be surrounded by friends, I did feel very averse to putting my hand into hers after all that cruel work– A difference of politics would never make a difference of friendship with me—but here is a difference in great moral questions. A line must be drawn somewhere. I could not hold the hand of the best friend I had, while his other hand mixed poison, or drew the dagger; & I cannot hold Jessie’s while she forwards such schemes as that of last February– [5] I feel very strongly, & perhaps unlike a woman, on questions of this kind; for the private & public personality are to me the same thing. Now I am sure you are surprised to hear me speak so, I who am associated with people of all sorts of opinion– We will talk of it. I almost knelt to Jessie when we were in London last, when the wretched Mazzini had caught hold of her & wrung her soul into that immoral bend—. Assassination is in the ascendancy just now in England– [6] She has there friends enough—juries, dinner-committees, lecture-applauders & the rest. My friendship shall wait .. till she wants it at least–
In spite of all this, dont write to Mrs Corkran that I am sorry she induced Jessie to write again. I shall write to Jessie myself & tell her the truth as I feel it,—but I dont wish to wound her more than can be helped– Observe, I don’t mean to say she was directly implicated in the attentat [7] of February– But I know she justified it, wished it success .. & was & is ready to help all endeavours like it—and I think that the time has come for all, who are liberals & democraticals to stand out from among the abettors of such things, & to keep clean from being jostled–
Robert bids me remind you of a bathing place near Caén, which is said to be good. But what of the distance from Paris?—& the facility of travelling?
And dear M. Milsand– Is he likely to come to us, do you think?– How pleasant it wd be. At any rate we shall see him going & returning to Paris– Have I spoken intelligibly?
Written as race-horses run.
Your ever affectionate Ba.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Lilly Library.
1. Approximate dating based on EBB’s prediction: “Another fortnight will see us on the road.” The Brownings left Florence for France on 1 July 1858.
2. “On the first floor,” at 3 Rue du Colysée, where the Brownings resided during the winter of 1855–56. EBB described the apartment in letter 3689.
3. Miles Byrne (1780–1862), who was the Brownings’ landlord when they stayed at 138 Avenue des Champs Élysées during the winter of 1851–1852 and briefly in the summer of 1855.
4. Sarianna and her father’s pet dog.
5. Sic, for January. EBB refers to the attempt to assassinate Napoleon III on 14 January 1858 (see letter 4121, note 5).
6. Presumably, EBB has in mind the acquittal of Simon Bernard on 17 April 1858 (see letter 4175, note 3).
7. “Assassination attempt.”
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