4274. EBB to Sarianna Browning
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 25, 280–281.
[Florence]
[Postmark: 15 November 1858]
Robert’s uncertainty about Rome my dearest Sarianna, has led him into delay of writing– We dropped here upon summer, & a few days afterwards just as suddenly, the winter dropped upon us. Such wonderful weather, such cold, such snow—enough to strangle one– The rain has come however today, & though everything feels wretched enough, & I am languid about schemes of travelling, we talk of going next week, should nothing hinder.
‘If it be possible
After much grief & pain.’ [1]
Peni would rather stay, I believe– His Florence is in his heart still.
Robert will have told you about his bust, which is exquisite in the clay, & will be exhibited in London, in the marble, next May. The likeness, the poetry, the ideal grace & infantine reality, are all there. I am so happy to have it. I set about teazing Robert, till he gave it to me, and, as he really loses nothing thereby, I accepted at once as you may suppose. I would rather have given up Rome & had the bust—but the artist was generous, & would only accept what would cover the expenses .. 25 guineas– He said he “would not otherwise do it for us,—as he asked, in the first place, to be allowed to make the sketch in clay, & would not appear to have laid a trap for an order”!– So we are all three very happy & grateful to one another .. which is pleasant. I feel the most obliged, perhaps, of the three—obliged to the other two!—& ought to be, .... after the napoleons dropt in Paris, Sarianna! [2]
Oh no,—the sea was necessary from Genoa. The expense of the journey would have been very much increased if we had taken the whole way by land, & it was a great thing to escape that rough gulph of Lyons– The journey to Rome will be rendered easy to Robert’s pocket by the extraordinary chance of Mr Eckley’s empty carriage—otherwise the repeated pulls might have pulled us down too low.
Peni will write to you– He loves his nonno & you very much tell nonno—& my love goes with my message. May God bless both of you. Love to M. Milsand.
Your ever affecte Ba
Address, in RB’s hand: France. / Mademoiselle Browning, / 151. Rue de Grenelle, / Faubourg St Germain, / Paris.
Publication: LEBB, II, 294–295.
Manuscript: Lilly Library.
1. Cf. Tennyson, Maud (1855), XXIV, 1, 1–2.
2. See the eighth paragraph in letter 4258.
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