4352. EBB to Sophia Eckley

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 26, 81–82.

[Rome]

[7 March 1859] [1]

Dearest Sophie I think I dont understand your note—I am dull with German this morning– If we cant get away from the balcony in time, I shall be worse than dull, you see, viz tired to death. Then, having seen what we saw before, I would rather, if I might choose, see the “moccoletti” [2] .. which are for tomorrow I think– The day is perfect—and I should like to go out if I could do so without being entangled or entangling anybody else– Perhaps you had better, (nay surely you had better) not think of me at all .. except for giving me the light of your eyes if you dont smoke it all away through some amber pipe or other, today.

Your loving Ba–

Pen will gratefully accept the place next Doady on the balcony.

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Berg Collection.

1. Date provided by EBB’s preference for seeing “the ‘moccoletti’ .. which are for tomorrow” (see note 2 below).

2. “Little tapers.” Murray’s A Handbook of Rome and Its Environs (1858) describes this finale to Carnival celebrations as follows: “The diversions end on the evening of Shrove Tuesday, with the Moccoli, when every one in the windows and in the streets appear with tapers, and endeavour to blow out the lights of each other. The Corso is illuminated in this way from one extremity to the other” (p. xxvi).

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