4331. EBB to Sophia Eckley
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 26, 53–54.
[Rome]
[ca. 10 February 1859] [1]
Darling Sophie, I was preparing for bed when dear Mr Eckley came—(Ingloriously do you say?) But dear, though I could not see him & would not keep him waiting, I must write a word tonight in answer to yours–
Certainly I shall let Miss Heaton know that you are my own dear friend—I will—but it is better to bring it in without reference to all this impertinence of hers, so as not to “cry havoc & let loose the dogs of war” [2] (or the bitches!) on such a very straight battle-field– For the rest .. as to your being “excluded” .. need I say that such a thought never crossed my brain? Ferdinando would stare at such an order & consider me of doubtful identity.
You know you always did yourself determine not to come on the picture days till three– Other persons were excluded .. except Fanny H & Miss Heaton, because it being her own picture I did not know how to exclude her–
Now dear, let me tell you what I pray you to do– Tomorrow I sit for my picture again. You come in at two for love’s sake, & prove how little you are excluded– You wont disturb Mr Talfourd nor me– On the contrary you will gratify me entirely for several reasons– “Come diavolo!” [3]
Let me see you smile through the air my Sophie– The tears in your dear eyes hurt me—they were salt to my heart– I beseech you to come tomorrow at two– If there’s offence its against me—as if really I was forced to arrange my receiving hours & shut out my friends in order to make room for daily tête a têtes with .... ‘Come diavolo.’
But really it’s so ridiculous I cant get up the wind to blow a storm– I puff a little, & the breath fails–
May God bless you my dear dearest Sophie– Why should you let such things vex you? You!
Your ever loving Ba.
I said in true earnest to dear Mr Eckley .. that if you acted on your over-susceptibility, you naughty dearest Sophie, I would “go into a nunnery at once” [4] —yes, shut my doors & see nobody more while I stayed in Rome.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Berg Collection.
1. Approximate dating based on EBB’s reference to sitting for her portrait. Talfourd began it on 24 January (see letter 4324) and completed it by 28 February (see letter 4346). EBB implies in the third paragraph that she had already given him several sittings. Consequently, we place this letter midway between the two dates.
2. Cf. Julius Caesar, III, 1, 273.
3. “What the devil!”
4. Cf. Hamlet, III, 1, 139.
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