4367. EBB to Pasquale Villari
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 26, 98–100.
43– Bocca di Leone. Rome
March 26 [sic, for 25]– 1859. [1]
Dear M. Villeri,
I will use English rather than my foreign Italian, as English is familiar to you, and as I desire to speak to you as freely as possible. I have waited to thank you for your kind & most interesting letter that I might read first M. Sa[l]vagnoli’s pamphlet which you mention to me—but though it was directed to the British consul at Rome for greater security by my friend Miss Blagden, some serpent’s jaw has intercepted its reaching our “Lion’s mouth”—we have not received it, nor shall, I fear. Such good things (for very good reasons) are not permitted an easy entrance into Rome. We have & hold however, Farini’s pamphlet [2] & Mr Trollope’s, [3] both good & to the point. There is an excellent publication too, consisting of “Letters to Lord John Russell by an English liberal,” said to be written by [“]Panizzi of the British Museum,” [4] which I recommend much to you, & which is likely to make an impression in England if anything can– It was lent to us by Odo Russell, the British plenipotentiary here–
Dear M. Villeri, the suggestion I had the courage to make, was suggested to me by an Italian– I repeated it in a hesitating way—and your view and that of the Tuscan patriots as you represent it, I receive at once, and comprehend, as probably the wisest & directest & most desireable for the whole of Italy. For although by such a movement as was suggested, Tuscany might easily snatch perhaps from the weakness of its government certain promises or actual advantages, yet the general Italian cause might rather be injured than helped by that partial good—it would be a distraction of force .. at the very least– And at this crisis, when it is the duty of all Italians to think for Italy, it would be almost a crime of Tuscans to think first for Tuscany. That is my own opinion, after a great deal of reflection on the subject of your letter; and I earnestly hope that there will be no change of view among any of you– Independence will involve liberty of internal government in the long run—and, even if it did not, liberty cannot under any circumstances be so surely excluded as it is under present circumstances—for nothing will grow under a grave-stone– Also I myself believe that the Emperor Napoleon is quite another sort of man than he has been accounted by many, with other & higher & larger views than there is room for, in the heads of the small politicians (in England & elsewhere) who pretend to judge him– [5] He understands that if he does not lead civilization & the nationalities, he is nothing,—& that to lead, one must go before, not tread down– Therefore something quite distinct from territorial aggrandizement & the imposition of absolutism, seems to me the object of the French government– I think so, I feel so, .. I have no fears– May God help us in this strait– I say “us,” dear M. Villeri—for indeed there is no Italian of you all whose heart is more deeply in the subject than mine is—more deeply in the pain of it, the hope of it——
Nay, there are certain bitternesses of which you can know nothing– Such as .. when I read the English debates for instance, and the infamous ‘Times’ newspaper.
Of these things it is not possible for me to speak.
Believe of me and of my husband, that we disclaim all part in them. As for me, I can find a word to suit my mood, only out of old Homer— I eat my heart. [6]
Which is a worse diet than even Ugolino’s. [7]
We had the honor of a visit the other day from Massimo d’Azeglio– A large and noble man. He is full of hope—and we had the comfort to hear confirmed from him the account you give us of the unity of feeling everywhere– May God be praised for it. It is the beginning of your recovered nationality– My only dread is that Austria may yield just so much as to turn the peril from herself & the good from Italy—just so much as to supply a new occasion of pressure to the ignoble policy of England against France– Louis Napoleon is strong and stedfast,—but his position in the face of leagued Europe is very difficult—and he has to think for the French as well as for the Italians– If, by misfortune, or shame, anything should be acceded to, which should bind Lombardy with new cords, while relieving the rest of Italy, it would be lamentable indeed– They may be forced to accept the fact of the status quo, for a time—but that would be different from making a treaty of it, to secure the status quo.
Dear M. Villeri, my husband joins me in affectionate & earnest wishes–
Most truly yours
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
The Marchese d’Azeglio half promised to lend me Sa[l]vagnoli’s brochure, but he has not done so yet– We return to Florence in May, when we shall hope to see you–
Address: All’ Illustrissimo / Signore Villeri / Firenze.
Publication: Edward C. McAleer, “Pasquale Villari and the Brownings,” Boston Public Library Quarterly, 9 (1957), 42–43.
Manuscript: Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana.
1. This letter was enclosed with letter 4368, which is dated [25] March [1859].
2. La Quistione Italiana: lettera di Luigi Carlo Farini a Lord John Russell, which is dated “Torino 20 Febbraio 1859.” Luigi Carlo Farini (1812–66), physician, historian, and statesman, held several positions in the Piedmontese government, among them minister of Public Instruction.
4. Italy: Its Condition. Great Britain: Its Policy. A Series of Letters Addressed to Lord John Russell, M.P. (1859), “By an English Liberal.” According to Giulio Caprin, the author was Giuseppe Binda (see L’esule fortunato, Antonio Panizzi, Firenze, 1945, p. 291).
5. According to RB, the “gist” of Villari’s letter to EBB was “that it is an abominable thing for the English to entertain any doubts as to the honesty of Napoleon” (letter 4359).
7. In the Inferno, Ugolino gnaws on the skull of Archbishop Ruggieri, his fellow plotter in treason (XXXIII, 75–77).
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