4413. RB to Emelyn Story

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 26, 161.

Siena,

May 29. ’59.

My dear Mrs Story,

Here we are after a very prosperous journey—the weather was perfect but the vettura comes in for a due share of the praise: we went so rapidly that the day’s stages were quite short & easy: I can recommend Moscatelli, the driver, as capital in all respects, & tho’ his charges are high the comfort of making short days out of long ones seems well worth paying for. We were never more than seven or eight hours on the road. The Inns are good at Viterbo & Radicofani & apparently abominable at the intermediate places. [1] I write with the man in the room waiting for my making an end——

Ever yours most truly

Robert Browning.

Ba’s kindest regards in such haste!

Publication: BAF, p. 40.

Manuscript: University of Texas.

1. Murray’s A Handbook for Travellers in Central Italy (1857) describes the preferred inn at Viterbo: “Aquila Nera, at the post-house, and inside the Florence gate, good as to rooms and beds, and generally improved, but charges high, especially to persons travelling by post” (part I, p. 201). The inn at Radicofani: “La Posta: lately improved—but exorbitant, if the prices are not agreed upon beforehand—and the best sleeping-place for the first night from Siena for persons travelling with post-horses” (part I, p. 196).

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