4422. EBB to Sarianna Browning
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 26, 178–179.
[Florence]
[Postmark: 5 June 1859]
My dearest Sarianna, you will like to hear if only by a scratch, that we are back in Tuscany, with all safety, after a very pleasant journey through an almost absolute solitude. Florence is perfectly tranquil & at the same time most unusually animated,—what with the French troops, & the passionate gratitude of the people. We have two great flags on our terrace, the French flag & the Italian, & Peni keeps a moveable little flag between them, which (as he says) “he can take out in the carriage sometimes.” Pen is enchanted with the state of things in general, & the French camp in particular, which he came home from only in the dusk last night having “enjoyed himself so very much, in seeing those dear French soldiers play at blindman’s buff”– They wont however remain long here .. unless the Austrians threaten to come down on us, which I trust they will be too much absorbed to do. The melancholy point in all this, is the dirt eaten & digested with a calm face by England & the English. Now that I have exhausted myself with indignation & protestation, Robert has taken up the same note—which is a comfort– I would rather hear my own heart in his voice. Certainly it must be still more bitter for him than for me, seeing that he has more national predilections than I have, & has struggled longer to see things differently. Not only the prestige, but the very respectability of England is utterly lost here—& nothing less is expected than her ultimate & open siding with Austria in the war. If she does, we shall wash our hands like so many Pilates [1] —which will save us .. but not England.
We are intending to remain here as long as we can bear the heat .. which is not just now too oppressive .. though it threatens to be so– We must be somewhere near, to see after our property in the case of an Austrian approach—which is too probable, we some of us think—& I just hear that a body of the French will remain, to meet the contingency. Our Italians are fighting as well as soldiers can.
Tell M. Milsand with my love that if I belonged to his country I should feel very proud at this time. As to the emperor, he is sublime. He will appear so to all, when he comes out of this war (as I believe) with clean & empty hands.
When do you go into the country, & where do you go? The Sandfords go to Boulogne, they say– Mr Sandford is better.
Robert gives ten scudi a month (a little more than two guineas) to the war as long as it lasts [2] —& Peni is to receive half a paul every day he is good at his lessons, that he too may give to the great cause. I must write a word to the dear nonno– May God bless both of you
Says your affectionate sister Ba.
Address, in RB’s hand: France. / Mademoiselle Browning, / 151. Rue de Grenelle / Faubourg St Germain, / Paris.
Publication: LEBB, II, 313–314 (in part, as [about May 1859]).
Manuscript: Lilly Library.
1. Cf. Mathew 27:24.
2. In a letter dated 24 June 1859 to the Newark Daily Advertiser, Elizabeth Kinney commented on the Brownings’ contribution: “Among the names of contributors to the cause of Independence, we notice those of Elizabeth and Robert Browning, whose liberal souls unite freely in the general interest; while three tri-colored banners wave from the celebrated ‘windows’ of ‘Casa Guidi.’ Mrs. Browning will now have the opportunity to add a third part to one of her strongest poems” (20 July 1859, p. 2).
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