4438. EBB to Arabella Moulton-Barrett
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 26, 203–209.
Casa Guidi–
Monday [Postmark: 27 June 1859]
Dearest loved Arabel, I want to hear from you dreadfully, & as you may have something of the same feeling about me, eccomi [1] writing! Another great victory [2] .. The sort of excitement we live in here you can scarcely image to yourself. Other wars have to do with commerce & political theories—this has to do with life, love, national salvation. The people have tears in their eyes through profound feeling. The poorest & most ignorant study the maps & count the advances & retreats, as if each had a personal enemy at his shoulder. Think of this & then think how they must count of you, all of you, on both sides of the House & of your cold blooded apprehension of the “jealousies of France & Austria,” & of the “unnecessary war,” &c &c! As to the Times, I believe it has a squadron of liars in its pay,—one of them I know personally! [3] & another I have just been reading, in his reported visit to Garibaldi. Garibaldi’s “calmness was only moved when he spoke of the generous sympathy of England, & how it had been felt by the Italians.”! [4] Now I know that Garibaldi never said such a word, .. seeing that it is not Garibaldi’s way to lie absolutely. The fact is, the feeling towards the English, from the north to the south of this peninsula, is one of the most intense indignation, .. too well justified by circumstances. As individuals they have conducted themselves infamously, & as a nation, the individual opprobrium has been kept pace with. An Englishwoman here observed the other day that she heard the Italians saying in the streets, “Ecco un’altra di questi maledetti Inglesi.” [5] The “English-Austrian” press, the “English-Austrian” policy, is a current epithet both here & at Rome. And what the Piedmontese think of us, I have very painful knowledge of.
Dont turn these things into anxieties about Ba Robert & Peni—no– We are not considered English at all—so an intelligent Italian assured me the other day .. & I believe it to be perfectly true, for we have not lived here in a corner, on account of our poetry, .. & besides I have heard of my rages this spring from more than one quarter. They let us through the custom house with scarcely a question when we arrived, .. Ferdinando observing “La signora è piu Italiana di me”– [6] A friend of ours (by the way) was considerably amused, on coming to Florence & enquiring about me at the door of Casa Guidi, to have this answer from him,—“sta molto bene. È contentissima,” [7] .. as if the state of my health was mainly dependent on the state of the war–! So, as long as the Austrians keep away, you need not spend an anxious thought on us indeed. Also, nothing can be quieter than Florence is. It is only much brighter & more animated than usual, with a flutter of flags, & a general palpitation of hearts; but the civic tranquillity is absolute. The French are gone for the present, & so are the Tuscan troops– We take care of ourselves in the most beautiful way possible, & are only in better spirits for being left alone.
As to the emperor Napoleon, he is above any defence or praise of mine, being in the sublimest position an uninspired man ever occupied. I watch the English papers “going over” in their ignoble way, in proportion to the successes. The battle of Magenta [8] improved the vision of the Times wonderfully; &, after this new one on the Mincio, I have small doubt of its becoming clear-sighted to the desired degree– Success is virtue with these ignoble men. Ah well, I despise them all: that is certain.
What you should see is this .. that the arm of God has been with us from the beginning, .. to make Austria mad, in order to destroy her life in Italy. [9]
Never has a great cause borne itself with less vicissitude & more magnificently than this has.
The drawback has been some internal difficulty with regard to the Papal states & Naples. The Perugia business has fearfully pulled at our hearts. [10] Some American friends of ours, the Perkins’s, were in it—they had an invalid [11] in their family for whose sake they were in Rome last winter, & wished to be in Rome next winter, & of course it was an object meanwhile to keep out of the sweep of the war. They went to Perugia for the summer thinking to be safe & quiet. Well—they have escaped barely with their lives. The pope’s Swiss troops attacked the hotel where they were, & prepared to bayonet them all– Mrs Perkins [12] rushed between the bayonet’s point & her husband’s heart—a soldier siezed her by the ear & threw her aside– He protected her however & all her’s against the rest of the troop, though they had to give up their watches & money .. regular brigandage!– Ten of them were shut up the whole night in the most private closet of the house, .. that soldier lying before the door with a drawn sword. The terror was so great, that Mr Perkins’s mother [13] (before in a nervous state) is quite insane .. remains so. They got away with the clothes on their backs simply—having lost some five hundred pounds worth of property. Women & children killed in the streets—& worse– It is said that the French ambassador has talked of taking down the French arms & leaving Rome. Cardinal Antonelli is responsible—but something must be done to pinion these birds of prey. The Buonaparte house (the conte of La Canino’s) was set on fire at Perugia, & the princess fled for her life– [14] Perhaps it may end all the better,—by supplying a motive, an apology, for whatever the French government may choose to do in these neutral states, so called,—only we should have been all glad to have been able to give our undivided attention to the war, at present.
Tuscany thinks seriously of a fusion with Piedmont—that’s the ruling idea at present. Prince Napoleon marked by his whole bearing, while here, that he personally would have nothing to do with us. In fact, he recommended the fusion loudly—perhaps too loudly for the policy of the Emperor, which recommends nothing but a consideration of the popular will. I dont tell you this on dit [15] but the fact.
Robert has sent a letter addressed to himself by Peruzzi, [16] to Lord John Russell through an intermediate friend, a contradiction of Lord Normanby’s inventions. [17] We go on most saturdays to Madame Peruzzi’s receptions—she is a first rate performer on the piano—quite an artist. [18] Then the Duke & Duchess of Cassigliano have called on us—(an acquaintance begun in Rome though they live in Florence.) She was a princess Barberini, & he is the eldest son of that Marquis Laiatico [19] who had so much to do with the change of government here & has gone officially to Piedmont. He, the young Duke, told me that his anxieties were intense, & not only for the country– His brother fights in the north [20] .. besides cousins & friends. Think what even the news of a victory must be to these people– And all are gone, observe, except those obliged to stay–
The very theatres are empty, because of engrossing anxieties. I heard of the great actor Salvini saying lately, that the real tragedies had excluded the false ones,—& that he should betake himself to study for a year. But Arabel, since our return, I have been several times to see Salvini [21] —& indeed, I never, in my Florence life, was so dissipated as just now– I feel stirred up to the dregs of me, & go here & there, to hear & talk & look into people’s faces for sympathy: I cant rest, I am so excited.
Let me tell you of my poor Wilson. She is better, she says, & for some days has appeared so—but, since I wrote, there have been several outbreaks, making us very uneasy. One morning she rushed into this room & flung herself on her knees before me– Robert, happily for me, was here. She was drowned in tears & spoke wildly of having lost her child .. Orestes .. (she had “seen an angel carry him past the house”) & about a scudo (equal to a five franc piece) which she had given in change to Miss Haworth’s maid & wanted back again. Robert offered to give her another .. but she “would have her own,” her “own,” she said—& Robert’s scudo was’nt like her scudo. Trautchen had offered her another in vain .. it was pure insanity. The supposed loss of Orestes was nothing to the loss of the scudo.—or at least only a second grief. She was talked out of it at last & pacified—but her condition is very uncertain. She told me the other day that everybody seemed like somebody else. Annunciata was like you, Arabel,! and I was like aunt Jane &c &c—and then she implied that it was’nt merely a likeness but a real change. Robert has been to speak to Dr Wilson [22] —only there is nothing to do, I suppose, except to keep her quiet & amused. She looks wasted away with an inner fire—so very thin: still better, certainly better, & for many days together there is nothing observably wrong about her. Last night she stayed to put me to bed, as Annunciata was out with her sister, and she was quite in good spirits & like herself. She told me she attended to my advice & put away her “strange thoughts”– I am grieved for poor Ferdinando who has behaved excellently & tenderly to her .. he is really a good, affectionate husband—and I do hope the cloud will pass off by degrees. Her appetite is somewhat better, & she sleeps .. which are good symptoms. Nobody, except Trautchen & Miss Haworth suspects the fact—although Isa Blagden “thought her very odd” the other day, when she “could’nt bear to look at my picture at the Villa”– [23] She hates portraits—that’s one idea. But we keep her misfortune to ourselves as much as possible, because it would be ruinous to her as a letter of apartments. Mind to be careful not to allow her sister [24] to suspect such a thing– It is a secret, Arabel. May God grant that it may remain a secret. I believe now that the jealousy & the strange way in which she conveyed it to me at Rome, [25] were all indications of this malady– She seems to have forgotten the whole, & is goodnatured with Annunciata in a gentle, natural way now.
Dearest darling Arabel, I forgot to answer what you said of Miss Heaton. True it is that she took Peni to church with her every sunday. Also that was very kind,—to look at it in the right way– The English church involved a puseyite clergyman [26] —but at Peni’s age, it did not seem to me of much importance—and he liked going in spite of the length of the service which did seem to me a greater objection. For me, even at Rome there was no church-going in the winter,—& when spring approached I was wicked enough to go with Robert (yes, now prepare to excommunicate me, Arabel!) to the Catholic services & no where else. I cant bear the fatigue of a succession of services on sunday, & I did prefer St Peter’s & the like, & have enjoyed few modes of worship so much as that gathering together in the solemn twilight of the aisles, with the sublime music floating upwards with my prayers. In fact Arabel, both I and Robert liked it extremely—and yet we are as far from being Roman Catholics as we were when we saw you—& then, remember, Robert’s fault was his intolerant protestantism expressed often too vehemently. I, who am never intolerant (my faults lean the other way) yet am in my opinions more protestant than most protestants are, .. protesting against even the “schismatics,” so called,—ah, you know that,—&, as it was, so it is with me– While the pope’s choir sang & the organs swelled through that Infinite of marble, I prayed my own way, .. enjoyed it spiritually: it was all beautiful & holy to me. Whatever the wanderings from truth of doctrine, (& the Roman church includes many,) it was the communion of saints to me, I felt. Peni went with us sometimes—but he attended the English church always. A child requires something less vague than his own thoughts.
Oh Arabel—there she is wringing her hands & tearing her hair because of me. Oh, I knew it, I knew it. Now be quiet & take breath, .. for we are not in Rome, dear, .. we are in Florence .. & here we go in a regular, proper way, every sunday morning to the Swiss church, & no less a person to preach to us than Malan of Geneva .. or his son [27] .. who preaches in Italian .. an open gospel .. and all through this Napoleon whom you wish so much harm to & think so much harm of. If he had’nt come to Italy, engaged in this “inexcusable war,” there could have been no preaching the gospel in Italian– While Malan thanks God for this “open door”, you lament over the wickedness of opening it–!! Two sundays ago I stayed for the communion. It was a very striking service, I thought– The minister stood at the table, & each person went alone .. following one another in file .. to receive the bread & wine, .. passing before the table, .. while pathetic & solemn music proceeded from the organ– No singing– Something like the French service you & I attended: only in Paris there was no music & the ordinance was administered to groups instead of the succeeding individuals. I liked it here much better. There were not a great many communicants .. but there was a sufficient number .. perhaps twelve or fourteen men, .. Italians, of course. This Malan is to stay through the summer– He is an elderly man full of energy & very fluent in Italian—but I think he must be rather the son of the famous Malan than the man himself–
So glad I am that dear Mr Stratten is recovering strength, [28] —& I sympathize in your natural pleasure at having him and Mrs Stratten at dinner. Perhaps you may go to the country with them? to the sea, who knows. For oh, my dearest dear Arabel, I could find it in my heart to teaze you dreadfully about going to the sea, though you call yourself better– You ought, you ought to go– Very thankful I was for two things .. to hear of Storm’s arrival—& to hear that you were better .. but write, write to me, & tell me more, dearest, of yourself, because I long to hear that that beloved face of yours is not tortured any more– Dear, be good to me, & take care of yourself– If heat would be a benefit to you, you would prosper here just now—for the heat is coming in with a rush of flame which leaves one (to speak it poetically) in a bath of water. The Eckleys are gone to the Baths of Lucca, like wise—Sophie in great grief to go from me. But if we go from Florence, it wont be there, I think. The subscription paper goes round for the sufferers at Perugia, & was brought here this morning. Robert of course contributed—when up comes Peni—“Will you take these two pauls and a half of mine, Papa?” (Sophie Eckley gave him two scudi when she went away.) ‘Nay,’ said Robert, ‘but you give your money to the war–’ ‘Yes, but I should like to give it for these poor people too!’ So Robert wrote down his name, as a “bambino di dieci anni”. [29]
Tell me how George’s headaches are, dear fellow– What do you think of the frontispiece? [30] Some people here call it like!! Love to dear Minny– May God bless you my own Arabel—
prays your Ba.
Robert is inclined to Sienna– You need’nt be afraid for us—we are as safe as you are. Gordigiani is repainting my picture & this time it will be like, they say. When I say repainting, I mean on the same canvass, but not a line or colour is left the same. He says the sun must have dazzled him before in our rooms– Now he paints in his own studio. [31]
I have never said a word to Wilson about my spirits—mark that I have told only you.
Address: Angleterre– / Miss Moulton Barrett / 7. Delamere Terrace / Harrow Road London.
Publication: EBB-AB, II, 414–421.
Manuscript: Berg Collection.
1. “Here I am.”
2. At Solferino; see letter 4436, note 16.
3. Probably Antonio Carlo Gallenga (1810–95). In a letter to Isa Blagden, dated [3 February 1860], EBB writes of him: “He uses his eyes, hands, experience, to shuffle the cards & cheat the fortunes of his country, at the invitation of a foreign newspaper, the Times” (ms at Fitzwilliam).
4. Giuseppe Maria Garibaldi (1807–82), charismatic, courageous, and highly successful military leader in the Italian wars of independence, was born at Nice on 4 July. With Cavour, Mazzini, and Victor Emmanuel, he is credited with the creation of modern Italy. In the current war, Garibaldi and his volunteers had defeated the Austrians at Casale on 8 May 1859 and at Varese on 26 May. At the time of the armistice (11 July 1859), he was preparing to cross into Austria. In The Times of 20 June 1859, a letter to the editor, signed G.S.L., contained an account of a conversation with Garibaldi that took place on 3 June at his headquarters in Como: “During our long interview he spoke much of passing events (excepting his own share), but without southern gesticulation. He has the calm manner and appearance of the English gentleman and officer; it was only when he spoke of the generous sympathy of the people of England with the sufferings of Italy that his Saxon-like calmness gave away; then, as he assured us again and again, how thoroughly it was appreciated by Italians of every class, and how grateful they were for it, he showed that the warm blood of Italy burned in his veins” (p. 11).
5. “Here is another of those cursed English people.”
6. “The lady is more Italian than I.”
7. “She is very well. And extremely happy.”
8. On 4 June 1859 at Magenta (some 15 miles W. of Milan), a force of approximately 58,000 Austrians was defeated by a nearly equal French force without the assistance of the Piedmontese. The next day the Austrians withdrew from Milan, and most of Lombardy came under French-Piedmontese control.
9. Cf. James Duport (1606–79), Homer Gnomologia (1660), p. 282: “Whom God would destroy He first makes mad.”
11. Presumably “Mr. Perkins’s mother,” as indicated below.
12. Mary Perkins (née Spring, 1824–82), daughter of Marshall Binney Spring (1792–1825), of Watertown, Massachusetts, and his wife, Eliza (née Willing).
13. Elizabeth Greene Doane (née Callahan, formerly Perkins, 1789–1859), daughter of John Callahan (1745–1806) and his wife, Lucretia (née Greene, 1748–1824), had first married in 1812 James Perkins (1791–1828). She married secondly in 1829 George Washington Doane (1799–1859), Episcopal Bishop of New Jersey from 1832 until his death on 27 April 1859.
14. Maria Valentini (née Bonaparte, 1818–74), daughter of Lucien Bonaparte (1775–1840), Prince of Canino and Musignano, and his second wife, Alexandrine de Bleschamp (1778–1855). She married in 1836 Vincenzo Valentini, Conte di Laviano (1808–58).
15. “As said.”
18. Elisa Peruzzi (née Eustaphiephe), daughter of Alessio Eustaphiephe, Russian consul at Boston in the 1820’s, married in 1833 Simone Luigi Peruzzi. According to Sophia Cottrell, both Peruzzis were accomplished musicians and “had musical meetings every fortnight at their house & to them flocked all the great composers & musicians of the day, Paganinni (who Madame Peruzzi constantly accompanied), Chopin to whom she often played, & he to her. … One of Chopin’s posthumous works was dedicated to her” (BSN, 24, May 1997, 39).
19. Neri Corsini, Marquis de Laiatico (1805–59), head of the ancient Florentine family of Corsini, was part of the Tuscan ministry that had demanded the Grand Duke’s abdication at the end of April. He is mentioned in line 29 of “Summing Up in Italy” (Last Poems, 1862); and his wife’s beau geste—dancing with the French soldiers one afternoon in the Cascine to show appreciation for their presence in Florence—is described in EBB’s poem, “The Dance” (Poems Before Congress, 1860). Corsini died of smallpox on 1 December 1859 in London, while representing Tuscany’s provisional government. His son, Tommaso Corsini (1835–1919), Duke of Casigliano, had married Anna Barberini-Colonna di Sciarra (1840–1911) in 1858.
20. Pietro Francesco Corsini (1837–1916), later made an honorary lieutenant colonel by order of the King of Italy (see Annuario della Nobilità Italiana, Pisa, 1880, p. 345).
21. EBB had seen Salvini play the title roles in Othello (see letter 4431, note 1), Torquato Tasso, Abimelech, and Hamlet (see the sixth paragraph in letter 4436).
22. William Wilson (d. 1896, aged 82); see letter 3711, note 1.
23. Probably, a photograph of the Field Talfourd portrait (see letter 4351, note 7).
24. Presumably Ellen Wilson.
25. See the second paragraph in letter 4308.
26. Francis Blake Woodward (1802–66); see letter 3299, note 16.
28. Nevertheless, Stratten’s health continued to deteriorate, and in March 1860 he was forced to resign as pastor of Paddington Chapel.
29. “A child of ten years.”
30. To the fourth edition of Aurora Leigh, published on 1 June. The frontispiece is reproduced facing p. 113.
31. At 44 Via Tedesca (now Via Nazionale), as indicated in the Brownings’ address book of this period (AB-4).
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