4446. EBB to Isa Blagden
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 26, 221–222.
[Florence]
Monday Morng [18 July 1859] [1]
Thank you, ever dearest Isa, for letting me see it. In spite of all which is excellent I take courage to make criticisms– Observe you should write
The Actual to the Possible Best–
because the actual is always the possible .. must be .. dont you see– Then I think you might by just a few changes prevent a little involvement of phrase– Then ‘anarchy’ you cant have– It must be anarchists. You can alter it easily—“would” not being necessary.
Also for the sake of avoiding the recurrence of the second person singular .. Thou Corsica—I would put it–
“O Corsica” & afterwards,
‘What fires live in its soil’–
As the poem is to be only translated most of these things are of small consequence—but I think the ‘Corsica’ should be seen to–
How impertinent– Only I want for all our sakes that the poem should be as good as you can make it. [2]
For mine, I have not courage yet .. till I see farther.
Not that I have not faith in him, [3] but the world is so bad,—and if he yields to it .... well! we shall see.
I am glad to find from the Genovese papers that the resolution is to draw the alliance with France closer than ever, in order to overcome ‘questa vecchia politica’ [4] which has done so much harm. This proves that he is not distrusted. The King also uses the old terms of honor in speaking of him.
It is said to be an intrigue Prussio-inglese: russo——and they add that the English change of policy was more apparent than real.
What curses, we have drawn down on us from this people–
Still, there is plainly a margin in respect to Venice[.] [5]
Robert has’nt returned yet, but will certainly in the course of the day– [6]
Oh Isa—how vexed I am that you wont come tonight. But if you can!
Yet really it seems cruel to ask you to our fiery furnace without the angel. [7]
What heat! Last night, there was rather more air however to welcome the coming mosquitos.
Robert took Lui et elle with him– [8]
Love me always as I do tenderly love you–
Ba–
Publication: B-IB, pp. 219–220.
Manuscript: Fitzwilliam Museum.
1. Date provided by EBB’s reference to RB’s trip to Siena (see letter 4445).
2. The few words and phrases provided in this letter do not occur in any of Isa Blagden’s known poetry, nor have we been able to identify them elsewhere.
3. Napoleon III.
4. “This old policy.”
6. From escorting Walter Savage Landor to Siena (see letter 4445).
7. An allusion to the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Nebuchadnezzar’s “fiery furnace”; see Daniel 3:15–28.
8. Lui et elle (1859) by Paul de Musset is a reply to George Sand’s Elle et lui (1859); both are concerned with the love affair between Sand and Alfred de Musset, Paul’s younger brother.
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