4459. RB to John Forster
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 26, 238.
[Siena]
[6 August 1859] [1]
<***> Landor has to-day completed a three weeks’ stay with the Storys. They declare most emphatically that a more considerate, gentle, easily-satisfied guest never entered their house. They declare his visit has been an unalloyed delight to them; and this, quite as much from his gentlemanliness and simple habits, and evident readiness to be pleased with the least attention, as from his conversation, which would be attractive under any circumstances. An intelligent friend [2] also, on a visit to them, bears witness to the same effect. They perceive indeed, though not affecting themselves, inequalities of temper in him; but they all agree that he may be managed with the greatest ease by “civility” alone. <***>
Text: John Forster, Walter Savage Landor, a Biography (London, 1869), II, 565.
1. Date provided by RB’s reference to Landor’s “three weeks’ stay with the Storys.” RB had escorted the old poet to Siena on 17 July. On 6 August, RB moved Landor to Villa Graziana, just across the road from the Brownings’ villa (see the following letter and Appendix IV).
2. Presumably, Hamilton Gibbs Wild (see letter 4499, note 2).
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