4443. EBB to Sophia Eckley
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 26, 215–216.
Casa Guidi–
Friday. [8 July 1859] [1]
Dearest Sophie, I wont wait a moment to tell you how tenderly I feel for this great affliction which has fallen on you from above– [2] From above, dear .. that fact contains all the comfort.
But why not send your letters to me directly? [3] The one I have just received is dated tuesday, and here is friday .. four days .. and you may have fancied that I have put off writing to you—a fancy which would be a sort of treason to my love for you & anxiety about you under the present sad circumstances.
No, I write to you directly, ten minutes after hearing that you are unhappy—and better be brief as this note must be, than silent longer than is necessary, when one word, as well as many, can assure you of sympathy & love–
Dear, dear, how it grieves me that you should be so grieved– Only, after the first pang, is there not, even to your wounded heart, large ground of consolation in the circumstances themselves? Taken not from a clear healthy life of uninterrupted growth, but from a broken twilight unequal life, your dear sister has gone where she can live more calmly, largely, intensely– The exchange is even more in her favor than is usual with those who ‘depart & are no longer seen’– You ought to be satisfied, I think,—I seriously think so. You ought not to mourn as for a wrong, when simply a soul so deeply beloved by you is righted– To “see face to face”! [4] For those of us who see most distinctly here through the veil, the change must be full of joy,—but for her, seeing with a confused vision .. what a pouring in of light & satisfaction!
And, dear, keep your mind still—there is probably not much, probably nothing, for you to hear .. since she was ill before. Keep your mind calm, lift it to a higher plane by prayer. She is nearer you, you know, than she would be if alive. Do not disturb her where she is, by unreasonable sadness,—but rather by faith & assurance draw her ‘nearer & nearer’. And still nearer, till the re-union for ever.
You will not need to be reminded also, how you ought to be generous at this time, and think a little of those around you who, I am sure, think only of you. There is dear Mr Eckley, & dear Fanny, & dear Doady—you must put the light in the old home windows for them, & not let them lose their way in the wood.
Let me tell you how we all think Do’s writing improved– It must be pleasant to you to recognize so much progress– Pen will write back to him–
But my Peni has not been well– Quite unwell for two days, he was, with diar[r]hœa,—but Robert who went out for a doctor & could’nt get one (we are left to cure ourselves at Florence just now) found him so much better on his return that we needed none. Today he is at lessons again—perfectly convalescent– It was a complication of an excess of fruit & sun, I fancy—& the heat has been & is frightful– How we shall be able to hold out I dont know–
You received my letter, I hope .. with a note from Robert to dear Mr Eckley–
May God bless you & keep you my Sophie, & hold you up with His tenderly human hands–
Yours in truest love & sympathy–
Ba.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Berg Collection.
1. Date provided by EBB’s reference to letter 4442 and to RB’s accompanying note “to dear Mr. Eckley.”
2. The death of Mrs. Eckley’s half-sister, Hannah Parkman Mason (née Tuckerman, 1805–59), daughter of Edward Francis Tuckerman III (1775–1843) and his first wife, Hannah (née Parkman, 1777–1814). She died in Manhattan of consumption on 7 June.
3. Mrs. Eckley used the services of Fenzi & Co. for sending correspondence (see letter 4436, note 15).
4. Cf. I Corinthians 13:12.
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