4450. EBB to Sophia Eckley
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 26, 227–228.
[Casa Guidi]
[ca. 23 July 1859] [1]
Dearest Sophie,—dear,– I have your second note & am going to write things which will not please you. First, I have been ill—that is why I did’nt write at once to say ‘Come’– Secondly, Robert in the act of depositing Mr Landor at Siena saw & was so enticed by a certain villa that he has taken it for two months—& we go, in a week, if I am able to move anyhow–
I am much better, understand, and am able to sit up half dressed by my old window– It has been a very bad attack on the chest,—partly from cold, I dare say,—& partly from late excitements acting on the circulation during the extreme heat. For two nights & days I suffered almost strangulation—which is quite passed—only I cant talk, or scarcely speak without being the worse for it & require absolute quiet till change of air can set me right again–
Now what am I to say? It seems wise perhaps that you should not come, if you come for chiefly me– Also the heat is intense & the burning fiery furnace you may not walk in with impunity, though an angel walk at your right hand. [2] All our garments are singed–
If you came, I could not talk– Nor am I very fit to write this—only if Robert wrote, you would think me worse than I am—& I would not have you uneasy. What a pleasure I put away from myself by writing this–
Judge for yourself, dear–
I will write presently to tell you more of the reasons about Siena–
Peni has written his letter instead of his lessons [3] —which exchange he was resolved to wait for you see.
May God bless you & love you. Would’nt it have been well to have died with my Italy? But I hold on to hope, to hope—& this is a growing feeling among the Florentines–
O disgraceful cruel selfishness of the world!–
Your loving Ba.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Berg Collection.
Enclosure:
[Florence]
[ca. 23 July 1859]
My dearest Aunt Sophy
I hope you will forgive me for not having written to you after my promise.
I am so very sorry papa and mama wont go to you, and go to Siena. How is dear Dody? I long to play with him on the mountains, and ride on donkeys or on horses.
Mama today is not atall well. She coughs very much, and has taken some medecine, and she cant hear me any lessons.
It is very hot and I dont know what to do with my self: it is so hard but I cant go out until evening– I think that mama caught cold on the terrace at miss Blagden, and we had not atall a nice time because we came away at eleven with the carriage,—and when we came to the gate of iron which was open, the stupid coachman drove the back wheel against it, and instead of one coming off both came off, and we went back-wards. Luckily I was sitting between them,—for if I had not, I would have broken my nose.
We are all very unhappy except me, about the war, for we cant get any news for the telegraph wires have been broken off by the wicked bad goodfornothing codinis [4] who love the nasty Grandduke!—they say that he is coming to Florence,—but I am sure they wont have him, and I think it would be better if he were not to come because the people say that they will kill him– They have sent to Vittorio Emanuelle to ask him to come here and they are getting the pitti ready incase he would come. I dont believe that Napoleon has been so bad as to do what they say that he has done I dont believe it as I have told you. I hope you will be so kind as to give my best love to dear Mister Eckly—so I think I must end my letter.
your most dearest and affectionate nephew
Penini
P.S. will you be so kind as to remember me to Mrs Tuckerman and write a long letter to me.
1. Approximate dating suggested by EBB’s reference to leaving for Siena “in a week.” The Brownings arrived there on 30 July.
3. See enclosure.
4. Sic, for codini; “reactionaries” (see letter 3340, note 20).
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