4457. RB to Sophia Eckley
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 26, 234–235.
Siena, Villa Alberti, Marciano.
Tuesday, Aug. 2. ’59.
My dear Mrs Eckley,
I write on the part of Ba to tell you how she has borne the journey. Her suffering from that cough was extreme for the last day or two of our stay in Florence, and her weakness so great that I scarcely saw the possibility of transporting her to Siena: as, however, she had a strong impression that no change for the better would take place in her state until she was removed from Florence, I resolved on making the experiment: she had never gone out of the two rooms. On Saturday evening we managed to arrive here with the greatest difficulty: we spent two days in that apartment we all occupied a few months ago at the Aquila Nera [1] —and yesterday evening ended so far our troubles as it brought us to this Villa: I should have mentioned that Dr Grisanowsky followed us here by the next train, and stayed two days at our Hôtel—most kind & zealous in his endeavours to do good—but very little good seems likely to be done by doctoring. Last night, in spite of the fresh air, which we had counted on as the remedy for that inability to breathe which causes such distress, Ba did not close her eyes the whole of the night—coughing almost without intermission;—at about 5 in the morning she seemed overcome by complete exhaustion and slept a little: she is now, I venture to think, better & a little stronger—having taken a cup of broth: the cough has subsided, she is dressed & sitting in a chair in the drawingroom, enjoying the fine wind that is blowing the curtains about beautifully. The Villa is not the “Bargagli” which I supposed I had taken,—the proprietor of that raised his demands, and I took the opportunity of remaining free to choose on our arrival. Dr Grisanowsky preferred on the whole this villa—which is much smaller, cheaper, and less pretentious—but very airy and sufficiently comfortable. The Story’s have been unremitting in their kindness. I am very glad that we decided to come here—as the one reason which induced us to leave Florence, the wish to be cool, will probably be better attained here than elsewhere: I have a dread of the damp dead heat I remember at Lucca in the middle of the day. Let Ba but get well & strong, as I trust will soon be the case, & I shall be thankful to Siena indeed. I write this as rapidly as possible in the hope that I may be able to get it sent by to-day[’]s post. Ba bids me send her best love to you, to David & to Miss Eckley & Doady. Pen associates himself with us both in all this affectionateness.
I shall write again in a day or two—& soon, I hope, Ba will write for herself. This has been a sad interruption to her continued increase of health & strength since the spring. Good bye, now—kindest love to dear David from
Yours ever faithfully,
Robert Browning.
Publication: NL, pp. 120–121.
Manuscript: Berg Collection.
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