4460. RB to Isa Blagden
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 26, 238–239.
Siena,
Aug. 7. ’59.
Dearest Isa,
Ba is certainly better—has far less cough, gets slowly but decidedly stronger. She takes no solid food yet—except a canary-bird’s allowance of toast at breakfast: she cannot walk alone from chair to sofa—but still she is better & sits here by my side in a wide blowy room in a delicious silence: she can’t write, can’t hear Peni his lessons, can’t see anyone—has not seen one of the kind Storys after that night of the arrival. The weather has been abundantly hot here, no doubt, but this Villa is capitally ventilated & I don’t think we should have been better, if so well off, in any other place. Ba sends her truest love to you—she can’t write—even to her sisters who will be wondering. We shall look forward with such delight to your next letter, which indeed, if you don’t fail us, will be despatched this day. By the bye—please bid Ansano shake the dolt heads at the Post who, I know, forget to send my letters; such as are directed to Casa Guidi arrive redirected hither by Wilson, but whatever goes to the Post stays there, apparently.
Have you seen Gordigiani? Explain why Ba was unable to go & see my picture. Another thing: my heart sinks within me at the remembrance of Mr Burridge—so kind to us at Rome—will you tell him, should he arrive at Florence before us, that he promised to call on us there, and did not?
I found Mr Landor happy, quiet, liker his old self than when you saw him: his three weeks stay at the Storys, who have treated him most kindly, enable one to dispose very summarily of the assurances of Mrs Landor that he is mad, ungovernable & so on: they all are agreed that never was any guest so easily manageable, so little disposed to give trouble, so readily pleased as Mr Landor: we installed him yesterday in a pleasant little Apartment in a Villa hardly a stone’s cast off: [1] he will stay there till I have arranged every thing with his English relatives & completely baffled those purest & simplest specimens of “canaille” [2] that it was ever my misfortune to see: he reads Rousseau, does justice to the newspaper, & tosses off an Alcaic from time to time—may his shadow never be less! as I judge it will not speedily be, from the appetite he favoured an omelette with this morning. “The plate was large, the eggs were four, He breakfasted—there was no more!” nor more paper to celebrate his other doings so God bless you, dearest Isa– Give both our loves to Miss Field, and kind regards to the Doctor, [3] & know me for
your affectionately ever, RB.
We hold you to your promise of coming—but when Ba can enjoy it & when you can stay for longer than a “day & a night”.
Publication: B-IB, pp. 222–223.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.
1. Villa Graziani.
2. “Scoundrel.”
3. Dr. Gryzanowski (see letter 4445, note 10).
___________________
