4468. EBB to Sarianna Browning
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 26, 251–252.
[Siena]
[ca. 15 August 1859] [1]
Dearest Sarianna, This to certify that I am alive after all—yes, & getting stronger & intending to be strong before long, tho’ the sense left to me is of a peculiar frailty of being—no very marked opinion upon my hold of life. But life will last as long as God finds it useful for myself or others—which is enough,—both for them & me.
So well I was, with all the advantages of Rome in me, looking so well that I was tired of hearing people say so. But, though it may sound absurd to you, it was the blow on the heart about the peace—after all that excitement & exultation .. that walking on the clouds—for weeks or months– And then the sudden stroke & fall .. & the impotent rage against all the nations of the earth .. selfish, inhuman, wicked, .. who forced the hand of Napoleon, & truncated his great intentions. Many young men of Florence were confined to their beds by the emotion of the news. As for me I was struck—could’nt sleep .. talked too much .. & (the intense heat rendering one more susceptible perhaps) at last this bad attack came on. Robert has been perfect to me– For more than a fortnight he gave up all his nights’ rest to me—& even now he teaches Pen. They are well, I thank God. We stay till the end of September– Our Italians have behaved magnificently—steadfast, confident .. never forgetting (except in the case of individuals, of course) their gratitude to France nor their own sense of dignity– Things must end well with such a people. Few would have expected it of the Italians. I hear the French ambassador [2] was present at the opening of the Chambers the other day at Florence—which was highly significant–
I suppose you are by the sea, & I hope you & the dearest nonno are receiving as much good from air & water as you desired. [3] May God bless you both–
Your ever affectionate sister Ba
Publication: LEBB, II, 319–320 (as [July-August 1859]).
Manuscript: Lilly Library.
1. Approximate dating based on EBB’s reference to “the opening of the Chambers the other day at Florence,” an event which occurred on 11 August 1859.
2. Jean Théophile Anne, Marquis de Ferrière le Vayer (1812–64), the French Ambassador at Florence and Parma (1857–60). A dispatch dated 11 August 1859 from Edwin Corbett, secretary of the British Legation at Florence, to Lord John Russell contained the following: “The Members of the Diplomatic body now residing in Florence were formally invited by the Minister for Foreign Affairs to attend the meeting to-day, a place being prepared for us opposite the President’s chair. The French Minister, Sardinian Chargé d’Affaires, and myself, were present” (British and Foreign State Papers. 1858–1859, 1867, p. 155).
3. At Dieppe (see SD2282 and SD2287).
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