4526. RB to Emelyn Story

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 27, 46.

[Florence]

(Friday) Nov. 25. [1859] [1]

Dear Mrs Story,

You will have got my letter,—sent the day before yesterday, when I received your kind note. The weather has broken up at last—we hope & will, at least, endeavour, to leave on Sunday or Monday at latest. I have only time to renew truest thanks & to beg that you will send the lascia-passare [2] to the Frontier (somewhere by Radicofani), [3] as well as to the Gate. We shall try to bring Pen’s poney with us—if that be difficult, we shall send him slowly—but can any “order” do anything for us should we bring him?

You know how much we thank you, how much we desire to see & be with you. We go to the Hotel d’Angleterre—unless some such clear good fortune in the way of a House as it would be worth your while to mention in a note, left for us at the Gate, should render it needless.

Ever yours, in utmost haste lest a minute of the morning be lost, with Ba’s love to all,

Faithfully ever

Robert Browning.

Publication: BAF, pp. 56–57.

Manuscript: University of Texas.

1. Year based on RB’s references to the Brownings’ plans for their trip to Rome.

2. “Pass”; see letter 4522, note 4.

3. A small fortified hill town, near the southeastern border of Tuscany.

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