437. EBB to Hugh Stuart Boyd
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 3, 2–4.
Hope End.
Saturday night. [14 January 1832] [1]
I send you a list of those letters of Gregory which you have marked. [2]
1. To Seleusius. Did you think it witty? I suppose so,—but the wit seems to me rather rigid & wire drawn.
7. To Basil.
9 To Basil. An affectionate & beautiful letter.
10. To Basil.
15 To the Bishop of Colonne. There is a striking & simple dignity in this letter.
18. To Sophronius on the death of Cæsarius. Pathetic & beautiful.
34. To Gregory Nyssen. I admire it very much.
37 To Greg: Nyss: Very pathetic.
50 To Olympius.
95. To Greg: Nyss:
112 To Pansophius
201– To Thecla–
202. To the same. It is certainly beautiful.
You have also marked the 39th & 40th, which you know, you translated.
Now I will mention some letters which are unmarked, & undeservedly so,—and after all, I am sure that some letters will be unmentioned, & undeservedly so.
25th To Basil.
26– On meeting with an accuser of Basil. The opening is beautiful, but you will be tired before you get to the end.
27– To Basil who seems to have taken offence at some advice of Gregory’s. The first part is extremely touching.
29. To Eusebius. Rather a panegyric than a letter: but an eloquent panegyric.
The last sentence of the 31st very pathetic–
48th to Asterius– Elegant, animated, & ingenious.
49th To Olympius. More oratorical than epistolary—but very fine.
The 59th (To Sophronius) is a touching & affectionate letter,—and the 73d (to Amazonius) an interesting one.
I admire every letter which you have marked; and I hope you will return my compliment. I have done as you desired, as well as I could,—but your ferret was in a hurry today: and (to vary the metaphor) my sieve has holes in it, & has let through several letters, I dare say, which dont deserve to lie among the chaff. But the ennumeration of those with your mark attached to them, is certainly accurate,—& that is the point of consequence.
I had a letter from our dear dear Papa yesterday, beginning “My beloved Ba, cum multis aliis” [3] —written as if he were determined to be in good spirits. He says that he has “tasted so much happiness” with us lately, that it is but fair for him to feel a little of its contrary now. We are to hear tomorrow on what day he returns. Now if he does not return on Tuesday, I think I will not go to you on Monday when Henrietta may want the poney, but on another day when I can have it without inconveniencing anybody. Therefore dont expect me. You cant think how much I was pleased by your seeming to wish me to go to see you again before Papa’s return.
Did I tell you, or not,—for your cholera panic interrupted me,—that I had sent the verses I spoke of, to the Times? They were in today’s paper,—with a motto from Lucretius, [4] which I assure you is enough in itself to give anybody an attack of the real Asiatic. [5] Dont be afraid,—the paper is not going your way!——
I had intended to answer Mrs Boyd’s & Annie’s very kind letters,—but you & Papa have taken to yourselves all my time today. Good bye must be said now,—as it is nearly twelve—so good bye, my dearest friend!–
Yours affectionately
E B Barrett.
Address, on integral page: H S Boyd Esqr / Ruby Cottage / Malvern Wells.
Publication: Diary, pp. 295–297.
Manuscript: Wellesley College.
1. Dated by reference to EBB’s poem in The Times.
2. All the letters mentioned here can be found in de Billy’s 1690 edition of Gregory Nazianzen, between pages 767 and 899 of vol. I.
3. “With many others.”
4. “The Pestilence,” published in The Times, 13 January 1832. The motto, “Nec requies erat ulla mali” (“Nor was there any relief from pain”), is from De Rerum Natura, VI, 1178.
5. A particularly virulent form of cholera.
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