4676. EBB to Isa Blagden
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 28, 18–20.
Rome–
Wednesday. [30 May 1860] [1]
My dearest dear Isa, I must write to you, I am so vexed about Chapman & the novel, [2] & so sure that you are vexed about it my Isa– Now, dont lose heart, dear. ‘Jane Eyre’ was rejected of publishers all round, yet had the success we know. [3] I want you to get somebody to go about with the m∙s. undauntedly from door to door—there’s no personal humiliation in it—you are not known– Try Routledge, [4] especially– Chapman & Hall are remarkable, as I have heard, for airs, & for choosing to serve ready-made-up authors. Try Routledge, Smith & Elder perhaps, & the rest– Dont be daunted. Its a good occasion for a story on an Italian subject, & I cant believe but what your book has a better right to stand on its feet than an armful of such books as I could mention–
At the same time, if there’s anything offensive to English “respectability,” I would sweep that away, because it would be a decided obstacle to anything like a success on the part of a new writer & his publisher– People taboo such books—they dont get admittance to book-clubs, or circulating libraries, or anything else that makes a sale– Mudie grows moody over them– I am perfectly aware that Aurora Leigh had a strong point of disadvantage in this subject, & would have centupled her popularity, had she walked another road. You see, Isa, we combine in England the different graces of a rare degree of immorality with a still rarer degree of hypocrisy– No country in the world is distinguished by so many prudes & so many .... fetch me the other thing which begins with a p. [5] This preserves the balance of powers; & educates our national sense of justice to the proud eminence which is so patent to all of us.
Then, as you are beginning life & authorship, I would not offend the conventions of men & booksellers more than I could help. Nothing is gained by it
<…> [6]
yesterday he had mustard poultices on the feet—he was very unwell. Decidedly gastric symptoms. Whether from the sun or some ‘colpo d’aria,’ [7] we cant say–
Still, I hope & trust, it is arrested in its course, & that we shall leave Rome next monday as we talk of doing–
Too late to see Miss Cobbe—that, I am very sorry for—but too late to see … certain other persons, [8] .. which will go far to console me for the other negation.
Then shall I not see Isa? There’s an affermative [sic] for me, ripe with joy–
Here Pantaleoni interrupted me– Thank God– Pen is all right he says– Fever gone– He may take his soup in peace, & nobody need be uneasy any more. Only in the evening, we are to apply mustard to the feet again, lest there should be a return of fever at night—which he believes to be very improbable, however–
Pantaleoni having a third son, [9] I enquired if his wife would not rather have had a daughter. “Not at all,” he says: “And this son, like the two others, is to be christened Vittorio Emanuele.” There’s loyalty for you. Three Victor Emanuels in a house! though of course the children have other distinguishing names– The baby of this morning, besides the dignity of his name, is to have Azeglio for a godfather. There’s glory for you,—in swaddling clothes!
Our Abbé is to be at Siena on the tenth of July, ready to sieze on his pupils– Poor little Pen– In examining his Latin writing-book yesterday, I came upon a phrase written in Latin by his own hand in a gap between his set exercises, to this effect, .. “Behold Edith, the virgin distinguished for beauty, & most amiable.” “Who showed you how to write that,” said I, “Pen”? “I showed myself– I did it out of my own head– I remembered the words out of different lessons.” —And sure enough, written under this Latin, was an Italian phrase by the same hand– “Questo è la verità–” [10]
I could’nt help laughing, though poor little Pen was very unwell at the moment of this revelation yesterday– He is devoted to Edith. <***>
Publication: B-IB, pp. 354–356.
Manuscript: Fitzwilliam Museum.
1. Dated by EBB’s mention of leaving Rome “next monday”; that is, 4 June 1860.
2. Agnes Tremorne (1861).
3. It was published in 1847 by Smith, Elder & Co., who later published Agnes Tremorne.
5. EBB may have in mind “prostitutes.”
6. A folded sheet, consisting of four pages, is missing.
7. “Draft.”
8. i.e., the Eckleys.
9. Raoul (1860–1904). The Pantaleonis’ two other sons were Maffeo (1857–1924) and Guido (1858–1948).
10. “This is the truth.”
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