4794. RB to Isa Blagden
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 28, 246–247.
Via Felice, 126.
Wednesday, 12 Dec. [1860] [1]
Dearest Isa,
Here comes your paper [2] with entire success—& you may suppose with what a joy we get our first news of Florence: now do, pray, judge for us—what is best to be done? Will Bettini send the remaining numbers (till Jan. 15) taking the like trouble—which after all is not “la mer à boire” [3] —and would you, in that case, kindly show his simplicity the way of folding & hiding—(all which was so perfectly managed this morning)—or how shall it be? I will incur any expense for the new trouble so occasioned: I write this in great hurry for the old reason of the post-time pressing. We received your most welcome letters yesterday– Ba read the one to herself—and sends truest love & thanks to you. She will write the moment she feels equal to the effort: (she bids me say so this moment—and adds how grateful she will be to receive “more letters”—do oblige her, for my sake too.)
She is much better—still sad enough, but not obstinately refusing to make the proper efforts to attend to other things than her own grief—she is altogether good & dear, and the reward will follow, let us hope.
God bless you, dearest Isa– Goodbye for a little time only, I trust. Love to the Fields, [4] please, from us both.
Ever yours affectionately,
R Browning.
Cartwright only saw Hume at the house of the latter—Blumenthal must have the honor of his friendship: I talked about it to Arthur Russell last night who said nothing was done out of the reach & power of H’s foot, & so on—for the subject is stale now–
Publication: B-IB, pp. 378–379.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.
1. Year provided by RB’s reference to EBB’s condition after the death of Henrietta.
2. La Nazione.
3. Literally “the sea to drink,” or “that difficult.” “Ce n’est pas la mer à boire” is a French expression meaning “it is not that difficult.”
4. Kate Field and her mother, Eliza Field, spent the summer in Leghorn and returned to Florence in October. They were staying in rooms located in the Piazza Pitti.
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