Correspondence

4985.  RB to Coventry Patmore

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 29, 253.

1. Chichester Road,

Upper Westbourne Terrace

Thursday Mg [?November] [1861] [1]

Dear Patmore,

Take with all my heart whatever you want, & treat it as you propose. I looked thro’ the Proof to make it less unworthy the taking. [2]

I shall be very happy to see you & Mrs Patmore whenever it may be my good fortune. There is a book of yours still at Chapman’s with other things of mine– I sent for it some days ago, but will thank you now, & enjoy it presently [3]

Ever yours truly

Robert Browning.

Envelope: Offered for sale by Arthur Rogers, Catalogue 85, item 269. It is described as “black-edged” and addressed to Patmore at the British Museum.

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Boston College.

1. Conjectural dating based on RB’s reference to Patmore’s forthcoming book (see note 2 below).

2. RB refers to The Children’s Garland from the Best Poets (1862), selected and arranged by Coventry Patmore, which was issued by Macmillan and Co. in late December 1861. Patmore included one poem from EBB, “The Romance of the Swan’s Nest” (pp. 320–322) and three from RB, “How They Brought the Good News from Ghent to Aix” (pp. 38–40), “Home-Thoughts, from Abroad” (p. 88), and “The Pied Piper of Hamelin” (pp. 150–158). A copy inscribed by RB, “With Papa’s love to dearest Peni. London. Jan. 22. ’62,” sold as lot 569 in Browning Collections (see Reconstruction, A1821).

3. Patmore’s book waiting at Chapman’s was probably Faithful for Ever (1860). See Reconstruction, A1822.

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