4820. EBB to Jane Wills-Sandford
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 28, 299–301.
Rome. 126 Via Felice–
Tuesday [29] Jany– [1861] [1]
My dearest Jane, dear .. it is not that I forgot you if I have not written—but I have been in heavy, heavy trouble, & cannot speak of it now– You had my few words from Florence! [2] After agonies of suspence came the agonies of certainty– You see by this black paper what came. [3]
And two sad, dreary months of Rome have passed now, & one rolls back into the ruts of life & lives somehow, & tries to get to think of the uses of what one has suffered & of the comfort of what remains. Dont refer to this when you write—for I cannot always bear such references. Tell me rather how you are & how it is with you .. if you have books or other resources, & if you keep in a fixed mind to go back to England next may.
We are in sunny rooms, eighty stairs high, & quiet– I have not been out once since I came, & am depressed in body & mind. The only way is to escape from the small stifling personal life into the larger life—& the great humanity is certainly making conspicuous progress everywhere. I am glad you liked my poems before Congress– There are several more (published in America) which will appear in the second English edition– [4] But mind .. you are to like the emperor– My view is not changed. He struggles with enormous difficulties, his face towards noble aims. The Italians do him justice in the main, & the world will in the end.
As you ask of Penini’s looks & dress, I think I will send you a last spring’s photograph of him & me, which represents him now very fairly– There was a photograph which maligned me rather less, but we have not a copy left, Robert says—so I sacrifice myself that you may see Penini. [5] He rides on his poney, reads Latin with his abbé, & has a little silver watch which “cracks delightfully” when you shut it—and it is considered great glory that “quantities of people on the Pincio” (inclusive of members of the French band) “ask what o’clock it is.” The face is as childlike & flowerlike, as ever,—the curls, though kept closer, are not cut off– But male tastes develop themselves to my alarm– Mayne Reid is the favorite author—& there are no more “poems”– In music however, there continues to be progress. He practises under his father, the daily two hours,—& plays Thalberg & Chopin– He will do something in music.
I do hope you have been tolerably strong since you wrote to me, dearest Jane– I cant bear to hear of your being ill, even though you love me through it.
I love you indeed.
Give Robert’s regards with mine to your sister Ellen– I will give his love (and Pen’s) to you.
Ever yours in true love
EBB.–
Write—do.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.
1. Day and year provided by reference to notes made by Jane Wills-Sandford, giving date of receipt as 6 February 1861 (ms at ABL).
2. This letter has not surfaced.
3. The death of Henrietta Cook.
4. Never issued.
5. The photograph in which both EBB and Pen are seated (variant A); see letter 4680, note 5.
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