4855. EBB to Sarianna Browning
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 29, 36–41.
[Rome]
[ca. 25] [March 1861] [1]
We take ourselves to be dismally aggrieved, ever dearest Sarianna, by your criticisms on our photographs. After deep reflection I cant help feeling sure (against Robert’s impression) that he sent you .. not the right one, but one which has undeniably a certain “grin”. I prevail with him to let you have the two-third likeness this time, in order to decide the point. [2] If you keep your opinion, why then all artistic Rome is against you without exception– Nobody likes the sepia coloured thing of last year in comparison. [3] Every album in Rome gives up its dead & insists on the new likeness– Not only is it considered more like, but so infinitely superior in expression & poetical convenance, that it ought to be more like. So everybody thinks. With regard to the head, I am of opinion that the head is beautiful, & the eyes singularly full of expression for photographed eyes—but there may be more difference of opinion about the head. The two-third view you certainly cant have seen. Why, we had even resolved (as we could’nt hope to grow younger) to stand or fall with posterity by this production. Ecco!– [4]
As to age .. no!,—its cruel of you to talk so. Robert’s beard was tolerably white when he was in Paris last, and in fact his moustache is less so than the rest,—therefore there cant be, & is’nt in this respect so rapid a “decline & fall” in his appearance. The clipping of the side-whiskers which are very grey, is an advantage .. and as to the hair, it is by no means cut short– “Like an epicier”? [5] —no indeed. The epicier is bushy & curley about the ears, (see an example in Galignani’s) & moreover will keep the colour of the curl “if he dyes for it” .. an extremity to which Robert & I will never be driven, .. having too much the fear of attentive friends & affectionate biographers before our eyes, .. as suggested by poor Balzac’s– But Robert is looking remarkably well & young .. in spite of all lunar lights in his hair. Though my hair keeps darker (with a certain sprinkle however underneath which forces its way outwards) I would willingly change on the whole, with him, if he were not my own Robert– He is not thin or worn, as I am—no indeed,—and the women adore him everywhere far too much for decency. In my own opinion he is infinitely handsomer & more attractive than when I saw him first sixteen years ago .. which does not mean as much as you may suppose, that I myself am superannuated & wholly anile & incompetent therefore for judgment. No indeed. I believe people in general would think the same as I do.
And as to the modelling .. well, I told you that I grudged a little the time from his own particular art—and that is true. But it does not do to dishearten him about his modelling. He has given a great deal of time to anatomy with reference to the expression of form—& the clay is only the new medium which takes the place of drawing. Also, Robert is peculiar in his ways of work as a poet– I have struggled a little with him on this point—for I dont think him right—that is to say, it would’nt be right for me,—& I heard the other day that it would’nt be right for Tennyson. Tennyson is a regular worker, shuts himself up daily for so many hours– And we are generally so made that a regular hour is good even for so uncertain an influence as mesmerism– But Robert waits for an inclination .. works by fits & starts .. he cant do otherwise, he says. Then reading hurts him– As long as I have known him he has not been able to read long at a time—he can do it now better than in the beginning of time. The consequence of which is that he wants occupation, & that an active occupation is salvation to him with his irritable nerves—saves him from ruminating bitter cud, & from the process which I call beating his dear head against the wall till it is bruised, simply because he sees a fly there,—magnified by his own two eyes, almost indefinitely into some Saurian monster. He has an enormous superfluity of vital energy, & if it is’nt employed, it strikes his fangs into him. He gets out of spirits as he was at Havre– Nobody understands exactly why,—except me who am in the inside of him & hear him breathe– For the peculiarity of our relation is, that even when he’s displeased with me, he thinks aloud with me & cant stop himself–. And I know intimately that whatever takes him out of a certain circle (where habits of introvision & analysis of fly-legs are morbidly exercised) is life & joy to him– I wanted his poems done this winter very much—& here was a bright room with three windows consecrated to use. But he had a room all last summer, & did nothing. Then, he worked himself out by riding for three or four hours together—there has been little poetry done since last winter, when he did much. [6] He was not inclined to write this winter. The modelling combines body-work & soul-work, .. & the more tired he has been, the more his back ached, poor fellow, the more he has exulted & been happy—“no, nothing ever made him so happy before”—also the better he has looked & the stouter grown. So I could’nt be much in opposition against the sculpture. I could’nt in fact at all. He has the material for a volume, & will work at it this summer, he says. His power is much in advance of Strafford, which is his poorest work of all– Oh, the brain stratifies & matures creatively, even in the pauses of the pen–
At the same time his treatment in England affects him naturally—& for my part I set it down as an infamy of that public—no other word– He says he has told you some things you had not heard, & which I acknowledge I always try to prevent him from speaking of to anyone– I wonder if he has told you besides (no, I fancy not) that an English lady of rank, [7] an acquaintance of ours (observe that!) asked, the other day, the American minister, [8] whether “Robert was not an American.” The minister answered—“Is it possible that you ask me this? Why there is not so poor a village in the United States, where they would not tell you that Robert Browning was an Englishman, & that they were very sorry he was not an American.”
Very pretty of the American minister .. was it not?—& literally true besides.
I have been meditating, Sarianna dear, whether we might not make our summer out at Fontainbleau, in the picturesque part of the forest. It would be quiet, & not very dear– And we might dine together & take hands as at Havre—for we will all insist on Robert’s doing the hospitality. I confess to shrinking a good deal about the noise of Paris– We might try Paris later. What do you say– The sea is so very far—it is such a journey—it looks so to me just now– And the south of France is very hot .. as hot as Italy—besides making you pay greatly “for your whistle”– Switzerland would increase both expenses & journey for everybody. Fontainbleau is said to be delicious in the summer, & if you dont mind losing your sea-bathing, it might answer– Arabel wants me to go to England—but .. as I did not last year .. my heart & nerves revolt from it now. Besides we belong to the nonno & you this summer. Arabel can & I dare say, will join us. And Milsand? You say “once in three years”– Not quite so I think. In any case, it has been far worse with some of mine. All the days of the three times of meeting in fourteen years, can only be multiplied together into three weeks, .. and this after a life of close union!– Also, it was not her fault– She had not pecuniary means– [9]
I am bitter against myself for not having gone to England for a week or two, in the Havre year– I could have done it. Robert would have let me. But now, no more.
It was the war the year before last, & my unsteadiness of health last year which kept us from our usual visit to you– This time we shall come.
Only we shall avoid the Alps, coming & going, .. out of prudence. Then, for next winter, we return to Rome.
I am grieved that the change in the M. Chronicle should be likely to unhorse Mr Corkran,—but it may not after all, .. & from what I hear, he is likely to be paid. A friend of ours, [10] who is a correspondent & knows a good deal of persons & things in that connection, has no fear of not being paid,—& somebody offered him fifteen shillings in the pound, in the moment of most doubt. He does’nt believe any of your gossip, & gives me very distinct reasons (for instance) why the Emperor may be set down as having nothing to do with the affair. Let him have as much to do as possible, however, his having “a good heart” as you state it, would’nt make him omniscient in the head—so as to be answerable for such things. The editor of the paper was Thornton Hunt– De Lille was the proprietor– [11] His family is known to my friend (a highly honorable Englishman) who doubts the whole slander about the lady. [12] The object of the change is to make a “penny-paper” of the journal—simply that. [13] My friend continues his engagement to a certain time, after which his doing so will depend both on the line taken in politics & the sufficiency of the pay– This journal has always been shaky on its legs—& he joined it, for love of Italy chiefly.
Why do you believe all the small gossip set in movement by the Emperor’s enemies, in Paris, against his friends,—as in foreign countries, against himself? Its a league of lies against him & his. “Intriguing lacqueys”– Thats a sweeping phrase for all persons of distinction in France, except members of the opposition. That men like De Morny & Walewski [14] may speculate unduly, I dont doubt, but even the Times says now that these things have been probably exaggerated– [15] I have heard great good of both those men. As to Prince Napoleon .. he has spoken like a man & a prince. We are at his feet here in Italy. Tell our dear friend Milsand that I read the seventeen columns of the speech in the Moniteur: Robert said “magnificent”– I had tears in my eyes. There may have been faults in the P.’s private life .. & may be still– Where is a clean man? But for the rest, he has done & spoken worthily .. & what is better, we have reason to believe here that the Emperor sympathizes with him wholly. Odo Russell knows the prince—says that he is ‘petillant d’esprit’ [16] & has great weight with the Emperor. We have heard curious things from men who come straight from the Tuilleries. Napoleon simply desires time. But his will with regard to Italy has never faltered from first to last. He is in the den of beasts just now—but the tigers of this coalition of opposition, wont fix their teeth in him, for all that. He has the people behind him & he feels it. Of course I have been very anxious, for all that.
Pen has played Cupid to Psyche, since I wrote last .. with a garland of roses, & no stockings. The Psyche was a very pretty little girl. He is quite well, & gets on with his Latin, tell Nonno. Dear dearest Nonno—did he cry, thinking of Pen? May God forbid that unimaginable grief.
Not a word more– Too many to be read already.
Our love with both of you always & from your
ever & very affectionate
sister Ba–
No—we dont agree about your photograph– You might have fifty taken, & none so free from black lines, nor so characteristic in attitude. Isa Blagden & the Storys both thought it very satisfactory, they who remembered you– And to ourselves, it was so quite. The eyes, like the eyes of most photographs are the weak point—but one cant expect eyes.
Address, in RB’s hand: À Mademoiselle / Madlle Browning, / 151. Rue de Grenelle, / Faubourg St Germain, / Paris.
Publication: LEBB, II, 433–437 (in part).
Manuscript: Lilly Library.
1. Dating based on a Paris postmark of 1 April 1861.
2. EBB’s mention of the “two-third likeness” here and the “two third other” in letter 4857 indicates there were four photographs of RB made by the Alessandri brothers in early February 1861. However, we have been unable to trace the “two-third likeness.” Three photographs from the February session are reproduced in vol. 28, facing p. 304.
3. The photograph taken in January 1860; it is reproduced in vol. 27, facing p. 144.
4. “Behold.”
5. “Grocer.”
6. See the third to last paragraph in letter 4671.
7. Unidentified.
8. John Potter Stockton (1826–1900); see letter 4628, note 7.
9. EBB refers to her sister Henrietta.
10. Edward Dicey.
11. Henry Alfred Delille (1830–90), American journalist, and his wife, Olive (née Logan, 1839–1909), travelled to Europe in 1857 and established a residence in Paris. We have been unable to confirm that Delille was the owner of The Morning Chronicle. According to an item in The Morning Chronicle of 22 February (p. 6), Delille served as the newspaper’s correspondent in Italy during the second war of Italian Independence.
12. Presumably Mrs. Delille.
13. In “Side-Lights on the Second Empire,” The Fortnightly Review, 56, New Series (1 October 1894), William Graham provides a brief sensational history of the newspaper from 1856 to 1862: “The Morning Chronicle was subsidised by Napoleon III. from 1856 to 1859, and during that time the proprietor was a Mr. George Moore. In 1859, my friend [who wishes to remain nameless], purchased it for the Emperor … he carried it on for three years with Mr. Thornton Hunt … as sub-editor until 1860. Napoleon III. owned the Morning Chronicle until its purchase by a Mr. Thompson, a paper-manufacturer, to whom he was induced to sell it, owing to representations from the Duc de Persigny, then French Ambassador to the Court of St. James, that his ownership was becoming too much of a secret de Polichinelle [open secret]” (p. 512).
14. Comte Walewski (1810–68), former French foreign minister; since 1860, minister of state. Comte de Morny (1811–65); see letter 4022, note 2.
15. France’s legislative chambers, the Senate and the Corps Legislatif, had recently been allowed greater freedom to criticize the government. An editorial in The Times of 15 March 1861 commented on the resulting speeches: “Still, bitter as has been the attack on his person and his Government, we think the Emperor of the French has no reason to regret that he has taken the people into his counsels, and given them the opportunity of expressing, in the most unreserved manner, their hopes and their fears, their hatreds and their predilections, their friendships and their animosities. Certainly, a great many of the speeches display neither reason nor moderation. Facts have been ludicrously misstated, opinions grotesquely distorted, and everything has been regarded through the refracting medium of nine years of compulsory and burning silence” (p. 9).
16. “Sparkling with wit.”
___________________
