4862. Francesco Dall’Ongaro to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 29, 52–53.
Firenze
1 aprile 1861:
Gentilissima donna,
Vi recherà questa lettera, i miei saluti e le mie nuove il Sig. Carlo Grün, [1] uno degli spiriti più colti e più liberali dell’alemagna. Gli eletti ingegni sono sì rari, e tanti ostacoli si frappongono sì sovente fra l’uno e l’altro, che riguardo come un dovere rimovere questi ostacoli e metterli in presenza l’uno dell’altro affinchè i raggi divisi si accentrino, e facciano fiamma. Vi sono fra voi molti punti di contatto, l’amor del bello, del vero, e l’affetto a questa vecchia Italia, patria del pensiero e dell’arte.
Non ho da gran tempo lettere da Parigi, e l’ultime che ricevetti, non contenevano cose sì interessanti ch’io credessi dover farvene parte. [2] La situazione, parmi, si rischiara, e noi ci avviciniamo alla crisi. Voi dite: tutto va bene. Io rispondo tanto meglio. Vedesse Sir John Bowring! [3] Verrà egli presto a Firenze! E voi quando lascerete il Tebro per l’Arno? Se sarà presto vi dispenso dallo scrivermi una lettera, perché potremo contarcela a voce: ma in caso diverso, scrivetemi, ditemi che fate, che pensate, che sperate. Ci sono dieci atmosfere di nebbia fra il ponte vecchio e il ponte Molle. [4] Saluti affetuosi al marito e al bimbo.
F Dall’Ongaro.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Fitzwilliam Museum.
Translation:
Kindest lady,
Mr. Carlo Grün, [1] one of the most cultured and liberal spirits in Germany, will bring you this letter, my regards, my news. The chosen geniuses are so rare, and so many obstacles interposed between them, that I consider it a duty to remove these obstacles and to put one in the presence of the other, in order that the divided rays gather, and make flame. There are many points of contact between you, the love of beauty, of truth, and the affection for this old Italy, fatherland of thinking and art.
I haven’t received letters from Paris for a long time, and the latest ones didn’t contain anything interesting enough that I thought I should make you part of them. [2] The situation, it seems to me, is clearing up, and we are approaching the crisis. You say: all is well. I answer all the better. I wish you could see Sir Bowring! [3] He will soon come to Florence! And you, when are you going to leave the Tiber for the Arno? If it is soon, I’ll excuse you from writing me a letter because, we’ll be able to rely upon the spoken word: but in other case write me, tell me what are you doing, thinking, hoping. There are ten atmospheres of fog between the old bridge and the Molle bridge. [4] Loving regards to your husband and your child.
F Dall’Ongaro.
1. Karl Theodor Ferdinand Grün (1817–87), socialist writer and translator of Pierre Joseph Proudhon.
2. Dall’Ongaro refers to letters from Charles Fauvety (see letter 4616, note 2).
3. John Bowring (1792–1872) called on the Brownings in January (see letter 4813, note 6).
4. Now known as Ponte Milvio, an ancient stone arch bridge over the Tiber. Built in 108 B.C. north of the city walls of Rome, it has been rebuilt and restored several times since, most recently in 1850, a year after Garibaldi blew up part of it in defense of the city.
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