4915. RB to William Wetmore Story & Emelyn Story
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 29, 160–161.
[Florence]
Sunday, 6½. [23 June 1861] [1]
Dear Friends,
I meant to go down to you to-day and thank you, better than by words, for your photographs & the note,—but Ba, who caught cold in some strange way two days ago, suddenly became much worse—& last night was alarmingly attacked by the old obstruction at the chest– I had to fetch a Doctor [2] in the middle of the night who stayed with us till morning,—it really seemed as if she would be strangled on the spot,—& that for six hours together! At five oclock she began to get thro’ it, and since then has been much better. I shall be forced to leave this burning place as soon as she is able—where do you go? I will write to-morrow and tell you how she is. In your letter you incline to Viareggio,—do you? Or the old Siena? Or the Baths? Or any place up in the mountains, such as Covigliajo, [3] 30 miles hence on the Bologna mountain, said to be cold as Switzerland, with one inn & no resources beyond its romantic scenery. Let us be together if we can. I will send your letter this evening (to the D. di C.) [4] Such a fright this attack has been—suppose we had been pleasantly travelling! This is scribbled to save the post. All love to you all, Ba bids me say
Yours affy ever
R Browning.
Publication: BAF, pp. 72–73.
Manuscript: University of Texas.
1. Dated by reference to letter 4921, in which RB describes EBB’s final illness and death.
2. Dr. Wilson.
3. Covigliajo is described in Murray’s as having “a very comfortable inn, much more so indeed than the traveller has a right to expect in such a situation; from its great elevation the climate is very cold, and warm clothing is at all seasons advisable” (Handbook for Travellers in Northern Italy, 1860, p. 497).
4. The Duchess of Casigliano (see letter 4438, note 19).
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