4937. RB to Sarianna Browning
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 29, 191–192.
Florence,
July 22. ’61.
Dearest,
I still remain here—having been detained for no better reason than that a little picture is being painted of the interior of our old drawing room just as she disposed it and left it. [1] I tried to get it photographed, but without success: this is being done so perfectly as to render my stay well worth while; the room has not an inch in it without a memory for me, and now that I go away it will be invaluable: it will be finished tomorrow and I hope to leave on Saturday next: I will write the last thing.
On asking Miss Blagden what letter you could have referred to, “wishing you to go to Florence”, I find that she wrote to you on her own responsibility on Wednesday 3d and, knowing I would not have allowed it, would not ask for your address, but directed to “R de Grenelle” simply—most fortunately it never reached you—there was no imaginable good you could have done and every possible evil to Papa & me. But you must not blame dear warmhearted Isa who got needlessly frightened—the fact was, I stayed here, as was right till Tuesday evening. I then became ill of course, and had one or two sort of choking-fits unpleasant enough—in the afternoon of Tuesday, however I found myself of a sudden with my head on the table & sense out of it for some few moments, and I at once walked up to her Villa, and took physic: in the night I had a couple more closings of the throat, or something of the kind, and I really thought I might not get thro’ the next—so I told her two or [three] things necessary to be known for Peni, and consequently, more at ease about that, got safely thro the night, took more physic and was soon better & well. If the worst had happened you would have been utterly unable to help ten or eleven days after, I think! But people may be forgiven the blunderings of real love & indeed devotion. I am quite well now, understand– Pen has always been so: what you say about the time when the loss would have been most felt is quite true. He has known nothing but extreme affection & indulgence, and these do not stop now. What I lose is another thing. And for Pen, it can’t be helped—a woman ought to be center of a home, but God has not allowed it here. I must keep up her influence, refer him to her books & life as much as I can.
I this minute get a note from Rome: Signor Benzoni, [2] probably before this reaches you, will deliver to you the Packed Negative of the Photograph taken in Rome a week before we left—about a month before the end—and perfect. [3] Don’t touch it,—there is nothing to pay: you will see its value when you see it. There was no way of sending it to me, but it is better so. [4]
Arrange just as you like about a seacoast place—of course all will be at my expense—some quiet place. Is Bretagne impossibly far. —Do as you like.
Tell dear Milsand what a joy it will be for me to see him: thank him for his dear letter to me.
God bless you and dearest Papa.
I am ever yours affectionately
Robert Browning.
I tell people to direct letters to you for me. I repeat, I will write the last thing.
Address: France. / Mademoiselle Browning / 151. Rue de Grenelle, Faubg St Germ. / Paris.
Publication: NL, pp. 140–141.
Manuscript: Lilly Library.
1. By George Mignaty (1824–95), a Greek artist, resident in Florence. The painting, in oil, is reproduced as the frontispiece to this volume.
2. Probably Giovanni Maria Benzoni (1809–73), Roman neoclassical sculptor, who is listed in Murray’s at “No. 73, Vicolo del Borghetto” (A Handbook of Rome and Its Environs, 1862, p. 285).
3. This photograph, which shows EBB standing with hands together (variant B) and which RB also deems “perfect” in letter 4942, is reproduced facing p. 176.
4. RB was concerned that the glass negative would be damaged (see letter 4957). However, it arrived intact and was still in RB’s possession as of 25 April 1871 (letter to Isa Blagden, ms at ABL).
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