5019. RB to Isa Blagden
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 30, 31–33.
1. Chichester Road,
Upper Westbourne Terrace.
Thursday, Feb. 6. ’62
Dearest Isa,
Have you fancied me remiss or unkind in delaying my answer so long? I have the usual excuses to make & one beside—that I fancied I could not fail to hear from you again with the information from Florence of which I am in such urgent need—but who will ever help me with zeal & promptitude like yours? I have been forced to send in the last proofs & with them, dedication if there was to be one: as I cannot repair an omission so easily as remove a mistake I have given the grateful word or two I feel relieved by giving, if the inscription be as Villeri reports [1] —but I should much like to ascertain the fact—and should there be after all any new instance of blundering or slip between cup & lip—I can take it out. The book itself will not be published for a month—you shall [have] the earliest copy I get.
How much I miss you every day when I go on my dreary walk as Mr Gillespie makes his appearance you can hardly guess: I used to think that the Edgeware [2] Road would at least lead me to you at the last. I do trust you will return to us– I called on the kind Mackays [3] two days ago: he made me mount up to see what he said might be your “perch” if you would put up with it—& you easily might. I shall certainly be at liberty then to see you & go about with you more—for I go, as you know, at the end of next fortnight, to Paris & return in March. The days lengthen (what wonderfully mild days!) and my time increases—I am going to make some alteration in my dining-hour that will give me a little time in the working-part of the day, I shall go out now, in earnest, & not in promise. I received notice yesterday that I have been elected a member of the “Athenæum”—& go to be introduced there to-day. I called on friends yesterday,—saw Mrs Sartoris at last—very dear & affectionate. I shall go on & take everybody in turn,—attaining a quiet conscience at last!
Pen is quite well—goes on very satisfactorily in all respects: he is playing (very well) while I write this—not to the improvement of my style, combined as his own noise is with my own particular biliousness. Miss Smith very kindly is giving him some supplementary lessons—to make up for those lost in the sick-month: I value her teaching exceedingly, & so does he. I have not yet called on Miss .. your little friend whose name [4] .. without affectation .. I forget for a moment, & won’t hunt for in my heavy head—but I will: give her exact address, please,—13 Lod[o]wick Terrace,? [5]
I send you all the papers since your departure up to that which arrived last night—the news from Italy—& Paris, about Italy—is excellent—oh, what a joy might have been! [6]
If you hear anything .. I was going unnecessarily to tell you that whatever interests you will most of all interest me—you know that. Tell me, besides Florence-news, anything you hear about Annette: I have not yet written to Lytton—will certainly do so!
Good bye,—my best, dearest friend—I am ever yours—& you will ever be what you were & are to me. God bless you–
Yours affectionately
Robert Browning.
Now write—tell me anything you fancy I can do—try me with it—& only have to forgive me if I fail! “Peni’s kindest love”, he bids me send.
Publication: DI, pp. 94–97.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.
1. RB refers to the inscription on EBB’s memorial tablet that was placed above the entrance of Casa Guidi in October 1862. It reads: “Qui Scrisse e Mori / Elisabetta Barret [sic] Browning / Che in Cuore di Donna Conciliava / Scienza di Dotto e Spirito di Poeta / e Fece del Suo Verso Aureo Anello / Fra Italia e Inghilterra / Pone Questa Memoria / Firenze Grata / 1861” (“Here Wrote and Died / Elizabeth Barrett Browning / Who in Her Woman’s Heart Conciliated / A Scholar’s Learning and a Poet’s Spirit / And Whose Poems Forged a Golden Ring / Between Italy and England / Grateful Florence / Sets This Memorial / 1861”). A photograph of the tablet is reproduced facing p. 113. RB acknowledged the inscription, which was composed by Italian writer Niccolò Tommaseo (1802–74), in the dedication for Last Poems: “To ‘Grateful Florence,’ / To the Municipality, Her Representative, / And to Tommaseo, Its Spokesman, / Most Gratefully” (p. [5]).
2. Sic, for Edgware.
3. Robert William Mackay (1803–82) and his wife, Frances Maseres (née Fellowes, 1824–88). The husband is listed in the Brownings’ address book of this period (AB-4) at 41 Hamilton Terrace, St. John’s Wood. Hamilton Terrace is the first street east of Maida Vale, which is the continuation of Edgware Road.
4. Unidentified.
5. Now Gloucester Avenue, just to the north of Regent’s Park.
6. The Daily News of the previous day carried an encouraging letter from Turin on the Roman Question that was first printed in the Journal des Débats of February 4th: “According to accounts which I have reason to believe are entitled to confidence, France is disposed to enter upon negotiations with the kingdom of Italy with the object of guaranteeing the security of the Pope, in such a manner that the French garrison at Rome may be withdrawn” (5 February 1862, p. 5). In recent weeks, there had been hints at such an eventuality from Napoleon III and some members of his cabinet. But the French garrison would remain in Rome for another eight years.
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