5147. RB to George Goodin Moulton-Barrett
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 30, 170–171.
19. Warwick Crescent,
Harrow Road.
Dec. 22. ’62
My dear George,
How good & kind of you to remember us! Though a less substantial assurance of it than your presents would be quite enough: Pen writes (or wrote last Saturday) for himself, though we were prevented sending the letter: your Brawn is a wonderful success: it is superior, to my taste, to the Cambridge production I used to enjoy now & then at Christmas-time in old days.
Harry called here on Friday afternoon– Most unluckily I was out of the way– Pen came down from his lessons, however, & told me all about it, increasing my regret at having been absent: he left early next morning—& no doubt was greatly disappointed at finding Arabel away:—you may imagine whether we residents sympathise with him or no.
Dear George, I want to tell you that at the beginning of last October the Tablet & Inscription were placed over the entrance Door of Casa Guidi: it is described to me as the largest Tablet in Florence; & they were four days putting it up: I think the last tribute of the kind was that placed similarly on the House wherein Alfieri lived & died: [1] I surely gave you a copy of the inscription: but as there may be some minute variations, I repeat it as transmitted to me last week–
Quì scrisse e morì
E.B.B
che in cuore di donna conciliava
scienza di dotto e spirito di poeta
e fece del suo verso aureo anello
Fra Italia ed [sic] Inghilterra.
Pone questa memoria
Firenze grata
1861. [2]
I can’t help the de<scent> from this to saying that they publish to-day a little selection of my things, containing nothing new, but a pretty little book enough: I send it by this post, if you will accept it. [3]
Please give my love to Harry whenever you see him and tell him how sorry I was at missing him.
Ever yours affectionately
Robert Browning.
Address: George G. Barrett Esq. / Warnicombe House, / nr Tiverton.
Publication: B-GB, pp. 282–284.
Manuscript: Pierpont Morgan Library.
1. Vittorio Alfieri (1749-1803), Italian poet and dramatist, resided during the last ten years of his life at Palazzo Masetti (now Gianfigliazzi), which is situated near Ponte Santa Trinità on the Lungarno.
3. This presentation copy of RB’s Selections (1863) is inscribed: “George G. Barrett from his most affectionate Robert Browning, London, Dec. 22. ’62” (see Reconstruction, C545; now with Meredith).
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