5268. Adelaide Sartoris to RB

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 30, 283.

[London]

[Postmark: 7 August 1863]

Dear Browning–

Here is a note from Mrs Milnes with two poems of your friend Swinburne’s which I copy & herewith send—do like a good Xtian tell me which you think I had better set. I will faithfully keep your counsel if you think them (as I do) both equally impracticable—

Yrs ever affectly

Adelaide Sartoris

Perhaps Queen of pleasure & King of pain [1] would sing best?

Address: Robert Browning Esqre / 19. Warwick Crescent / Harrow Road.

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Yale University.

Enclosure:

16 Upper Brook St

5th Augt [1863]

Dear Mrs Sartoris

Enclosed are Mr Swinburne’s lines of which I spoke to you & hope some day to hear you sing to your own good music.

Mr Milnes thinks the consonants will want a little softening for the voice.

We intend leaving tomorrow for Carlsbad.

With kind regards believe me

Yrs very truly

A H Milnes

1. Cf. Swinburne’s “A Match” (Poems and Ballads, 1866), lines 41–42 and 47–48: “If you were queen of pleasure, / And I were king of pain.”

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