512. RB to André Victor Amédée de Ripert-Monclar
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 3, 149–151.
Londres,
8bre 15. 1835.
Dans les vieux Romans, mon cher Amédée, on trouve toujours au tournoi certain chevalier blanc, que personne ne connait, qui se presente, renverse tout concurrent, remporte tous les prix, et puis se retire en laissant les Preux mourant de curiosité, le Monarque de colère, et la Princesse d’amour:—vous voilà à-peu-pres; et si les sentimen[t]s [1] de la Princesse n’étaient pas plus indigènes à mon cœur que ceux du Monarque, vos éperons seraient assurément perdus. J’étais en peine de l’arrivée de ma lettre, mais un billet de mon Oncle me rassure sur ce point, et il ne me reste qu’à vous dire, qu’à moins que vous ne soyez complice de Fieschi, cité à Kalisch, lié avec Don Carlos, [2] ou assommé par “Paracelse” .. vous êtes bien coupable, bien digne des reproches dont je vous fais grâce à present, mais qui ne sont pas perdus pour cela:—mais vous n’êtes pas homme à vous effrayer de menaces; attaquons d’un autre coté: soyez donc sûr que si vous gardez le silence beaucoup plus longtem[p]s, je ne vous soupçonnerai même pas—au contraire je me mettrai en quatre pour des excuses de tout genre– Prenez votre parti: en attendant, croyez moi, mon bon ami, à vous de cœur,
Robert Browning
Vous devez vous porter bien, mais tres bien, puisque moi je me trouve à merveille—heureux comme un ministre, et fort content de certaine personne quoique les Gazettes soient en train de m’en dire mille singularités– Avez-vous vu l’article dans “The Examiner,” et que Galignani a voulu mettre dans son Journal? [3]
Mille choses aimables de la part de mon Père, de ma Mère et de ma Sœur.
M. le Cte de Ripert Monclar.
&c– etc– etc.
Address, on integral page: A. Monsieur / M. le Comte A de Ripert-Monclar / Ancien Magistrat. / 12. Rue de la Rochefoucauld (Chaussée d’Antin) / Paris.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Yale University.
Translation:
In the old Romances, my dear Amédeé, there is always at the tournament a certain white knight, whom no one knows, who appears, knocks down all opponents, wins all the prizes, and then leaves, leaving the Valiant Knights dying of curiosity, the Monarch dying of anger, and the Princess dying of love:—that’s about where you are; and if the feelings of the Princess were not more innate to my heart than the Monarch’s, your spurs would indeed be lost. I was worried about my letter not reaching you, but a note from my Uncle reassures me on that point, and all I have left to tell you, unless you are an accomplice of Fieschi, cited by Kalisch, linked with Don Carlos, [2] or overcome by “Paracelsus” .. you are very guilty, quite deserving of the reproaches which I do you the favour of omitting at present, but which are not lost nonetheless:—but you are not a man to fear threats; let’s attack from another angle: be assured that if you keep your silence much longer, I won’t even suspect you—on the contrary, I shall go through fire to find any sort of excuses– Make up your mind: meanwhile, believe me, my good friend, yours in affection,
Robert Browning.
You must be feeling well, even very well, as I myself am feeling marvellously well—happy as a minister, and very glad about a certain person whose many peculiarities are being exposed in the Gazettes. Have you seen the article in “The Examiner,” which Galignani wanted to put in his Journal? [3]
The very kindest regards from my Father, my Mother and my Sister.
2. Giuseppe Marco Fieschi (1790–1836) was the prime mover in the attempt to assassinate Louis Philippe on 28 July with an “infernal machine” constructed of 20 gun barrels, intended to fire simultaneously. Fieschi was severely wounded in the attempt, was condemned to death for his part in the conspiracy, and was guillotined on 19 February 1836. David Kalisch (1820–72) was a German litterateur and comic poet. Don Carlos (1788–1855), son of Charles IV of Spain, was a direct descendant of Louis XIV, and so was held by many to have a better claim to the French throne than Louis Philippe, whose descent was from Louis XIV’s brother.
3. RB’s comment is insufficient for positive identification of the article; it may have been that headed “State of France” in The Examiner of 20 September 1835 (no. 1442, p. 602). Galignani’s Messenger, a Parisian publication mainly for the benefit of the English residing there, consisted almost exclusively of articles reprinted from English newspapers and magazines.
___________________
