5818. Robert Williams Buchanan to RB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 32, 136–137.
Bexhill
Nov. 9th 1866
My dear Browning–
(If you will allow me once & for ever to abolish the thin absurdity of “Mr”—useless where respect is seated so deep) Your letter has done me good——it is the right angelic whisper at the right time—an intimation, ample for all my needs. I will say no more on that head.
Do not think that I am greedy for the light of recognition, if it be not reflected from the consciences of good-wise me[n]! True work never misses its mark:—but forgive me if I am not always sure that the work is true,—and that I would not, for the universe, have Goethe’s (to compare great things with small) indomitable satisfaction with my own achievement. I hate Goethe, everything Goethesque; and either you agree with me, or I see Goethe & Goethism wrongly. That Man I believe to be the incarnate Curse of modern times, a horribly perfect Tempter,—the father of unbelief,—the Devil’s last & subtlest disguise to entrap the beautiful & the pure of soul. And what is most horrible to me, I find too often that Goethe is influencing me—it is, too, a dreadful struggle to perceive & shake away that influence—and directly I feel it I cry out for God’s help, feeling utterly maddened & adrift.
These are no rash words—they mean much; & they are not irrelevant—for I have felt more than once a nameless feeling that there were Goethesque touches in my last poems—some of them. That, you may say, would surely have won instead of repelling Lewes. But what is fine art in Goethe, would be filth in me. No one admires Goethe’s best writing more than I do; but it is the whole atmosphere of works & life that I feel would be fatal to me if I dwelt in it too often.
Do not think me unjust to dear Lewes. I deem him one of the truest souls I know; but there is a truth of one’s own soul however small—beyond the truth of any other soul however grand,—for all purposes of personal inquiry & aspiration.
Ever yours
Robt Buchanan.
Robt Browning Esq.
Address: Robert Browning Esq. / 19 Warwick Crescent / Upper Westbourne Terrace / London / W.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Alexander Turnbull Library.
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