614. EBB to John Kenyon
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 4, 12–13.
74 Gloucester Place
Thursday morning. [ca. February 1838] [1]
Dear Mr Kenyon,
I am inclined to use the words you would not translate from Constant’s poem—“stringite lumina.” [2] Certainly I am ashamed & fearful at the idea of your looking upon the papers accompanying this note, the length & breadth of which, supply such convicting measures of my presumption.
But I am quite sure you meant what you said, when you desired me to speak candidly: much more sure, than that it was altogether becoming in me to be so obedient.
The objections—to do them justice—refer, for by far the greater part—only to little roughnesses & apparently forced constructions—which—even if they are properly objected to—will not occasion you much trouble in their dismissal. If your opinion is, that any or every objection is “vexatious opposition” (altho’ you will not think it was meant so) do “dismiss the complaint”—& you will serve me rightly. This is said as candidly as all the rest.
And now, altho’ you have tried so often, dear Mr Kenyon, you shall not quite spoil me. Perhaps you have succeeded in producing presumption—or the image of it—but ingratitude you cannot produce. Therefore I will thank you for all the pleasure I have had in reading these poems—so full of strong thoughts & lovely stedfast feelings—& that belief in beauty which is at once the poet’s enthusiasm & his inspiration. You shall not think that I admire nothing, but what, in the papers, I have noticed admiringly—their amiable object being the detection, or as you will suggest, the imagination, of all possible faults. ‘Moonlight’ is full of beauty. The ‘Rhymed Plea’ may, for me, sit at its feet. But this you may call a simple prejudice,—& even speak the epithet advisedly. Of the ‘occasional verses,’ many of which are so graceful & so strong, I like least the “neglected wife” & like most, among others, the musical & feeling “music”—& “Bromfield Churchyard”, & ‘Reminiscence’, & the ‘Two harps’ & the powerful ‘Destiny’ which is so to honor mine. [3] There are besides some touching poems, which I do not forget, & shall not, easily.
Thank you for all this pleasure—& in addition to it,—forgive me.
Most truly yours
E B Barrett.
With a great many thanks, I return the books you kindly lent to me.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Fitzwilliam Museum.
1. Dated by EBB’s further criticisms of Kenyon’s manuscript, the subject of the previous letter.
2. “Song of the Manes” (pp. 117–118 in the printed text) was translated from some modern Latin verses in Benjamin de Constant’s Traité de la Religion, III, 391. The words “stringite lumina” (“let the torches be extinguished”) appear in line 3 of the 6th verse of “Le chant des mânes” in de Constant’s book. Kenyon’s rendering was “Bid our wan torches gleam.”
3. All these references are to poems included in Kenyon’s book, except “Rhymed Plea,” which is an earlier work of his, Rhymed Plea for Tolerance (1833). “Destiny” was preceded by a four-line quotation from EBB’s Prometheus Bound (583–586). A very detailed, 10-page critique by EBB of some of these poems is extant (see Reconstruction, D1285).
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