66. EBB to Henrietta Moulton-barrett

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 56–58.

[Hope End]

To our dearest Pet Henrietta

On her birthday so welcome to us

March 4th 1818 [1] –

_________

Euterpe [2] from Apollo’s breast,

Snatch the bright lyre,

My Spirit fire,

And lull thy cares to rest

Sweet Spirit let thy warbling lute

Its accents raise

And Addles praise

While Philomel and Heaven are mute

In thy happiest gayest measure

Softly sad

Sweetly glad

Let the strain be joy, be pleasure

Oh Goddess sing the quarel dread

Betwixt the nine

Who dared to shine

To reign supreme in Addle’s head

First wrapt in state great Clio came

And in her hand

A burning brand

To fire the glorious pile of Fame

With scorn beheld the haughty Fair

She mocked her state

Nor deigned to wait

And left the Goddess to despair

Next Thalia came and at her side

The sheperds crook

The sheperd flock

The first her strenght [sic] the last her pride

Nor then replies—with calm disdain

She blasts her hope

Who dare to cope

Within her swelling heart to reign

Urania [3] next with downcast mien

With lovely face

With youthful grace

Her patient suffering form is seen

“Away” the maid replies with scorn

Nor thou shall dare

To blight with care

The breast that never felt thy mourn

She spoke—Erato tried her power

Melpomene

Calliope [4]

Were all rejected in that hour

Then forth appeared the graceful three

With dimpled smiles

The fair beguiles

[“]With all the soul of Harmony”

_________

Oh Henrietta sister loved so well

Euterpes self can scarce its limits tell

Accept ah child beloved my lowly lay

So humbly wreathed upon thy birth today

And be my sister blest in every spot

In every station and in every lot

Long may she live with sweet contentment here

For ever cherished and for ever dear

_________

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Berg Collection.

1. Her ninth birthday.

2. The Muse of music.

3. Clio, Thalia and Urania were, respectively, the Muses of history, comedy and astrology.

4. Erato, Melpomene and Calliope were the Muses of erotic poetry, tragedy, and epic poetry.

___________________