70. EBB to George Goodin Moulton-Barrett

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 61–62.

To my sweetest Pudding

On his birthday

July 14th 1818. [1] Hope End–

Celestial Muse who on the Olympian mount

Tunes thy soft lays deign once again to lend

Thy sacred spirit now, to grace this day

So dear to us and oh! so blessed by Heaven

Then hail sweet George sweet smiling infant hail

Smiling in innocence unknown to thee

All the harsh sorrows of proud Fortunes gifts

If then her gifts be woes—oh what her favors?

Unknown to thee sweet Babe unknown to thee

The joys alike and sorrows of the world

Unknown to thee of Virtue or of Vice

The names—blest child of innocence & truth

Such ever mayst thou be & when thou rise

For rise thou must to mans degen’rate state

Free from all vice that threats his weary path

Untainted gain Truths highest pinacle

There undisturbed by all that harms the mind

With peace there mayst thou rest & “smile at grief” [2]

My Sweetest Puddings affecte Sister

Elizth B Barrett.

Address, on integral page: Master G G Barrett / Hope End.

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Berg Collection.

1. His second birthday was on 15 July 1818.

2. Cf. Twelfth Night, II, 4, 115.

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