742. RB to Eliza Flower
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 4, 255–256.
[London]
Monday Night. March 9. [1840] [1]
My dear Miss Flower,
I have this moment received your very kind note—of course, I understand your objections .. how else? But they are somewhat lightened already (confess—nay, “confess” is vile—you will be rejoiced to holla from the house-top)—will go on, or rather go off, lightening, and will be .. oh, where will they be half a dozen years hence? Meantime praise what you can praise, do me all the good you can, you and Mr Fox (as if you will not!)—for I have a headful of projects—mean to song-write, play-write forthwith,—and, believe me, dear Miss Flower,
Yours ever faithfully,
Robert Browning.
By the way, you speak of “Pippa” [2] —could we not make some arrangement about it,—the lyrics want your music—five or six in all—how say you? When these three plays are out I hope to “build” a huge Ode—but “all goeth but God’s will!” [3]
Publication: LRB, p. 4.
Manuscript: Eton College Library, Michael Meredith Collection.
1. 9 March fell on Monday in 1840.
2. Pippa Passes was published in April 1841, but DeVane (p. 91) conjectures that it was written in the late spring and early summer of 1839.
3. EBB used this quotation as the motto for “An Island” in The Seraphim. It was “a line from an old poet whose antiquity has buried his name” (letter 619).
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