82. EBB to Henrietta Moulton-Barrett
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 73–74.
[Hope End]
March 4th 1819
To the Rigt Revd Dr [1] Harry Parry Barrett.
With Compliments and Wishes
for her prosperity.
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Awake my Muse; and strike the lyre,
My soul uplift, my breast inspire.
Awake again
The joyful strain
Let grief be mute
Upon this festive day,
And on the lute,
Thy warbling fingers stray.
For Time again upon his wings
Another festive birth day [2] brings;
Another day of sports and joy,
Our thoughts, our hearts employ.
Another day
Of mirth and play!–
Let joy wing the hours,
Away sorrow and sadness,
Let Time glide in the flowers,
Of pleasure and gladness!
A Sisters birth day comes again
To raise our joys, & wake the strain,
A birth day must be welcome here,
A Sisters! doubly justly dear!
Then Harry hail!
The Muse would fail,
If she should shew, but to disclose
The feelings of my soul
Where all affection glows,
Nor meets control!
Then Harry do not thou despise my strain
That “list” with Hamlet, I may cry in vain, [3]
Justice I ask not, then the critics blows
Will bid my modest Muse, sink where she rose.
Then Doctor hear!
Thy suppliants prayer
In mercy then thy brow incline
Like Jove in fable big,
Like Jove! No—thou art more divine
Then shake thy bushy wig!
Dost thou not yet, in sovereign pity nod,
And canst thou yield in mercy to the God!
Then I must try a compliments address,
And by the bye, I would not do much less.
Oh mercy sweet
I do entreat.
And may the fates thy breast endue
With blessings but to angels given,
To angels? then ah what are you?
At least, the loveliest angel out of Heaven!
Ah Doctor!– but I see you smile,
C’est often—you my cares beguile,
Then Oh, avert the critics stroke,
For I should die, beneath the shock.
No more I’ll say,
At least today,
Nor more my gabbling Muse shall tell,
Now have I done—with Oh and Ah!
And I must——Must I say farewell?
Then– pray forget not loving Ba!
Publication: None traced.
Source: Copy in Mary Moulton-Barrett’s hand in “Poems by EBB,” Berg Collection.
1. This form of address appropriate to a bishop. EBB’s mother explained in a footnote: “For this dignified appellation, she is indebted to her hair–”
2. Her tenth birthday.
3. Hamlet, I, 5, 22.
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