Diary of Daniel Sargent Curtis

Browning writes from London Dec. 3 [‘]‘My buying a Palace in Venice makes more talk than if I had written an Epic!”

Mr. Robert Browning and his sister, Miss Browning are staying with Mrs Bronson, whose servants speak of them as “I due ‘Poete’.”

Mr Browning read several of his poems. After ‘The Lost Leader’ he said, “It might now be applied to the G.O.M.! ”

Dined at Casa Alvisi. Brownings, Hamilton Aidé, Howes. Aidé said he had written a poem on our garden at Giudecca where he visited us 5 years ago. Sat by Miss Browning, who saw Pianori shoot at Nap. III. who always walked his horse up the incline from Arc de l’Etoile.

Robert Browning dined with us, with Miss Browning & Mrs Bronson, with whom they are staying. After dinner a company of his appreciators assembled. Misses Leigh Smith & Blythe, Prsse Montenegro & daughter (the latter excellent knowledge of Engh Lit)[,] Fitzgeralds of N.Y. (the daughter a poetical...

Went to Ca’ Alvisi to hear Browning read ‘In a Balcony,’ to a small company, viz. Mrs Bronson, Howes, Osten Sacken, a Swedish Consl segrets we met at Rome, Forbes, R B Browning & 2 of Du Maurier’s young men from a yacht, who chanced in.

Mr Browning said ‘I have just seen Ruskin.’ We embraced on both cheeks, in foreign fashion. He is very ill, but delighted with Venice and the restoration of the Ducal Palace. I told him he must see Palazzo Barbaro and your restoration of the XIV century Arcade (cited & drawn in Appendix to...

By appointt we called for Mr & Miss Browning at 10.30 to row over to Quattro Fontane on Lido. Magnif. AM, with brisk N. wind. Talked of V. Hugo on the way. Arrd on the embankment above the beach we had a rare spectacle. Behind the houses & campanile of Venice extended, from the Euganeans to...

Lunched with us (at Po Barbaro) the Countess Pisani & Mr & Miss Browning– By request of the Pisani who wished to know Mr Browning.

Talking of Symond’s having just found here the very rare book Songe de Polyphile (French translation with repliques of Mantegna’s cuts) he said he had a copy presented to him by Danté Rossetti, “one of the warmest admirers & one of the most sympathetic appreciators I have ever had.[”] A...

Mr Browning with us to Lido at 1030. AM. From Favorita along beach to the Sordi Muti, & back by green lanes to S. Elisabetta & left him at Po Dario. He talked the whole 2½ hours. He went to a dinner at Oxford to Jowett. Was asked to speak for ‘strangers present,’ & declined. So did Lord...

Again to Lido with Mr Browning, and dined with him at Casa Alvisi. He talked as usual, of everything save of his poetry. Was asked by letter to write a public ode—and to breakfast with the Prince. Tennyson has declined, as did B, also the breakfast. Has never been to Court—and said ‘You...

The most beautiful of days. [illegible name]. Sun of Austerlitz—sea of ultramarine glass. To Quattro Fontane at 10.30—2 Brownings & we. A dog barked at us. R.B. said—“You need not bark at me. I have plenty of it from critics.”

With us went to Lido Mr Browning, and he & Miss B. dined with us to meet Mr & Mrs John Addington Symonds. R.B. said more interestg things than I fear I can recall. Previous eveg they sent to borrow ‘Beppo,’ for him to read aloud to the Mocenigos in whose house it was written. Sd many bad...

Browning sd [‘]I dined with the Editor of the Times, a day or two before I left London, and wished very much to hear what he was saying to Chamberlain, next to me, about the Parnell business and the probable result of the Commission. But a facheux, opposite, would insist on talking across the...

Arranged with Mr Browning to go to Lido at 11.30, lunch at 4 Fontane and walk to Malamocco. A mild, ‘dove coloured day’ he called it. We ate in a hollow of the dune over the sea, & set out, sending gondola to await us at Malamocco. R.B. talked all the way 4 hours. Of Shelley at Lerici, of...

Dined Casa Alvisi—ourselves only invited. A mention of Meredith’s novels made Browning say ‘There are many books I wish to like, and try to like, but cannot.’ Lendg me the 19 Centy & Contemporary Review, he said ‘I hope you will find more in them than I can.’

We dined at Sir H. Layards & met J. A. Symonds & R. Browning who talked of the Cenci &c.

Browning has been sitting to his son at Palo Dario for his portrait, in the mornings—wh. stopped our walks at Lido—till yesty 17th—when we spent 5 hours in going to Qo Fontane, lunching on the dunes & walking to Malamocco. A day like June—breathless-sea & lagunes as mirrors & too warm...

We to Lido again with Mr R. Browning at 10.30—till 1.30. Superb day & air, snow Alps. He talked of John Bright’s bad manners—of Ld Aberdare—couplet of Pope’s—no one knew author but R.B. Asked if this pen wd be frequent—or if the Co wd be expected to know Pope. He sd No—but at Ld...

Again to Lido with Mr Browning. Walked from S. Elisabetta beyond 4 Fontane—10.30 to 1.30. Today he told no anecdotes, but spoke much of the philosophy of life & death & the future; of the art of happiness—of taking the ‘short river of life’ advised by Sydney Smith. If he were sure of...

Another of this succession of splendid days—bright & calm. We went again with Mr Browning to 4 Fontane, Lido—and went over the great villa built for V. Emmanuele—unfinished but we went up stairs & admired the various views, each admirable. R.B. really seems inclined to buy & finish it....

Lido with Mr Browning. Sd much of Dickens—liked Copperfield. Of his wife’s jealousy & divorce. A lost necklace he gave an actress returned to D. at dinner. Once dining at Pollocks, near by, when he came out thought he was followed, & finally collared the man his own servant, ordered by his...

Again with R. Browning to Lido from 10.30 to 1. Wondrous weather—like Spring—& halcyon sea. R.B. decided to return to London next week. Talked of music—to wh. he once gave much study, & says he shall take it up again (at 76). Of Lubeck one of the best of pianists & the man who always hit...