SD1905. Ellen Twisleton to Mary Parkman
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 22, 268 (in part).
3. Rutland Gate
Feb. 8. 1856.
Dearest darling Mary—How will you feel for us, when I tell you that we have no letters this week …
As for Browning, I think “In a Balcony,” and “Saul” are my favourites among the longer poems; then I admire the Epistle of Karshish, and Cleon’s to the Kings very much: the Grammarian’s funeral is one of the best things he ever wrote, I think, & so absolutely original; “Two in the Campagna,” Mary, is a whole heart-full; so is “In a Year”; both of these make me cry badly. Andrea del Sarto & Lippo Lippi, are good to anyone who knows the stories, first,—but Browning has no mercy on ignorance: he never explains himself; “Up at a Villa—down in the City” is excellent—and oh, the Woman’s last Word, how good! “Any Wife to any Husband” I don’t like much—nor do I care for the Statue & the Bust, at all. Bishop Blougram was read loud by Lady A. to Carlyle and commended. “Respectability” I underscore trebly. “Before & After” are good—& “the Lover’s Quarrel,” & “Magnetism” [sic, for “Mesmerism”]; Women & Roses I cannot understand, nor Childe Roland, nor “Master Hugues” nor the “Heretic’s Tragedy”—can you? I don’t think much of the “Patriot,” or “De Gustibus,” or “A Toccata”—Holy-Cross Day is awful. …
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Harvard University.
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