Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning were two gifted poets destined to produce some
of the most
fascinating correspondence in English literature. Robert Browning had never
set eyes on
Elizabeth Barrett, and they knew nothing of each other beyond
their published
works. Both were well known in their own right and admired and
respected each
other's works. This admiration served as a catalyst when Robert wrote
Elizabeth a fan
letter on January 10, 1845:
"I love
your verses with all my heart, dear Miss Barrett,—and this is no offhand
complimentary
letter that I shall write, whatever else, no prompt matter-of-course
recognition of
your genius, and there a graceful and natural end of the thing. Since that
day last week
when I first read your poems, I quite laugh to remember how I have been
turning and
turning again in my mind what I should be able to tell you of their effect
upon
me, for in the first flush of delight I thought 1 would this once get out
of my habit of purely
passive
enjoyment, when I do really enjoy, and thoroughly justify my admiration—
perhaps even, as
a loyal fellow-craftsman should, try and find fault and do you some little
good to be proud
of hereafter!—but nothing comes of it all—so into me has gone, and
part of me has
it become ... in this addressing myself to you—your own self, and for the
first time, my
feeling rises altogether. I do, as I say, love these books with all my heart—
and I love you
too."
Elizabeth was
then thirty-nine, in poor health, and sel-dom left the house. She was
dominated by her
father who forbade any of his children to marry.
Because of her
father's objections, they corresponded in secrecy. Their correspondence
was so prolific
that it fills two thick volumes. Elizabeth recorded their courtship, starting
from their
initial contact, in her famous Sonnets from the Portuguese. They encompass all
the human
emotions including happiness, regret, confidence and always love.
In May 1845,
Elizabeth finally allowed Robert to visit her. They then met secretly once a
week. In
September she wrote, "You have touched me more profoundly than I
thought even you
could have touched me.... Henceforward I am yours for everything
but to do you
harm."
They continued
to meet for another year and corresponded almost every day, sometimes
twice a day.
After refusing his overtures, she was finally won over by his letters and
visits,
and they became
lovers.
Robert urged her
to marry him and move to Italy. Elizabeth was reluctant but after much
thought agreed.
Knowing that her father would object to her marrying, Robert and
Elizabeth
married in secret on September 12,
1846, and a week
later they left England for Italy, first to Pisa, then Florence, then to
their eventual
home, Casa Guidi.
She never saw
her father again, and her father never forgave her. All the letters she wrote
him were
returned unopened.
Were it not for
this relationship, the world would probably never be able to enjoy words
such as these:
How do I love
thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to
the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of
sight For the
ends of Being and ideal Grace.
1 love thee to
the level of every day's Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee
freely, as men strive for Right; I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I
love thee with
the passion put to use
In my old
griefs, and with my childhood's faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost
saints—I love thee with the breadth, Smiles, tears, of all my life!—and, if
God choose, I
shall but love thee better after death. <3 <3 <3
No comments
Post a Comment