, 1863-07-17
Recol1ectionsof31 of Mrs. Browning


-. BIZ An AMERICAN WOMAN.
It WIS in the winter of 1855 that the Brown
irgs went for the first time to visit the Eeter-
nal City For Rome this Was brilliant Sea.
son The Seven Hills glittered with celebr1-
ties. There, amid them pre-eminent-sinca =.
nature epch Us Less commands preeminence
f>-thone Mrs kemble-whose fame We eau
almost claim to share with our English friends
Tor shall we ray enemies !rastonishipg the
world with bold feats Of hoEsemauship, and
in private circles ringing forth from Shakes-
ware's inspired pages words Of freedom
which, re.echoing beyond the walls within
which her friends alone were invited, would
have stirred the heart Of Rome to new rayo-
luton. There, suffering and feeble, yet ever
d!ssir gnished above ali others for the grace
ard elegance belonging to himself alone,
Loclha1t completed the last months OF his
mouEnfo1 and heroic career. There Thack-
cray L,shtd mankind with knotted scourges
Of earcarm. and Harriet Hosmer dlsported
herself with the exuberant freedom Of the
New World. There the brilliant Mrs. s.,
once better known to the world as Adelaide
Kemble, gathered her friends together.in her
palace home. And, in fine. in Rome during
that brilliant winter, the Browning family
made their abode, the soft light Of Elizabeth
Burrett's genius shining through the glitter
Of festive gayetfes. !.
The "Bocca di Liouel''-the Lions Mouth
ture to choose in it home? There it WAS,
however, that the Browniugs engaged their
APARTMENTS, and there also that q party Of
artists and dfriends-Americans--w SO for
tupste as to share their abode. It was In
this Lions Mouth that I first saw Mrs.
Browniug-drst saw the slight, diminutiye
form; the pale lace, with its quick, hec'ic
flush, and vailing cloud Of cuFls: and holy
brow, and earnest eyes, which hare beeu8o
often described.
RecoNections Of Mrs. Browning. remem-
ber delicate woman, who at each word OF
praise trenbled with q modesty aud tender
uess impossible to be told! ! remember q
~ife whose eyes beamed when they turned
upon her huEband'e-a mother brooding with
her very soul over the developing loyeliness
Of Il golden-halred child! No selfconsc1ous-
ness separated Mrs. Browning from her
friends. To her friends she appeared no Ion
ger as the great poet-the poet WAS merged
In the oman.
The "Boy Browning" at the time Of which
write, was child Of four years-with deep
violet eyes and floating golden hail, who, re-.
turning from his walks, made sketches Of
lis pictures :" Penenie"- the pet name be had
given Misunderstanding them to his friends
that they might keep him In their remem-
brance-a child who RaDg low songs breathed
TO Lin by his Own Imagination, aud chimed
sweet rhymes indiiIsrsnt]y in nspipg italian,
mother brooded over such child!
Rscol1ections Of Mrs. Browning! They are
reco1lections Of the warm sky Of Italy, Of the
breath Of her spring, of the fragrance Of her
flowers, for with all these her fmsge is blend
ed. In the brilliant circle to which have re-
i, rIeh, she, this delicate woman, was the cen
ter. For her yery delicacy, for her helpless
uess. ehe was beloved. Her physical weak
Eces vailed her genius. We felt, approaching
he,-,his IL q chi;d whom We must protect;
this is being whom We must serve and shel,
ter. Therefore, when abe could be entlced
| from her solitude to listen to Adelaide KEN
bie's muEic, new element entered those fes.
| ti,u SCENES, coLsecratcd by her presence.
| Therefore, when sho went forth upon the
CompagDa to PASS the day In communion with
nature, all nature responded to her coming
| The most chosen spot WIS made her throne.
We sheltered her from the sun. and watched
lcea too deep shadow would chill OF sadden
| her,. We brought her flowers. We waited
| before her, md, reyeling in the very
delight Of life, In the intoxicating intlu.
encaDf that atmosphere Of Italy, never forgot
| tnot among US Was one-the gentlest, the
strong with new inspiration, had penetrated
with subtle power tue heatts of Millions
voice that had rung forth upon the world d
| music strong and sweet, whose vibration
may never cease
Kecollections Of hrs. Browning! They are
u
as through transien: vail, an intlnits char
it{--.an infinite repose and love-.
When the cold winds sesmed to blow over
the mountains girdiDg Florence, the Brown
1ngs returned to their home. There
time was writing stAurora Leigh"
The little volume she held upon her knee, and
dotted down the thoughts. When interrupt
ed, SIZE hastily concealed i: beneath papers
ppon atahfe By her side. This moyemen. T. OBJ
served upon one occasion, and, when left the
treasure 60 carefully vailed from eyes prof.ue
vas new poem, Of which, he added with
peculiar air Of pride, III have never seen a
single line." It was matter Of principle be.
t~ cen husband and wits to hold
their poems In strict reserve until
could form more complete contrast than
Dtr. aud Mrs. Browning SO delicate in
heath, ard he 80 filled with yigor; she
go earnest, and he oyesnowibg with
animal spirits and q quaint humor.
And yet his gayety was the smile illumiug
, the surface OF his being. Never shall for
gat his countenance as he once said to me-,
"When1 remember that all my happiness
hangs upon siugle thread, which any instant
n uay sever, I eludder with horror" Since
those words were uttered, that thread is sew
cred!
heccuectlons Of AIRS. BtoHnlnEt lh8y
press around me like thronging spirits, aud
rtprcach ne that will not give them utter
nEce. Shall I have spoken Of the woman and
aid forgotten to recur to the poet: Shall I
1ease unnoticed the great productions written
In her hearts blood? Shall dwell upon her
g"ntleness, and fail to recur to her strength
describing ber failing health, aud forget the
vitality enabling her to endure fltigue from
which the strongest shr7nk? Shall not call
ffom the twilight gloom of memory the sweet
G. nffdence, the wise councils it was once my
delight to slare-shal write OF her, and feel
that the ideal I should have described Is still
vailed? It is the external only which the
world deelrea. Tie most sacred word remains
urspokcn.
70 the Beautiful City no longer ehall tho
traveller journey, seeking the altar tended
BY the priestess of sorg, but thither mourn
fully Wend his way-a pilgrim laying the
tribute Of his devotion upon the poets grave.