Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-09-10
A TALE OF TWO POETS.
Kew FEiss Jarrett Married Robert
Browning OEs n Sick-Esed.


From Tlnsley's Magazinel
"Lady Geraldine's Courtship" was
written in twelve days by the invalid.
1t contained several illusions to living
poets, and among others to Nr. Robert
Browning, whose "Belis and Pome-
granates" was referred to in these lines:
Or from Browning some % Pornegranates" which, if
- cut deeply down the middle,
Show heart within blood-tinctuIed of Yened hu-
manly.
Pleased with this compliment, the poet
called upon Elizabeth Barrett, in order
to have an opportunity Of thanking her
personally. Fate oftentiines takes the
shape Of accident. The poetess WAS
never at home save to a few intimate
friends, and new servant, who opened
the door for Mr.. Browning, 1nistaking
him for one Of these, unhesitatirg
ushered him into the invaiid's room,
where they met for the first time Pre-
viousIy, when she bad finished That
magnificent poem, ''The Dead Pam"
which teaches lis strange mysteries of
melodies, and flows feryent, free and
pure, ike great crystal stream, down
the swift, sweet current Of sound into the
vast voiceful sea Of profound thought,
Elizabeth Barrett sent the manuscript
TO & friend IL order to have his criticism,
who in turn showed It to Robert Brown
ing. TIE poet was much impressed or
1t, and wrote letter 10 his friend full OF
enthusiastic appreciation, which found
its way into Elizabeth Barrett's HANDS.
This incident, 10 doubt, paved the way
to a friendship between them which aft
erward resulted II one OF the happiest OF
unions. This part Of her LIES story
reads more like fiction than fact, but
fiction were colorless beside such reality.
Gr. Barrett refused his consent to his
daughters marriage. She was his favor
tie, the object OF his pride as well as his
love; he it WAS who helped to form her
mind and store it with the riches ii con-
tanned; he could not endure the idea o:
severance. Altogether the idea Of her
union was painful to him, and from the
day OF her marriage TO the end Of her
life he refused to be recOnciled to her,
Notwithstanding her appeals to his aiiec-
ton. However, she now loved in her
39th year, and for the first time, and for
q conception Of the great depth and sub
lime fervOr CT this new affection, which
a noble conception OF humanity, TO
clearer vision OF that subtle soul power
which binds heart to heart, We have only
10 turn to those nOst-g lorious "Sonnets
from the Portuguese" In these we see
and feel that her heart has oyerdown
from very force Of It's happiness, and has
broken out in rapturous songs which
chain us with the unbreakable and IN
broken spell Of deepest harmony, tremu-
| lous with all the glow and fire Of ardent
and pure affection, fresh as morning,
sublime and sweet rs the direct inspira-
tons OF mind rapt and overwhelmed
by the first ecstasy of virgin love, and
full of music never before equaled, never
! since excelled. Perhaps there are no
two lines in the English, or any other
language, which with such simplicity
and force express so much as these:
yield the grave for thy sake and exchange
My near sweet view Of heaven for earth with thee
And they help to show us and make
us comprehend, as far as we are capable,
the new spirit which awoke in her. Two
years after her first interview with Mr..
Browning, Elizabeth Barrett was liter
ally assisted from her couch and married
to the poet, and Immediately after the
ceremony they departed for Italy. "Our
plans were made up at the last, and in
the utmost haste and agitation precipi-
tated beyond all intention" she writes
to friend; and further adds: "Perhaps
1t has struck you that q woman might
act more generously than TO repay a
generous attachment with such cues
tionable gift and possible burden as that
of uncertain health and broken spirits;
to which I can Only say that [ have been
overcome IN generosity as in ali else,
though not without long struggle in
tbs specific case; also there was the ex-
perience thet all my moladies came from
without, ard the hope that, if unpro-
yoked by English winters, they would
cease to come at al. The mIldness OF
the last exceptional winter has lett me a
different creature, and the physicians
helped NE to hope everything from Italy;
So you see how it all ended