They had exchanged letters a year or two before,on the subject of 'Pauline',which Rossetti (as I have already mentioned)had read in ignorance of its origin,but with the conviction that only the author of 'Paracelsus'
could have produced it.He wrote to Mr.Browning to ascertain the fact,and to tell him he had admired the poem so much as to transcribe it whole from the British Museum copy.He now called on him with Mr.William Allingham;and doubly recommended himself to the poet's interest by telling him that he was a painter.When Mr.Browning was again in London,in 1855,Rossetti began painting his portrait,which he finished in Paris in the ensuing winter.
The winter of 1852-3saw the family once more in Florence,and at Casa Guidi,where the routine of quiet days was resumed.Mrs.Browning has spoken in more than one of her letters of the comparative social seclusion in which she and her husband had elected to live.This seclusion was much modified in later years,and many well-known English and American names become associated with their daily life.It referred indeed almost entirely to their residence in Florence,where they found less inducement to enter into society than in London,Paris,and Rome.
But it is on record that during the fifteen years of his married life,Mr.Browning never dined away from home,except on one occasion --an exception proving the rule;and we cannot therefore be surprised that he should subsequently have carried into the experience of an unshackled and very interesting social intercourse,a kind of freshness which a man of fifty has not generally preserved.
The one excitement which presented itself in the early months of 1853was the production of 'Colombe's Birthday'.The first allusion to this comes to us in a letter from the poet to Lady,then Mrs.Theodore,Martin,from which I quote a few passages.
Florence:Jan.31,'53.
'My dear Mrs.Martin,--...be assured that I,for my part,have been in no danger of forgetting my promises any more than your performances --which were admirable of all kinds.I shall be delighted if you can do anything for "Colombe"--do what you think best with it,and for me --it will be pleasant to be in such hands --only,pray follow the corrections in the last edition --(Chapman and Hall will give you a copy)--as they are important to the sense.
As for the condensation into three acts --I shall leave that,and all cuttings and the like,to your own judgment --and,come what will,I shall have to be grateful to you,as before.For the rest,you will play the part to heart's content,I KNOW ...And how good it will be to see you again,and make my wife see you too --she who "never saw a great actress"she says --unless it was Dejazet!...'
Mrs.Browning writes about the performance,April 12:
'...I am beginning to be anxious about 'Colombe's Birthday'.
I care much more about it than Robert does.He says that no one will mistake it for his speculation;it's Mr.Buckstone's affair altogether.
True --but I should like it to succeed,being Robert's play,notwithstanding.
But the play is subtle and refined for pits and galleries.
I am nervous about it.On the other hand,those theatrical people ought to know,--and what in the world made them select it,if it is not likely to answer their purpose?By the way,a dreadful rumour reaches us of its having been "prepared for the stage by the author."Don't believe a word of it.Robert just said "yes"when they wrote to ask him,and not a line of communication has passed since.
He has prepared nothing at all,suggested nothing,modified nothing.
He referred them to his new edition,and that was the whole....'
She communicates the result in May:
'...Yes,Robert's play succeeded,but there could be no "run"for a play of that kind.It was a "succes d'estime"and something more,which is surprising perhaps,considering the miserable acting of the men.
Miss Faucit was alone in doing us justice....'
Mrs.Browning did see 'Miss Faucit'on her next visit to England.
She agreeably surprised that lady by presenting herself alone,one morning,at her house,and remaining with her for an hour and a half.
The only person who had 'done justice'to 'Colombe'besides contributing to whatever success her husband's earlier plays had obtained,was much more than 'a great actress'to Mrs.Browning's mind;and we may imagine it would have gone hard with her before she renounced the pleasure of making her acquaintance.
Two letters,dated from the Baths of Lucca,July 15and August 20,'53,tell how and where the ensuing summer was passed,besides introducing us,for the first time,to Mr.and Mrs.William Story,between whose family and that of Mr.Browning so friendly an intimacy was ever afterwards to subsist.
July 15.
'...We have taken a villa at the Baths of Lucca after a little holy fear of the company there --but the scenery,and the coolness,and convenience altogether prevail,and we have taken our villa for three months or rather more,and go to it next week with a stiff resolve of not calling nor being called upon.
You remember perhaps that we were there four years ago just after the birth of our child.The mountains are wonderful in beauty,and we mean to buy our holiday by doing some work.
'Oh yes!I confess to loving Florence,and to having associated with it the idea of home....'
Casa Tolomei,Alta Villa,Bagni di Lucca:Aug.20.
'...We are enjoying the mountains here --riding the donkeys in the footsteps of the sheep,and eating strawberries and milk by basinsful.
The strawberries succeed one another throughout the summer,through growing on different aspects of the hills.If a tree is felled in the forests,strawberries spring up,just as mushrooms might,and the peasants sell them for just nothing....Then our friends Mr.and Mrs.Story help the mountains to please us a good deal.
