Life and Letters of Robert Browning [88]
of pre-Raffaellite men,
pretend to do him justice. Mr. Forster has done the best, -- in the press.
As a sort of lion, Robert has his range in society -- and -- for the rest,
you should see Chapman's returns! -- While, in America he is a power,
a writer, a poet -- he is read -- he lives in the hearts of the people.
`"Browning readings" here in Boston -- "Browning evenings" there.
For the rest, the English hunt lions, too, Sarianna, but their lions
are chiefly chosen among lords and railway kings. . . .'
==
We cannot be surprised at Mrs. Browning's desire for
a more sustained literary activity on her husband's part.
We learn from his own subsequent correspondence that he too
regarded the persevering exercise of his poetic faculty
as almost a religious obligation. But it becomes the more apparent
that the restlessness under which he was now labouring was its own excuse;
and that its causes can have been no mystery even to those `outside' him.
The life and climate of Italy were beginning to undermine his strength.
We owe it perhaps to the great and sorrowful change,
which was then drawing near, that the full power of work returned to him.
During the winter of 1859-60, Mr. Val Prinsep was in Rome.
He had gone to Siena with Mr. Burne Jones, bearing an introduction
from Rossetti to Mr. Browning and his wife; and the acquaintance with them
was renewed in the ensuing months. Mr. Prinsep had acquired
much knowledge of the popular, hence picturesque aspects of Roman life,
through a French artist long resident in the city; and by the help
of the two young men Mr. Browning was also introduced to them.
The assertion that during his married life he never dined away from home
must be so far modified, that he sometimes joined Mr. Prinsep and his friend
in a Bohemian meal, at an inn near the Porta Pinciana
which they much frequented; and he gained in this manner
some distinctive experiences which he liked long afterwards to recall.
I am again indebted to Mr. Prinsep for a description of some of these.
==
`The first time he honoured us was on an evening when
the poet of the quarter of the "Monte" had announced his intention
of coming to challenge a rival poet to a poetical contest.
Such contests are, or were, common in Rome. In old times
the Monte and the Trastevere, the two great quarters of the eternal city,
held their meetings on the Ponte Rotto. The contests were not confined
to the effusions of the poetical muse. Sometimes it was a strife
between two lute-players, sometimes guitarists would engage,
and sometimes mere wrestlers. The rivalry was so keen
that the adverse parties finished up with a general fight.
So the Papal Government had forbidden the meetings on the old bridge.
But still each quarter had its pet champions, who were wont to meet in private
before an appreciative, but less excitable audience, than in olden times.
`Gigi (the host) had furnished a first-rate dinner,
and his usual tap of excellent wine. (`Vino del Popolo' he called it.)
The `Osteria' had filled; the combatants were placed opposite each other
on either side of a small table on which stood two `mezzi' --
long glass bottles holding about a quart apiece. For a moment
the two poets eyed each other like two cocks seeking an opportunity to engage.
Then through the crowd a stalwart carpenter, a constant attendant of Gigi's,
elbowed his way. He leaned over the table with a hand on each shoulder,
and in a neatly turned couplet he then addressed the rival bards.
`"You two," he said, "for the honour of Rome, must do your best,
for there is now listening to you a great Poet from England."
`Having said this, he bowed to Browning, and swaggered back
to his place in the crowd, amid the applause of the on-lookers.
`It is not necessary to recount how the two Improvisatori poetized,
even if I remembered, which I do not.
`On another occasion, when Browning and Story were dining with us,
we had a little orchestra (mandolins, two guitars, and a lute,) to play to us.
The music consisted chiefly
pretend to do him justice. Mr. Forster has done the best, -- in the press.
As a sort of lion, Robert has his range in society -- and -- for the rest,
you should see Chapman's returns! -- While, in America he is a power,
a writer, a poet -- he is read -- he lives in the hearts of the people.
`"Browning readings" here in Boston -- "Browning evenings" there.
For the rest, the English hunt lions, too, Sarianna, but their lions
are chiefly chosen among lords and railway kings. . . .'
==
We cannot be surprised at Mrs. Browning's desire for
a more sustained literary activity on her husband's part.
We learn from his own subsequent correspondence that he too
regarded the persevering exercise of his poetic faculty
as almost a religious obligation. But it becomes the more apparent
that the restlessness under which he was now labouring was its own excuse;
and that its causes can have been no mystery even to those `outside' him.
The life and climate of Italy were beginning to undermine his strength.
We owe it perhaps to the great and sorrowful change,
which was then drawing near, that the full power of work returned to him.
During the winter of 1859-60, Mr. Val Prinsep was in Rome.
He had gone to Siena with Mr. Burne Jones, bearing an introduction
from Rossetti to Mr. Browning and his wife; and the acquaintance with them
was renewed in the ensuing months. Mr. Prinsep had acquired
much knowledge of the popular, hence picturesque aspects of Roman life,
through a French artist long resident in the city; and by the help
of the two young men Mr. Browning was also introduced to them.
The assertion that during his married life he never dined away from home
must be so far modified, that he sometimes joined Mr. Prinsep and his friend
in a Bohemian meal, at an inn near the Porta Pinciana
which they much frequented; and he gained in this manner
some distinctive experiences which he liked long afterwards to recall.
I am again indebted to Mr. Prinsep for a description of some of these.
==
`The first time he honoured us was on an evening when
the poet of the quarter of the "Monte" had announced his intention
of coming to challenge a rival poet to a poetical contest.
Such contests are, or were, common in Rome. In old times
the Monte and the Trastevere, the two great quarters of the eternal city,
held their meetings on the Ponte Rotto. The contests were not confined
to the effusions of the poetical muse. Sometimes it was a strife
between two lute-players, sometimes guitarists would engage,
and sometimes mere wrestlers. The rivalry was so keen
that the adverse parties finished up with a general fight.
So the Papal Government had forbidden the meetings on the old bridge.
But still each quarter had its pet champions, who were wont to meet in private
before an appreciative, but less excitable audience, than in olden times.
`Gigi (the host) had furnished a first-rate dinner,
and his usual tap of excellent wine. (`Vino del Popolo' he called it.)
The `Osteria' had filled; the combatants were placed opposite each other
on either side of a small table on which stood two `mezzi' --
long glass bottles holding about a quart apiece. For a moment
the two poets eyed each other like two cocks seeking an opportunity to engage.
Then through the crowd a stalwart carpenter, a constant attendant of Gigi's,
elbowed his way. He leaned over the table with a hand on each shoulder,
and in a neatly turned couplet he then addressed the rival bards.
`"You two," he said, "for the honour of Rome, must do your best,
for there is now listening to you a great Poet from England."
`Having said this, he bowed to Browning, and swaggered back
to his place in the crowd, amid the applause of the on-lookers.
`It is not necessary to recount how the two Improvisatori poetized,
even if I remembered, which I do not.
`On another occasion, when Browning and Story were dining with us,
we had a little orchestra (mandolins, two guitars, and a lute,) to play to us.
The music consisted chiefly