the rest, the brow has not very large capacity; and the mouth wants something both in frankness and sensitiveness, I should say.  But what can one see in a morning visit?  I must wait for another opportunity.  She spends to-morrow evening with us, and talks of remaining in Florence till the end of next week—­so I shall see and hear more.  Her books are not so much to me, I confess, as the fact is, that she above all women (yes, and men of the age) has moved the world—­and for good.

I hear that Mrs. Gaskell is coming, whom I am sure to like and love.  I know that by her letters, though I was stupid or idle enough to let our correspondence go by; and by her books, which I earnestly admire.  How anxious I am to see the life of Charlotte Bronte!  But we shall have to wait for it here.

Dearest friend, you don’t mention Madme de Goethe, but I do hope you will have her with you before long.  The good to you will be immense, and after friendship (and reason) the sun and moon and earth of Italy will work for you in their places.  May God grant to us all that you may be soon strong enough to throw every burden behind you!  The griefs that are incurable are those which have our own sins festering in them....

On April 6 we had tea out of doors, on the terrace of our friend Miss Blagden in her villa up [at] Bellosguardo (not exactly Aurora Leigh’s,[54] mind).  You seemed to be lifted up above the world in a divine ecstasy.  Oh, what a vision!

Have you read Victor Hugo’s ‘Contemplations’?  We are doing so at last.  As for me, my eyes and my heart melted over them—­some of the personal poems are overcoming in their pathos; and nothing more exquisite in poetry can express deeper pain....

Robert comes back.  He says that Mrs. Stowe was very simple and pleasant.  He likes her.  So shall I, I think.  She has the grace, too, to admire our Florence.

Your ever affectionate
BA.

I dare say the illustrations will be beautiful.  But you are at work on a new book, are you not?

* * * * *

The mention of the ‘Contemplations’ of Victor Hugo in the preceding letter supplies a clue to the date of the following draft of an appeal to the Emperor Napoleon on behalf of the poet, which has been found among Mrs. Browning’s papers.  An endorsement on the letter says that it was not sent, but it is none the less worthy of being printed.

* * * * *

To the Emperor Napoleon

[April 1857.]

Sire,—­I am only a woman, and have no claim on your Majesty’s attention except that of the weakest on the strongest.  Probably my very name as the wife of an English poet, and as named itself a little among English poets, is unknown to your Majesty.  I never approached my own sovereign with a petition, nor am skilled in the way of addressing kings.  Yet having, through a studious and thoughtful life, grown used to great men (among the dead, at least), I cannot feel entirely at a loss in speaking to the Emperor Napoleon.