BROWNING, JOACHIM, SALVINI
By WILLIAM LYON PHELPS
IN the spring of 1884 Browning heard Joachim playing I in London, and apparently in response to a request sent him this manuscript verse, here for the first time printed. The note was added : Dear Joachim, will this trifle answer the purpose ? it is all I could do in so short a time, and has only its truth to recommend it Take it, such as it is, with the love of yours ever Robert Browning.
" Enter my palace "—if a prince should say- " Feast with the Painters ! See, in bounteous row, They range from Titian up to Angelo ! "
Could we be silent at the rich survey ?
A host as kindly, in as great a way, Invites to banquet,—substitutes, for show, Sound that's diviner still, and bids us know Bach like Beethoven ; are we thankless, pray ?
Thanks, then, to Arthur Chappell,—thanks to him Whose every guest henceforth not idly vaunts " Sense has received the utmost Nature grants, My cup was filled with rapture to the brim When, night by night,—Ah, memory—how it haunts !
Music was poured by perfect ministrants, By Halle, Schumann, Piatti, Joachim ! "
Schumann was of course Clara Schumann. Sir Charles Halle had changed his name from the German Karl Halle. Piatti was the Italian 'cellist and intimate friend of Joachim. Arthur Chappell was the younger brother of William and Thomas. The .popular concerts at St. James's Hall were founded by Thomas and in the 'eighties managed by Arthur. The musical firm was Chappell and Co., and William by his publications has a place in the history of music.
In the preceding month (Maich) of the same year, 1884, Salvini was playing in London King Lear and Othello, and I remember reading a news dispatch from England saying that conspicuous in the stalls was the aged poet Browning, cheering and waving his handkerchief during the recalls. Mr. and Mrs. Browning had heard Salvini play in Florence in 1859. The two following letters in my possession I am privileged to print for the first time : 19 Warwick Crescent, W. March 16th, '84. Dear Friehd, all thanks for your pleasant greeting. As for getting Salvini for either you, myself, or another Lady who also witnessed as you did and wanted exactly the same thing ; I will do what I can, but confess that I despair of it. I have not yet seen him (off the stage) for I was unluckily out of the way when he called here last Sunday—he told my sister that every moment of his short stay here was engaged. I shall certainly see him this evening, however ; and if I can with decency ask a second visit from him, I will assuredly do so ; you understand the difficulty of the thing. The other Lady would have him dine with her. If he were going to remain a little longer, such pleasures, or pains—might easily be ! But he goes, and is little likely to return, more's the pity ! Ever truly yours, Robert Browning.
Go and see him as often as is yet possible, and don't read the prigs in such corners as the Saturday Review !
z9 Warwick Crescent, W. March 25th, '84. Dear Friend, I need not say how greatly I shall value seeing the great and dear artist once again, if it lies in my power to do so : I accept therefore provisionally because Pen has just arrived, while his works in painting and sculpture are delayed on the way ; and we are pushed into a very unpleasant corner, by the sending-in-day's close approach ; the moment I know what time I can spare, you shall hear how I am circumstanced, depend upon that !
Pray send in the Italian lines at once to Ld. Wolscley : they are (to my notion) more lengthy than strengthy, and I do not " take to " translating them successfully at this present : but I shall retain your copy, and if I can manage to make even a decent cotton purse out of a —, you shall have my performance by Monday.
Ever affectionately yours, Robert Browning.
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