ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING1809-1861
M. R. Mitford’sRecollections of aLiterary Life.
“Myfirst acquaintance with Elizabeth Barrett commenced about fifteen years ago. She was certainly one of the most interesting persons that I had ever seen. Everybody who thensaw her said the same; so that it is not merely the impression of my partiality, or my enthusiasm. Of a slight delicate figure, with a shower of dark curls falling on either side of a most expressive face, large tender eyes, richly fringed with dark eyelashes, a smile like a sunbeam, and such a look of youthfulness, that I had some difficulty in persuading a friend, in whose carriage we went together to Chiswick, that the translatress of thePrometheusof Æschylus, the authoress of theEssay on Mind, was old enough to be introduced into company, in technical language, wasout.”—1835.
Sara Coleridge’sLetters.
“She is little, hard featured, with long dark ringlets, a pale face, and plaintive voice, something very impressive in her dark eyes and her brow. Her general aspect puts me in mind of Mignon,—what Mignon might be in maturity and maternity.”—1851.
Crab Robinson’sDiary.
“Dined at home, and at eight dressed to go to Kenyon. With him I found aninteresting person I had never seen before, Mrs. Browning, late Miss Barrett—not the invalid I expected; she has a handsome oval face, a fine eye, and altogether a pleasing person. She had no opportunity for display, and apparently no desire. Her husband has a very amiable expression. There is a singular sweetness about him.”—1852.