in August, while the
Brussels Gallery was closed to (entrance of) works on the 25th of
July. Robert sent his photographs with a petition for a "delai," only
exceptionally granted; the committee conceded it unanimously, and have
given it a place where it stands by itself, and is capitally seen. He
went to see it, and so did the King and Queen, to whom he would have
been presented, had he not been in morning dress. (The father of
Robert to the mother of Edith.) You know very well how interested and
delighted I shall be to read your German translations if you send
them; do!

Again, from this invigorating mountain village Browning writes to his
Venetian friend and hostess in Casa Alvisi:

VILLA BERRY, ST. MORITZ, ENGADINE, S.

Sept. 23, '84.

For first thing, dearest friend, I am glad to know that my letter with
the poems reached you before your departure. I had some fear that you
might miss it. It is like your goodness to care so much about what
amounts to so little. I did what I could to be of use by amending; I
could have done more to the purpose if the poems were original; but I
know your translations were faithful, as they should be. When you
write out of your own dear head let me see, and try hard to improve
it, never so little. I well remember the whole book of verses you let
me read at Venice; I could not well have helped you there. And now for
a sorrow after the gladness; we do not pass through Paris this time,
but take the direct and more convenient route by Amiens and Calais.
Last year we wanted, or needed, to see Pen, who was at his Paris
studio; but now he is still in Dinard. I do not know when he means to
leave; if he finds you at Paris it will be a delight for him to see
you....

Well, yes, the king's behavior has been admirable; what a chance the
poor Pope has thrown away in not preceding him! If the "Prisoner of
the Vatican" had quietly walked out of his confinement, with a Cross
before him, and an attendant on each side, and passed on to Naples and
the hospitals "braving all danger in imitation of his Master," I
verily believe there might have happened a revolution. Such events
from much less causes being frequent enough. Where is the "wisdom of
the serpent"?

Dearest friend, my sister writes, all love to Edith, all love to you,
from your ever affectionate