第27章

Inhischeerfulalertness，self-possession，andgenialsuavityBrowningimpressedhimasanAmericanratherthanasanEnglishman，thoughtherecanbenoquestionbutthatnomorethoroughEnglishmanthanthepoeteverlived。Itisamistake，ofcourse，tospeakofhimasatypicalEnglishman：fortypicalhewasnot，exceptinaveryexclusivesense。BayardTaylordescribeshiminreportorialfashionasbeingapparentlyaboutseven-and-thirty(afairlycloseguess)，withhisdarkhairalreadystreakedwithgreyaboutthetemples：withafaircomplexion，justtingedwithfaintestolive：

eyeslarge，clear，andgrey，andnosestrongandwell-cut，mouthfullandratherbroad，andchinpointed，thoughnotprominent：

aboutthemediumheight，strongintheshoulders，butslenderatthewaist，withmovementsexpressiveofacombinationofvigourandelasticity。

Withdueallowanceforthepassageoffive-and-thirtyyears，thisdescriptionwouldnotbeinaccurateofBrowningtheseptuagenarian。

TheydidnotreturndirecttoItalyafterall，butwinteredinPariswithRobertBrowningtheelder，whohadretiredtoasmallhouseinastreetleadingofftheChampsElysees。ThepensionhedrewfromtheBankofEnglandwasasmallone，but，withwhatheotherwisehad，wassufficientforhimtoliveincomfort。Theoldgentleman’shealthwassuperbtothelast，forhediedin1866withouteverhavingknownaday’sillness。

SpringcameoutandfoundthemstillinParis，Mrs。BrowningenthusiasticaboutNapoleonIII。andinterestedinspiritualism：

herhusbandserenelyscepticalconcerningboth。InthesummertheyagainwenttoLondon：buttheyappeartohaveseenmoreofKenyonandotherintimatefriendsthantohaveledabusysociallife。

Kenyon’sfriendshipandgoodcompanyneverceasedtohaveacharmforbothpoets。Mrs。Browninglovedhimalmostasabrother：

herhusbandtoldBayardTaylor，onthedaywhenthatgoodpoetandcharmingmancalleduponthem，andafteranothervisitorhaddepartedamanwithalargerosyfaceandrotundbody，asTaylordescribeshim“theregoesoneofthemostsplendidmenliving

amansonobleinhisfriendship，solavishinhishospitality，solarge-heartedandbenevolent，thathedeservestobeknownallovertheworldasKenyontheMagnificent。“

IntheearlyautumnasuddenmovetowardsItalywasagainmade，andafterafewweeksinParisandonthewaytheBrowningsfoundthemselvesathomeoncemoreinCasaGuidi。

Butbeforethis，probablyindeedbeforetheyhadleftParisforLondon，Mr。MoxonhadpublishedthenownotoriousShelleyforgeries。

Theseweretwenty-fivespuriousletters，butsocleverlymanufacturedthattheyatfirstdeceivedmanypeople。IntheprecedingNovemberBrowninghadbeenaskedtowriteanintroductiontothem。

Thishehadgladlyagreedtodo，eagerashewasforasuitableopportunityofexpressinghisadmirationforShelley。Whenthelettersreachedhim，hefoundthat，genuineornot，thoughheneversuspectedtheywereforgeries，theycontainednothingofparticularimport，nothingthataffordedajustbasisforwhathehadintendedtosay。Pledgedashewas，however，towritesomethingforMr。Moxon’seditionoftheLetter

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