Letters from Frances Longfellow //뉴포트. 1852년 8월 20일.

[모나리자]

사랑하는 에멀린,
지난번 이후로 당신에게 사랑의 말 한마디 없이 이렇게 많은 날을 보내서는 안 되었지만, 지난 2주 동안 류머티즘으로 고생해서 움직이는 게 정말 힘들었습니다. 아직도 약간은 남아 있지만, 이 습한 기후에서는 한 번 고치면 쉽게 없어지지 않지만, 떠나려고 합니다.

바다에서 첫 목욕을 한 후 옷을 입는 데 너무 더워졌고, 강풍 속에서 집으로 운전하다가 자연스럽게 이런 환영받지 못하는 손님을 만났습니다. 벤저 씨의 갈바닉 배터리에서 큰 위안을 얻었고 필요하다면 다시 시도해 볼 것입니다. 보스턴에서 당신이 친절하게 간호해 주었을 때 [p. 2] 심한 발작이 생긴 이후로 이렇게 노출되면 발작을 겪었습니다. 당신의 몇 줄의 글을 받은 것은 나에게 위안이 되었습니다. 저는 그것들을 쓰는 데 들인 노고에 대해 충분히 감사드리며, 작년의 무거운 압박에서 벗어나 몸과 마음이 더 편해질 때까지 더 이상 요구하지 않겠습니다. Ticknor 부인이 당신과 함께 했다는 소식을 듣고 정말 기뻤습니다.

친절한 얼굴과 살아있는 입술에서 나온 말이 슬픔의 외로움을 밝게 하고, 우리를 우리 자신으로부터 부드럽게 이끌어줍니다. 우리 각자의 감방에서 모든 인류가 고통받는 일반 감옥으로. Murray는 이미 당신과 함께 있나요? 우리는 신문에서 그의 이름을 본 줄 알았습니다.
우리 집은 지금 꽤 가득 차 있고 넘칠 가능성이 큽니다. [3쪽] Julia Howe는 훌륭한 인수입니다.

너무나 기운이 넘치고 다양한 재능을 가진 그녀의 재치는 이 기후가 유발하는 나른함에서 우리 모두를 깨우고, 그녀의 노래(이탈리아에서 크게 향상됨)는 영원한 즐거움입니다. 우리는 이제 독일 음악과 이탈리아 음악을 완벽하게 접했습니다. 그녀는 이탈리아인과 영국인의 혼혈인 활기찬 여성인 Mrs Freeman을 데려왔고, 그녀는 또한 출연한 미국 예술가와 결혼했습니다. 프랭크 그레이 씨가 우리와 함께 있고, 매우 기분 좋고 다른 사람들만큼 젊어 보인다.

커티스 씨의 사촌 스트롱 부인은 예쁜 작은 여성이고, 지금은 예쁜 자매가 있다. 그래서 우리의 서클은 전반적으로 유쾌하고, 우리는 덜 기분 좋은 처지에 있는 많은 사람들에게 크게 부러움을 받는다. 메이틀랜드 부인도 우리와 함께 할 예정이다. 아침 식사 후 우리는 복도 문 주위에 앉아 푸른 들판 너머 바다를 바라보며, 유머에 따라 매우 즐겁게 또는 심오하게 이야기를 나눈다. 그런 다음 [p. 4] 목욕객들이 떠나고 나머지는 방으로 돌아가 글을 쓰거나 책을 읽습니다. 끊임없이 울리는 종소리가 우리의 고요함을 침범하고 있다는 것을 알립니다. (이제 집에서 충분히 보았으므로 거절해야 합니다.)

저녁 식사 후 잔디밭에서 또 다른 대화나 축구를 하고, 심지어 숙녀들도 공을 던지기 시작했습니다. 그런 다음 절벽에서 드라이브를 하거나 일몰 산책을 하고, 저녁에는 '홉'이나 파티가 신사들을 끌어들이지 않을 때, 우리는 게임을 하거나 노래를 부르기 위해 벤존 부인의 응접실로 갑니다. 그리고 하루는 그렇게 흘러갑니다.

이 모든 번잡함 속에서 더 현명한 삶을 사는 것은 불가능합니다. - 그리고 이 게으른 공기 속에서 모든 걱정은 부드러워지고 모든 생각은 꿈이 됩니다. 메리는 천천히, 전혀, 그리고 우리가 그녀에게 너무 시끄러울까 봐 두렵습니다. 그녀는 아마 다음 주에 피츠필드로 갈 것이고, 그녀의 방은 지금 매우 달콤하게 보이는 매드 메일라드로 채워질 것입니다.

Mary Parkman이 최근 일주일 동안 여기 있었고 저는 그녀와 Cleveland 부인과 함께 Mrs Tiffany's에서 매우 즐겁고 조용한 저녁 식사를 했습니다. 저는 수채화로 찍은 Eva의 매력적인 사진을 가지고 있습니다. Mary Eustis가 어제 여기 와서 친절하게 당신을 물었습니다. 우리 모두 당신을 소중히 생각합니다 [p. 1 cross] 내 사랑하는 사람아, 그리고 우리 모두 당신의 삶을 즐겁게 할 수 있는 무언가를 하고 싶습니다.

우리의 어리석은 행동에 대한 이야기가 당신에게 즐거움이 된다면 제가 할 수 있는 모든 것을 쓰겠지만, 당신은 수녀처럼 당신의 슬픔의 신성함 속에서 떨어져 앉아 있는 것처럼 보여서 당신의 발치에 그렇게 쇠퇴하는 꽃을 가져다주는 것이 부끄럽습니다. 우리도 곧 더 심각한 걱정으로 돌아갈 것입니다.
ever & ever youre

Fanny L.
[p. 2 cross] Sam Longfellow가 어제 Charlie와 함께 돌아왔습니다. 그가 이탈리아와 독일을 보지 못한 것이 정말 유감이지만 의사는 Charles의 심장 문제가 조용함을 요구한다고 생각했습니다.

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Newport. Aug 20th 1852.

Dear Emmeline,
I should not have allowed so many days to go by, since my last, without a word of love to you but I have been suffering, the last fortnight with rheumatism which made it very painful for me to move. It still lingers a little, but I hope is about departing tho’ in this moist climate, when once fixed, it is not so easily got rid of.

I got excessively overheated in dressing after my first bath in the sea, & then driving home in a strong wind naturally presented me with this unwelcome guest. I have found great relief from Mr Benzer’s galvanic battery & shall try it again if necessary. Ever since that severe attack I had in Boston when [p. 2] you nursed me so kindly I have been subject to it when thus exposed. It was a comfort to me to receive your few lines. I fully appreciate the effort it must have been to write them, & shall not claim any more until you feel better rested mind & body from the heavy pressure of the last year. I was so glad to hear Mrs Ticknor had been with you.

A friendly face & word from living lips to brighten the loneliness of sorrow & lead us gently out of ourselves – out of our individual cell into the general prison where all humanity suffers. Is Murray already with you? We thought we saw his name in the paper.
Our house here is now quite filled up & likely to be overflowing. [p. 3] Julia Howe is a great acquisition.

So full of spirits & every variety of talent – her wit rouses us all out of the languor this climate induces, & her singing (greatly improved in Italy) is a perpetual delight. We have now German music & Italian quite in perfection. She brought with her Mrs Freeman a lively lady half Italian & half English, married to an American artist, who has also appeared. Mr Frank Gray is with us & makes himself very agreeable & as young as the rest.

Mr Curtis’ cousin Mrs Strong is a pretty little woman & has now a pretty sister with her. So that our circle is altogether pleasant, & we are greatly envied by many less agreeably situated. Mrs Maitland is also to be with us. After breakfast we sit about the hall door, looking over green fields to the sea, & chat very merrily or profoundly, as the humor takes us, then [p. 4] the bathers depart, & the rest retire to their rooms to write or read until the incessant ringing of the bell announces that callers are invading our quiet – (I now refuse them as I should at home having seen enough)

After dinner another chat or playing of foot ball on the lawn, even the ladies having taken to tossing it, then come the drives or the sunset walk on the Cliffs, & in the ev’g, when no ‘hops’ or parties draw off the gentlemen, we get up games or adjourn to Mrs Benzon’s parlour for singing; & so runs the day away.

It is impossible to lead a more sensible life in all this bustle, - & in this lazy air all care is softened & all thought becomes a dream. Mary gains slowly, if at all, & I fear we are almost too noisy for her. She will probably go next week to Pittsfield, & her rooms will be filled by Mad. Maillard, who is looking very sweetly just now.

Mary Parkman was here for a week lately & I had a very pleasant quiet dinner with her & Mrs Cleveland at Mrs Tiffany’s. I have a charming picture of Eva taken in water colors. Mary Eustis was here yesterday & asked kindly after you. We all think much of you [p. 1 cross] my darling & all wish we could do something to cheer your life.

If the account of our foolish doings is any pleasure to you I will write all I can, but you seem to me so sitting apart, like a nun, in the sanctity of your sorrow that I blush to bring such perishing flowers to your feet. Soon we too shall return to graver cares.
ever & ever thine

Fanny L.
[p. 2 cross] Sam Longfellow returned yesterday with Charlie. I am so sorry he did not see Italy & Germany but the physician thought Charles’ trouble with the heart demanded quiet.