1809-1861
[Sidenote: M. R. Mitford’s _Recollections of a Literary Life_.]
“My first 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 then saw 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
the _Prometheus_ of Æschylus, the authoress of the _Essay on Mind_, was
old enough to be introduced into company, in technical language, was
_out_.”--1835.
[Sidenote: Sara Coleridge’s _Letters_.]
“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.
[Sidenote: Crab Robinson’s _Diary_.]
“Dined at home, and at eight dressed to go to Kenyon. With him I found
an interesting 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.