36 Campden Hill Gardens, W.8. - Thanks Bob for his Christmas present: the "Dream" has a 'fascinating quality' and he enjoyed it, though is not sure 'how far' he agrees with the conclusion, and is 'rather inclined to side [?] with Christ against Lucifer & Socrates': thinks Love should only 'worship Reason' if 'Reason has begun by learning from Love', but does not think this is 'implied in the ordinary use of the word today' though Plato and perhaps Socrates may have meant something like it. Should not 'criticise from the wrong end': a 'poet has the right to use words in his own way', while a reader should 'listen & try to understand'; thinks he quite agrees with Bob's 'main point'. Likes the poetical qualities of the work; particularly the rhythm. He and his wife send best New Year's wishes to Bob and Bessie.
26 Addison Avenue, W.11. - Thanks Bob for his 'Christmas gift', "From The Shiffolds", which he and Beatrice have 'much appreciated'; was afraid when he first saw it that the poems might be 'too classical' for Beatrice's 'non-classical background', but there was in fact a great deal which appealed to her. She was 'particularly impressed' by the fragments from Sophocles and Euripides; he also thought they were 'perfectly translated'. He also enjoyed the "Hymn to Pan"; has always thought it a 'delightful poem'. The "Moretum" was 'quite new" to him, and is glad to have been 'introduced' to it; cannot think of anything else in Latin or Greek with the 'same sheer sustained realism'; does not read to him like Virgil, but perhaps it was a 'first experiment' along the line eventually leading to the "Georgics". Best wishes from them both to Bob and Bessie for the New Year.
26 Addison Avenue, W.11. - Thanks Bob for his Christmas gift "From the Shiffolds", which he and Beatrice have much enjoyed. They both particularly like "Old Aeschylus" and "Two Hundred Years Hence", which he remembers Bob reading to them when he saw them in October; mentions others he liked; supposes "Pusska" was written for Julian when he was small. Bob's recent manner of writing sometimes reminds him of the Chinese poets, particularly Po Chui [Bai Juyi]; does not find it 'at all artificial or exotic', but 'a kind of natural English counterpart to the Chinese way of looking at things, with something of its directness & detachment & coolness'. Feels Bob has thereby developed a style of his own, which he himself finds 'more satisfying than almost anything written today'.
King's Coll., Cambridge. - Must write by return of post, and 'not delay until I compose that illusory 'real' letter which I am always intending to send'. Feels 'overtired and fidgeted', but 'alright in health', and has 'found much more comfort than I expected here, as well as the expected friendliness'. The 'young Wilkinsons' with whom he is lodging 'seem quite perfect'; thinks 'all that side of life will go on without jolts'.
His 'big room' at College is also starting to look right at last; now sits in it with 'my personal past and ancestral past stacked around me in comparative order, and quite a large coal fire inside my father's chimney-piece, reinforced by an electric fire'. Is 'exhausted mentally and intellectually, but the shock of being uprooted is bound to come out somehow', and he is glad that he can 'eat, sleep, and carry on socially'.
Called at Trinity recently, 'seeing the windows lit up [in the Master's Lodge] and thinking a reception in progress'. Found 'only the Master [G. M. Trevelyan] and his wife, and Robin Mayor and his wife', so they had 'a very nice old codgers' tea party'; Hilton Young and his wife appeared at the end, though Kathleen Kennet 'would scarcely relish being classed as a codger - or codgeress'.
Florence [Barger] has returned; her visit to America was 'a great success', and she has brought back her sister [Margaret?] with her. Sends love to Bob - his proof-correction must be interesting. Expects they will spend Christmas at the Shiffolds; hopes 'domestic arrangements keep all right'. Agnes' foot 'got very bad in the final pandemonium' and she went off to her niece's in Barnet in a car. Has been to see her; she 'seems happily placed', and her room is very nice.
13A Hanover Terrace Ladbroke Grove. - Is sceptical about the translation of his books into German. Sorry to hear that Trevelyan has had mumps; hopes he has now recovered. At heart is miserable about the state of Europe; distractions include dinner with Clive [Bell?] and [Ralph?] Hawtrey, and the new letters of Byron, which he discusses at length with comments on morality. Has also been reading the 'absurd' book [Home Life with Herbert Spencer]. Morgan [Forster] has returned, unhappy because he cannot write (with which Trevelyan will sympathise). Met Bertie [Russell] and his wife at the Sangers'; does not think he will like 'Mrs Bertie'. Mrs [Beatrice] Mayor's two plays [The Girl and the City and Thirty Minutes in a Street] were acted on Sunday [2 Apr 1922, at the Kingsway Theatre]; supposes they were not much of a success but he was interested by them, particularly that acted by her sister [Betty Potter]. Has had long walk with [Nathaniel] Wedd who is 'gallant' but not well; Dickinson sceptical about the psychoanalysis he is receiving. Sends best regards to Trevelyan and his hosts [the Berensons].