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8, Grosvenor Crescent, S.W. - Glad Elizabeth is enjoying her visit and has seen the [Gilbert?] Murrays; is 'so fond of Mary'. Letters to G[eorge] and J[anet] should be sent to the Wards, staying at Villa Bonaventura, Cadenabbia, who will forward them on. The latest news of them is from Florence; they were 'very happy'. Has had 'such a nice note' from Miss [Mary?] Fletcher, and has asked Imogen to play, since they are coming [to Caroline's party]. Arrangements for meeting; including the concert they are going to together. Encloses an invitation to the party [?] in case Robert would like to ask [Henry] Previté; they should say if there is anyone else they would like to come. She and Sir George liked Mr Howells, and found Mrs Atherton amusing. Very glad Elizabeth found Mrs F [Helen Fry?] better, but it 'does not seem satisfactory'.

The Mill House, Westcott, Dorking :- The weather has deteriorated recently and it is 'alternatively rainy and sultry'. Saw George briefly in London yesterday; he seemed 'very well and cheerful', except that he and Janet are 'distressed' about the health of her uncle [William Thomas Arnold], which Robert's father has 'doubtless' heard of. George was 'beginning the last chapter of his history [England Under the Stuarts].

Bessie is well; her friend Miss [Laetitia] Ede is visiting for a few days, 'having just passed her final medical examination'. They have 'signed the agreement with the V[aughan] Williamses [for the lease of land on which to build a house]' but there are still delays, since both their and the Vaughan Williamses' architects think they should 'try to get a cheaper tender from other builders'; this is 'very tiresome', but at least it does not seem to be the Vaughan Williamses' fault this time, and Robert and Elizabeth will be sure they are getting their 'full money's worth'. Does not expect the delays will be longer than a few weeks, so the roof should still be on before Christmas and they should be able to move in next spring.

Saw Murray's translation of Hippolytus acted in London yesterday [at the Lyric Theatre, produced by Harley Granville-Barker], but thought it so poor a performance that he 'could not stay till the end. No one could act well, or even make themselves heard properly, though there was plenty of ranting, and the beautiful choruses were drowned out in an intolerably affected and ineffective manner'. The play is 'very fine... and well suited for the modern style, and the translation has many unusual merits': it is a 'great pity that these abortive efforts should be made, as it only makes the intelligent public more and more sceptical as to the possibility of acting poetical drama finely, and yet it is perfectly possible, if only they would go about it in the right way'. At least they should not use 'quite incompetent actors'. Yet some papers have said it was 'very successful'.

They both send love to Robert's father and mother; Bessie will write soon.

8, Grosvenor Crescent. - Sorry to hear of the mishap; hopes Elizabeth's violin turns up soon; thinks she would have waited at Naples for it but Rome must be charming. Robert's book ["Cecilia Gonzaga"] has come out, 'charmingly printed & bound', and they are all reading it. Thinks it is beautiful, though 'too restrained & measured at the end for the tragic action'. Hopes it will sell; it is well advertised. Wonders whether Elizabeth and Robert will move this year; knows a young couple who she thinks would take the Mill House if they give it up. Many people going to Rome at the moment; hears all the hotels are full. Asks if they will see Gilbert Murray in Florence. Mrs Bertie Russell [Alys] is moving to the country; he is on a walking holiday with George in Devon.

Pensione Palumbo, Ravello, prov. di Salerno:- Thanks his father for his letter [12/57[, and the enclosure from Professor Murray which he now returns; this 'raises some interesting and very debateable [sic] questions about the Greek Drama' which everyone answers differently 'according to his temperament'. Confesses that '[Euripides'] "shameslessness" in the matter of bad conventions, such as the prologues' does not appeal to him as it does to Murray; Murray's 'explanations of such offences may be true enough', but Robert does not think they are 'excuses'. Judges that Murray, going by what he writes in 'this book [his translation of Hippolytus and Bacchae] and his [History of Ancient] Greek Literature has an 'amiable weakness for Euripides' which Robert 'cannot share', despite admiring 'half a dozen of his plays'.

Expects this 'admiration' has stood Murray 'in good stead as a translator', since 'translating Euripides, not as he really is, but as he imagines him, or would like to imagine him to be, [Murray] gives a much more interesting result than a real translation would be'. Looks on Murray's translations 'more as original poems than translations of Euripides,' since 'the atmosphere is so different, so romantic instead of severely intellectual as almost always in the original'; the use of verse couplets instead of blank verse gives 'a totally different effect, which is accentuated by [Murray's] fluid, Swinburnian, if almost too flabby use of the metre', greatly contrasting with Euripides' 'clear-cut style'. That said, the Hippolytus especially is a 'fine piece of work';

Robert may be 'a little prejudiced' in knowing the Bacchae 'very much better in the original, and so being more exacting'. Liked the preface, but wonders whether Murray does not also there 'idealize his Euripides, and read into him a great deal more than the bare text of his plays justifies from a strict historical point of view'. For example Murray's translation of Bacchae 430-431 [given first in ancient Greek] is 'The simple nameless herd of Humanity / Hath deeds and faith that are truth enough for me': these are 'charming lines, and really admirable sentiments', but Robert is sure that 'the modern idea of Humanity with a big H. was never really present in Euripides' mind when writing such lines as these; though no doubt he, if anybody at the time, would be in sympathy'. Also cites Murray's translation of Bacchae 1005 as being 'far more elaborate and modern' than the original. However, he will not complain further as both Murray's translation and 'idea of Euripides' are 'very charming'.

Thinks he sympathises with Murray and Macaulay about the writers of [Greek] New Comedy, as far as he can judge from Wight's selection of fragments: would have thought their merits were those of 'very good prose rather than of poetry - Addison, in fact, rather than The Merchant of Venice'. Terence, however, may have chosen to adapt plays now lost, with 'more charm and tenderness than the fragments that remain'; he may 'have developed these qualities' and perhaps added much of his own, since he is 'certainly less purely intellectual, and more tender and human than the Greek Comedians seem to have been'.

Bessie says she has read Cicero's De Senectute and much admired it, so Sir George has 'an eminent classical authority' to support his opinion; he himself has not read it, but is sure he would also like it. Bessie is well. Some very nice people are now staying at the hotel whom they have befriended: a Mr Hardy, an actuary, and his wife and her sister. The weather has been very bad recently. They have not had news yet of the Liverpool election [the West Derby by-election], but should today; supposes there is little hope of [the Liberals] winning the seat. He and Bessie send love to his parents; hopes his father's book [the next volume of The American Revolution] is almost finished now.

Pensione Palumbo, Ravello, presso Amalfi:- Sends best Christmas wishes from him and Elizabeth to his parents, as well as his brothers, whom they hear will be at Wallington. Fine but cold weather since their arrival in Italy until today, 'which is as bad as it could be'. Drove from Cava to Pompeii the day before coming to Ravello; Bessie had not seen it before, and 'was enchanted, especially with the new house, and with the Thermae [baths]'. Everything is 'exactly the same' at Ravello, except that 'Mr Kershaw, the old gentleman, seems a good deal older'; he and a friend are the only others here [at the hotel]. Mrs Reid is not well, and they have not yet seen her.

At Florence they 'met Zangwill, the Jew, who is a friend of the Berensons': they 'liked him very much and found him very witty and interesting', though 'his manners, especially at table, are not perfect'. He spilled his salad onto Bessie's best silk dress, which had to be sent to Florence to have the stain removed - but his 'other merits' make up for such things. The Russells are now staying at the Berensons'; the Trevelyans just missed seeing them. Is glad that [Alys] seems to be 'almost quite well again' now; has seen 'a good deal' of [Bertrand] over the last few months in London and at Dorking.

His parents should look at Murray's translation of Euripides' Hippolytus and Bacchae, which 'in many ways is very well done'; does not think the 'effect is very like Euripides' but that as an 'original poem... it has great merits'. Murray's notes also 'throw great light on the plays from a theatrical and dramatic point of view', and his introduction is 'very interesting'. There is also a translation of Aristophanes' Frogs: 'much of it reads very well', but opinions may differ on 'the possibility of putting Aristophanes into English verse'. Thinks Murray's Hippolytus is better than his Bacchae.

They hope Sir George has had 'no more rheumatism' and will keep well all through the winter, and that his book [the next volume of The American Revolution] is 'getting on well'. Their love to Robert's parents, Charles, and George.

Baveno - Glad to hear that Elizabeth is well, and that she and Robert are enjoying her friend's visit [Laetitia Ede, see 46/91]. He and Caroline have had hot weather, 'bearable' in large hotels; they have also spent 'three afternoons with Aunt Margaret [Holland], driving, boating' and taking tea at their hotel or in 'her lovely garden'. She is 'amazingly good company', especially given how long she has been ill. He is getting over a short bout of rheumatism; Booa [Mary Prestwich] is 'enjoying herself hugely'; Caroline having a 'real rest and change'. Sure Robert and Elizabeth are 'taking the right course' about the [new] house. Hears that [Gilbert] Murray's "Hippolytus" was 'very badly put on the stage [by Granville Barker] and acted'; thinks Murray should not have given up his position [his professorship at Glasgow], unless his health really did necessitate this. Is reading [Macaulay's?] "Frederic the Great", which has 'all that Dryasdust, as well as Clio, can give'. Has also just finished the first book of [Cicero's] "Tusculan Deputations" and has learned from it 'not to fear death'; will learn 'not to mind pain' from the next and wishes he had read it before he got the rheumatism.

Xerox photocopies of over 240 letters, many of them of originals housed in other institutions. The letters are written by Frazer to multiple recipients with a few exceptions: eight are written by Lilly Frazer (to Miss Buckley, Sir Edmund Gosse, Bronisław Malinowski, and W. H. D. Rouse); one is from Henry Jackson to Frazer and five more are from others to others (two from Macmillan & Co. to Hermann Diels, one from Sir Francis Galton to Sir Clements Markham forwarding a letter from Frazer, one unrelated letter from John Sampson to Francis Jenkinson, and one memo from Otto Stapf to Sir David Prain). Five letters include covering letters from the institutions providing the copies. In addition, there are copies of a typescript draft of Frazer's article 'Our Debt to France', the draft of an address on the founding of the Frazer lectureships, and a translation of an article.

Recipients, with the number of letters present if more than five: Aksel Andersson, Terence Armstrong, Spencer Baird, Andrew Bennett, Arthur Bigge (Lord Stamfordham), Miss Buckley (of the Loeb Classical Library), Sir Ernest Budge, John Bullbrook, Francis Burkitt, Edward Clodd, Francis Cornford (16 letters), Otto Crusius, Sir Edwin Deller (6 letters), Hermann Diels (10 letters), Samson Eitrem, S. J. Evis, Jesse Fewkes, Douglas Freshfield, Sir Francis Galton (14 letters), Ernest Gardner, Charles-Marie Garnier (6 letters), Sir Edmund Gosse (42 letters), A. C. Haddon, Sir William Hardy (6 letters), Carl Lehmann-Haupt, C. W. Hobley, A. W. Howitt (7 letters), Mary Howitt, Henry Jackson, Francis Jenkinson (8 letters), Oskar Kallas, Sir Arthur Keith, William F. J. Knight, John Mackay, Bronisław Malinowski (9 letters), William Maxwell, A. G. W. Murray, G. G. A. Murray, Sir John Myres, Theodor Nöldeke, Karl Pearson, Sir David Prain (8 letters), Edward Rapson, A. G. Ross, Sir William Rothenstein, W. H. D. Rouse, Gustave Rudler, Charles Edward Sayle, Solomon Schechter (7 letters), Douglas Sladen, William Thalbitzer, Sir J. J. Thomson (21 letters), Sir D'Arcy Thompson, Hermann Usener, Sir Emery Walker, and Alfred Rayney Waller (6 letters).

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Encloses a letter from Gilbert Murray which he asks Robert to return; curious what he says about Euripides; is not sure whether he agrees with him about the New Comedy, of which he is planning to read the fragments soon; Terence is charming. Is reading Theocritus and is much impressed; is also reading [Cicero's] dialogues, which 'tunes the mind for one's morning's work'. Sends love to Elizabeth; is glad she is reading [Richardson's] "Clarissa"; thinks Clarissa's 'short letter to Lovelace' may, in its way, be 'the most extraordinary thing in literature'.

12 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh. - Very good of Trevelyan to remember him [by sending this year's "From the Shiffolds"]; likes the 'sincerity and simplicity' of his expression and the 'real beauty of the imagery and rhythm'.. Wishes he could reply 'in kind', but has nothing at the moment; hopes later to send what he has been 'amusing' himself with preparing with 'an old House [Christ Church, Oxford] friend, an 'Anthology of Introductions, Prefaces, Dedications' which 'strike a strong personal note' ["The Personal Note, an Anthology of First and Last Words", edited by Grierson with Sandys Wason], such as Johnson in his "Dictionary" or Keats in "Endymion". Would like Trevelyan to read his 'Introductio[n] on Introductions being a Preface to Prefaces'; as he will know, the Preface is 'often or generally the last part of the work'. Has borrowed T. S. Eliot's 'In my beginning is my end' [from "East Coker", the second of Eliot's "Four Quartets"] as a motto; this is 'rather a flippant use of what he treats so solemnly, but the poetry of recurring time or timelessness is beyond [Grierson'; he does however like Eliot's poem 'in a way'. Has heard from Mrs Russel[l] about 'poor Logan Pearsall Smith's illness', though he sounds to be 'rather better' lately; has been re-reading Pearsall Smith with 'equal pleasure on Donne and Carlyle and Milton' and praises his 'good sense and real appreciation'. Mrs Russell says Trevelyan and Desmond [MacCarthy] had visited them recently; he hopes Desmond is well, and will 'soon get a freer room in the S. T. ["Sunday Times"]'. He himself is 'so lame that going round the shops is a duty' he shirks. Has been busy with Dutch poems composed during the occupation mainly by imprisoned young men 'awaiting certain or possible death'; a gread deal has been published and 'the tone is amazing, the tone and the form'. Has only been lent the books, now 'very rare and expensive', or he would have tried to create good translations; has sent an article with 'some quotations and prose' to the "Spectator". Thinks the editor [Wilson Harris] may not accept this: he 'does not care for [Grierson]' as he thinks [his] "English Bible" was not pious enough'. Will broadcast on the 11 January, and may also say a word 'with some application to Scotland'. Wonders how 'poor Gilbert Murray is getting on; 'the "Scotsman" took fright [at a recent illness?] and a friend had to prepare an appreciation to be ready for eventualities'. Has a 'great regard' for Murray himself; they are both turning eighty next month.

Had a visit in June from his 'French daughter' with her youngest son Nicolas, and from his 'Dutch daughter' and her family in November. Alice's daughter from her first marriage [with Alexander Voormolen] has 'grown a lovely young woman;, but was 'seized by infantile paralysis'. She has recovered well, and will now be for a few months at the Wingfield Hospital near Oxford, where Dr [Josep] Trueta is a 'great authority on the disease and its treatment'. Will be alone this Christmas, but his daughters in England may come up for his birthday. Likes Trevelyan's 'cat poem ["Pusska"]; has a 'handsome cat, very independent and superior, but quite friendly'. Hopes Mrs Trevelyan has 'good news of her friends [in the Netherlands?].

The Gallows, Ryton, Dymock, Gloucester. - Hopes Trevelyan is enjoying Seatoller; he himself has "constant northward yearnings", but the strongest "landskip-impression" in his mind is still Italy. Tremendous impression made by their tour of Florence, Perugia, Assisi and Siena; has discovered that, as a pessimist and anti-religionist. his nature demands sunlight. Hates to think of the passengers on the "Titanic" with the "awful booing mooing" of "Nearer my God to Thee" in their ears. Agrees with Trevelyan on the role of the chorus in Greek drama - it should not partake in the action (as seen in "Murrayed drama") - and discusses how the modern stage can accommodate it. Hopes to be able to stage Trevelyan's "Oresteia", and touches on an old debate between them about opera and verse drama. Has written nothing since returning from Italy, but is considering something called "The Lion of God" on the death of Ali. Has heard nothing yet of Forster. Is much worried because Lord A[lfred] Douglas has sued his friend Arthur Ransome over Ransome's book on Wilde.

Yatscombe, Boar's Hill, Oxford. - Trevelyan's "Theocritus" is a 'delightful book': thinks the translation has 'that curious distinction' found in all Trevelyan's works. Has read "Thamyris" and agrees "vehemently with almost all of it": has 'some reservations about metre', but on that subject has 'never known two people to agree'.

Original sent to the Bodleian Library, Oxford.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - The Theocritus [Robert's translation] has arrived; it will 'fully and worthily enable the English reader to understand, and trust, the exquisite tribute to Theocritus by Gilbert Murray which is quoted on the cover'.

The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking. - Hopes his parents have had a good journey to Welcombe, and were not too tired by it; at least the weather for it was beautiful. Was very interested in the 'paper on the Dramatic Monologue' which his father sent him; most of what the writer says 'about Browning and the Victorians generally seems to be sound and sensible'. Is going to read a paper on poetry to a 'Trinity Hall Literary Society' this term, though has not yet decided on the topic; perhaps the history of blank verse, 'a dull subject, but one which interests me, which is what matters most, when one wants to interest others'.

Thamyris [or, Is there a Future for Poetry?] 'grew out of a similar paper' he read last year to the Cambridge Heretics. Has generally had good reviews, except for the piece in the Times Literary Supplement, and lots of them, though he does not yet know how the book is selling. Had a 'very kind and generous letter from Professor Murray [see 26/12/3-4]' saying he liked the book and 'entirely disagreed with the Times reviewer, which quite compensated for any annoyance' Robert might have felt'.

Bessie is well and enjoys the beautiful weather, as Robert hopes his parents also do.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Robert's 'entourage' must be delightful in this weather; the most beautiful things at Welcome are the three large bushes of yellow berberis, with their 'divine' scent. His account of Julian, who is often in their thoughts, is very satisfactory. Has written to Sheppard to say he cannot come to the [Apostles] dinner]. Glad Robert has poems coming out. [Sophocles's] Ajax was the first of the nine plays he studied in the Sixth at Harrow; he has just read it. Uncle Tom [Macaulay] 'changed his view of Euripides at five and thirty'. but he himself is nearly eighty one and has only just seen what Euripides is at his best; finished the "Bacchae" yesterday and agrees with Gilbert Murray that there is nothing like it in ancient literature '"for excitement, for mere thrill"'; discusses the end of the play. Hopes Elizabeth has returned in better health.

Yatscombe, Boar's Hill, Oxford. - Has been reading the criticism of Trevelyan in the "Times Literary Supplement" [see 26/12/5]; on 'every point raised' he thinks Trevelyan right and the reviewer wrong, and will now read "Thamyris".

Originally enclosing a copy of the petition for [Thomas] Sturge Moore. They have got [Gilbert] Murray to sign, and he thinks also [H.A.L.?] Fisher; they are trying to get [Arthur?] Balfour. Bob would like to get [Robert] Bridges, [Edmund] Gosse and [Thomas] Hardy; this copy would do for Gosse too if there is a chance of him signing. Thinks [Laurence] Binyon or [Henry] Newbolt is approaching Bridges. Thinks Eddie said [Siegfried] Sassoon knew Hardy well; has another copy of the petition if he thinks it is worthwhile asking Sassoon to try. They now have letters from [John] Masefield, [George Bernard] Shaw, Lascelles [Abercrombie], [John] Drinkwater and Gordon [Bottomley], and [William Butler] Yeats is sure to send one too. Sorry that he could not come to Eddie's prize-giving; it seems 'a very good choice'. Has told the Shoves to send Eddie Fredegond's latest poems. Sees that a number of Civil List Pensions have just been announce, and fears this may make it more difficult to get one for Sturge Moore.

Yatscombe, Boar's Hill, Oxford. - Thanks Trevelyan for his "Oresteia"; thinks he 'appreciate[s] the purpose and meaning' of Trevelyan's translation, which is 'quite different' from his own. Likes the introduction very much. As Trevelyan says, the success will depend on 'the amount of effort which a Greekless reader' will make to 'realize a beauty that is now out of his reach'; though 'the beauty he reaches' will be something 'quite unlike the original'. Trevelyan's practice in 'quasi-Greek lyrical metres' in his "Sisyphus" and other works has aided him a 'great deal'.

I Tatti, Settignano, Florence. - Thanks his father for his letter 12/340]; is 'now quite recovered from the mumps' which he had in 'a very mild form, with very little swelling and pain' and no high temperature until he 'got up a day too early and so caught a chill, which brought on a high temperature for two days'. Is now quite well, and 'enjoying the lovely weather which has come at last'; goes 'out all the afternoon on the hills to work, and spend the morning in the Berensons' garden, or in the library. A nightingale was singing in the garden all yesterday morning'. The Berensons have not yet returned home, but will be here for a few days before he leaves.

Bessie says Julian seemed 'very happy and in good health when he arrived on Friday'; they will be in the Netherlands by now'. The four Euripides plays his father omits are 'certainly among his least interesting': Murray 'defends the Electra as a fine piece of realism, but it will hardly do'; has 'forgotten the Supplices, and must read it again'. Amongst other work, he is continuing his translation of Lucretius, as he has 'now done more than half, and... might as well do the whole thing'. Is now translating 'a rather dry part about "void" in the first book', but always finds 'a certain pleasure in the way he says things, even when what he says is dull or unconvincing'. George's letter in the Times [Literary] Supplement seemed 'very good'.

Cannot find Sir Joseph Thomson's letter [see 12/287] but will send it to Robert when he does; Thomson writes 'in generous and eager appreciation of Monk's "[Life of Richard] Bentley' and shows he is a 'true scholar'. Does send a letter from [Henry] Jackson; is very glad he confirms his own impression about Plato's letters, against Grote and Murray. Written on the back of a largely printed letter, acknowledging receipt of Sir George's letter, from Messrs Drummond [his bankers], 27 Feb 1918.

131 Banbury Road, Oxford. Dated March 26 - Encloses a note from J. J. Maynard about the King of Kalikot [transcribed] from [H. M.] Elliott's 'History of India'.

A subscription is being got up to pay for Bertie [Russell]'s appeal [against a prison sentence for publicly lecturing against inviting the US to enter the First World War]. He is being defended by [Edmund] Tindal Atkinson K.C.; a hundred and fifty pounds of the approximate four hundred and twenty pounds total costs is required at once; Bertie will not be able to pay anything himself as he is 'very hard up'. His friends are afraid that if the six months hard labour is confirmed, he may 'break down mentally'. Gilbert Murray has talked to Asquith about it, who is 'very strong that kind of offence is properly punished by a fine, and not imprisonment'. They hope at least for a reduction of the sentence. Eddie should send any contributions to F. W. Hirst at "Common Sense", who is organising the subscription; Bob and Goldie [Dickinson] are writing to friends of Bertie.

Hopes that Nora is well. Reports on the weather at Haslemere, and on the nesting of the birds. Refers to two of Henry's comments 'on two "Initial [Society]" notes started by H.W. Eve', which he encloses [not included]. States that Eve sent him the series a few days previously, and that he [Dakyns] thought that Henry's comments were interesting in themselves.

Has not yet had his 'long talked of meeting with Arthur', but expects to be summoned by him to Oxford in the near future. Announces that he is going up to Cambridge for a Memorial [for Henry] meeting the following Tuesday, and puts forward two proposals as to the type of memorial; one being 'a lectureship in Moral Science to be called the Sidgwick Lectureship', and the other ' a studentship in Philosophy... open to men and women to be given every second or third year as the income of the fund may permit'. Expects that the Peiles will know Nora's own feelings on the subject. Adds that Miss [Jane?] Harrison will not be there, as she has set off the previous day for Rome, after which she plans to go on to Athens, and hopes that Dakyns would join her 'in a Cretan expedition' in about a month.

Discusses his wish to travel. Refers to Gilbert Murray, who lives close by Dakyns, 'with his verse translations of the Hippolytus of Euripides and his Greek [ ] readings of Shelley's Helios'. Refers also to Egypt, where he wishes he could take his son Arthur; states that they would then go to Luxor, where they would see Nora, and know that she is well. Sends Maggie and Frances [his wife and daughter]'s love.