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Postmarked Abinger Hammer. - Is to be inducted at King's [College Cambridge] so Trevelyan's visit must wait. No hurry regarding George's books [George Thomson, see 3/132]: might be better for Bessie to accompany him. Is sure he sent nothing to Philip Erasmus [Trevelyan?] so is afraid he sent nothing to Bessie either.

K[ing's] C[ollege] C[ambridge]. - Thanks Bessie for [Gide's] "Les Faux-monnayeurs". Recommends that she read "Helen of Troy" ["The Private Life of Helen of Troy", by John Erskine?]: everyone he has lent it to has enjoyed it. George Thompson [sic: George Derwent Thomson?] was delighted with it. Discusses whether Thompson will settle in Ireland. Seeming mismanagement of the 'repertory theatre' [Cambridge Festival Theatre?]: it is fortunate the "Oresteia" is postponed. Has seen nothing of Grey [Terence Gray]. Is reading the new edition of Shelley's letters.

West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking. - Is to see Mr Williams [a surgeon, about his prostate trouble] tomorrow; asks if Bessie can find out about him. Is sceptical about operations; his mother even more so. George Thomson writes that Crompton [Llewelyn Davies?] has just escaped an unnecessary one. Thanks Bessie for her care. The book [his biography of Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson] is with the publisher, who seems to be enthusiastic.

Bessie shall have ‘the first two penny half penny letter’ he which writes; wonders why two and a half pence was ‘once a term of abuse’, they ‘must now speak of the sum with awe’. Gets home tomorrow or Friday, and hopes they can meet soon. Has just been for a weekend near Birmingham, and lunched with George [Derwent?] Thomson.

Agrees that, like Bessie, he is ‘courageous by fits and starts’. Reminds himself periodically of ‘two helpful truths’: ‘that everything is very interesting, and that one can usually be of a little use to someone’, but does not think that either is ‘a truth of the highest water. You can’t promote civilisation either by staring about you at the mess or by lending an occasional neighbourly hand to others who are involved in it’. Also, ‘endurance is not an adequate substitute for hope’.

Reads a good deal, which his illness had previously put him off doing. The Ministry of Information want him to write a pamphlet, and the B.B.C. want him to ‘talk about books to India’. Is ‘gladder to have written that Daily Telegraph letter [on ‘Nazism and Morals: Dangers of “Gestapo” Methods’, published on 16 Apr 1940]’, and very glad that Bessie liked it. Augustus Daniel ‘chaffed me gaily about it on the steps of the National Gallery yesterday’, thinks he was ‘actually a bit shocked’. Forster was on his way to hear three Mozart violin sonatas, ‘one very boring, another (in E flat) with a marvellous slow movement’.

The Shiffolds. - Went to London on Thursday for the [Apostles'] Dinner, which was a 'great success. George made a good Presidential speech, with an amusing apostolic myth... about why Tomlinson and not Macaulay was founder of the Society'. Sat between Forster and McTaggart. Dickinson 'spoke well and wittily about the O. B. [Oscar Browning]'; Walter Leaf and [Alfred North?] Whitehead were also good. The Vice-President, Thompson [perhaps George Derwent Thomson], 'took the precaution of writing out his speech, which though elaborate was above the average for Vice-Presidential speeches'. There were about twenty-eight or twenty-nine people present, 'rather more than usual'.

Left Bessie at home with a 'strained shoulder', she is recovering, though still has her arm in a sling. Will try to get to one of the performances of the Oresteia by the Balliol undergraduates; from what he hears it is unlikely to be very good. They acted it in various places in the south of England last year, though he did not see any performances himself. Expects they have improved; may go to see them at Winchester on 7 July. They are using his 'complete translation... published in January 1923, not the theatre version which was printed opposite the Greek for the Cambridge performance of 1921'. They do not of course act out the whole trilogy; should think they leave out a third or more. Sends love to his mother.

King's College, Cambridge. - Read Trevelyan's essay on poetry, "Thamyris", last night; thinks it is 'delightfully written', particularly the opening and first chapter. Generally agrees with the second chapter on spoken verse, but thinks it needs 'strengthening, further investigation and evidence'. Disagrees from Trevelyan on some points such as the speed at which the 'Miltonic monosyllabic line' reads. The chapter on 'Duple and Triple time baffles and bewilders' him: does not understand the terms in a poetic context and wants 'much more definition and example'; advises Trevelyan to look again at [George] Saintsbury's 'axioms in... "the Short History of Prosody"', which he himself finds 'very helpful'. Shows how his scansion of a line from [Shakespeare's] "Troilus and Cressida" differs from Trevelyan's. Thanks Trevelyan for letting him see the essay; may not have done it justice as yesterday he had two supervisions, an hour and a half's meeting with the Town Planning authority, and an audit of college silver, as well as 'hearing a young man's choral and orchestral setting of the "Prometheus" (done for George Thomson) played on a piano' and 'meeting a black emperor [Haile Selassie?] and his prime minister at dinner'.

Bessie's letter gave him the news [of Moya Llewelyn Davies' death], which 'is quite shattering'; he 'had no idea she was so ill', though in a recent letter she 'admitted she was not well' and told him not to mention it in his reply. Wonders whether his letter reached her; cannot remember exactly when he wrote.

He 'scarcely knew Crompton [Moya's husband]', and was 'rather frightened of him'. Got to know Moya through George Thomson, and 'gradually became very fond of her indeed'. Has 'managed to write a line to Séan [?]. Heaven knows what goes on inside her or what she will do. It [Ireland] is a lovely land, and those are lovely people, even though we cannot understand them or make them fit our standards'. Wishes Moya had not died - does not think he has even kept any of her letters, and 'they are such good ones'. Supposes they will hear more in time. Cannot find the notice Bessie mentions in last Wednesday's Times, 'It is so distressing'.

W[est] H[ackhurst]. - Does not know Binjori's [Abdul Rahman Bijnori?] works as he ought to, and does not feel able to take the chair; wishes Trevelyan would do it himself. Suggests asking someone from the East such as Narayana Menon, though perhaps he is too little known. Discusses [Elizabeth] Daryush's poems. George Thomson should have organised the [Apostles'] Dinner, but is going into hospital. Took tea with Chi'en [Xiao Qian]. Agrees that Silvia S. [Sylvia Sprigge?] is now far away.

W[est] H[ackhurst]. - Thanks Trevelyan for his Christmas present of poems, and for yesterday afternoon [a poetry reading?]. The epistle to Desmond [MacCarthy] was a lovely start; good to get in Moses ["Moses and the Shepherd"] and Goldie [Dickinson] too. Dickinson's Faust translation was looked for last year by May Dickinson, at Robert Nicholl's [Robert Nichols'?] wish; no trace of it was found, and it is either with Miss Stawell's executor or has been destroyed. Gives address of George Thomson's hospital, with suggestions of how best to get there.