Empire Nursing Home, Vincent Square, London, S.W.1. - Is getting on very well now [after his operation] with little discomfort. Bessie reads Trollope to him most afternoons, and he usually has visitors each day: T[homas] S[turge] Moore is coming to tea today. Hopes Bessie will go to Paris next week, then on to Holland: no reason for her not to now Bob is 'so well' and go to the C.A.s [Clifford Allens] for the first couple of weeks after he leaves the nursing home. He works through chess games in the papers, and has just been looking at the tournament between Cambridge and Oxford, in which the marks were equal; Bronowski, whom he supposes is Julian's friend [Jacob] 'lost his game rather disastrously'. Terence Gray wants to do Bob's [translation of Euripides'] "Medea"in May, which he has agreed to but now regrets; Gray is trying to get [Maria] Germanova for Medea, but 'wants her to do it for nothing'; Bob has telegraphed to her saying she should 'on no account... accept the engagement. It is too monstrous'; Gray probably wants him to step in and pay Germanova himself, which he will not, as he will not be able to get to rehearsals and go through the part with her; Gray is also intending to put Medea in a mask, which is 'the height of folly' regarding Germanova. Unlikely Germanova would have been able to take the part with her husband [Aleksandr Kalitinsky] so ill. Wonders if [Hasan Shahid] Suhrawardy has gone to India yet and whether he has finished his book. Hopes Julian is getting on well with his work; frescos must be 'fun to try', though expects Julian is 'likely to make rather a mess at first'. [Étienne Adolphe?] Piot was 'technically quite competent' but artistically bad. Asks to be remembered to [George] Reavey, and to [Jean] Marchand if Julian sees him. Hopes Bessie will come to Paris next week, and see the Luce family. He and Bessie had hoped to see the Sykes family this month, but had to put it off; supposes [Hugh]'s exams are coming up anyway.
Extracts copied by Trevelyan from Layamon's "Brut"; blank verse retelling of the story of Siddhartha; "Everyman, Scene I" with characters Worldly Wiseman and Fight-the-good-fight, both on recto with corrections and additions on facing page.
From the back of the book inwards: extracts from the "Buddha Carita or the Life of the Buddha", translated by E. B. Cowell, on Siddhartha's 'Four Sights' [unlike Trevelyan's hand, and possibly copied out by Gordon Luce?]; retelling of Siddhartha's story in rhyming verse, on recto with corrections and additions on facing page.
10 Pelham Place, S.W.7. - Kind of Bob to have remembered them with his collection of poems ["From the Shiffolds"]; particularly liked the one about a rock pool. Margaret sends love to both Trevelyans; she also much enjoyed the poems. Is at Malvern 'making films on how to destroy the universe in the shortest time by turning knobs'; this is 'an amiable and useful employment', but it is 'annoying' to be a hundred miles from Margaret in London, especially as Isabel is currently spending her holidays there. Ralph is in the army at Karachi, and is married; Daniel is also married, and back at King' [College, Cambridge]. He himself travels between Malvern and London every weekend. Has not seen John Luce since he returned, but saw Gordon and Tee Tee recently at Gloucester, who 'seem very vague as to when they will get back to Burma'. Likes to 'reciprocate in kind' for poetry, and has 'composed one for the occasion called "The Mad Physicist", which he copies out.
Furzen Wood. - Glad to hear this morning that Julian is all right; hopes he will manage to see the Abercrombies [Lascelles and Catherine?] and that the Luces [Gordon and Tee Tee] will see them too. Is going into a nursing home in London on Wednesday for an operation, which 'is not at all dangerous' but will mean a stay of around a month; hopes this will not affect Bessie's visit to Paris, as she ought to go while the Luces are still there. Will have to put off seeing [Hugh?] Sykes; asks if St John's College, Cambridge will be enough as an address. Asks Julian to tell the Luces, [Hasan] Suhr[awardy] and [Maria] Germanova not to worry, and not to do so himself. Saw Julian Bell last week at the Woolfs, and 'had some interesting talk with him'.
City of Birmingham [ship]. - His mother will have heard how his journey has gone so far from Bessie; there has been 'bad weather most of the way' but he has kept well most of the time. Will be glad to get to Naples, as he finds the voyage 'rather a bore, there being few interesting people on board' and he finds it difficult to read much. [E.M.] Forster will board the ship at Naples with 'a young man called [Gordon] Luce'. It was worth travelling this way to see the Straits of Gibraltar, which 'far surpassed' his expectations. Bessie will be with his mother now; hopes they are all well. Thought Julian enjoyed himself at The Park the day he was there, and that Aunt Annie [Philips] looked much better than the last time he visited her there. They are just coming into the Bay of Naples, and can see all the lights of the town; there is no moon, but the weather is fine. Sends love to his father; will write next from Port Said.
Department of Prints and Drawings, British Museum, London, W.C. - Card originally enclosing the Chinese Poems; wants to send them to [Gordon] Luce next, around the end of September; Luce sends him 'such astonishing translations from the Burmese' that he is afraid he must find Waley's own translations 'very tame'; Waley sends them anyway to encourage Luce to translate more Burmese poetry. Trevelyan need not worry about them at all if does not want: he has 'shamelessly thrust them' on him, but 'so few people know anything about the matter'.
W[est] H[ackhurst]. - Wrote to Hetty [Lowes] when he saw 'the sad news [the death of Hetty's sister May Dickinson], and my letter crossed a very sweet one from her'. They moved back to their London flat in the autumn; May much enjoyed being back, and 'was only ill for a week'. Regrets that May 'seemed always wanting things and never giving them', and is afraid 'it was impossible, even with infinite sympathy, that she should be happy'.
Was about to write to ask when it would suit them for him to visit; of the dates Bessie mentioned, the 13th or 14th would do 'beautifully'. Would be very nice to see the Luces again. All well here, and they have 'plenty of wood to burn. The trouble is that it gives no heat'.
Needs to decide 'what to say to the soldiers on the subject of their choice, which is "Propaganda"'; then must give the talk, then go to London to see Traviata for the first time. Hopes he will not be 'entangled in snow drifts'.
W[est] H[ackhurst]. - Thanks Bessie for her letter and interesting enclosures, which he returns: a 'nice letter of Mrs Clausen's: it is a shame we cannot get up more interest in Adamic [?] and in his actually seeing President Roosevelt - Rhea is much more real' to him, as he 'has stroked her'.
Visited Florence yesterday in her new house; she has had a cable 'about - though not from - [her son] Evert'. Is glad that Bessie has Julian in this country, and that Gordon Luce is also here. Sends love to Bob; hopes he will manage to get to the [Apostles'] Dinner on the 20th. He himself will be there, as will Sebastian Sprott, and he hears 'from an authoritative source that there will actually be WINE (a little)'.
Hopes to come and see her soon. 'Is not the cold appalling? But are not the flowers in the garden beautiful, and are not the gooseberries welcome?'. Adds Florence's address and telephone number as a postscript: 102 Hampstead Way, N.W.11; Speedwell 7833.
The Shiffolds. - Reached home last Saturday evening and found Bessie 'very well and cheerful after a happy time in Holland with Julian'. Robert had 'five very full days in Paris, with a Cambridge friend, [Gordon] Luce', now on his way back to 'Burmah after a year's leave in England'; did not have time to see all his 'old Paris friends', though saw several of them. Had a 'very pleasant time in Italy, and did a good deal of work, in spite of he weather and the mumps'. Spent the last week at the Berensons' villa [I Tatti]; they had just returned from Egypt, and were 'very full of all they had seen, both the ancient Egyptian things, and the mediaeval mosques at Cairo'.
Bessie has just written to his mother suggesting that she should visit her at Welcombe next Tuesday; hopes she 'will find Mama quite recovered by then'. They have had a 'cheerful letter from Julian', and another from Miss Fry 'saying he has begun the term quite satisfactorily'. [Goldsworthy Lowes] Dickinson is here for a few days; Bessie reads them 'Tchekof's stories in the evening'. They have now got to the 12th volume, 'which must be nearly the last. Some of them are rather slight, and evidently written as pot-boilers to keep the family going. But even these are effective and lively; and the ones he took trouble over are often first-rate'.
Has not had time to read much lately, but is 'now translating the Antigone [of Sophocles], a few lines every day. Supposes his father still has 'several more Euripides plays to look forward to'. Sends love to his mother.
I Tatti, Settignano, Florence, addressed to Julian at 12 rue de la Grande Chaumière, Paris VIᵉ, Francia. - Bessie says this is Julian's address at the moment; hopes he has found somewhere which suits him. Came here from Cortona with [Umberto] Morra two days ago. Expects he will come to Paris around 16 Feb, when Bessie and perhaps the C.A.s [Clifford and Joan Allen] will come for a few days. [Maria] Germanova hoped Julian would come to see them. [Gordon] Luce is still at the [Hotel] Londres; expects he will stay there to. Asks Julian to say what he should pay [Frederick] Porter; would rather pay too much than too little, and would prefer not to wait as Porter may need the money. Morra says he will write to Julian soon. Asks to be remembered to [Jean] Marchand and [Hasan Shahid] Suhrawardy. Sends love to [?] Franz if he is with Julian.
8 Middleton St, Calcutta. - Is stationed in Calcutta, and will be 'glad to do anything' he can for Trevelyan when he comes here. Has 'just said goodbye to Luce [?] who is on his way through'. Hopes Trevelyan is having a 'good time'.
Notes in pencil in Trevelyan's hand on back of letter: address of 'Gaganendra Nath Tagore'; name, 'S [?] Devankanath Tagore'; list of books by Sister Nivedita (Cradle Tales of Hinduism, Studies from an Eastern Home, Web of Indian Life, The Myths of Indo-Aryan Races [Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists?).
Sends a 'brief Postscript' to his letter to Bessie to thank Bob for "Windfalls", "From the Shiffolds", and his translation of the "Eclogues and Georgics". Has told Bessie what he thinks of "Windfalls", which is 'much the same as what [his son] John says of them'; jokigly criticises Bob for using 'different to'. Asks him to write another volume of literary criticism: Bob is so 'right & just... here, & how interesting!' with 'living racy slants' on those he loves or hates; "Solitariness" is a 'masterpiece'. Was 'amazed at [Bob's] youthful vigour' on a long day climbing on the Untersberg [in 1935], and has the 'same feeling' about "Windfalls" and how 'fresh & fit' Bob's mind must be. In the Christmas carols ["From the Shiffolds"], he got a 'savage satisfaction' from "Rabbits and Foxes"; also thinks "Helen", in the metre of "Rose-cheeked Laura" is 'masterly', asks whether the metre is the invention of [Thomas] Campion or classical. Would love to read an essay by Bob on Campion - or on Fulke Greville, Herrick, Marvell, Donne, Gogarty, Ford or Waller: 'Everything almost'. Also much more to say about Milton; asks Bob to write more on Shelley as he has read 'nothing so fine about him as "The Poetry of Ecstasy" since Mrs Campbell's book ["Shelley and the Unromantics" by Olwen Ward Campbell?]. Bob must also have 'thousands of things to say' about the Greek poets.
Is sending two extracts from the "Manchester Guardian"; does not entirely understand the one about atoms, but Julian may; if atoms are 'a kind of solar system... perhaps our solar system may be an atom in something bigger, and so on'. Has 'frozen fairly hard' all today, and the birds have been eating the food put out; he and Elizabeth have been alone this weekend, but next Sunday [Gordon] Luce, Miss [Ethel?] Luce and Mr [Arthur?] Waley are coming next Sunday. Wonders how Julian will like Latin; at least he will know 'amo amas amat etc' and [Catullus's] 'Da mi basia centum'; wonders whether he will be taught Robert's way of pronunciation, or 'the old English' way Robert was taught at school; it does not matter much, but Robert's is nearer the Roman way. Elizabeth has sent the Hurtenham magazine to Mr [Gordon] Bottomley; now she is going to read to him. Sends love to the goats and pigs, though supposes the ones Julian was interested in 'are now no more'.
Hotel Desmeules, Tadoussace, P.Q, Canada. - She, Sam, and Dr MacLean are taking a holiday, near where Rupert Brooke tried to swim the Saguenay river. Looks forward to receiving Trevelyan's "Windfalls", and stresses how much his poetry meant during the war. Was worried not to have heard from Bessie, since they are such good correspondents; conversely, only worries about Gordon when she sees his handwriting. Sure that someone from Dublin will 'prove adaptable' and solve the Trevelyan's domestic problems. Asks if John has mentioned that her nephew, John Victor, has been elected Fellow of Trinity College Dublin; it is a good thing for her brother, who lost his wife and daughter during the war, to have him near. Hopes Trevelyan will have a good time in Italy. Salvemini wrote that he found it 'exhilarating' to be back there and had faith the peasants would solve their political problems. Have been reading reports of the Olympic Games in London. Sorry to hear that Julian has been ill; medical profession in England rather in turmoil over the new laws [the establishment of the National Health Service]; shocked by Sandra's account of her confinement, and glad she and the baby are doing well now. She and Sam are coming to England next year and look forward to seeing the Trevelyans then.
Railroad Mills Road, R. D. 1, Pittsford, New York. - Thanks Trevelyan for his lovely Christmas cards: has sent Salvemini his, and quotes from his reply, deleting something about Churchill. Salvemini has not been well, but now seems to be recovered; she wrote to him yesterday quoting Shakespeare about the mortality of kings, to cheer him after what he had said of the 'great man mentality'. Has a lovely edition of Shakespeare, by Bruce Rogers, and has been reading the plays lately. It is worse winter in living memory; she and Sam were snowed in for six days, and they have been feeding the birds. Liked Richard Church's review of "Windfalls". Asks for news of Gordon.
The University of Rochester, College of Arts and Science, Rochester, New York, Biological Laboratories. - Has felt very close to the Trevelyans since receiving the Leopardi translations and "Aftermath": it is good to know that creative work is going on in protest against destruction. The poem on Lowes Dickinson had a special appeal: she has been thinking about him since the war started. Read her paper on Forster and Dickinson again last week, by request; even though 'hysteria has taken control' here people will still listen 'spell-bound' to reason. Wrote to tell Bessie that Gordon is safely out of Burma; longs to hear that he and Tee Tee have reached England. Oliver Waley is a great companion. Is working very hard, conditions at the University are difficult; will send reprints of her latest articles. Their farm is looking beautiful.
British Museum, London, W.C.1. - Has just heard that Oswald Sickert has lost his job with the Encyclopaedia Britannica and will be in England in about a fortnight looking for work. Corrects an impression given by his last letter: only met Adrian [Stephen: see 17/25] once and liked him, does not know him well. Asks if Bob could translate Aeschylus's "Prometheus" for the Art Theatre" as requested by [Vera ] Donnet; thinks his way of doing the chorus would 'work very well' for recitation. Was greatly bored by the first performance by the Art Theatre [George Farquhar's "The Beaux' Stratagem"]: everybody 'connected with it is completely Philistine', and he does not think that any good will come of it, though it will be no worse than 'the Stage Society, Pioneers, Plough, Bel Espoir, Paddington Players, Malleson's Mimes or anything of the rest'.
Has arranged to publish his next book ["More Translations from the Chinese"] with Allen and Unwin; Constable's [who published his first book] is 'a nuisance to get to'. [Eugene] Morice has died of illness at Salonika and his bookshop [in Museum Street] is for sale; would be 'great fun' to run it, but he is afraid there is not 'enough sustenance in it for Oswald'. Has translated about thirty more poems of Po Chu-I for the new book, but may 'weed them out a bit', as well as a new version of Ou-yang Hsiu's "Autumn Dirge'. [Gordon] Luce's poems have been 'an appalling blow'; liked some of them at first, but now 'hate[s] them all'. Asks if anyone has seen [Charles] Vildrac and whether he is translating any more of Po Chu-I into French. Does not think he has seen Roger Fry since Bob went away. The Dickinsons [Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson and his two sisters] are soon to move into the upper storey at 13 Hanover Terrace.
The University of Rochester, College of Arts and Science, Rochester, New York, Biological Laboratories. - Hopes that Trevelyan won't mind that she discussed his poem "The Dream", with Arthur Waley's 'Chinese allegory', in a talk she had to give on "Personal Philosophies in a World at War". Two Professors for the English Department have borrowed the poem. Looks forward very much to receiving Trevelyan's "Translations from Leopardi" and will send Salvemini his copy. Mona Gooden writes how much she enjoyed it, and she herself is 'like one of Pavlov's dogs'. Discusses the Waleys: has never met Stephen, though heard a lot about him from Gordon; met Ruth and Sigi once, but now knows them well through correspondence; she and Sam are very fond of Oliver, at the University of Rochester, who cheers Luce up when she is anxious about Gordon. On 21 Feb Luce is thrilled that the copies of "Leopardi" have arrived. If Forster's lecture on Virginia [Woolf] is published she would very much like to see it. Thoughts on the war.
The University of Rochester, College of Arts and Science, Rochester, New York, Biological Laboratories. - Was very touched by Trevelyan's letter and poem, and sent both on to Salvemini who deemed the poem 'worthy of Horace'. She and Sam send their warmest thanks. Has been in correspondence with Salvemini since sending him a note on impulse last Christmas; he has just asked if he can give a lecture at Rochester on 'peace aims' and she thinks the President should 'jump at the chance'. John wrote her a letter while staying with Joan Allen; he seemed cheerful, but rather bored. Very interested to hear about Julian, but Trevelyan's best news is that he is still writing poetry: this has inspired her to get on with her scientific paper. Gordon has written twice to ask if he can come next spring, but he may not have received her replies and much might interfere. He definitely said that he was retiring. She and Sam will befriend Quentin Keynes.
152 Robert'shaus, Yonkers, N.Y. - Sent Trevelyan a message in her last letter to Bessie to explain her delay in thanking him for "Thamyris": has spent the summer on research and fears when she returns home she will only be able to talk about the therapeutic action of sunlight. "Thamyris" interested her very much": she enjoyed the chapter on technique, which reminded her of an afternoon spent with Trevelyan at the Shiffolds; has always liked to analyse rhythm in poetry. Is lucky to be working with probably 'the only scientist in this country' who cares about poetry [Samuel Clausen?], and has lent him the book. Hopes that Trevelyan's suggestion that the rise of science inevitably means the death of poetry is not true, even if Darwin says his science spoiled his appreciation of poetry: 'common ground between poets and scientists' is needed. Apologises for only half answering Bessie's last letter; hopes she will send her manuscript if she has not made other plans. Gordon hopes to come home next spring with his wife and children.
30 Paulton's Square, Chelsea S.W. 3. - Is sure M. Dubos [Charles Du Bos] would be able to get a room here; she wants to go away in June and he could have her room if the landlady agreed. He should write directly to the landlady: Miss Derby. Very glad Trevelyan saw Gordon [her brother], who has left a parcel of things for him with her. Sends best wishes to Mrs Trevelyan and hopes she enjoyed the Holland trip; has now found her copy of 'Jinny's papers' [?] but expects it is too late to send them.
Translation into English of a Burmese inscription, presumably made by Gordon Luce.
Stanzas describing Prome, Thatôn, Pagan, Pegu, Angwa or Ava, Amarapura and Mandalay. Perhaps incomplete. Unsigned, but seems to be in G. H. Luce's hand and by him.
Written to thank Trevelyan for the gift of his "Collected Works"; evokes a memory from a walk on the Untersberg 'five years ago at Salzburg'. Unsigned, but seems to be in G. H. Luce's hand and by him.
In the hand of G.H. Luce?
100 Weston Rd, Gloucester. - Apologises for not writing sooner: has been ill, and nursing Gordon who was also ill; also has to work on her Greek. Gordon is a 'strict teacher'. It is an honour to have Trevelyan's "Oedipus Coloneus" inscribed to them, especially to her 'an ignoramus and savage from Burma'. Quotes "Acts" in Greek [Acts 13.25]. Is glad that she waited to see John. Hopes Miss Simpkins is getting better. Sends love to Julian, Ursula, and Philip. They do not know when they will be allowed to return to Burma; will certainly visit to say goodbye before they do.
Translation by Johnston of Thomas Carew's "Ask me no more where Jove bestows", though thought by J. A. Stewart to be of a lost Elizabethan lyric. Sent to Trevelyan as an enclosure in a letter from Gordon Luce (4/172).
Written to accompany a copy of Trevelyan's edition of Arthur Waley's poems, "From the Chinese", returned because inscribed to 'Gordon and Emily' [Bottomley. See 4/174, 183 and 184].