Poem addressed to A[rthur] Sidgwick, telling the tale of Sidgwick's indigestion on Boxing Day in mock-classical style, with allusions to Latin and Ancient Greek poetry pointed out in notes beside the main text. Alluding to Theocritus, "Idyll" 1.66, it asks where the Muses were when 'Rugby's fairest swain / Arthur lay writhing on the bed of pain'. Arthur's brother [Henry], Tom [Saunders?] Evans, [Charles Henry] Tawney and [Henry Weston] Eve are described as coming to his side, as is [Frederick] 'Temple himself', headmaster of Rugby. Sidgwick says that Trevelyan was wise to warn him, as they parted at Cambridge, about 'want of exercise, and Christmas fare'. Ends with a picture of the 'bard' sitting in Rotten Row, lighting a cheroot and smoothing his hat; he lays 'these poor lines' at the feet of Arthur, for whom his love 'grows every hour / Till it be broad as [Arthur?] Monck, and tall as [Henry?] Bower' [both contemporaries of Sidgwick and Trevelyan at Trinity].
Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Has read [Theocritus'] idylls about Hercules 'with much delight'; wishes he had drawn Gladstone's attention to 'the picture of Augeas's great rural establishment'; agrees with Robert in liking the "Pollux". Likes the three epigrams attributed to Theocritus which are in Robert's edition but not his own. Has read Moschus and Bion, and is now reading Hesiod. Cannot write more as he has fished all morning, catching 'a score of trout'.
Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Has begun 'a good bout of classical reading': Theocritus, Bion, and Moschus, which apart from drama, Pindar, and the lyric fragments, seems 'the only Greek "poetry"' in the English sense; discusses his progress; asks for help with a passage.
Thanks Roberts for his letter of 16 July [22/2] and the copies of the agreement [for the publication of Trevelyan's Theocritus translation]: trusts that the proposed alteration to 'deferred royalties' is 'much the same thing' as the old arrangement of 'half profits'. Slightly concerned about copyright becoming the property of the Syndics [of Cambridge University Press], as he may later want to bring out a collected edition of all his translations; asks if a clause could be inserted granting him this right. If so, will return the agreements for this insertion.
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'.
Translation of Lucretius "De Rerum Natura" line 71ff. Dialogue from Trevelyan's "Lucifer Enchained". Draft of Section from "Krishna [and Radha]". Translation from Theocritus "Idyll 4". Translation from Lucretius book 4, including insertion on a loose sheet.
Notebook used from other side in for draft letter from Trevelyan to the appeal tribunal [1918] explaining that his objection to serving in the war is a moral obligation and not a political objection, and that he has been placed in the wrong grade for physical fitness since his back weakness prevent him from performing agricultural work and Dr Bruce Roxburgh has tested his eyes and said they are much below the required standard; would have appealed against his grading but did not now this was possible until it was too late. Draft from "The Three Encounters of Buddha"; draft poem, "From a peak of Glaramara I watch the vaporous clouds..."; perhaps other poems too.
Newspaper cuttings with reviews, most sent to Trevelyan by Durrant's Press Cuttings Agency from: the Daily Herald; Birmingham Post; Scotsman; Observer [by J. C. Squire, also reviewing a book on poetry by Lascelles Abercrombie]; Glasgow Herald; Daily Express; North Eastern Daily Gazette; Daily Telegraph; Cambria Daily Leader; Nation and Athenaeum [by Vita Sackville-West]; Daily News; Saturday Review; Nottingham Guardian; Spectator [also reviewing Trevelyan's translations of Theocritus and Sophocles' Antigone and mentioning a republication of works on poetry by Samuel Daniel and Thomas Campion; see 26/12/1-2 for correspondence about this review]; Manchester Guardian; Times Literary Supplement [also discussion of works by Daniel, Campion and Sonnenschein]; Poetry Review [by Arthur Hood]; Outlook; Calendar; Adelphi; Clarion [by Thomas Moult]; Western Daily Press; Christian Science Monitor; Nation; Time and Tide [by Thomas Moult]; Nature; New Statesman [also discussing essays on poetry by Edith Sitwell and Robert Graves, by 'Affable Hawk' - Desmond MacCarthy, as is noted in an annotation]; Saturday Review of Literature; New Leader [by C. Henry Warren, also discussing works by Sitwell, Graves, and Abercrombie]; Fortnightly Review [by Robert Graves, on The Future of English Poetry]; Women's Leader & Common Cause; Glasgow Herald [re Graves' 'interesting reply to Mr Robert Trevelyan...']; Nottingham Guardian [also on the debate between Graves and Trevelyan]; New Age; and Richmond and Twickenham Times.
Letter about an article Gow has written about "Syrinx" and whether it was written by Theocritus, with a transcript of A. B. Cook's letter to Henry Jackson about the poem.
Jackson, Henry (1839-1921), classical scholarHotel Timeo, Taormina [on headed notepaper]:- There is 'beautiful weather again', though the nights are rather cold. Everything is 'rather backward this year, and the almond trees are only just beginning to blossom'; there are many in the Cacciola garden, which 'will be a very Eden in a day or two'. Is still living a 'studious and simple life, not cottoning' to any other hotel guests, but occasionally taking meals with the Cacciolas. They have many books, and a 'really fine collection of illustrated books of all kinds, Nashes, Bidas, Dorés etc'.
Is going to Syracusa for a day on Thursday or Friday, to 'go over the place with Dr [Thomas] Hodgkin, and to listen to long-drawn comparisons between the Syracusan and Crimean campaigns'. Will 'remember and compare the Greenleighton Epypolae [Greenleighton was a moor with a prominent hill in Northumberland near Wallington, Epipolae a fortified plateau near Syracuse]' when he visits its 'prototype', though he fears the animals 'that browse about its foot will be a sorry lot and nothing to compare to MacCracken's prize sheep'. But 'the genuine Theocritean shepherd still survives here, still plays on a συριγξ (or reed) and still calls out σιτθ to his goats'. Surprisingly, he was as unable to buy a text of 'the great Sicilian poet [Theocritus]' in the capital of the island, Palermo, 'nor even a Thucydides'; he did manage to 'rout out an Odyssey' to re-read the story of the Cyclops, which is set 'in a cave a few miles south of this place'.
Her 'P. M. Budget [a newspaper his mother has sent to him?] is 'very welcome'; also sees Truth, which someone at the hotel takes. Has had a cold, but got rid of it; otherwise has been in 'first-rate health'. Hopes his family are 'all enjoying life, and not suffering too much for being London-pent'.
Found in file of notes on Theocritus, B/9/1.
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'.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Returns Strachey's 'fine article' [John St. Loe Strachey, "The Art of Poetry, Precept and Example", "Spectator", 5 Sept 1925, p 18, including discussion of Robert's "Thamyris, or Is There a Future For Poetry?"]; will read the three pieces he mentions from Theocritus again in Robert's translation. Aunt Anna [Philips] was here and read the article too; he and Caroline are both 'ailing enough to be much comforted by her presence'.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Thanks Robert for "Thamyris [or, Is There a Future for Poetry?]"; had not remembered Sicket's [sic; Oswald Sickert] death, which must have been a 'very real loss' to Robert. Has read the allusions to and quotations of Macaulay in [Robert's translation of] "Theocritus". Much appreciated Robert's birthday letter. He and Caroline are 'as fortunately situated as people of [their] time of life can be, and [they] fully appreciate it'; great age is very different to what is anticipated, as one 'feels like the same person as ever, in a body that every week seems less and less to belong to one'. Does not 'believe, or wish to believe, in its [emphasised] resurrection"'. Postscript saying it is 'very interesting having a Kingsman in the family' [was there a prospect of George Lowthian going to King's College, Cambridge rather than Trinity as he eventually did?].
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'.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Thanks Robert for the 'article about Queen Mary and Queen Anne', which is better than he expected 'in manner', but 'in substance it more than justifies George's letter"; he would have made a fine journalist. Much looking forward to Robert's [translation of] Theocritus, who was to Robert in his 'earliest stages' what Juvenal and Aristophanes were to Sir George. Julian is lucky to learn to love "Richard II" and "Martin Chuzzlewit" 'by parental introduction'.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Comments below the date that it is the 55th anniversary of his and Caroline's wedding. "[The Fall of] Prince Florestan [of Monaco]" was undoubtedly written by [Sir Charles Wentworth] Dilke; it is a 'delicious little piece'; has a presentation copy signed from their 'friend, Florestan'. Very interested by what Robert says about his [translation of] "Theocritus", and about [Sophocles's] "Antigone"; this was always a 'known play' and he saw a translation on stage in London as a little boy, though he remembers nothing about it 'except the beautiful white dresses. Has been re-reading Velleius Paterculus, which would 'almost bear publishing' with his notes and 'still more with Macaulay's". Sorry about Julian; hopes it will 'turn out as favourably' as Robert expects; Mary Caroline's attack of mumps is more serious, and involves 'isolation of the family, and upsetting of plans'; Sir George fears it will spoil 'dear Humphry's prize-getting' which everyone had been looking forward to. Asks Robert in a footnote whether he has read Proust's "Recherché...", and tells him to see last week's ["Times] Literary Supplement".
Quotes at length from Macaulay's note on the poem.
The Shiffolds. - Is enclosing a copy of the introduction he proposes for "Idyll" VII [of Theocritus: see 12/371]; wants to know if Sir George approves of his 'way of introducing Macaulay's note'. Will also quote other comments by Macaulay on "Idylls" XV and XI, though not his note on "Idyll" II. Bessie and Julian are well; has been reading [Sir George's] "Horace at Athens" with Julian recently, which 'he appreciated very fully'; they are now reading [Milton's] "Comus".
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Thanks Robert for his letter [12/370]; returns the enclosure about Theocritus "Idyll" VII [12/371]; discusses Robert's treatment of Macaulay's notes on the poet; much looking forward to Robert's book. It is 'very jolly' that Robert has been reading "Horace at Athens" with Julian; enjoyed writing it more than anything else, and it still 'reads like the quintessence of... the spirit of youth'. Notes in a postscript that he has decided to return Robert's letter as well.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Interested by Robert's letter about Theocritus; expects his feeling about the "Ptolemy" [Idyll XVII] is right and it will be enough to include Theocritus XIV, the "Thyonichus". Macaulay did not admire that Idyll, but Sir George has noted below his love for it, since the last twenty lines were set for his Classical Tripos, and that it is 'the most lifelike picture of unhappy love' he knows. Also copies out Macaulay's and his own comments on Idyll XVII.
c/o A. Waterfield, Fortezza la Brunella, Aulla, Massa Carrara, Italy. - Bessie will be with them by now; hopes they are having the same good weather with 'at last' is beginning here today; until now there has been 'nothing but rain and wind'. However, since the castle walls are 'about 15 feet thick', they are 'quite warm and sheltered within'. Must have been through Aulla, along the valley at the foot of the hill, that 'Hannibal marched after crossing the Appennines'; likes to think of him 'riding along down below on his last elephant, on which he crossed the flooded Arno'. The bones of an elephant, 'supposed to be of some extinct kind' were recently found about two miles from here; Robert prefers 'to imagine that they belong to Hannibal's last but one elephant, which had wandered away... and that Hannibal was in too great a hurry to send after it and recapture it'.
Wrote a paper about poetry for the Heretics Society at Cambridge last November; Kegan Paul have now offered to publish it 'as a small book' if he writes some more, so he will work on that now. It will be part of 'a series of books by various writers, some of them quite good, each with a classical title'. Thinks he will call his Thamyris, possibly Marsyas; the 'sub-title will be Is There a Future for Poetry', and of course he concludes that there is, but first 'point[s] out various problems to which modern poetry is liable'.
Does not think his translation of Theocritus will now be out before Easter, nor his 'small book of poems' [Poems and Fables, to be published by the Hogarth Press]. Expects his father is still reading the Gibbon letters, which 'Bessie would be sure to enjoy listening to'. Encloses a letter for her, and sends love to his mother.
The Shiffolds. - Thanks his father for his letter and for his 'kindness' in paying the fifty pounds into Robert's account. Is glad his father thought he had done the right thing with the Macaulay notes [on Theocritus]; has now sent in the manuscript and the book will appear soon after Christmas. Will send his father a copy. It will be 'beautifully printed, costing a guinea'; is sorry it will be so expensive, but 'the publishers [the Casanova Society] talk of a cheap edition later on'. Hopes to send his father his translation of Antigone before Christmas; this will be 'quite a cheap book, brought out by the Liverpool University Press'
The New Statesman has been writing about 'that anonymous story about the Prince of Monaco [
The Fall of Prince Florestan of Monaco, originally published in 1874]', which Robert 'always thought was written by Sir Charles Dilke', though the New Statesman seems not to know the author. Is 'almost sure' his father told him that Dilke wrote it.
As his father will have head, Julian has 'cut his knee with a stick, and so cannot go back to school till Wednesday'; there is nothing else wrong with him.
The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking. - Strange that Macaulay 'did not care for [Theocritus'] Idyll XIV, which seems 'as good in its way as the fifteenth' to Robert. Looks forward to going through Macaulay's notes on Theocritus when he is at Wallington. Is about to walk to Abinger to see Forster; Dickinson, who was with Robert and Forster at Chattarpur twelve years ago; also 'a young man who is now the Maharajah's secretary [J. R. Ackerley], home on holiday'. So they will have to 'send the Maharajah a round-robin'.
Julian is home, looking well and 'fortunately not noticeably taller than last holidays'. They started reading Hamlet together this morning. Sends love to his mother.
The Shiffolds. - Very kind of his mother to send him the [birthday] present of three pounds; will 'spend it chiefly on books' and tell her what he gets. May 'spend part on trouser-stretchers, which Bessie is very anxious [he] should have'. His hand is getting better [after a fall on the Lake Hunt, see 46/316], but 'still bandaged, so writing is a little difficult'. They have several guests: Mrs and Mrs Sanger; their daughter, who 'has just left Bedales; and Dickinson, 'who is here still'.
Also here is Rodker, who will publish Robert's Theocritus translation this autumn. This autumn, or next spring, the Hogarth Press will publish 'a small book of new poems' by Robert [Poems and Fables]. Knows little as yet about the performance of his Aeschylus translation by Oxford undergraduates [the Balliol Players]; they performed it 'much in the same way last year', but he never himself saw it. Will try to see a performance this time, maybe the Winchester one; doubts they do it well, from what he hears, 'still it may be an interesting experiment'. Has had nothing to do with it beyond letting them use the translation. Met 'the young man who plays Agamemnon at Athens this year. He seemed a nice fellow', but Robert does not know whether he can act. They use his '1922 edition... not the condensed version... for the Cambridge performance'. Will write to his father when he returns from London; goes there on Thursday for the [Apostles] Dinner. Sends thanks to him for his letter [12/365].
The Shiffolds. - Returned yesterday after a 'very wet hunt [the Lake Hunt], though they had a 'good day on Monday, and plenty of fun', which partly made up for the wet weekend. They went out on Saturday despite the rain, but it was 'rather poor sport'; they stayed at home on Sunday, and walked to Lodore after tea. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, but it was 'disappointing only to have one good day'.
Bessie seems very well; the Sangers and 'Mrs Clifford Allen with the baby', are here till Sunday, and the weather is fine but cold. Julian writes 'quite cheerfully'. Remembers liking James's The American Scene, 'especially the chapter about Richmond. They have heard of 'two promising couples, that may do as successors to Alice and Bert [Elms], but nothing is yet settled. Thought Charles and Molly 'both very well, and in good spirits'. Has been translating much of Theocritus' poetry, and hopes to bring it out in a book this autumn or next spring; perhaps also a book of new poems, but he 'must try to write a few more this summer'.
List of writers, and their works on classical themes, over seven pages. Part draft of "Epimetheus" [published in "Beelzebub and other poems"; draft verse 'When I was young, I searched out happiness'; draft verse on Orpheus. Draft version of "Meleager". Draft version of "Helen" [published in "Poems and Fables"].
Notebook also used from other end in: list headed 'Dialogues' on front page; this is very faint but seems to include 'Parnapishtim' and so may be a scheme for "The Sumerian Deluge". Quote on Aristotle from Diogenes Laertius, in Ancient Greek. Draft of "Moses and the Shepherd" [published in "The Deluge and other poems"].
Draft letter to unknown recipient apologising for a previous letter, for 'disregarding... feelings' and putting his 'own desires first'. Wants 'first of all to do what is right and just, both towards you and myself and others'; hopes this will also lead to a 'better and happier relation' between the two of them, but this should be secondary. Will not try to 'take advantage of your friendliness' when they see each other, nor try to do so more often than his correspondent wants, which he will find hardest. Realises he 'must act differently', but his 'affection for you cannot change, though it may take a more reasonable form'. Hopes that he will therefore come in time 'to be no longer an obsession to you, as I now am'. Hopes that 'what passed on Saturday' will not lead his correspondent to think that he did not mean what he said in his letters of a few days before; thinks it was misunderstanding and 'unfortunate circumstances' which caused his correspondent's anger.
Essay on poetry and poetics. Essay on Theocritus, with a translation of "Idyll" 17 and transcription of Macaulay's notes on "Idyll" 3.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Glad to hear that the [Apostles] Society is likely to revive: it is a 'most important element in the future of the University'. Very touching about Geoffrey Young; wishes he had been there when the three of them met at the Lakes before the other members of the Hunt arrived. Sir William Church is staying for a day; they started Harrow on the same day; Sir William, though six months older, is 'a great deal younger than [Sir George] in years and in walking prowess'. Asks Robert to send him his Theocritus. Most interested to hear about his 'literary doings'.
The Shiffolds. - Is sorry that his father is not recovering more quickly; must be 'tiresome for him to be in bed for so long'. Hopes that when he can get up the bad weather will be gone, and there will be a 'fine autumn. Bessie and Julian came home last night; both 'seemed very well, and all the better for their two weeks in the North'. Had 'quite a pleasant time here alone', but was still glad when they returned. The Elms family leave some time next week, when 'it comes to the point we are very sorry they are going'.
Would have liked to see more of his mother, and had brought some poems and translations from Theocritus to show her; if she likes, could send her typewritten copies of some since he has duplicates. Hopes to bring out a book of translations next year, and perhaps also a book of poems. Sends love to his father and Booa [Mary Prestwich]
The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking. - Was glad to hear from his mother yesterday that his father was 'rather better'; hopes he is now beginning to 'be really convalescent, and will be able to get up'. Hears from Bessie that she and Julian are having a 'very pleasant time at Scarborough'; they will be back on Tuesday evening. Till then he is 'quite alone, reading and writing a great deal'.
Has recently finished translating all the Theocritus he wants to: about three quarters of what is printed as his work. Was looking at Macaulay's Theocritus last week, finding he 'agreed in most cases with his estimates of the various Idylls', though he wishes Macaulay had liked Idyll XXI, 'The Fisherman', better. This is not now supposed to be by Theocritus himself, but by Leonidas of Tarentum, but Robert has always liked it a 'great deal' since reading it with Bowen in sixth form pupil-room'.
A note in pencil at the top read 'This is a very nice letter'.
National Liberal Club, Whitehall Place, S.W.1. - Is in London for the day, 'staying at the N.L.C.'. Saw Charles and his family yesterday, 'all seem very flourishing' except that Charles needed to wear a 'sandal on his left foot' since he had 'just had a cyst (or is it cist?) cut out of his sole, a minor, indeed minimus, operation'. They walked together to the House of Commons, where Charles went in to 'hear the budget-speech'; he will be 'right again quite soon, in plenty of time for the Lake Hunt at any rate'.
Bessie had a 'strenuous week playing in the Orchestra of the Dorking Music Festival'; thinks she greatly enjoyed it. Julian 'looks in very good health, and evidently has had a very happy term [at Bedales]'. He is continuing reading Latin with Robert, and they also read the Bible together: currently Samuel and Kings. 'That part of his education seems to be entirely left out the Bedales curriculum'. Does not doubt that 'too little scripture lessons is better than too much, and at least he is spared those terrible Sunday Bible repetitions. But it would be a pity for him not to read it at all, especia;;y as he enjoys it a great deal'. Last year they read 'the first part of Pilgrim's Progress.
Robert is doing a 'good deal of work, such as translating Theocritus, including 'The Fisherman', [Idyll*] XXI, which though it is said to be by Leonidas of Tarentum rather than Theocritus, seems to him 'a wonderful poem'.