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University Press, Cambridge. - Thanks Trevelyan. Sure the Syndics would like the Press to continue to be the publishers of Trevelyan's translations, but it is a 'question of time': they have just printed his "Oedipus Colonus", and have his "Theocritus" 'in the safe', to be published 'in due course'. But they also have many other manuscripts ready in the safe, and 'priority is a difficult problem': if Trevelyan wants to get his book of shorter translations out in the next twelve months, Roberts feels he should advise him to try another publisher. Adds a postscript to say he is enclosing a 'specimen page of the proposed style for Theocritus' [no longer present'.

With notes for lectures, translation and commentary.

Notes on Theocritus 14-18.

Woodthorpe, The Thrupp, Nr. Stroud, Glos. - Sends the 'revised version of [his] bit of Virgil' [see 21/107], which he believes is 'much improved' by Trevelyan's 'valuable criticism'. Good to know that the 'dear thing' will arrive safely; tried to send something to friends in Ireland but it was returned by the censor 'as being that noxious stuff "printed matter"'; comments ironically on the possibility of 'that discourse on a Greek epigram' being a 'great encouragement to Hitler'. Asks if Trevelyan remembers Vernon Rendall from Trinity who has recently visited. Rendall was 'rather run down' and so the Loanes' 'quiet not to say monotonous existence' suited him; he was happy to weed in the garden, play billiards and talk. They both 'suffer from a lack of conversation', living in the country, where it is 'not usual to find congenial talkers'; asks how Trevelyan does in that respect. Trevelyan promised to lend Loane his Theocritus and said he could send it when he returned Loane's Lathrop ["Translations from the classics into English from Caxton to Chapman, 1477-1620"?]; is ready for both if Trevelyan has finished with Lathrop; wants to see what he says about Chapman. Has just written his 'fortnightly letter to an Irish aunt who is well into her 101st year' but still corresponds with him; was a 'grief' not to be able to celebrate her 'centenary' with her, but it does not seem possible now to obtain any sort of permit.

Pen Rose, Berkhamsted. - George gave Bob's [translation of] Theocritus to his father in law for his eightieth birthday, who has been reading it alongside the Greek and is 'full of admiration'. Having a 'great business here saving some of the wonderful Ashridge wilderness for the National Trust'; they have bought 'at least £40 000 worth' of land.

Copy letter from R. C. Trevelyan to John St. Loe Strachey about his review of "Thamyris", and Strachey's reply; two letters to Trevelyan from Gilbert Murray about "Thamyris", also mentioning Trevelyan's translation of Theocritus; press cuttings with reviews.

Ashmansworth, nr Newbury, Berks. - Trevelyan sent him a copy of his new volume ["Translations from Latin Poetry"] 'Weeks ago'; did not reply with thanks at one as he wanted to wait until he had time to read it properly. His 'poor' Latin has now 'faded away to a shadow', so the 'good Latinist' may miss the pleasure he gets from translations which 'also happen to be English poetry'. Found some 'old acquaintances', such as Catullus 101, and is 'delighted' that Trevelyan's predecessors in translating Catullus 5 ["Vivamus, mea Lesbia..." did not 'over-awe' him. Has Trevelyan's translations of the "Eclogues" and "Georgics", Theocritus, and 'so much else'. Adds a postscript saying it has not been such a pleasure to read [John] Masefield's new book, "On the Hill': 'Its [sic] almost embarrassing'.

3 Via Camerata, Florence. - Has been in a 'rage of work' since receiving Trevy's 'upsetting bombshell letter' [with the news of his engagement], or would have written sooner. Sends him '[c]ongratulations and approval, both hearty & genuine'; sure he has chosen well as 'poet or day-dreamer tho' you are you are by now means the Rev. Mr Hooper [in Hawthorne's "The Minister's Black Veil?"]. It is 'brilliant' that she is a musician. Was 'naughty' of Trevy to rush to the south of Italy without stopping to see him: would have given Berenson 'much pleasure', asks whether it would have been 'painful' to him. Knows the excuse: the 'demon pushing us WORK' and the 'illusion' that they will be able to 'create' if only they can 'reach a certain place'; hopes this turns out to be true for Trevy. One day 'even you, my faun, will understand that a certain kind of friend is not worthy more but as much as a few days of work'. Is alone but not unhappy; sometimes goes out into the 'great glittering world'; sometimes 'the wise men', [Alfred] Benn, [Carlo] Placci and [Egisto] Fabbri come to him. Trevy does not know Fabbri, who is an 'old friend, very handsome, enormously rich, rather brooding...'; he spends most of his time in Paris, 'held there in Paris by his mistress', who is 'the Vierge aux Rocher always' and can when she wants 'become La bella Gioconda'. Often eats alone and then reads 'recent French plays, in prose naturally'; these are 'not art' but 'very good popular sociology couched in fairly pleasant dialogue'. Will not be in England next summer, but his sister [Senda] is visiting him from America in March; he will meet her in Naples and if Trevy is still in Ravello he could see them. The Berensons will be in April in Rome, so he could also arrange to see them there. Has read through Theocritus this month, and is now reading Euripides; thinks the 'first great chorus in the "Heracles" is fine' but is not sure if he has the 'courage' to read all of Euripides' works.

Four copies of page proofs, with green date stamps of: 3rd July (not complete); 19-23 July (complete); 19 July (up unto Epigram XII); 3 July (also has Cambridge University Press label on front as 'First Proof... 4.7.46', and red date stamp of ?10 July).

Press cuttings sent by CUP and Durrant's Press Cuttings Agency from: the Spectator (R. J. Getty); the "Manchester Guardian" (Hugh l'A Fausset reviewing 'Recent Verse', also including works by Hall Summers, Alex Comfort, John Heath-Stubbs, Edith Sitwell and Peter Quennell); "Notes and Queries"; the "New Statesman and Nation" (by G. W. Stonier, also reviewing works by Karl Shapiro, Alex Comfort, Kathleen Raine, John Heath-Stubbs, and Gilbert Murray's translation of Sophocles's "Trachiniae", "The Wife of Heracles); the "Oxford Mail" (S. P. B. Mais); the "Poetry Review" (William Kean Seymour). Of these, the "New Statesman" and "Poetry Review" review Trevelyan's "From the Shiffolds" as well as his translation of Theocritus; cuttings from the "Times" (also reviewing works by George Villiers, Wyne Griffith, and W. J. Strachan) and "Tribune" are reviews of "From the Shiffolds" alone.

Also included: two printed adverts for Trevelyan's translation of Sophocles' "Antigone", published by Liverpool University Press, with "Theocritus incomplete" written on the back of one of them and used as a divider for the proofs; one page galley proof of Trevelyan's "Rimeless Numbers", with corrections in pen and one section with pasted over correction, dated '1932'.

Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Sorry to hear that Robert is not well. All they know of the heat is by reading about it, as the weather in the north is so different. Grateful for [Robert's translation of] Theocritus and has now 'finished that reductive that author'. Robert and Elizabeth's plans for a new home, which are worth taking trouble over, are very interesting; Sir George and Caroline will contribute a thousand pounds at whatever point seems most useful.

Department of Prints and Drawings, British Museum, London, W.C.1 - Thanks Bob for [his translations of] "Theocritus", the letter about "[The Tale of] Genji" - the errata have now been incorporated into a second, US-only printing, as the 'demand is far greater than here - and his 'little book about the future of poetry ["Thamyris"].' Likes the [Theocritus] epigrams 'very much', but thinks the meter Bob uses for the "Idylls" goes 'too slowly'; however, the 'best judges' do not agree with him and he is probably 'eccentric' about this. Thinks that in the pamphlet ["Thamyris"] Bob does not discuss the things he himself sees as 'straws showing which way the wind will blow': sees 'European poetry' as a whole, with it being impossible only to discuss English, and believes that '[m]odern French poetry (Apollinaire, Reverdy, Tzara even) indicates what is going to happen as regards outward forms'. Regarding Oswald [Sickert's] writings, he himself does not know the Woolfs, 'save for one or two casual meetings'.

Translation from Sophocles's "Antigone". Verse by Trevelyan. Notes on Lucretius
From other side of book in: translations of Theocritus's "Idylls" 1, 2, 6, 7; draft verse, probably by Trevelyan rather than a translation. Draft of a poem by Trevelyan about Acme and Septimius, an early version of his "Maya".

The Master's Lodge, Trinity College, Cambridge. - Thanks Bob for his ["Translation of the Idylls of] Theocritus"; glad it is coming out in a 'form more available to the general public'; he and Janet are reading it with delight, as it lets them in to 'the pleasures of Theocritus to a wonderful degree'.

Newlands Corner, Merrow Downs, Guildford; sent to Trevelyan c/o G[ordon] Bottomley, The Sheiling, Silverdale, near Carnforth. - Trevelyan's letter [26/12/1] gave Strachey 'infinite pleasure': likes nothing more than 'to do justice to a true scholar' like Trevelyan, and regrets true scholars 'get very little justice in the hurry and confusion of the Press'. Thinks Trevelyan was right to praise [Theocritus's] "Sorceress" so highly: it is a 'wonderful poem', and Strachey loves 'such challenges'. Would require a 'new symposium on the nature of Love' to respond properly, and suspects he and Trevelyan would really agree and 'cut the Sorceress out as leaning much to much to the merely animal side of the business'. Apologises for the 'trivial letter': he is going to America on Saturday so is busy with packing.

University Press, Cambridge. - An agreement has not yet been made for the publication of Trevelyan's "Theocritus"; the Press has recently been publishing his books 'on what is called half profits', but Roberts suggests a 'deferred royalty' this time, which 'amounts to pretty much the same thing' but is 'more convenient' for the Press. Therefore encloses two copies of an agreement for Trevelyan to sign and return; one copy will be sent back to him after it has been counter-signed by the Chairman of the Press Syndicate.

Verse about Meleager. Draft of version of "Comatas and the Bees" - published in "Polyphemus and other poems", but numbered 'III' and with a reference to a lady with a fan omitted from the published version, suggested it was originally intended to form part of the the next draft "For a Fan", published in "Mallow and Asphodel". "Archilochus, serving as a hireling spearman, remembers Neoboule...". Draft of reply given by Trevelyan at a meeting [a dinner?] of the Cambridge Apostles on the subject of 'Exclusiveness': mentions Lytton [Strachey], who to 'the vulgar journalistic world' that does not understand him and his work has 'no doubt become a kind of type or symbol of fastidious exclusiveness', to [John] McTaggart and to James Strachey. Draft of part of "The Sumerian Deluge".

Notebook also used from other end in: draft verse by Trevelyan, first line 'Holding a myrtle branch and rosebud fair...'. Translation of Theocritus's "Idylls" 4, 10, 11, 14, 29; Sophocles's "Antigone" 988-992; Lucretius's "De Rerum Natura" 1.988 on.

Two book references in French on inside cover, along with addresses of shops where these books can be obtained [probably not in Trevelyan's hand, perhaps from his time in France in 1918-1919?]. Also list of topics [for verse?]: 'Septimius & Acme. (Meleager). Orpheus. Gilgamesh.' etc.

Trevelyan has filled in the sections printed on the front: 'Written by' with 'R.C.T'; 'Commenced' with 27 August 1923 [looks like 8]; 'School' with 'Ἡ ΓΗ' ['The Earth' in Ancient Greek]. Notes in his first entry that he has been reading Ponsonby's book ["English Diaries" by Arthur Ponsonby] which has inspired him to start this diary.

Mentions of Mabel [Godwin?], Marian [?], Alice, Bert and Bobbie Elms; Bessie and Julian; his parents; Miles Malleson and his wife [Joan] and uncle [Philip Malleson]; O[liver] Simon at the "Fleuron" (who asks him to translate the "Acts of the Apostles", to be illustrated by Paul Nash); Miss Ewing [later wife of Walter Rea], Nicky Mariano; Bernard and Mary Berenson; Frances and Arthur Dakyns (visiting the Ponsonbys at Fernhurst); his brother George (who has written to the "Times" saying the matter between Greece and Italy should be referred to the Powers not the League of Nations); Margaret and Ralph Vaughan Williams and their mother; Mrs [Jane] Russell Rea; Irene [Cooper Willis or Noel-Baker]; 'Miss [blank left], with whom Rennier had an affair. She is now private secretary to [Henry?] Hamilton Fyfe'; Francis Birrell; Clifford and Joan Allen; 'an Italian-French lady' whom Trevelyan had met at I Tatti; Barbara Strachey; [Simon] Bussy [paintings by]; John Rodker 'and his child [Joan] by Sonia [Cohen]'; a 'nice rather muddle-headed young man.. Labour candidate for Petersfield' [Dudley Aman]; Bertrand Russell.

Works on: translations of Theocritus; his 'Flood poem' ["The Deluge"]; possible continuation of "Pterodamozels"; review of books on metre by Lascelles Abercrombie and E[gerton Smith] (Smith is the first person he has 'attacked' in a review; wonders if Desmond MacCarthy will think his comments 'too strong); review of Sturge Morre's "Judas" for Leonard Woolf at the "Nation"; his 'Pandora play'.

Reads (as well as Ponsonby, and sometimes with Julian): the "Manchester Guardian", Spenser's "Mother Hubbard ['s Tale]", Epicharmus, "Henry IV pt 1", Phaedrus, Macaulay, Aristophanes, the 'Summer number' of Julian's "Hurtenham Magazine", Lucian, the "Mikado"; Ssuma Ch'ien [Sima Qian]; Hastings' "Dictionary of the Bible" [at the London Library]; a "Classical Review" with Duff and Bailey on Lucretius; Molly MacCarthy's autobiography ["A Nineteenth-Century Childhood", 'Very charming']

Address of Eirene Duff, 113 (tentatively corrected to 118) Adelaide Rd, Hampstead, written on first page.
Translation of Theocritus' "Inscriptions" VIII and VII. Some pages cut out. Draft introduction to a translation by Trevelyan [of Sophocles' "Antigone"]. Translations of Theocritus "Idyll" XVI and XVIII

Extract from the "Mahabharata", "Vana Parva" 110.22 copied out from the back of the book in.

c/o Mrs Wilson, Myers Farm, Silverdale, near Carnforth. - Thanks his father for his letter, and for enclosing Dr Jackson's letter, which Robert returns; it is 'altogether... very interesting and delightful', and he is interested to see Jackson 'classes Housman with Porson and Munro'. Has seen some of Housman's work on Aeschylus, which is 'very brilliant, perhaps almost too bold'; Housman later gave up Greek scholarship completely, and 'probably is now the greatest living English Latin scholar', though Robert is 'unfamiliar with his work, except his preface to Manilius, which is very amusing at the expense of his predecessors'. The text of Manilius, however, does not attract Robert enough for him to work at it. Housman is 'an agreeable person to meet at the Trinity High-table'. It is 'remarkable that a really great scholar should be himself an English poetical classic, a small one, no doubt, but very complete and genuine so far as he goes'.

Dr. Jackson's 'remarks on the future of English scholarship are very interesting'; fears they may be true, though past scholarship 'will have rendered the classics far more accessible in future for those who go to them for their own sake', and these may be 'almost as many as in the old days of universal compulsory classics'. A 'certain type of higher-brained scholarship will also probably be kept alive by the constant discoveries of papyri in Egypt and elsewhere'; recently saw a papyrus of 'a great part of Theocritus, containing many new readings', which he does not think has been edited yet. This should be 'of great interest, since Theocritus is an old battle-ground for emendators, so a really early MS might have a lot of amusing surprises'.

Has 'always thought Petronius a little over-rated', but as far as he remembers, the banquet of Trimalchio is 'far the best part'. Generally, he used to much prefer Apuleius' Golden Ass; could 'never read the Greek novels, except Longus [his Daphnis and Chloe], which is not a novel but a prose pastoral', the loveliest he knows 'in any language'.

Is very glad that his mother will be well enough to go to Welcombe on Friday. Leaves here on Friday; the Shiffolds will be his address, though he will not actually be back there for a few days. Has to be in London on Thursday, 'trying to hurry up the printing' of the Annual [of New Poetry]

Cambridge. William Pitt the Younger, reading Theocritus.

F. W. V. R. C. [Friends War Victims Relief Committee], A. P. O., S. 5, B. E. F., France. - Hears from Bessie that she and Julian have returned safely from their 'very enjoyable visit to Welcombe'. Julian has 'just gone off to school, a little reluctantly, but quite ready to make the best of it'. No doubt Bessie will feel 'a little forlorn at first'. Has been very busy recently with the [Friends'] library, on a new list of books for a supplement to next month's Reconstruction; also has many parcels to send and letters to write, since he is the only member of his department. This does have its advantages, since 'one does not depend on any-one else'. The weather has recently been very cold, and he works 'in a great coat to save the mess and trouble of keeping up a fire' in his room. The Seine has returned to its 'normal limits'; thinks 'no great harm was done, but a slightly further rise would have been serious'.

His friend [Francis] Birrell has been away for a week at 'Verdun and elsewhere in the warzone', and should return tonight. He and Robert may go for a week's holiday to the South of France next month. Robert will probably come back to England towards the end of March, but is not yet sure exactly when.

Fears the text of Theocritus [see Sir George's letter, 12/300] is in a 'very bad state'; however, a recently discovered papyrus which contains a number of the Idylls is 'said to have some very interesting readings', which are presumably older than any previously known manuscript. Does not think it has been published yet; it was found at Meroë in Egypt. Likes some of the Theocritus epigrams a great deal; gives example, with quotation in Greek.

Sends love to his mother. A fragment of his Agamemnon translation will appear in next month's Reconstruction; will send it to his father.

Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Will give Robert thirty pounds for the carpet, and return it when he has a bigger house. Has been 'inking over' Macaulay's Theocritus and a volume of Cicero; has made a 'most divine emendation' of one of the scholia, and found an error in one of Robert's restorations. Will not go over the pencil notes now except with ink; will work through Macaulay's classics gradually. Thinks Cicero's best work 'splendid', and 'Macaulay never shows better than when annotating him'. The autumn colours are almost as fine as Robert's carpet. Charles has come to stay.

Begins with a quotation in Ancient Greek [from Theocritus Idyll 1] to praise Eddie's [recently published] translations of Horace into English, 'outstanding' for their 'unfailing musical charm'. Has not read them all yet, but is 'amazed' how often Eddie has found 'a felicitous solutions to what seems an impossible difficulty'. Lists some of his favourites; mentions a criticism of "Quis desiderio..." [Odes 1.24]; discusses the text of "Aequam memento" [Odes 2.3] with reference to the edition which belonged to Macaulay annotated with Bentley's readings - Bob finds A.W.V. [Arthur Woollgar Verrall] 'unconvincing' here. Generally the book makes what Bob said about Horace being 'really untranslatable... look rather foolish'; he has himself found them so, whatever method he has tried, but Eddie has 'indeed made an artistic success' of his method. Does not know whether Eddie is still in Derbyshire, but is sure this will be forwarded if not.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth (printed notepaper); 35 Brunswick [?] G[ar]d[e]ns added in pencil, - Thanks Eddie for the letter about his book ["Windfalls"] with a quote from Theocritus. Hopes he can get it reprinted one day, but [Stanley] Unwin says he cannot provide the paper at the moment. Discusses a line in Milton ["Paradise Lost"]. Corrected the proofs of his [translation of Virgil's] "Eclogues and Georgics" some time ago, so hopes they will appear before Christmas; will send a copy to Eddie, also 'a kind of Christmas-card pamphlet of eight pages of short poems ["From the Shiffolds"]'. Very glad Eddie is going to live at Boar's Hill, though sorry he will not be at Cambridge; perhaps Eddie can visit the Shiffolds one day. Agrees in a postscript that he should have 'added crystals to [his] straight lines in Nature'; is going home to the Shiffolds tomorrow.

Press cuttings with reviews of Trevelyan's translation of Theocritus' idylls, most sent to Trevelyan by Durrant's Press Cuttings agency, from: the "Daily Telegraph"; the "Birmingham Post"; the "Glasgow Herald"; the "Morning Post"; the Guardian (a piece by R. Ellis Roberts entitled "Convention and Artifice", also discussing Lytton Strachey's "Pope" and D. N. Smith's "Dryden)"; the "Nation and Athenaeum"; the "Saturday Review"; the "Observer"; the "Journal of Education"; the "Weekly Westminster"; the "Manchester Guardian"; the "New Statesman"; the "Times Literary Supplement" (two copies); and the "Scotsman".

Half page with advertisement for the Casanova Society's edition of Trevelyan's Theocritus.

20 Marmion Rd, Sefton Park, Liverpool. - Praise of Trevelyan's translations of Aeschylus' "Oresteia", Lucretius, and Theocritus. Hopes that Trevelyan will go on to produce a decent Greek text of Theocritus, as textual critics have no sense of poetry, but also says that translations must not keep him from his own work. Has seen Wilfrid [Gibson], who hopes to be able to get on with his "Krindlesyke", and has introduced him to ?Redwood Hudleson, author of an epic poem on evolution.

Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Sends a cheque for twenty pounds for the carpet. Had a 'sort of hail tornado' yesterday. in which four panes of glass in his bedroom were 'blown right across the room', and a painted window in the church broken. Would like to read Hazlitt and Crabbe, particularly Hazlitt, but is in no hurry.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Very glad to welcome Elizabeth and Julian yesterday, who both seemed well and happy; Julian seems to have come on very well since they last say him, 'easily to lend himself to be amused, and well able to amuse himself'; he was full of a play which [Thomas Sturge] Moore had written for the household to act, and 'declaimed the Prologue with great vigour'. The weather has been vile, and the Avon is so flooded that it makes him think 'with pathetic apprehension, to the Seine': the Parisians have suffered enough. Is doing a lot of reading: has just finished Theocritus, and finds him 'as delightful, but somewhat more still than of old'; discusses editions of the text; likes the Epigrams more than Macaulay did, and the one on Archilochus made him think of Robert.