The King's Mound, Mansfield Road, Oxford. - Addresses Trevelyan by his surname only, asking 'Mayn't we abandon prefixes?'; in any case he is not a Professor, and 'only a sham Doctor'. Has signed and sent on the [Laurence] Binyon letter, which 'looked very nice'; was 'proud' to be in 'such distinguished company'. Glad Binyon liked the drawing. If Trevelyan has trouble getting Sir R[obert] Allison's translation [of Lucretius], would be glad to lend him his own copy.
The King's Mound, Mansfield Road, Oxford. - Good of Trevelyan to give him a chance of contributing to the present to [Laurence] Binyon, who is one of his 'oldest friends'. Encloses his 'mite', and asks Trevelyan to let him know if more is wanted. Thinks the letter to Binyon is 'admirable', and will be 'proud to sign it'. Glad to hear that his "[The Greek] Atomists [and Epicurus]" has interested Trevelyan; knows its 'shortcomings only too well', and that he 'was not really either philosopher or scientist enough to write it'; but since he had been working on the subject for a long time so that he could understand Lucretius, he thought he should publish. Will be grateful for Trevelyan's 'suggestions'; does not think a second edition is likely, since he has returned now to his 'other hobby of Roman Religion', but would like to hear his comments. Very interested that Trevelyan is translating Lucretius; does not think any verse translation has quite succeeded yet.
[Abrupt change of subject here, so either this letter is incomplete or two incomplete letters have been combined]. Wishes ["The Bride of Dionysus"] had 'come off', but Trevelyan is probably right that his poem is 'too literary for a libretto'. Sure he himself would have enjoyed it, knowing 'the humorous side of D. T. [Donald Tovey]'. Much looks forward to Trevelyan's translation, and hopes to see him beforehand.
The King's Mound, Mansfield Road, Oxford. - Thanks Trevelyan for his 'kind and generous letter'; glad that his criticism [in a review of Trevelyan's translation of Lucretius for the TLS, see 21/43] did not seem 'unjust'. Was sure Trevelyan must have felt the 'disadvantage... of blank verse' far more than he himself did as a reader; agrees that it has compensations, and does not think there is really an alternative; discusses possibilities, particularly verse forms used by [Robert] Bridges; Bridge's hexameters 'irritated' Bailey. Asks Trevelyan to let him know if he ever comes to Oxford, to make sure of meeting; could almost always give him somewhere to sleep if needed. Both Trevelyan's brother's are 'such old friends' of Bailey's wife, and indeed of Bailey himself.
The King's Mound, Mansfield Road, Oxford. - Thanks Trevelyan for his letter; it was indeed his review in the "Literary Supplement" [ "Lucretius in Blank Verse." The Times Literary Supplement, 9 Oct. 1937, p. 730]; glad he did not 'find it unjust', and hopes his own 'real admiration & enjoyment' came through any criticism he felt he should make. Will be happy to hear more from Trevelyan about the points he raised, especially about blank verse. Had an 'interesting' talk with J. A. Smith last night, who said Trevelyan had discussed the work with him. Though he usually has the rule of not reviewing the same work twice, he has also done it for "English", but it is there more the impetus to consider various verse translations of Lucretius in different periods [English: Journal of the English Association, Volume 1, Issue 6, 1937, pp 563–565].
The King's Mound, Mansfield Road, Oxford. - Thanks Trevelyan for sending Lucretius [Trevelyan's translation of "De Rerum Natura"]: will 'greatly value' it. Has already read the first book, as he has been asked to review it; in those 'delicate circumstances', feels he shoul not say more than how much the admires 'the dexterity with which [Trevelyan] has kept so close to the original & [his] written poetry, and the scholarship which runs through it'.
The King's Mound, Mansfield Road, Oxford - Is pleased Sir James liked his review of the 'Fasti', arranges to meet.