Showing 35 results

Contains: "On Translating Montaigne" by R. C. Trevelyan; poem, "Dante's Beatrice", by S.S. [Sylvia Sprigge]; poem, "Nocturne", by M. D. Hastings; "Composer in the Nursery" by Robert Muller-Hartmann; poem, "Reflection", by John Griffin; "Some Thoughts on the Teaching of Art" by A. B. S. Sprigge; poem, "Nostalgia", by H. B. [Herbert Brereton?] Aldrich.

Reports that he found [F.D.?] Maurice 'much better' on his arrival, but that three little girls are in bed with measles. Declares that it is a comfort after his 'pleasant week' at Cambridge not to have to prove the truth of the following lines from a poem by Newman: "'When mirth is full and free Some sudden gloom must be.'" Claims that he hardly ever returns home 'without anticipating calamity.' Declares that he bought Dr. Newman's Poems in London, and tells Sidgwick that he will be pleased with them. Observes that '[t]here is something very tender and courageous in his publishing now some lines he addressed to Frank Newman on the day the latter came of age, when J. Henry Newman was [first] ordained, and the two brothers were full of Evangelical fervour.' Refers to 'The Dream of Gerontius' as 'a striking poem', and discusses his own view of Purgatory, which is like neither Newman's nor Dante's. Refers to an enclosed letter [not included], relating to the general meeting of the Free Christian Union. Asks Sidgwick to let him know if he intends to join, when he returns E. Enfield's letter. Declares that they 'are all very sorry for Theodore, and induced to think Napier was hard on him.'

Has two copies of a Latin commentary on Dante recently reprinted by Lord Vernon; will send one to Pollock.

The Mill House, Westcott, Dorking. - Robert is glad Aunt Maria is 'on the whole better' and hopes she will continue to improve; Bessie much enjoyed getting her letter. Expects Tuttie [Hubrecht] will be with her soon., but it is 'very sad about the Grandmonts', and they hope all will soon turn out well. They have just had their first guest: Robert's Aunt Annie [Philips] who 'gave Bessie the broach [sic]', his mother's sister. She came for lunch and tea; Bessie was 'very busy' in the morning making things nice as Aunt Annie is a 'very skilful connoisseur in housekeeping'. Now Bessie is sewing rings onto the curtains for the dining room; Robert breaks off to go and look at them, and reports they look 'even better than expected...' though the seamstress has made them two inches too short. Wishes Aunt Maria could see their house; will soon send photographs of the exterior and two sitting rooms, but this will not give her a real idea; she will however see the Enticknaps and their son Gussie. Is about to put some weedkiller on the lawn, though this is an unending task. Their French roses are 'still blooming' and have been very successful. There are now frosts at night, though the weather is still 'beautiful'. Has recently been reading, with the help of translations, the old Provençal poets; some are much more beautiful than he expected, and he understands now why Dante so admired and was influenced by them; however many of the Troubadours are 'very dull and conventional'. He and Bessie read some of Dante's "Paradiso" together most mornings; they like it very much and persevere even though it is 'very difficult'. They both send best wishes to her and Uncle [Paul Hubrecht], whom he hopes is keeping well.

Bessie adds a postscript in Dutch at the bottom of the last page which she continues above Robert's writing on the first page; asks about Tuttie, describes getting the house ready for Aunt Annie. Asks about a name, 'Lucy Bane?', which she could not read. She forgot Johannes [Röntgen?]'s birthday; Aunt Maria 'thinks much more intensely about other people, just like Grandmother did'.

9 Clarence Gate Gardens, N.W.1. - Letters such as Trevelyan's [about "The Sacred Wood"?] are 'a greater pleasure than the most flattering review. All human feeling seems to desert a reviewer', whether favourable or unfavourable. Had 'several motives' for saying the little he did about Milton: finds him 'on the whole [emphasised], antipathetic', with Dante 'so immeasurably greater in every way' that Eliot is 'often irritated by Milton's admirers'; also has 'certain specific charges to bring against Milton' which he did not have chance to discuss at length, so 'introduced them in a way which... might stimulate the reflective' while he was 'not unwilling' they might vex the thoughtless'. Has 'no great desire' to write about Milton, and thinks it wiser to keep to subjects on which he has 'strong convictions or enthusiasm about'. Has however been intending to write about the history of blank verse, and would discuss Milton in that context.

The second sheet is a re-used printed invitation from Marshall Pontifex, clerk of the Armourers and Brasiers' Company, to Sir W. Frederick Pollock, 6 Dec. 1884.

Notes on Memorials of Coleorton dated 9 Nov. 1887. Notes on The Early Life of Samuel Rogers by P. W. Clayden written at the back of the book. Single sheet headed '*Purg[atori]o - Omissions in Trans[lations]' loose at end.

Also includes notes from Lacaita's preface to Benvenuto da Imola's Dante commentary,

3 Belford Park, Edinburgh - [Adam] Sedgwick's death was a shock; his close friend [George] Chrystal died over a year ago; is very well, but university work is a strain, with a great amount of work; has only read a little of his book ['The Belief in Immortality'], is not in sympathy with his general ideas of progress; has been reading Dante and the Old Testament in Italian, 'an extraordinary drama'; liked [Sir James?] Donaldson at St Andrews, but not years before in Edinburgh; their old Principal is a wonderful man; finds Mrs [Emily] Hodgson as fit as when he first knew her.

Cambridge. Meeting with [ ] Jackson, "Africa" meeting, stresses the importance of accuracy in reading of Dante.

29 Beaufort St, Chelsea [on headed notepaper for the National Liberal Club, Whitehall Place S. W.]:- Thanks his parents for their 'joint letter'. The weather here has suddenly turned 'almost absolutely perfect, at least for December', and the 'nights are wonderfully lighted by this full moon'. Florence must be 'gorgeous by moonlight'; wonders if they ever go to 'the portico where the David used to be and think of the poor painter of Henry James' Madonna of the Future, who was found there by night', but expects they go to bed 'quite early'. Dined recently with the [Yates] Thompsons, and Harry 'pretended to be indignant' that the Trevelyans had not gone to a hotel he had recommended; he 'was in a familiar, you-be-damned sort of mood', since there was no-one there but the Wilberforces, Spring Rice and Robert. Dolly 'had to reprove him for swearing at table before his guests'; thinks 'the Canon was rather shocked by his way of going on'.

[Edward Ernest] Bowen has given a 'lecture to the school [Harrow] upon the American Secession & Civil War', speaking 'for nearly two hours without becoming embarrassed or stumbling over a single word'; they say that throughout 'the excitement was so intense that you could have heard a fly's buzz'. At the end 'they got up and cheered him till it was thought they would never stop. They had not realised before what he was'. [Roger] Fry has a commission to paint 'a certain Smith Barry, the brother of the notorious M.P'. He has almost finished his lectures; he set 'certain passages in Browning's Fra Lippo to be annotated', which contain 'several bad blunders as to dates etc': '[m]ost of the young ladies trip up prettily into these pitfalls, taking it for granted that Browning must be right.

Robert 'quite agree[s] about Dante's deliberate purpose of making a great literary success', though thinks this would be 'indignantly repudiated by most of his idolaters'. It is 'very dull' in England at the moment; as far as Robert can tell people talk of 'nothing but Armenians.[a reference to the massacres in the Ottoman Empire]... and the Vailima letters [written by Robert Louis Stevenson to Sidney Colvin between 1890 and 1894, and recently published]'.

29 Beaufort St, Chelsea:- Has seen his mother's letter to Charlie; is glad to hear the journey 'has been so far so delightful'. Wonders if they will go on to Ravenna; since the weather is fine, he hopes they will. Once had 'an hour' in Bologna, 'chiefly a flying visit to the gallery'; thought that it 'with its collonades [sic] and fascinating though somewhat ugly towers seemed quite unlike any other town in Italy', and would have liked to see more of it.

Hopes to see Charles today: has not seen him for a long time. Bernard Shaw came to dinner with them [Robert and Roger Fry] recently: they had 'the greatest difficult in getting him to eat or drink anything', and he would 'scarcely eat' a risotto they had 'specially prepared for him, because he detected a flavour of animal gravy in it'. Shaw 'made up for his fastidiousness by talking the whole evening', and Robert 'was very glad to listen'; has written a one act play about Napoleon [The Man of Destiny, first performed in Nov 1897], and has been 'studying military history for some time'. Robert thinks he ought to 'turn out something original in the Napoleonics'.

Roger has 'practically finished his portrait of Mrs W[iddrington?]', having 'considerably altered the face' since Robert's mother saw it, 'when it was very unsatisfactory'; Robert now thinks it 'very good'. To Roger's 'great amusement', the 'O. B. [Oscar Browning]' has commissioned a portrait from him.

Saw the Holman Hunts last Sunday; they were 'charmed' by the flowers his mother sent them. The 'old boy is painting a picture which promises to be the ugliest he has yet done. It has great merit in many ways, but in his old age he he seems to have lost all idea of what combinations of colours are beautiful'. Is going this evening to a 'Mottle concert [one conducted by Felix Mottl?]': has not heard except the Mikado for a 'dangerously long time*. Hopes his father is 'enjoying himself, and is reading his Dante regularly'.

Rome. Attempt on the life of Louis Napoleon, Tivoli, Hadrian's villa, Monte Gennaro, delight in Dante.

166 Albany St., N.W. - Thanks for three volumes received via Swinburne; particular favourites in the Venice volume; will soon present his own published blank verse translation of Dante. Swinburne's Atalanta [in Calydon] a glorious poem.

Westridge Farm House, Streatley, Berks. - Sends 'rather belated' thanks for Bob's translations ["Translations from Horace, Juvenal and Montaigne, with Two Imaginary Conversations"] and for the "Epistle [to Joan Allen]" he sent to Binyon and [his wife] Cicely. Cicely has been suffering from erysipelas; it is a 'very debilitating disease', and he had to take her to stay with her brother [Valentine?]in Sussex; they returned last week. Congratulates Bob on the 'suppleness of the verse', just right for translating Horace; would have liked Bob to translate some of the "Odes", but expects he is right that it is 'quite impossible to repeat the miracles of placing [emphasised]' in an uninflected language like English. Much enjoyed the "Imaginary Conversations", and thinks them a 'pleasant way of writing literary criticism'; encourages Bob to do more, as he 'write[s] such excellent prose (like all good poets)'; asks if Bob feels he is 'trespassing on Landor'. Thinks he has succeeded in 'suffusing all the elements of the book... with a wholeness of atmosphere, wise and mellow'; enjoys this, though he cannot share in it completely, since he does not 'really feel at home in the Roman world', and has an 'obstinate streak of the mystic' which he is sure Bob would disapprove of. Had already given a copy of the book to his son-in-law [Humphrey HIggens], a teacher at St Paul's school, who has read some of the Horace with his pupils and 'much admired' Bob's translations. Only has one more canto of [Dante's] "Paradiso" to translate, but Macmillan has 'lost so heavily' on the first two volumes of the Divine Comedy that he is not keen to publish the last at the moment; however, he has agreed to publish a new book of Binyon's poetry "[The North Star"], which Binyon will send Bob when it come out, perhaps in spring. Knows Bob must mind not being able to take his usual trip to Italy; expect he has heard about their five months in Greece last year, which were 'very enjoyable and interesting', though Binyon would have found Athens a 'dull place' if he had not been so busy with his lectures and the weather was bad much of the time. They flew home all of the way. Supposes Bob hears nothing direct from B.B. [Bernard Berenson]; hears Mrs [Eugénie?] Strong has been 'turned out of her flat in Rome'. Asks how Bessie is; he and Cicely send their love to her, and to the [Sturge] Moores if they are still with the Trevelyans.

Holly Lodge, Richmond Park, S.W. - Does not think he would be able to come to Wallington, as he has to go Scotland a few days earlier than he intended to at first. Yesterday was 'delightful': it poured with rain so he read 'all day without stopping': '"Vita Nuova", [Brooke Foss?] Westcott, Montaigne, "Sir Charles Grandison" and the life of F. W. Robertson'. Asks whether Bob has read the last: it is worth it for Robertson's letters; 'the life part, by Stopford Brooke' is 'quite well done'. Got an 1818 edition of Montaigne in five volumes at his mother's shop, 'not so nice in some was as Quaritchs', but still very nice' and is reading it with 'delight'; also got Leighton's Rabelais, which 'gave great satisfaction'. He and [Desmond] MacCarthy went to see the "Sign of the Cross" on Saturday; found it 'much more amusing than the Alhambra', which he thinks 'dealt the final blow to [his] curiosity about Music Halls'. Asks 'Am I not saucy?... (this is all exactly in the style of Harriet Byron [in "Sir Charles Grandison"]. His mother says 'she is as well as she ever was', and does seem to be, but she has also agreed 'to take care of herself' so he hopes 'all will be well'.

Worries that his Dante is a poor copy with a forged title page.

3 Belford Park, Edinburgh. Dated 30 March, 1913 - [Adam] Sedgwick's death was a shock; his close friend [George] Chrystal died over a year ago; is very well, but university work is a strain, with a great amount of work; has only read a little of his book ['The Belief in Immortality'], is not in sympathy with his general ideas of progress; has been reading Dante and the Old Testament in Italian, 'an extraordinary drama'; liked [Sir James?] Donaldson at St Andrews, but not years before in Edinburgh; their old Principal is a wonderful man; finds Mrs [Emily] Hodgson as fit as when he first knew her.

Entitled 'Lecture on Dante - at Sherborne Literary Institute - Macready in Chair 185-'.

The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking. - Thanks his mother for her 'kind letter' and the rucksack, which he will 'find very useful indeed'. He 'suppose[s] one is well past the "mezzo del cammin di nostra vita" [quoting from the first line of the Divina Commedia at fifty', but he does not feel as if he were 'getting old yet'. Saw Charles last week in London, who 'seemed cheerful'. Bessie will see him next week. Is going to London tonight for a dinner 'in honour of [Jean] Marchand, the French painter', who is a friend and will come to the Shiffolds for a visit later 'if he can find the time'. On Saturday Robert and Bessie 'go to Garsington near Oxford, where Philip Morrell and Lady Ottoline live. It is about the only country-house visit we have paid in years. [Goldsworthy Lowes] Dickinson is staying with them for a while.

Is getting on better with his work than he has 'for some time past'. They have had 'some rain, but not enough yet'. Their water has failed, 'not through drought, but because the pipes have got furred up. They are being opened now to see where the stoppage is'. They 'can't have baths, but get along somehow by bringing water from Tanhurst and washing in rainwater'.

Asks if his mother has read 'Sophie Kovalesky's [Sofya Kovalevskaya] memoirs, in French': expects she would like them if not, and he might send them to her when he has finished reading them

[First page missing]. Wilfrid [Gibson] has been 'ordered to bed for 6 weeks' and has to follow a 'starvation diet': the Abercrombies have been worried about him for a while, and it is not certain what the problem is. Believes Gerald [Wilfrid Gibson's wife Geraldine] is fairly well, but fears Wilfrid will 'worry himself into a far worse state' about Gerald waiting on him. Sorry to hear that [Thomas Sturge] Moore's "Judith" was 'mauled' [in performance at the Queen's Theatre, 23-24 Jan 1916]: was very impressed when he read it, and thought it would act well, but if actors can 'savage Shakespeare, obviously they can garrotte Moore'; the first thing they should do after the war is 'kill all the actors & lawyers' [a paraphrase of a line in "Henry VI", Part 2]. If it is true that Abercrombie is keeping the annual back ["Annual of New Poetry"], then he ought to be in the 'jaws of Lucifer along with Judas Iscariot, Brutus & Cassius"; discusses this passage of Dante; cannot see any reason why the "Annual" should wait for him, as he would be 'uncomfortable' if left out but would try to get ready for the next issue. Is writing a little at the moment, but only plays which he feels may work as drama but will below the poetic standard the Annual should keep to. He and Gordon [Bottomley] think that Bob is 'quite wrongly diffident about "The Last Man" [ie. "The Death of Man"?]: neither of them would 'stand up to B[ertrand] Russell on philosophical grounds', but they would both defend the work on poetic grounds; he may be a 'very good connoisseur', but they are 'Professionals when it comes to poetry'. May have a 'Burst [of poetic composition]' when they return to Ryton, and in that case the "Annual" would have first claim on anything he writes, but currently feels as 'likely to write poetry as a bag-pudding'. They should not wait for him before publishing: the "Annual" need not start with a 'full team', as this is not football. H. O. Meredith would like to join, and Abercrombie has said he would 'put it to the other members' but that Meredith must not mind if he is rejected. Abercrombie, Gordon, [John] Drinkwater and Wilfrid are all willing to have him if nobody else objects, but it must be unanimous; Meredith is 'prepared for the jealousy of professional poets'. Bessie must be troubled about the 'disasters [floods] in Holland'; there is enough to worry about [with the war]; hope she has not been 'familiarly affected' and that it is not as 'shocking' as the newspapers make out. The Abercrombies are all well, and Catherine has definitely benefited from the change of scene; the 'dread' they feel [about the recurrence of her cancer?] has 'so far kept aloof'; the children are 'flourishing', and Bob should tell Julian that David is now a schoolboy

8, Grosvenor Crescent, S.W.; addressed to Robert at Roundhurst, Haslemere. - They have bought Botticelli's Dante plates for 1200 sesterces, which Quaritch will bind; had not realised that Botticelli was a contemporary of Dante and Michelangelo rather than of Doré.

Thinks that Rosenbaum should be asked to come to Cambridge in May; discusses prices for the [Aldine] Dante and Cobbett's Parliamentary History.

19 Prinsegracht, the Hague; addressed to Bob at Pension Palumbo, Ravello, presso Amalfi, Italia. - Very pleased with Bob's 'beetle letter', which arrived yesterday; unfortunately when she kissed the creature to 'snatch off' his kisses it broke up, but she has put the pieces together and will 'keep him as a beautiful unicorn'. She and her uncle feel that it would be difficult for her to go to England before the middle of February due to her aunt's illness; will write to Bob's mother soon to tell her; seems natural that he should stay longer at Ravello; whenever he comes, she will not be able to spend as much time with him as before. He will have to send her his 'first journalistic work' as the Salomonson's cannot send her old numbers [of the "Manchester Guardian"] and she does not know where to get them. Says the beetle brought her nice dreams in which Bob was kissing her. Must re-read the poem by [Richard] Crashaw which he copied out for her. Pities Straughn Davidson [James Leigh Strachan-Davidson] for having to act as Bob's 'bucket' [see 9/101] and hopes he appreciated his 'rich breakfast' [of poetry]. Very glad Bob thinks her a good letter writer. Wishes she could persuade her family to get a night nurse, as her uncle's night is disturbed and yet he is not as helpful to her aunt as a trained nurse would be. Had a note from George [Macauley Trevelyan] inviting her to come to Cambridge next month; very kind of him to write, and she hopes they will soon go, though expects she will 'feel terrified'. Likes Bob's father's book ["The Life and Letters of Lord Macaulay"] very much, as well as Crashaw's poem; agrees there are some likenesses between the latter and Browning. Quotes from Dante's "Vita Nuova [xiv]'.

Re identification of Jonathan Hatfield as the translator of the first canto of Dante's Inferno in a rare pamphlet held by the British Museum, Trinity College Library, and the Manchester Public Library. With letter of the same date from Brooks to the Librarian of Trinity, accompanying the copy.

Newspaper cuttings, many sent to Trevelyan by Durrant's Press Cuttings agency, some by Longmans & Co (some duplicates). Reviews of "Volume I. Poems" from: the "Sunday Times" [by Desmond MacCarthy]; "Oxford Magazine" [also reviewing work by Lord Gorell, Louis MacNeice, and Thomas Thornely; later notice on this volume alone]; "Scotsman"; "Times Literary Supplement"; "Manchester Guardian" [by Basil de Sélincourt]; "New Statesman and Nation" [by Stephen Spender, also reviewing an edition of Dante's "Inferno" by John D. Sinclair; and "Guardian". Reviews of "Volume II. Plays" from: "The Library"; "Birmingham Post"; "Manchester Guardian"; "Glasgow Herald"; and "Scotsman" [also reviewing collected works of Housman and Frost]. Review of both volumes from the "Day".

Thanks his mother for her letter. His leg is now all right, or 'at least playing football does not make it worse', so he should not feel it for more than a few days. Would like to go and see the Messiah on Tuesday very much, though Charlie does not seem interested 'unless it is the Handel festival' which Robert supposes it is not. Would not be worthwhile sending 'the pictures' as there is so little time.

Has found a boy who has a pair of dumb-bells he never uses, which suit Robert very well. Will bring back the Dante and the other Italian books. Would much like to see Mr Belfield again; might write to him if he had his address, but it 'does not much matter'. Does not mind about his father not coming to their house supper, as he can come another year, and 'it would be very nice for Charlie [if their father goes to his?]. Is sorry Charlie lost the house match, but 'they were quite as good as Welldon's [house]'. Trials began this week, and Robert is 'beginning to swot'. The holidays are now very close.