Stocks Cottage, Tring. - Thanks Bob for his postcard; will 'much want' to hear his criticisms [of his own book about George Meredith?]. Is to write a 'causerie' for the "Speaker" on [Alfred William] Benn, though not until June as he recently did one about [Thomas] Hardy's "Dynasts". Is working on a book about Garibaldi in 1949: 'far and away the best fun' he has ever had in writing; had a 'splendid time walking over the ground at Easter'. Asks if Bob has read [Gabriele] D'Annunzio's "Canzone di Garibaldi" ,'fine historical poems'. Hears 'rumours that the Shiffolds are likely to become more populous' [Elizabeth is pregnant], which would give him more pleasure than anything 'in these recent very fortunate times' and 'seems a proper sequel to the General Election'.
Il Ciliegio, Via del Palmerino, Florence. Dated 22 Oct. 1912 - Makes corrections to the third edition of 'The Golden Bough': provides information on the harvest moon, and corrects his account of Agrippina's relationship to Claudius.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Thanks Benn for his letter and advice about Fiesole [in response to his own 16/28]; seems less likely now that they will be staying at Fiesole and will probably take the Kerr Lawsons' villa at Corbignano, since the 'young painter' [Will] Arnold Forster seems 'quite satisfied with that neighbourhood' for painting purposes; if not they will probably stay at the Italia or Aurora as Benn advises. They will probably start on 3 October, arriving on 6 or 7 October; will bring the Abercrombies to see Benn soon after that. Will be glad to read Benn's Milton essay. Apologises for his 'forgetfulness about the postage' and wishes for 'a universal penny post'.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Has arranged to go abroad early next month with [Lascelles] Abercrombie, his wife [Catherine], and [William] Arnold-Forster, 'the son of [Balfour's] War-minister'. They have been offered the Kerr Lawsons' house at Corbignano, and will probably go there, though he wishes they could find somewhere higher in the hills, either at or near Fiesole. Seems that Mr [Edward Strachan] Morgan cannot let Monte Fiano at the moment; this would have been perfect as 'Forster wants to paint the Arno valley from above' and there are splendid views there, but perhaps there is another house to let in the neighbourhood, or pension 'not too dear, nor too uncomfortable'. Very kind of the Kerr Lawsons to offer, but it is a way from the top of the hills; asks Benn to let them know if he knows of an alternative. Abercrombie says he had a 'very interesting letter' from Benn about his "[Sale of ] St Thomas", and seemed 'very pleased' by Benn's remarks.
The Shiffolds, Holmbury St Mary, Dorking. - Sends back the two books by [John] Davidson which Benn lent him; it is 'queer stuff, but some of it is quite fine' and he finds the fable of the beasts in "[The Testament of an] Empire Builder' amusing. Davidson can be 'remarkably eloquent', but Robert does not think that, as poetry, it is ever first rate, while he dislikes and sometimes 'detest[s]' the thought, whenever he can make it out. He is still grateful to Benn for making him read the books, and has even bought copies for himself. Bertie Russell, who is staying with the Trevelyans, asks to be remembered to Benn; he is 'very full of the election', and intends to do 'a good deal of speaking'. The psychology book which [George] Moore though so good was "Empfindung und Denken" by August Messer. Is going to hear Moore give a paper in London tomorrow on the 'Subject Matter of Psychology' to the Aristotelian Society. Bessie is well, and asks to be remembered to Benn and his wife.
The Shiffolds, Holmbury St Mary, Dorking. - Should have thanked Benn before for his kind letter about "Sisyphus [: an Operatic Fable]"; glad he finds it 'entertaining'. Had hardly realised until Benn's letter ''how flagrantly" he had 'violated the matriarchal tradition in drama': supposes he should not have let the queen, Merope, 'drop out altogether' before the last act. Looks forward to reading Benn's "Revaluations [: historical and ideal]"; expects one essay will be that on Nietzsche, which he read 'somewhere' and much liked. 'Professor [Gaetano] de Sanctis on Appius Claudius sounds interesting'; the 'beauty of ancient and biblical history' is that, since evidence is 'so scanty, totally opposite theories may be maintained' and fresh interpretations made by 'each new generation' to a degree not possible with modern 'or even mediaeval history'. Is reading some plays by Alfieri for the first time, and finding them much finer than he expected. May come to Italy before Easter, in which case he hopes to see Benn. Hopes Benn had no friends in the earthquake [in Sicily in Dec 1908]; their own friends at Taormina seem to be all right.
The Shiffolds, Holmbury St Mary, Dorking. - Encloses a notice for the "New Quarterly"; doubts whether it will get enough subscribers to 'pay its way', but thinks at long as it lasts it should 'keep up to quite a high level of interest': the first number does not look bad, and he has 'high hopes of [Desmond] MacCarthy as an editor'. G. L[ytton] Strachey is acting as literary sub-editor, and Lord Raleigh and [Robert John] Strutt, friends of the proprietor [George Arthur Paley] are 'more or less responsible for the scientific side'. Never wrote to say how much pleasure he got from Benn's book ["History of English Rationalism in the Nineteenth Century"], which he thought 'excellent both as history and literature'; sympathised with what he said about Tennyson, Browning and others. Hopes the Benns are well; may visit Italy in the Spring, and hopes to see them if so.
The Shiffolds, Holmbury St Mary, Dorking. - Thanks Benn for sending his book ["History of English Rationalism in the Nineteenth Century"; read enough to be sure it was 'even better' than his high expectations, and sent it on to George to tempt it to review it. George 'took the bait very readily' and sent for his own copy from the "Speaker" so he could review it there. Robert is a 'slow reader' and very busy so will not finish it for some time, but is sure he will enjoy it and will write when he has finished; it must be very satisfying to complete 'so great an undertaking' successfully. A shame McTaggart's book on dogma ["Some Dogmas of Religion"] did not come out a little sooner so Benn could have 'included a notice'. [Bertrand] Russell has 'shut himself up for a month or two in a farm-house at Clovelly' to 'solve logical problems in complete isolation from the actual world'; his wife is coming tomorrow to stay with the Trevelyans for a few days.
The Mill House, Westcott, Dorking. - Sends an advertisement for the "Independent Review"; Benn will see that Robert's brother George and [Goldsworthy Lowes] Dickinson are on the committee; they are in fact 'the most active members'. There may be varying opinions on the journal's independence, as it is 'certainly of pronounced radical tendencies'; but there is reason to hope it will 'keep a high standard'. He and Bessie send regards to Benn and his wife, and hope to see them again this winter.
Apologises for not thanking Benn sooner for his 'very kind letter about "Cecilia [Gonzaga]"'; glad he likes 'the love scenes best', as he himself does. Feels the 'imperfections and limitations' of the rest of the play strongly. Thinks Benn is right that in drama the sympathetic characters should be brought on stage first and that the lovers should have 'had their say' first in his play; thinks he 'mismanaged Antonio altogether'. Possible counters to Benn's rule are [Sophocles'] "Ajax" and "Philoctetes", but even there 'Odysseus is only half bad'. Bertie Russell is staying over Whitsun; he has just been delighted by a thunderstorm during the night, as he has 'a strongly romantic and Byronic strain in his temperament'. Hears [Bernard] Berenson is quite well, and has gone to Arezzo. He and Bessie send regards to the Benns.
Pensione Palumbo, Ravello, presso Amalfi, Italy. - Thanks Benn for the letter about his book ["Polyphemus and Other Poems]: 'such appreciation and criticism' are the only real rewards for the 'pains of literature'; particularly pleased that Benn has singled out for praise lines which he himself likes best. Also encouraged by Benn's approval of his 'blending more modern ideas with classical fable', for which he has sometimes been censured. Must read the passage from Plutarch mentioned by Benn, which will serve as an 'answer to such objections'. Discusses the use of Roman and Greek names for the gods in poetry. Is afraid his 'ideas on the natural history of Satyrs, Pans, fauns etc, are somewhat confused', but then so were ancient ideas; will pay more attention to the question soon. Once read a story that Sulla was brought 'a wild goat-footed man' in Greece, whom he attempted to interrogate but without success; thinks the author described him as a 'satyr' but has not been able to find the passage, which should be in Plutarch, again. Hopes Benn will 'meet such a one' near his new home [at Florence] this summer; hopes it will not be too far from I Tatti. He and his wife have heard nothing from [Bernard] Berenson since they left, though he had discussed coming south; they hope his health is better. They send regards to Benn and his wife.
The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking. - Apologies for not having written earlier to thank Benn for sending his book ["The Greek Philosophers", 2nd edition?]. Had not read the first edition, only Benn's 'subsequent smaller books on the same subject' so it was 'a very great pleasure' to read his views in more detail. Not himself a student of Greek philosophy, so has 'little right to criticise', feeling 'much more inclined to enjoy and admire and learn'. Particularly interested in the chapter on the 'Religious Revival', and the chapters on Plato, whom he now hopes to re-read. Feels Benn is a 'little too severe on Aristotle's poetics', and that Aristotle may have meant something more like 'representation' than 'imitation' by mimesis, and 'a good deal more' by plot than Benn seems to think. Thinks he remembers some remarks of Matthew Arnold on this point. Benn says that Zeno's puzzles has 'never yet been satisfactorily solved'; this may be true 'but B[ertrand] Russell would not admit it' and insists that modern mathematics have done so; Trevelyan cannot judge. Has recently read Russell's last book, and found much of it too difficult to fully understand, though he was very interested it; recommends it. Hopes the Benns are 'keeping well and as cheerful as may be in so sad a time'. They had the Abercrombie family - Lascelles Abercrombie, his wife, and their three children - here for December and January, so the house was full.
The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking. - Thanks Benn for sending his "[History of] Modern Philosophy", which he found on returning home a few weeks ago; had, however, bought it at Singapore and it 'helped to beguile the time between there and Hong Kong'. Liked and admired it, but can make no criticisms due to 'his ignorance of the subject'; this was partly why he enjoyed the book so much, as a 'good deal' was new to him, such as Bruno, Hobbes, and Malebranche. Hopes Benn will now write a book filling in the gap between Plotinus and Bruno. Wonders whether he will be in London this summer; is going North for a month 'to try and get to work again'. Has heard 'nothing from or about [Bernard] Berenson' and hopes he is well. Left [Goldsworthy Lowes] Dickinson, who likes the Chinese, he thinks better than the Indians, at Canton; they had a 'very delightful, if sometimes tiring, four months in India and Ceylon'. Was very glad to return home, where he found Bessie and Julian very well. Best regards to Benn and his wife.
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.