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31 Endcliffe Rise Road, Sheffield.—Discusses a passage in Nashe’s Preface to Menaphon and the progress of his own editions of Tubbe and Harvey.

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Transcript

31 Endcliffe Rise Road | Sheffield
28 Sep 1912

Dear McKerrow,

With regard to that much-discussed passage in Nashe’s Preface to Menaphon—

p. 316. l. 9. as those who are neither &c. {1}

Can this means†,

like men who are neither born in Provence (to whom Latin or Italian might be supposed to come as a second nature) nor able to distinguish between articles (in the grammatical sense).
If so, there must be some particular allusion to a mistake in translation—probably in the title,—turning on some mistranslation of an article. I should have expected ‘as those that are’ to mean ‘considering that they are’—but if so, it is hard to get anything out of the latter part of the clause. However this is very stale to you, & one gets no further.

With regard to the phrase lower down however

‘have not learned the just measure of the Horizon without an Hexameter.’

I dont think it struck me before but I now think ‘without’ means ‘encompassing.’ [There follows a diagram of a circle divided in two by a horizontal line from which five very short vertical lines depend at regular intervals.] This clause might then be an attack on verse of 7 feet where there should be 6. I wonder if this sense of ‘without’ ever occurred to you in your wrestlings with this passage? I feel little doubt about it.

I suppose you have been back from Bonchurch for some time. I have not heard anything from Sidgwick about Tubbe, but I have no doubt he wd wish to have your opinion. His verse is very poor stuff—but it has its interest, I think, especially in his satirical pieces—and in those in which he introduces far-fetched comparisons & learning. So, I hope, that you will find that you are able to print 100 pp. of it to go with the Introduction presented you for nothing without the prospect of losing money over yr enterprise. I should be extremely sorry for you to lose over it. If you cannot undertake it—is it worth while to have the Introduction printed off by itself? Or would it be better first to submit the larger plan to the Cambridge Press?

I am at present a little disappointed in Secker—as he seems in one point not to have acted quite straightforwardly. He agreed that I should ask Mr Almack to lend us his (apparently) unique copy of Tubbe’s Meditations {2} (2nd titlepage) for the titlepage to be photographed. The book was sent to Secker for this purpose—& now he says he did not have a photograph taken—but he had a drawing made which he has mislaid. He never told me at the time that he was not having a photo. taken.

Bullen is sending in Harvey proofs almost faster than I want, as I am getting very busy. He was knocked down by a bicycle on Monday week {3}—but appears to have recovered.

Yours ever
G. C. Moore Smith

F. W. Clarke is hoping to get a lectureship at Bangor. {4} Till now, he has not got a berth.

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{1} The phrase runs in full, ‘as those that are neither prouenzall men, nor are able to distin-guish of Articles’ (Works of Nashe, iii. 316).

{2} Meditations Divine and Morall (1659) (Wing 3208). Wing lists six copies, and there is another at St John’s College, Cambridge.

{3} 16 September.

{4} Clarke had previously been Assistant Lecturer in English at Victoria University, Manchester, a post he held till this year. His application to Bangor appears to have been successful, for he was said to be of the University College, Bangor, in 1934 (Alumni Cantabrigienses).

† Sic.

Explains that he has been occupied with various affairs since her letter arrived, including 'presenting D.Litt. candidate for Degree, and organising lunch party in Corpus for [his] indefatigable brother in law Archdeacon [Edward] Wilson....' Announces that he goes the following day to Haslemere to work with 'HGD' [Henry Graham Dakyns] 'at the remaining letters of his series which [they] had not time to finish' when he was in Oxford. Asks Nora for any other letters that she is able to send him, since he now has time to spend more time working on them. Informs her, confidentially, that his retirement [as Tutor at Corpus Christi, Oxford) is now fixed for Easter 1902. States that he shall keep his Readership, and also his 'A.E.W. work' [Association for the Education of Women in Oxford]. In relation to Frank [Sidgwick], declares that he is 'no scholar', and that he [Arthur] has 'never had any illusions about his Tripos.' Announces that he is writing to Mrs [Eveleen?] Myers. States that he kept the books because since he returned his proofs to the editor of the Dictionary of National Biography he has heard nothing, and thought it possible that 'he might require a revise, which might mean reference to the books again.'

Sheffield.—Is trying to find a publisher for his edition of Tubbe. Discusses a phrase used by Nashe, and asks McKerrow to check a quotation in the British Museum. Asks whether McKerrow is a candidate for the vacant lectureship at Cambridge.

(With an envelope.)

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Transcript

Sheffield 8 Oct 1912

Dear McKerrow,

Many thanks for your letter—I am sorry Sidgwick is not able to undertake Tubbe—both because I should be glad to see its fate settled—& because I conclude that neither he nor you see anything of much interest in Tubbe’s so called poems. However I wd much sooner have this refusal than feel afterwards that Sidgwick had been let in on my account—And you & he are better judges than I am of what is saleable.

I am afraid the Cambridge Press—or the Oxford Press—wd see no advantage in having the Introduction in print for nothing—as they are punters themselves & would not issue other people’s work. So I am asking Sidgwick to send the MS. &c to Mr Murray {1}—to whom I have written—If he declines the honour, I think I shall get Secker to print off the Introduction as a pamphlet without any poems. This I think he will do.

Another Nashe-point Dont trouble to write about it.

I. 241. {2} they set up their faces (like Turks) to be spat at for silver games in Finsburie fields!

You say—‘I know nothing of these games.’ ‘Silver games’ means, I think ‘silver prizes’ Cp. Statute XXIV Henry VIII cap. 15.

upon their bonettes such games of silver ‥ as they may win by wrastling, shoting, (&c)

Ascham, Toxophilus—

some ‥ shooters shoote for a lytle moneye—I may cast my shafte ‥ for better game

J Cook. The City Gallant (Hazlitt—Dodsley XI. 249)

Now dost thou play thy prizes: if you can do any good, the silver game be yours.

Bishop L Andrewes 5th Sermon on Fasting (ed. 1631 p. 219)

‘To win but a prize at a running ‥ they will abstaine from all things ‥ and all is but for a poor silver game’

So these independent writers stick up their books to meet general contempt, as showmen in Finsbury fields stick up Turks’ heads to be spat at for a small silver prize.

Some time when you are at the B.M., I should be much obliged if you would look at Brydges’ Archaica vol. II pt. 4 p. 57. Mayor quotes from there two lines of Gabriel Harvey’s

‘Haddon farewel, and Ascham thou art stale
And every sweetness tastes of bitter bale.’

I dont find these lines in Harvey’s sonnets appended to the Four letters {2}—and I wonder if they come from some MS. source. I have given in the book Bullen in printing a list of Harvey’s MSS. so far as they are known to me—and I wonder if these lines come from one, which I didn’t know of. If so, I wonder where the MS. is—and what its other contents are.

Ever yours
G. C. Moore Smith.

It is strange that the two chairs of English at Cambridge should be vacant at the same time Are you a candidate for a lectureship in English which I hear is vacant at King’s College?

[Direction on envelope:] Dr McKerrow | 4 Phoenix Lodge Mansions | Brook Green | Hammersmith | London W

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The envelope, which was postmarked at Sheffield W.D.S.O. at 10.30 p.m. on 8 October 1912, has been marked on the front in pencil, ‘Notes for Nashe’, and on the back, ‘Acad. Registrar, | University of London | South Kensington. | Oct 19’.

{1} Followed by a superfluous full stop. The reference is to John (later Sir John) Murray (1851–1928).

{2} This passage, which is from Pierce Penilesse, occurs in fact on lines 7–9 of the previous page: ‘they set vp their faces (like Turks) of gray paper, to be spet at for siluer games in Finsburie fields.’ ‘(like Turks)’ is followed in the MS. by a full-stop.

{3} McKerrow has interlined here in pencil, ‘(Yes. Sonnet VI p. 241 of Grosart’s ed.)’. Cf. MCKW A2/14.

Writes from St Beatenberg, 'near Interlaken, on a hill side looking over the lakes of Thun.' Announces that he and his wife are going to Baden on the following Saturday, in order to try the baths and waters there. States that he has derived much good 'from mountain air and complete idling'. Reports that [Gilbert] Murray has been with them most of the time, and that he has proved to be an excellent companion. He has now gone home, and Miss [Jane] Harrison has joined them. She is 'probably to carry off Helen to the mountains' when he and Mrs Verrall go to Baden. Reports that they spent nearly three weeks about the Lake of Lucerne, and have been in St Beatenberg for about ten days. Refers to the weather and the scenery, and his activities.

Reports that they follow the newspapers, and that letters from England bring reports of Sidgwick from time to time. Presumes that he is at [Aldgate], but sends the letter to Cambridge 'for safety.' Refers to Frank Sidgwick's poems. Discusses hotels and the difficulty of making acquaintances in them. Reports that his wife is 'fairly well', and hopes that Baden 'may supply something for her.' Does not think that she will go to Paris. Announces that they will not be going home until September, and states that the house is at Sidgwick's service until then.

(Undated. This list was compiled in response to a letter from G. E. Durham dated 23 Sept. 1927 (Add. MS a. 457/2/1) and a version of it was received by Durham on or before the 26th (Add. MS a. 457/2/3). The persons, etc., listed are A. W. Pollard, W. W. Greg, Miss H. C. Bartlett, Miss E. M. Albright, Prof. Max Förster, Miss Field, Frank Sidgwick, Louvain Library, Sir Israel Gollancz, G. C. Moore Smith, and J. M. Manly. A note has been made of those who were also written to, and those from whom acknowledgements were received.)

Sidgwick & Jackson, 3 Adam Street, Adelphi, London, W.C.—Returns the ‘Chanson du Synge (or Synge-Swan-Song)’, together with McKerrow’s play ‘Justice’, which he will think about further while on holiday.

(Sheffield.)—Comments on passages in the Works of Nashe. Is thinking of publishing extracts from Gabriel Harvey’s marginalia.

(With an envelope, postmarked at Sheffield.)

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Transcript

13 Nov. 1908

Dear McKerrow,

I have been turning over the pages of your Vol IV—It is indeed a marvellous storehouse of out of the way information. Are you going to provide an Index? I suppose so.

At this stage comments are of no use to you—but I will give you one or two. {1}

I 183. 17. In the expression ‘S. Nicholas Clerks’ is it clear that there is any reference to the devil? Chambers Book of Days II p 661 bot. explains the phrase in relation to a legend of St Nicholas.—On the other hand our ‘Old Nick’ is often said to be a name transferred to the Devil from Macchiavelli.

(Your page of Vol IV) 141. mid. {2} ‘at the university town of which’ should be ‘at the university of which town’ I suppose.

I p. 274. 21. I dont understand what you mean by saying the real point of the saying against ropemakers has not been explained.—Do you mean their ‘walking backwards’? In a little book I have on Trades &c. (titlepage lost) the ropemaker, it is said, fixes the hemp to his wheel—‘He then runs backwards giving out hemp as he goes!’ {3}

I 285. 21. {4} Better to have said ‘a pedant’ or ‘a scholastic philosopher’ as Pedantius himself is also a pedant, indeed, as a Schoolmaster, a pedant par excellence.

II 184 11. {5} In his MS. notes on Gascoigne’s ‘Notes of instruction on rime. &c’ in the Bodleian copy Harvey dissents from Gascoigne’s approval of monosyllables ‘the more monosyllables you shall use the truer Englishman you shall seem’—‘Non placet. A great Grace and Majesty in longer Wordes, so they be current Inglish. Monosyllables ar good to make up a hobling and hudling verse.’ {6}

III. 16. 10. If you mean St John’s College, Camb.—the Visitor at present is The Bishop of Ely. & he was so from the foundation of the College [without any break I imagine] {7}

III 41. 35 arsedine. {8} Edward Carpenter {9} was telling me the other day that Sheffield grinders say (or did till lately) ‘as thin as an assidine’ tho’ none of them know what an assidine is

III 43 14. There is a well known inn between Whittlesey & Thorney called ‘The dog in a doublet’ with a sign. An uncle of mine had a seizure on the ice & died there.

III 46. 6. The DNB. says that Harvey practised in the Court of Arches I think. I had thought there was some authority—but I dont remember it.

III 116 33. Our Johnian antiquary Thos. Baker has transcribed a lot of notes of Harvey made in a copy of his own Ciceronianus & other books—Among them a letter from Tho. Hatcher remonstrating with him for not having mentioned Haddon in his Ciceronianus—also Harvey’s reply. both in Latin Hatcher’s letter is 23 Nov 1577 and refers to Harvey’s having recently visited him at Careby near Stamford.

III 126 31. {10} Cp. Pedantius l. 194. At occuritur Aristotelem non vidisse verum in spirituali-bus.

I have been looking through my extracts from Harvey’s marginalia—& I believe they would make a very interesting book for a limited audience. {11} One might start with a sketch of Harvey’s life & character, & attainments, as illustrated by the marginalia—& then print a selection of marginalia from each annotated book of his that I have been able to see. It occurred to me today that it would be very nice if Sidgwick & his partner {12} would do it. But I should not wish to involve Sidgwick in any loss over it.

Thank you for your letter about the English Association. {13} Boas is Secretary. It is like the Mod. Language Association, but for English only.

I hope when you have finished with Nashe, you will start an edition of Dekker’s plays.

Ever yours
G. C. Moore Smith

I shall look forward eagerly to your Vol V.

[Added on the back of the envelope:] Ellis has just sent me the Harvey book to copy the notes. Not of much importance.

[Direction on envelope:] R. B. McKerrow Esq. | 4 Phoenix Lodge Mansions | Brook Green | Hammersmith | London W

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The envelope was postmarked at Sheffield at 11 a.m. on 14 November 1908, and at Paddington, W, at 5.15 p.m. the same day. Besides the note by Moore Smith mentioned above, the envelope is marked ‘Work | From Prof G. C. Moore-Smith’, and elsewhere ‘See to this’.

{1} The succeeding notes relate to Nashe’s works Pierce Penilesse, Strange Newes, Christ’s Teares over Jerusalem, and Have With You to Saffron-Walden. Several of the suggestions were incorporated in the Errata and Addenda appended to the fifth volume of McKerrow’s edition; see below.

{2} Cf. Works of Nashe, v. 375 (note on i. 227, 3–239, 2).

{3} Closing inverted comma supplied.

{4} Cf. Works of Nashe, v. 376.

{5} Cf. Works of Nashe (1958), v. Supp., p. 32.

{6} Single inverted comma supplied in place of double inverted commas.

{7} The square brackets are original.

{8} See OED, s.v. ‘orsedue’.

{9} Edward Carpenter lived at Millthorpe, between Sheffield and Chesterfield. See ODNB.

{10} Cf. Works of Nashe, v. 379.

{11} Moore Smith’s selection of Gabriel Harvey’s Marginalia was published in 1913.

{12} R. C. Jackson. The firm of Sidgwick & Jackson had only just been established, on the 2nd of the month.

{13} The English Association was founded in 1906 by a small group of English teachers and scholars including F. S. Boas, A. C. Bradley, and Israel Gollancz.

Originally enclosing some notices for [the forthcoming production of his own] "Meleager" and [Sturge Moore's] "Medea" for Julian to distribute; he is sending them to [F.L. or D.W. ?] Lucas and G.M.T. [his brother George], but it might be worthy giving one to people like [Clive?] Bell. Will see Bessie tomorrow. Perhaps should have gone to see the "Bacchae" [at Cambridge?], but did not have the energy. Hears Vanessa Bell 'thought well' of some of Julian's pictures. [Hasan] Suhrawardy has been here, and has got him to start translating the "Medea" for [Marie] Germanova, who may perform it in America. H.E. Field's book may be of interest; he was 'a charming and intelligent man, but not a very good painter'. Has sent via Bessie a duplicate from B.B. [Bernard Berenson]'s library of the [Frank] Sidgwick "Early English Lyrics".