Showing 13 results

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - They are in 'the full Saturnalia'; likes such 'famous anniversaries'; discusses the Roman festival. Has now read through Martial again, 'almost certainly for the last time', and is struck by the 'blackguardism' of much of it compared with Horace and Catullus, though there are 'occasionally exquisite little poems' throughout and the 21th book, written in Spain, is 'far freer from faults, and richer in beauties'; thinks his new wife must have been a good influence, and that he really liked Spain. Very satisfactory about Julian.

Hotel Bristol, Piazza Barberini, Rome, Italy. - Is actually writing from Castellammare [di Stabia]; gives detailed impressions of Pompeii, where they spent the morning, including his sense that Martial and Horace's works could have been written by people who lived there, in the same way that Kipling fits with 'Anglo-Indian society and houses'. A man living in the house where they are staying kept the main hotel on Ischia and lost everything in the 1883 earthquake. Can see Vesuvius 'smoking away' as he writes. Bob can write to Rome as their letters are sent on.

Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Wishes Robert well for the examination and advises him on the attitude he should take towards it. Thinks he is right to go to the House Supper; they will have a good second shoot in Christmas week. He is making some speeches in Lancashire next week, but after that they will 'enjoy the winter'.

Translations of six poems by Martial and one by Archilochus, with dates and places of composition and publication. Letter from [Andrew Sydenham] Farrar [Gow] to Dennis Robertson, 23 Aug 1959, advising him to offer the pieces to Trinity College Library, and Robertson's letter to the Librarian.

Volume containing MS notes by Gow on Housman's two pieces (published as articles in 1922 and 1919), with an index. Loose inside, a printed sheet of extracts from Manilius with MS additions in pencil and MS notes by Housman.

Winner of the Browne Medal in 1858, to the set subject "Versat / Saxum sudans nitendo neque proficit hilum" [a quotation from Cicero, "Tusculan Disputations" 1.10, perhaps quoting Ennius' "Annales"]. Addressed to 'Cotilus' [a name used in Martial's epigrams], who was a school-friend of Trevelyan's at Harrow and is now studying at Oxford.

Epigram which won the Browne Medal in 1959, to the set subject "Delirant reges, plectuntur Achivi" [Horace, "Epistles" 1.2.14; 20/67 is another copy]. Explanation that it refers to Louis Napoleon's comment to the Austrian ambassador Baron Hübner at the New Year's day ambassadorial levee [1859], which presaged war with Austria and recalled his uncle [Napoleon]'s attack on Lord Whitworth [March 1803]. Note at the end of the poem saying that Hübner himself, at the age of over eighty, saw the epigram and liked it.

Epigram which won the Browne Medal in 1858, when, as noted by Trevelyan he was a freshman, to the set subject "Versat / Saxum sudans nitendo neque proficit hilum" [a quotation from Cicero, "Tusculan Disputations" 1.10, perhaps quoting Ennius' "Annales"; 20/68 is a printed copy]. Addressed to 'Cotilus' [a name used in Martial's epigrams], who was a school-friend of Trevelyan's at Harrow and is now studying at Oxford.

The speaker is angry with Martial, whose poems are distracting him from other classical authors; later shifts the blame to the schoolmaster who persuaded him to read Martial. With additions and corrections in other hands.

Palace Hotel, Rome. - Their room on the fifth floor of this new hotel is ideal; describes the view in detail. They are 'living a Roman life' rather than sightseeing with effort. Is reading [Cicero's] "De Natura Deorum" after having finished the "Tusculan Disputations", and the first five books of Martial. The 'humbler Americans', mostly women, are 'a very decent sort of people'; dined at their embassy on 'roast turkey and cranberry sauce' for Thanksgiving Day. Very good for Caroline to be able to 'sketch and enjoy herself'. Hopes Elizabeth is enjoying having finished 'home making'; also that Robert will write more frequently, as he is rather hurt by this. The 'English news is rather distracting', but there cannot be an election till the New Year.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Thanks for Robert's 'jolly' letter; agrees that these are 'great times'. George has just returned from Richmond, the 'beautiful hill-town which Turner so often painted'; the victory [for the Liberals] there and at Stratford are 'almost the most satisfactory of the lot'; gives a detailed description of the Stratford candidate [Thomas Kincaid-Smith], who was a 'perfect godsend'. Caroline was 'of great service' and their 'hold on the neighbourhood came very strongly out'; a 'great blessing' they were there and not in Rome or Northumberland. Much interested to hear about [William] Everett's letters; has been reading Catullus and realising his aristocratic status for the first time, and that the people he satirises are not 'the middle class rag tag and bobtail' of Martial and Juvenal but men who would have 'histories, many of them tragical ones'. Caroline is in London today at a Women's Liberal Committee. Notes in a postscript that they were very interested to hear about Bessy's cousins [the Hubrechts?].