22 St Ann's Terrace, London, N.W.8. - Thanks Trevelyan very much for sending her the Hymn to Demeter [his translation in this year's "From the Shiffolds"]. Is reading a lot of ancient Greek at the moment, in translation as she 'never got beyond the definite article', so it 'could not have come more appositely'. Thinks the poem 'most beautiful', and has read it several times, including aloud. Also enjoyed Trevelyan's "Oedipus at Colonus" and "Prometheus Bound": asks if he has translated any other plays. His are the only translations of the many she has tried which have given her 'any feeling of what the original must be like'. Is now starting his Lucretius, which she can 'follow, but not read properly' in Latin. Is very sorry she has had Trevelyan's translation of Montaigne for so long: had hoped Cape would agree to publish it, and 'did not want to hurry him as this is bad strategy'. He considered it carefully and would like to, but it is 'too long for him', but has given her some advice. Asks if she can keep it longer to pursue 'one or two other ideas'.
12 Holland Street, London, W.8. - Thanks Bob 'immensely'; is reading [Bob's translation of?] Virgil himself with 'great pleasure'; encloses the Lucretius [see 19/92] for Bob to inscribe: [his son's name is spelled] Jocelin 'after Jocelin of Brakeland', and he has chosen to hyphenate his surname. Adds a postscript saying that the 'reading was delightful' [a recent reading by Bob of his work?].
12 Holland Street, W.8. - Wonders whether it is still possibly to get Bob's "Lucretius" anywhere: [his son] Jocelin has a 'very selected library, for his years in eastern waters', and since he appreciates Tacitus two people have suggested that the "Lucretius" might make a good Christmas present for him. He and his wife hope that Bob will visit, and also they are now 'near enough to see something of Julian and Ursula'. Their move has gone well, and done them 'both good'.
Draft from play on the Oedipus myth, presumably by Trevelyan; set at Jocasta's deathbed and after Oedipus's self-blinding. Translation of Lucretius, "De Rerum Natura" book II.191 ff. Notebook also used from other end in: draft from play about Hereward the Wake; draft from Trevelyan's "Cheiron" (including 'play within a play' about Prometheus, Pandora and Epimetheus).
14 Calverley Park, Tunbridge Wells. -Thanks Trevelyan for sending him his book ["The Bride of Dionysus"]; he makes 'the old legends live again'. Wonders if the opera has been performed yet, as Trevelyan says the music [by Donald Tovey] is completed; will look out for notices. Trevelyan's vers libre does not appeal to him, but 'poets have every right to try experiments', and he is right to use it if it seems most suitable to him. Is perhaps most interested by Trevelyan's 'handling of hex. metre [hexameter]' in his version of Lucretius, which seems to use six accents rather than regular feet; has doubts, which also apply to [Robert] Bridges, [Henry] Newbolt, [Lascelles] Abercrombie and others, whether speech-accent gives 'sufficient certainty'; discusses with examples. Otherwise he admires the lines as a 'scholarly exercise'. Has never understood the metre of "Attys" [Catullus 63], in the original or in other translations; amuses him to 'what different views' people seem to have. Has written a great deal about metre: this is not the sole criterion for judging poetry, but he does take it seriously, for 'is it not that alone which differentiates it from prose?'; perhaps that is why he thinks the lines from [Sophocles's] "Ajax" most successful. Remembers Trevelyan quoting the chorus [from the "Bride of Dionysus" itself] on page 13 to him. Hopes that the Trevelyans are well; he and his wife much enjoyed last summer and hope for more of the same this year. Have been at home all winter 'as usual', but now thinking of travelling, though after the Browning centenary celebration in Westminster which they hope to go to; wonders if they will see Trevelyan there. Has written little this winter apart from correspondence and a few reviews and 'letters to weeklies etc'; encloses something about hexameters from the "Modern Literary Review", which gives copies of articles instead of cash payments ["Homer's Odyssey: A Line-for-Line Translation in the Metre of the Original by H. B. Cotterill", The Modern Language Review", Vol. 7, No. 2 (Apr., 1912), pp. 257-262; no longer present]. Was glad to get [Henry Bernard] Cotterill's book for review as it is published only in an expensive edition, but was disappointed by his verse; had hoped for better from things he had written about prosody. Trevelyan's brother [George] has had a 'grand success' with his books about Garibaldi, which he himself has read with 'delight' and 'reviving of old enthusiasms', while Trevelyan's father is still writing new books and having old books republished.
Notes on several events during the Franco-Prussian war, with several maps [ff 1-32]; reference to 'Mr [Edward] Bowen' being in Paris at the time suggests that the lectures were delivered by him during Trevelyan's schooldays at Harrow, 1886-1890 [f 31].
Translation, at the other end of the book, by Trevelyan of Lucretius Book III [of "De Rerum Natura"], lines 161-685, written on recto of folia with corrections and annotations, some in red and blue pencil, on facing page [63r-32v]
Cambridge University Press, Bentley House, 200 Euston Road, London N.W.1. - Writes to inform Trevelyan that the Press has succeeded in having some copies bound of Trevelyan's translation of Lucretius [see 20/79-80]; asks how many he should reserve for Trevelyan.
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.
Thanks Julian for his letter; asks him to let them know next time whether [Maria] Germanova, [Aleksandr] K[alitinski] and Rex [their dog] are living in [Hasan] Suhrawardy's rooms or elsewhere, whether they are very uncomfortable, and whether they have heard when Suhrawardy is returning, as he was 'very vague' in his last letter, though he seemed to like Bob's "Epistle" to him. Terence [Gray] and [Frank] Birch seem to want to produce his translation of Euripides' "Medea" at the end of May; thinks this means Birch rather than Terence, and perhaps he will like his production more than he usually does Terence's. Does not know whom they have chosen to play Medea, and fears it will be 'no one adequate'; Germanova is 'out of the question... after the fiasco of Terence trying to get her for nothing last year'; in addition she would need weeks of study and coaching to do it in English, even if she could leave Kalitinski, which she clearly cannot; asks Julian to say how Kalitinski is now. Bessie is distributing the notices for [George] Reavey's book ["Faust’s Metamorphoses: Poems"]; Bob thinks it would be better if they had a sample of the poetry as well as the drawings. Sends his love to [Jean] Marchand, if Julian sees him again. Will not go to Paris at Easter, nor to Wallington for Kitty's wedding, but stay at the Shiffolds. C.A. [Clifford Allen] is 'fairly well', but has 'ups and downs'; Bob is going with the Allens to see René Clair's ["À nous la] Liberté" on Thursday, but otherwise he 'plug[s] away at [his translation of] Lucretius"; will soon have to get in touch with [Hugh] Sykes Davies again. Julian's Mount Athos picture 'looks very well on the floor still'; must put it up over the fireplace. Quotes a poem by Po Chu-I [Bai Juyi] about his study. Things are going more smoothly at Edinburgh now; thinks [his and Tovey's opera "The Bride of Dionysus"] will be better sung and produced than last time.
Cambridge University Press, Bentley House, 200 Euston Road, London N.W.1. - Mr Kingsford sent on the letter from Trevelyan [see 21/80] about the Lucretius translation; the Press is attempting to get some copies bound. The 'prohibitive price' for the small quantity justified by the sales has been the problem, but thinks 'conditions may now be a little easier' and hopes to have copies available before long. The translation of Leopardi is however entirely out of print, with no copies in sheet form.
The University Press, Cambridge. - His brother [George], the Master of Trinity, has advised him to write directly to Kingsford about his translation of Lucretius, published by the Press eleven years ago. When he wrote to the Press recently to ask for a copy, he was told it was only available in 'unbound sheets'; wonders if a few copies could be bound up occasionally; thinks it was selling well not long ago.
Thanks Hassall for his letter; will be at the BBC on 27 August at 4.30. Sees in the "Radio Times" that Rex Warner will have a reader for his Lucretius talk; checks if he himself will be reading his script and translations.
Narrative piece about Coryat [a figure often used by Trevelyan as a sort of self-representation] having trouble writing anything new [pp 2-11]; story about Saint Francis encountering the ghost of Gaius Flaminius, defeated by Hannibal at Lake Trasimene (dated 14 May 1933); draft letter to 'G.' [Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson, after his death?] about the immortality of the soul and Lucretian/Epicurean philosophy, perhaps intended as an introduction to Trevelyan's translation of "De Rerum Natura" [some pages in the middle of the book, sides of endpapers, and page 1]; several pieces of draft verse.
Poggio allo Spino, Consuma (Prov. di Firenze). - Elizabeth sent Julian's letter giving Belgrade p[oste] r[estante] as an address, so hopes this will be forwarded. Glad Julian has had so good a time; expects he will be in Greece by now. Is at B.B. [Bernard Berenson]'s; [Raffaello] Piccoli is here at the moment talking to Berenson about Sir Thomas Browne, whom he has been translating. He is evidently still 'far from well', but seems better today; if Julian is passing through Naples on his rerun from Greece Piccoli hopes he will visit him there. The Waterfields [Aubrey, Lina and their children] are also hoping Julian will come to Poggio [Gherardo] on his way back; he himself spent 'a very pleasant week in camp with them', doing some work on [his translation of] Lucretius and his own writing; they were all very nice, though Aubrey 'as usual was often very cross, chiefly with Lina, who always takes it very nicely'. Everyone seemed to have enjoyed Julian's visit, and he 'had become more or less legendary': Bob was for instance taken to see the rock which Julian 'had split by painting it', and Aubrey had done a sketch of the incident. Cecil [Anrep], who is 'very nice, and knows English much better' is here for a few days. Bob is travelling to Paris on Tuesday, will spend two nights with [Hasan] Suhrawardy and [Maria] Germanova, then go to London on Friday and the Shiffolds on Saturday. [Aleksandr] Kalitinski and Germanova, and he supposes Rex [the dog], will probably go to Prague for the winter; S[uhrawardy] is going to India after spending a few days in England. Kalitinski seemed much better when Bob was in Paris a month ago; while there Bob went to the Colonial Exhibition and saw the Bali Ballet. B.B. and Nicky [Mariano] would be glad to se Julian if he comes to Poggio. Roger [Fry] seems to have been at Florence and to have 'got on quite well with B.B.'.
Everyone hopes Julian will be 'very careful about the dogs' if he goes walking in Greece; he [and his friend Ralph Parker] 'should both have big sticks, as long as possible'; B.B. is sure that 'the young man who was lost on Parnassus' was killed by dogs, though Bob thinks it more likely he fell down a precipice. B.B. thinks Mistra [Mystras] is 'much more interesting' as regards art than Athos, though he has not been to the latter; he is 'very much irritated against Biron [Robert Byron]', who is now writing for the "Statesman", and says he 'talks great nonsense about art'; still, 'one might get a good deal from his book ["The Station, Athos"]'.
Wonders whether Julian will come to England before settling at Paris again; he should find the Shiffolds 'more or less in order'. Does not understand the 'political upset in England', and is reserving judgment until he can see C[lifford] A[llen] and others; T.M. [? ie Thomas Sturge Moore?] writes that Allen is also reserving judgement until the facts, which are 'very complicated', are clearer; Bob however thinks it a 'bad business', and that the Labour movement is 'smashed up for some time'; this is not a 'National Government', but a 'Tory-Liberal Coalition, which may, or may not, have been necessary to save the pound from collapsing'. Hopes Allen will not 'take it too tragically'. Encloses a 'poem in Po Chu I's manner', "Comano" which refers to a wonderful view he, Aubrey and Lina discovered one day; dated Aug 1931.
Furzen Wood, Abinger Common, near Dorking. - Has been sent some money for Julian's furniture, which he has paid into the account at Drummond's. Elizabeth has had to put off her visit to the Netherlands because of her 'nose-bleeding', which is 'not serious but a nuisance'; expects she will be able to go in a week or two. Is 'fairly right again' now himself, though gets tired if he does too much. They went to London on Wednesday for Donald [Tovey]'s first concert with Adila [Fachiri], who played a Bach sonata with Donald's new Dolmetsch harpsichord - though this could not be heard at all, 'as Adila would not play softly, though she said she did', and the Wigmore Hall 'swallowed up the poor harpsichord's jangling in its unacoustic maw'. The rest of the concert went well. Sorry to hear that Shahid [Suhrawardy] is ill and hopes it is not serious; supposes this may prevent him going to India. Hopes [Aleksandr] Kalitinski is better. Is going to see his [translation of Sophocles'] "Antigone" 'performed, or misperformed, by Terence [Gray]' at Cambridge; has kept away from rehearsals so is 'not responsible'. Has begun work again on an epistle to [Arthur] Waley and 'plugging away at [translating] Lucretius'. Must write to [Hugh?] Sykes soon to see when he can come to talk about it. He and Bessie are 'both quite cheerful, in spite of noses and operations'; the Allens [Clifford and Joan] also seem all right, though they have to take [their daughter] Polly up to London every other day for eye exercises. Hopes Julian's 'frescoe [sic] project will flourish'; warns him not to fall off the scaffold 'like Barna [da Siena] at San Geminiano [San Gimignano]'. Asks to be remembered to [George] Reavey, and hopes he has recovered.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Sends a report of the Whitefriars dinner, as it contains 'some personal circumstances' which might interest Robert. Hopes Elizabeth is sharing the 'glorious weather' at Welcombe. Is 'easing off work'; has finished Lucretius and begun Bergk's "Poetae [lyrici] Graecae": 'the perfection of poetry, in a society exactly suited to it'. Has Robert's old letter about it; questions Verrall's dating of Tyrtaeus to the sixth century [BC]. Lionel [Holland] is one of the party coming next week.
Postmarked London W.1.; sent to Elizabeth Trevelyan at The Shiffolds - All is going well; may get home in ten days or a fortnight. Has told B.B. [Bob Buckingham] that he need not send her any more 'bulletins'. Has just received a call from [Leonard?] Greenwood, 'most enthusiastic over the Lucretius [Robert Trevelyan's translation of De Rerum Natura].
33 Fitzroy Sq., London W. - Gives the figures as 'near as [he] can get' of sold and distributed copies of Trevelyan's "Lucretius on Death"; the 'enclosed slips' [no longer present] give details. If Trevelyan agrees to this reckoning, will sent him a cheque when Mr [Fry] returns to town [see 19/40]. No more copies here as far as he can tell.
Includes costs for advertisement in the "Burlington Magazine" and payment to Carrington for woodcut. Signed by Alfred Paice for and on behalf of the Omega Workshops to acknowledge receipt of payment from Trevelyan.
Printed flyers for Trevelyan's "Lucretius on Death", printed for the Omega Workshops Ltd. by Richard Madley; with note that payment might be sent either to Trevelyan at the Shiffolds or to the Omega Workshops. Handwritten annotations requesting copies by
1) J. M. Keynes, 46 Gordon Square, WC; originally enclosing postal order.
2) L. S. Woolf, Asheham House, Rodmell, Lewes, Sussex; originally enclosing cheque.
George Allen & Unwin Ltd, Ruskin House, 40 Museum Street, London W. C. 1. - For Trevelyan's "Translations from Lucretius". Gives price of book; number of copies sold, given out to press or free, and in stock. Sales figures include income for 'Permission to use Extracts' Note the first five hundred sold are free of royalty,
George Allen & Unwin Ltd, Ruskin House, 40 Museum Street, London W. C. 1. - For Trevelyan's "Translations from Lucretius". Gives price of book; number of copies sold, given out to press or free, and in stock. Sales figures include income for 'Permission to use Extracts' Note the first five hundred sold are free of royalty,
George Allen & Unwin Ltd, Ruskin House, 40 Museum Street, London W. C. 1. - For Trevelyan's "Translations from Lucretius". Gives price of book; number of copies sold, given out to press or free, and in stock. Note the first five hundred sold are free of royalty,
Newspaper cuttings with reviews, many sent to Trevelyan by Durrant's Press Cuttings Agency'.
Reviews of "The Pterodamozels" from: the "Times"; "Nation" [a manuscript annotation at the bottom notes that this is by Harold Massingham]; "Daily News And Leader"; "Common Sense"; "Athenaeum"; "Manchester Guardian"; there is also an extract from the "Saturday Westminster Gazette", in which the Prize Essay by 'G. M.' on "The Tendencies of English Poetry in 1917" mentions the "Pterodamozels" as a 'play of real power'.
Review of "Lucretius on Death" from the "New Witness" and an extract printed in the "Expository Times".
Also a cutting from 1917 on "Soldiers' Songs: A Study in Psychology for the Kaiser".
Chilswell, Oxford. - Read "Sisyphus" last night and much enjoyed it; thinks it 'very successful, the farce quite Aristophanic', and found the 'unrhymed method' very pleasing. Was too involved with the drama and humour to pay attention to the metre, so will have to re-read. Thinks Trevelyan has 'got on the right tack', and that the 'sorry foolishness & emptiness' of rhyme would have taken 'the edge of the real fun'; discusses this further. Thinks the farce would 'act well', though he has 'enormous respect' for Aphrodite - adds a footnote quoting in Latin from Lucretius's invocation of Venus in "De Rerum Natura" - and could not put her in a farce on the state. [Logan] Pearsall Smith, who was here yesterday, said how much he had enjoyed "Sisyphus". Bridges thinks it could be 'acted with success at the Universities'.
British Broadcasting Corporation, Broadcasting House, London, W.1. - Very 'grateful' to Trevelyan for writing and delivering his script so quickly; very much likes it as it gives a 'vivid impression of the man and its work'. On reading it aloud it only came to eighteen minutes, and the ideal length is twenty three minutes; feels they should add about three and a half pages in Trevelyan's typed script. The Lucretius and Horace scripts [for earlier talks in the same series] quote the original Latin; suggests that Trevelyan does not disrupt his 'so well constructed script' by interpolation, but elaborates on his sentences at the end on Catullus's 'less ambitious lyrics', with quotations in both Latin and translation. Loves the translations Trevelyan has already included. Does not want to be a 'nuisance' to someone as 'exemplary' as Trevelyan, but thinks a longer script will be necessary; sure he will be glad to have the chance to say more about this 'great poet'. The rehearsal time will be on Trevelyan's contract; thinks it will be at 4.30 pm on 27 August, at Broadcasting House.
Essay by Trevelyan on art and knowledge. Translation of Lucretius's "De Rerum Natura" 2.1-189.
Book also used from back cover in: draft verse, "I am he whom you would seek..."; beginning of essay on self.
98 Grenfell Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire. - Hopes that Trevelyan is well; he is a 'Great Master' to have 'accomplished this so delicate and beautiful a work' [his translation of the "Eclogues" and "Georgics"]; Virgil, 'lover of Perfection' would be 'enchanted' with it. Quotes passages she enjoys extensively. If they are able to find a couple of rooms, perhaps in Kensington, as they wish, she looks forward to asking Bentley House [London base of the Cambridge University Press] to send her [Trevelyan's translations of] "De Rerum Natura" and "Prometheus Bound", though they might be 'too high and far above [her]'. Even if so, she would treasure them as she will her copy of Virgil, inscribed to her by Trevelyan.
Trinity College, Cambridge. - Sends a copy of FitzGerald's letter, 'or of the part of it Munro had written out on the flyleaf of his book'. Does not understand the penultimate sentence, but has copied it correctly, and is unsure whether the last sentence 'belongs to the letter or not' as there are no quotation marks at the end.
With extracts from the FitzGerald letter on separate sheet, on Lucretius