320 East 42 Street, New York. - Has very few books with her here, but they include Trevelyan's 'beautiful translations of classics'; she has even begun working on a monologue by Antigone with a pupil. Thinks [Hasan Shahid] Suhrawardy has told him about her work here, which is 'very interesting, but most difficult'. They want her to play Medea, but she will not 'venture' it until next year. Asks if Trevelyan has translated it. Is working hard on her pronunciation; afraid she will have to study Japanese next 'to come back to Russian - making a tour du monde'. Asks if he knows whether D'Annunzio's "sogno della serra d'autumne" [sic: "Sogno d'un tramonto d'autunno"] has been translated into English, and for him to send it to her if it has. Finds it easy to ask this favour due to their 'mutual line for tragedy and understanding it'.
c/o Signora [Alda] Anrep, Villino Corbignano, Settignano, Firenze, Italy. - Is 'comfortably settled' in a little villa near the Berensons' villa [I Tatti], with 'some very agreeable friends. He [Egbert von Anrep] is an Esthonian land-lord, expropriated by the Revolution, and his wife is an Italian'. The Berensons are in Egypt, but will return in April, some time before Robert goes home. The weather has been 'beautiful, but the country is in great want of rain'; it is raining today, and he hopes this will continue for a few days, as 'the fields are parched, and the wells empty'. Bessie writes 'cheerfully' from the Shiffolds. Sends love to his mother, and hopes both his parents are well.
Had lunch yesterday with 'a friend of George's, Fillippo dei Filippo [sic], a Central Asian explorer, who lives in d'Annunzio's old villa at Settignano'. He has 'travelled a great deal in Thibet', and knows a lot about 'Oriental history'. But Robert does 'not see many people', and has 'not even been into Florence yet'.
Via Due Macelli 66, Roma - Has finished translating 'The Golden Bough', is now revising it, and it will not be published in May but in October; has finished doing other jobs now, might do a translation of 'Hamlet' and 'Antigone'; has some suggestions, including a longer subtitle as the work is not known well in Italy, and would like to put in a few Italian references, suggests changing a few references to Italian practices that are incorrectly reported; will go see [Gabriele] D'Annunzio as she suggests, thinks he might write a favorable review.
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'.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Very sorry that Robert is 'snowed up' at Ravello: knows how cold it can be there, and the room Robert has is 'very chilly'; hopes the weather improves soon. Will send snow boots for Elizabeth, though it will be over by the time they arrive; does not like her having chilblains. Is going to town early tomorrow until Monday evening, and will be very busy. Sent a Stratford newspaper by yesterday's post and hopes it will reach Robert; will remember about the postcards. Would like to read the play: has never liked D'Annunzio before; will try it in Italy next year; is not good at reading Italian, can manage novels slowly but rarely finds them good enough not to skip. Has 'always been sceptical about the [Hexham?] wolf'; it may have been a dog; thinks the 'hunt should have turned out, & justified their existance [sic]. The 'cheap edition of the Am'r Rev'n' [Sir George Trevelyan's "American Revolution"] comes out this week, which will be 'a very nice handy book'. Sir George is hard at work; hope Robert too is doing well with his 'new attempt'. They are 'anxiously waiting' to hear about Stalybridge [the recent by-election].
The Mill House, Westcott, Dorking, crossed through with London, 3 Hare Court written instead in red pencil. - Expects this is the last letter he will write her for a long time [as they are soon to be married]; very glad though also a little sorry that his 'correspondence with [his] intelligent young friend must come to an end at last'. Outlines his travel plans to the Hague. Went to the Dutch consul today to get his birth certificate authorised; will go with his father to the lawyers before leaving for Holland. Is writing a lot of letters to 'the clavichord people' [the friends who collectively bought Dolmetsch's clavichord, decorated by Helen Fry, as a wedding present]. Is going to [Wagner's] "Tannhauser" tonight with Smythe; unfortunately Tommy Phelps could not join them so he lunched with him in the City today 'hugely' and has scarcely recovered. Went to see [Eleonora] Duse in 'a bad play [La Gioconda] by that wretch D'Annunzio,' she 'was, of course, superb'. Will see [Milka] Ternina tonight, whom he admires as much in another way. Bought a 'swell topper [top hat]' today. Does not think it worth while to bring all his books over, as there will be little time to read at the Hague, but he may have an answer from her about this tomorrow. Wonders what she thinks now their marriage is so near; does not think she has 'any of that old fear of [him]' any more; knows she loves him deeply; she does not understand him 'altogether', though 'more than any other woman would in so short time'; he has much to understand in her also, but loves her very much and has complete faith in her. Will stop writing now as he wants to look at the libretto before going out to dine. Would be much nicer to have the [wedding] luncheon at home, and hopes her uncle will not insist on that point.