Showing 45 results

29 Beaufort Street, Chelsea SW. - Jokes that his treatment of Bob has been 'shameful', especially after the 'splendid sonnet' which he compares to 'a piece of very neat cabinet work, not the highest praise perhaps but just what [he] wanted for an occasional thing like this'. Has been ill since he left Bob at Bristol but is now recovering. Has begun his Brighton lectures [for the Cambridge Extension Movement], with a 'large & enthusiastic audience of elderly ladies who palpitate with emotion'; sometimes stays with his sister [Isabel?] and feels it shows 'great nerve to stay at a girls school [Miss Lawrence's School, later Roedean] & have meals in the common room'. Wishes he were with Bob in the sun though agrees Taormina is not the 'best possible' place in Sicily to stay; warns him not to copy his relative [Florence Trevelyan, who married a Taorminan doctor] and marry the innkeeper's daughter. Remembers coming round a hill onto a terrace by the sea and seeing 'the monster' Etna for the first time. Syracuse is nice but he supposes not convenient to stay at. [Dugald] MacColl has just come for dinner.

Returns to the letter after two days. Went to the Fletchers' last night and heard some good music; [Hercules] Brabazon was there, and 'rather pathetic': has been too much for him to 'become at the age of 70 a great artist & consequently an authority on art has been too much for him'. Some good pictures at the Old Masters [exhibition at the Royal Academy], especially a Tintoretto. Has begun the "Odyssey" with the help of Bob's translation. Has 'some manuscript poems of Gerald Hopkins' [sic: Gerard Manley Hopkins] which would make Bob 'tear his hair'; quotes three lines [the opening of "The Windhover"], but won't disturb Bob's 'Sicilian vespers with the clash of footed metres'.

Translations of Virgil's "Aeneid" Book 6 and Homer's "Odyssey" book 9. Notes [of possible topics for autobiography] on first page, for example 'G[eorge] O[tto] T[revelyan] and Palgrave - Keats. G.O.T. and Churchill'.

Thanks his father for his letter. It will be 'nice to live at Grosvenor Crescent'; supposes there will be 'more room' than at Ennismore Gardens. There was a 'frost of 6 degrees' the night before last. Robert and his classmates are studying Virgil and Euripides'; thinks they will start on Homer when they have finished the current play. They are still playing cricket, but it is 'growing so cold' he expects they will soon begin football. They are going to stop doing the [school news]paper, 'because nobody cares anything about it, no more does Mr Arnold, no more do I'.

Prose note on 'religious and aesthetic emotions'. Verse, 'This love disease is a delicious/delightful trouble'. Translations by Trevelyan of the "Homeric Hymn to Demeter", fragments from tragedies by Sophocles, Euripides, and Aeschylus, an extract from Virgil ["Aeneid"] Book VI, Leopardi's "To his Lady" and "Canticle of the Wild Cock", Simonides 37, an extract from [Homer's] "Iliad" Book 24. Draft essay on aging and desire. Notes, in the style of Trevelyan's "Simple Pleasures". Autobiographical piece about a reading party at Blackgang Chine almost fifty years ago, with Cambridge friends such as Lytton Strachey, Roger Fry, Desmond MacCarthy and George Moore. Draft of "On Inspiration", published in "Windfalls". Translations of Catullus 2, 7, 12, and 50, Tibullus I.1, and Montaigne III.11 and III.6. Dialogue between 'Child' and 'Father'. Note on Saint Augustine's "Confessions". List of contents for the 1948 "From the Shiffolds" pamphlet. Notes for topic 'What does England mean to me?' and on old age.

Notebook used from other end in: list of books including [Beerbohm's] "Zuleika Dobson" and Ransome's "Great Northern?". Draft letter regarding the [re?] printing of Trevelyan's "Collected Works". Passage headed 'p. 15'; since this is followed by a review of Judson's "Life of Spenser", it may be an extract from that book. List of titles of essays, prefaces for translations, biographical pieces (Donald Tovey and C[lifford] A[llen], etc; perhaps future projects for Trevelyan. Draft piece on poets and poetry. Dialogue on the subject of translating poetry; piece "On Translating Greek Poetry", with notes on individual authors and quotations of passages. Pieces on translating Lucretius and the Greek Anthology; notes on translating Homer and Catullus; observations on a 'friendly critic' pointing out that 'too many' of Trevelyan's poems and essays begin with a scene of someone, usually the poet, 'walking meditatively in a wood' or lying beneath a tree. Translation of Tibullus III.19. Draft essay on Trevelyan's feelings about spiders, insects and other small creatures, and snakes; includes mention of a 'great philosopher' [Bertrand Russell or G. E. Moore?] disliking ants immensely.

The four volumes [of Bob's "Collected Works"] will 'completely dwarf' his own when together on the shelf. Asks if Bob has seen Douglas Bush's "Mythology and the Romantic tradition in English Poetry" ("Harvard Studies in English" Vol. 18), which he recently read at the British Library; it discusses the mythological poetry [Robert] Bridges], Bob, [Lascelles] Abercrombie, [Laurence] Binyon and Sturge Moore himself, concentrating on Bridges and Sturge Moore but 'treating us all seriously'. Heard about it from Frederick Gwynn, a pupil of Bush, who intends to write a book about Sturge Moore's poetry as his thesis ["Sturge Moore and the Life of Art", Richards Press ; University of Kansas Press, 1952] and hopes to spend next year in England. Gwynn will be one of the 'most careful readers' of Bob's "Collected Works". 'Education and Universities' do good at least in providing 'readers even for the unpopular' and students who 'appreciate other than fashionable qualities'. He and Marie will be 'proud' to own Bob's book.

The Countess [Karen] Blixen's "Out of Africa" has 'charming chapters'; her 'little Kikuyu protegé' believed Blixen could write a book as 'big and as hard as the Odyssey', but not that she could 'make it blue', like her copy of Homer; Bob's book would fulfil all points. Blixen does not write perfect English, but 'her psychology and style are both poetical and most interesting in unexpected ways'. Heard about the book from Binyon; it is a 'real delight, though unequal in places'. Met Julian and Ursula at the London Theatre Studio on Friday night: Julian is 'very charming and seems to have an "Out of Africa" touch not like a Giraffe but like some human equivalent' which the Countess may have 'discovered and appreciated', since she had a 'flair for the really valuable & rare'.

List of books on flyleaf, including [R.G.?] Collingwood's "An autobiography". Autobiographical fragment, including Trevelyan's childhood 'courting' of a girl at dancing class, friendships including two 'of an emotional, romantic kind' at Harrow, and thoughts on Keats's "Ode to a Nightingale". Translations: of first part of Sophocles' "Philoctetes"; the "Homeric Hymns to Pan, Dionysus, Aphrodite and Demeter; fragments of Greek New Comedy by Menander, Alexis and Philemon.

Book used from other end in: draft verse [translation?] on inside cover and flyleaf; list of possible topics under the heading "More Windfalls", including '[George?] Meredith', Reminiscences', '[Donald] Tovey'. Draft piece, "On losing one's bearings". Verse, 'Oh sea and shore, dearer to me than life...'. Ideas for "Less Simple Pleasures" under headings such as 'Literary', "Of Friendship', 'Of Walking'. Essay of pleasures of the senses. particularly touch. Piece about Horace and his friendships, perhaps as introduction for Trevelyan's two fictional dialogues about him, or part of the subsequent discussion of conversation. This mentions Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson, Roger Fry and Donald Tovey (Virginia Woolf and Lytton Strachey are also mentioned but Trevelyan then crosses this out)'; Henry Sidgwick, his father's friend, is mentioned as a 'perfect artist in conversation'. Discussion of philosophical dialogues. Biographical sketch of Thomas Sturge Moore. Piece on aging and desire. Notes on playing chess with Dickinson. Notes on Montaigne. Bertrand Russell and Bernard Shaw. Essay on the self, Buddhism, and change.

Sutton Oaks, Macclesfield. - The title of the first poem ["The Bride of Dionysus" - sent her by Anna Maria Philips, see 19/12] made her 'long for the evening to read it'. Has been most interested in the 'explorations' at Knossos [by Sir Arthur Evans], and has 'followed them closely' since she belongs to the Hellenic Society and the Egypt Exploration [Society]. The 'marvellous civilisation' with its mysterious sudden end are very romantic. 'While puzzling over drains' recently she has thought about the 'wonderful system' at Knossos, which [James] Baikie says were hardly matched in Europe until the mid-nineteenth century; is just now reading Baikie's "The Sea Kings of Crete. They [she and her husband?] used to plan to go to Crete and had an introduction to Dr Evans from his father; she could have stayed with Miss Cortazzi, who kept the 'little hotel for the excavators - a cousin of my Cortazzi cousins' but never did. Likes the poem very much; compares it favourably with Stephen Phillips's "Odysseus" [sic: Ulysses"]. Would be good to see it performed; she and her husband went to see "Ulysses" in London and 'the glamour remains' with her. Hopes Anna got safe home; looks forward to seeing her on the 23rd. Used to read Greek with Mr Philips when they visited The Bank; he liked to read over his favourite books of the Odyssey.

Hotel Todi, Thierfehd, Glarus, Switzerland. - Will have to 'break the golden rule' Bob gave him last year, that the person at home should write first to the one abroad. [Charles] Buxton has gone home after their extensive travels together; George is staying for a fortnight's study. Enjoying his best health for a year; describes his daily routine; is reading Homer and Vergil 'in the original at last', and talking with one of his fellow-guests in French, a young lady 'whose heart he has won' by bringing her back some golden lilies from the hills. Has realised 'the horror of distance': would not be able to bear the distance from 'one's country' if it were not for 'swift locomotion'. Often thinks 'the poem of the greatest horror remains to be written': it would describe a man propelled to the moon who can see the earth but is unable to return. Wonders whether Bob is working on his novel at Wallington.; he is very interested to see what his brother will eventually do; is sure he will 'work out his own salvation' and does not want advice, but wishes he would 'take to "one sided" history', that is 'telling the story of some great movement sympathetically, not critically or scientifically'. Is writing another lecture for Cambo about England in the 14th century; much enjoys writing 'for an uncritical audience after Cambridge'. Expects to hear that Charles has been elected [as MP for Lambeth North] tomorrow; thinks Charles's health is now good enough to 'allow of his success in life'.

[on headed notepaper for 40 Ennismore Gardens, S.W.] Arrived here 'all right with Charlie last Wednesday'. Is getting on 'very well', and is in Bosworth-Smith's form. Campbel[l] is in Hutton's form, but Giffard is in B[owen?]'s. Giffard 'is 4th scholar, because Butler resigned his'. Robert's room is on the top story, and 'has been shut up for about 3 terms'; it is large enough, 'very comfortable', and 'looks toward the road at the bottom of the hill'. Got his coat on Friday or Saturday, but has not yet got the watch. His clock 'goes very well'. Bought a straw hat on Thursday, which was a 'whole holiday' for him, as he did not have an exam or holiday task. Is very glad to hear that Aunt Meggie [Price] 'has another little boy'.

Does 'not feel at all sleepy before 10'. The 'work is not very hard': they are studying the 2nd book of the 'Aeniad' [Aeneid], which he has done before, the 5th book of the 'Odesey [sic]' and the 10th book of Paradise Lost. Is in 'Row [?]'s house in French', and has forgotten his mathematics master's name. Played cricket yesterday in the 2nd eleven. Sees C[harlie] 'pretty often'. Saunders [sic: R. A. Sanders], the head of the school, is also head of their house.

Trinity. - Afraid he was not 'the "young person" who had taken out the Aeschylus' as his Greek can cope with Homer, and Aristophanes to some extent, but not the tragic poets; might have been able to learn if 'there had been a rational system of teaching classics'. The Fellowships were given to 'very good men' on the principle that those who were 'at their last chance' should receive them; this principle would make Moore and Barnet [sic: Lionel Barnett?] 'safe for next year', and George has other reasons for thinking this. A shame Moore could not get one this year. If there is a third fellowship next year he himself stands a chance, and his work was 'very much approved of'. Hopes that Bob is getting on well with his poetry.

Quotation from N[orman] Douglas's "Late Harvest", with verse, 'Brief and gross is the pleasure of love's deed'. Incomplete piece on nature, pleasure, and poetry. Section from Trevelyan's "Thamyris" [page reference added after publication?], with discussion of the work of Lascelles Abercrombie and Robert Bridges. Notebook used from other end in: poem, "To Gordon Bottomley" (first line, 'All best things fade, dear Gordon, into memory and regret...'). Translation of Catullus LXI; note on translations from Aeschylus and Sophocles; translation of Mimnermus 'to his own soul', Pindar fragment 106, Tiberianus, 'Furius and Aurelius...' [Catullus XI], Pindar Pythian 4 line 67ff.

2 St Margaret's Road, Edinburgh. - His wife Grettie has been very ill: was ill during the 'flitting' [house-moving], then the doctor called in a specialist and found an operation was necessary; a much more serious one followed a week after. She is now recovering well, and he hopes will leave the nursing home in a fortnight. Her Aunt Jane, whom Bessie may remember, is 'a priceless treasure'. Is getting on well with Homer and finding Crusius's dictionary 'most luminous'.

Lowick Hall, Ulverston, Lancashire. - Thanks Trevelyan for the Homeric Hymn, cannot send him anything new of his own as his muse is 'resolutely out of sorts', so risks sends something Trevelyan may have read long ago [Joshua Slocum, "Sailing Alone Around the World"]; if he has read it, Trevelyan should send it back or pass it on as this has long been one of Ransome's favourite books and he thinks winning it new readers is a good deed. Thinks Ulysses might have written about his own wanderings 'in just so simple a manner' if there had been no Homer.

Woodthorpe, The Thrupp, Nr. Stroud, Glos. - Has now read through Trevelyan's 'valuable gift' [his translations of the "Eclogues and Georgics of Virgil"], and admires its 'fidelity to the original & its sustained excellence of style'. Prefers the "Georgics" to the "Eclogues": Trevelyan knows his 'ear is deaf to some of your harmonies' and would like Trevelyan to read them to him. The accents in the "Georgics" give a 'fine strong effect, so different from Pope's ready-mouthed [?] strain'; has been writing a piece on Pope's "Iliad" for "Notes and Queries". Has copied out [Edward] Fitzgerald's 'free & easy version of the Corycian swain' from "[An] Aftermath" in case Trevelyan does not know it [see 21/107b]. Blames his 'bad handwriting' on the temperature.

Translation of Homer's "Iliad" XII.354-515, XXIII, and the first two lines of XXI. Date of '7 October 1950' written at then end of book XXIII. Pencil draft on verso pages [including the front inside cover], written out on facing recto pages; some markings in red crayon. Numerous blank pages in centre. Book also used from back in: list of classical references; draft introduction for Trevelyan's "Translations from Greek Poetry"; page beginning 'Places that I have loved and now shall see no more' which turns into Tevelyan's poem 'This is love: not to know the game of love..'.

Also at this end of the book: draft letter to [Claude] Colleer Abbott: Trevelyan is sorry that Abbott has not yet found a publisher [for his edition of Gordon Bottomley's works]; [Rupert] Hart-Davis thinks that he would make a loss even with a thousand pound subsidy, which Trevelyan thinks is unlikely to be raised [this passage is crossed through]; if Trevelyan and Abbott contributed a hundred pounds each that would still be far off what is required. Abbott will therefore have to make a selection; Trevelyan suggests keeping 'all or most of the plays' which seem to him to be Bottomley's 'most important contribution to English literature', omitting much early work; thinks Bottomley's finest work begins with "The Crier by Night" and "The Riding to Lithend". Most of the poems are 'masterly and some very beautiful', but still some would 'have to be sacrificed'. Abbott can include the "Autobiography" 'by all means', and a few letters, but the plays are 'more important than the poems'. Unused material could be 'preserved at Durham University or elsewhere'. List of names on inside covers, both front ('E.M. Forster, D.D., Lina [Waterfield], Nicky [Mariano], Umb[erto] Morra') and back ('Logan [Pearsall Smith] [Thomas] Sturge Moore, [Bernard] Berenson], [Donald] Tovey, C[lifford] A[llen], Dizzey, G.O.M., Bridges, Lascelles [Abercrombie], [Augustus?] Daniel'.

Boulogne. - Thanks Doyle for his 'Epitaph'; in return sends list of words which he recently noticed as 'occurring in the Odyssee [sic] but not in the Iliad. Does not think this proves the Odyssey was not written by the author of the Iliad, but it should be noted, as 'if there were very many such points of difference in language, this might be important'. Wishes Doyle would follow up his 'impression' that the structure of the hexameters in the two poems differ and 'analyse' it; suggests lines of enquiry, and compares the way the structure of Shakespeare's blank verse differs from the early to late plays.

Has been reading Virgil, for whom he feels 'something like a personal affection'; acknowledges that he is 'very inferior to Homer' in inventive and dramatic power, but considers him to have been 'in every fibre a Poet'.

Copied onto notepaper for Fryston Hall, Ferrybridge.

Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Sorry to hear Elizabeth is 'a little depressed' and Robert 'not happy about his work'; there are 'always ups and downs with people who write' and 'these mental worries are like illnesses'. Sure that Elizabeth will be able to help him; when things went wrong with his work before he 'would fall quite ill, and throw it all up and rush away'; as an artist herself she will sympathise with him. She must 'keep up [her] own interest in other things' and help him to forget his work when 'not engaged upon it'. The Gilbert Murrays are coming to Wallington tomorrow. They have had pleasant walks and drives recently; Charles has been reading Homer and 'modelling in clay' while George works in the morning; in the afternoon they go for long walks. The croquet hoops remind her of Elizabeth, but no-one plays now. Booa [Mary Prestwich] is pleased the melons were not spoiled, and will send another cream cheese soon.

British Museum, W. C. - Neither Mrs [Marie] Stopes nor [Ezra] Pound know Japanese, so he 'refuse[s] to be put in the same category'. Mrs Stopes 'talks a little colloquial' but there is 'abundant evidence' that the translations in her work were 'done by her Japanese collaborator [Jōji Sakurai]'. Has not met her, but 'you can tell exactly what she is like from reading her book'; Pound 'knows and dislikes her, which is on the whole in her favour'. Nothing happening about the publication of his poems: Squire has not yet 'moved' about putting some in the "New Statesman". Sent a copy of the '"reprint"' to Ka Cox suggesting it might give Constable [& Co, publishers] a 'less tedious impression than typescript', but has not heard from her. Sent a copy to [Bertrand?] Russell, who was 'very kind about it', as were 'Leonard [Woolf] and his wife, who want to print some, & shall - failing everything else'. Is keenest that people should be led to share his conviction that Po Chu-I is 'one of the great poets of the world', but 'perhaps one cannot prove it by 38 translations'. Believes that the 'Opposition consists... of the Stracheys & Alix [Sargant-Florence?], who will not read them till I do them in Popian couplets, with long 's's, bound in calf'. Does agree with them that 'Pope is the only readable translator of Homer'. Also sent his book to [Gordon] Bottomley.

Text of Prometheus play on exercise book pages. Insertions: five sheets of typed script with speakers 'Jane', 'Colin', and 'Reuben'; two foolscap bifolia with prose introduction [?] to the Prometheus play and draft verse in pencil; 1 foolscap bifolium with draft verse, 'There shall we see in this crystal bower...'; bifolium and single sheet with draft, "Oh sister, sister, my fleeting sister'; sheet of Wallington notepaper with draft translation from "Iliad" 23; two loose sheets with two versions of poem, "To Sleep"; one loose sheet with beginning of dialogue, "The Veil".

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Pleased by the prospect of Julian coming with them to Welcombe. Caroline is certainly better, but it is a 'long test of patience' and they will not leave till next week at least. Glad Robert is 'getting on well with Constable [over the publication of the Annual of New Poetry, see 46/222]'. Has been reading several of Cicero's speeches, and is now re-reading Suetonius. Has read the first six books of the Iliad, and will make Homer his 'staple' until it is finished, punctuating him with Suetonius and Caesar. A second sheet asks whether Robert and Elizabeth take the "[Times] Literary Supplement", and if not whether they would like first claim on his copy [this is Welcombe notepaper so may not belong with this letter].

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Their 'most loving Christmas wishes' to Robert, Elizabeth and Julian; sends Robert an article from the American "Nation". Is more than half-way through the "Iliad" for the first time in, he thinks, fifty years; he used to read it 'pretty regularly' before then. In the library here, there is a copy of [Joshua] Barnes's 1711 "Homer", the edition which 'called forth Bentley's inimitable letter'; has that with him for the line-by line translation into Latin, and works from his beautiful Grenville. Sends a letter from Jackson; worth noting his advice a classical bookshop. Has had a 'most workmanlike and informing' letter from old Mr [Robert] Bowes, who was at Macmillan's in Cambridge when Sir George used to go 'about his Cambridge squibs and verses'.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Glad that Bessie is really better for her time at Arnside. Effect of the thunderstorms very localised; Charles has described a 'most extraordinary flood which devastated the tunnel under the road in the London Zoo'. Wonders why Sophocles called his 'Satyric drama the "Ichneutae"'. Is just reading the "Bellum Alexandrinum" with 'great admiration'; believes it was written by Oppius, not Hirtius, 'on the rough draft of Caesar's "Bellum Civile"' which he did not live to finish. Macaulay told him the "[Battle of Lake] Regillus" was his favourite of his "Lays [of Ancient Rome]," as he 'had Homer always in mind'; Sir George turned a passage from it into Greek hexameters for his 'Monitor's Greeks' [at Harrow]; they are a 'sort of cento of Homer' and Vaughan told him to write them in the book but he did not, as he did not think them good enough. The pages were left blank; Butler later invited him and 'shut [him] up in his study to write them out', so they are there now, though there are still a blank pages for the letter in imitation of Cicero which he would not write out. Glad to remember that he did not 'over rate his own performance'.

Last part of letter written on a notice from Drummonds Bank that Sir George's account has received some money from the Charity Commissioners.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Very interested in Julian's Latin: Sir George believes Latin and Greek 'are the best of all legacies'. Has just finished the twentieth book of the "Odyssey", the end of which is a 'marvellous masterpiece'. Agrees with Robert about translations of Aristophanes, and about Frere having 'gone nearest to the impossible'. Envies Elizabeth's stay at 14 Great College Street [Charles and Molly's house]. Greatly curious about Jan [?, i.e. Jan Bastiaan Hubrecht; possibly Jon or Joris], as 'the development of an interesting, and most remarkable, sire'. Caroline is taking better care of herself and is well; he himself must 'act [his] time of life'. George leaves tomorrow; the children will be able to see him off.

Ma Retraite, Ede. - Is returning two of the books lent her by Trevelyan, both of which she much enjoyed; had no idea the "Odyssey was 'such a wonderful human poem', and wishes she could read it in Greek; the translation is 'very melodious', asks whether Greek scholars approve of it. Found Henry James's "In The Cage" most amusing, though she asks whether 'the subtle suggestive analysis of the emotions & situations sometimes leads to a little mannerism in style'; thought it very clever, and 'a very English book'. Asks if she can keep [Sir George Otto Trevelyan's] "The American Revolution" longer as she has not yet begun it. Expects her cousin [Bramine Hubrecht?] has told him they will be glad to have him as early in September as he can come. Her sister [Abrahamina Röntgen] is currently here; goes with her to Denmark for a month at the end of a month which will be 'a delightful dip into music again' as their Danish friends [the Noordewier-Reddingius family?] are very musical. Asks if Trevelyan has heard much this spring, and whether he has decided about Beyreuth. Trevelyan has been neglecting to mention [his own] "Mallow and Asphodel", which she has been enjoying very much; looks forward to reading his friend's poetry which he gave her cousin [Bramine Hubrecht?]. Is reading Keats' letters, through which '[o]ne gets to know the man very well'. Encourages Trevelyan to read a book translated from Swedish into English called "Antichrist Miracles" ["Antikrists mirakler "] by Selma Lagerlof; has 'heard it praised very much' and it is 'all about Taormina, though with different names', fears Mrs Cacciola [Trevelyan] is 'treated rather badly' but has not yet read it. Beautiful hot weather this week, 'just fit for lying in hammocks and reading' though it is easy to get last and 'even a little bicycling seems too much!'.

2 St Margaret's Road [on University of Edinburgh headed notepaper]. - Is sorry not to have written sooner: meant to do so when [Trevelyan's] "Pterodamozels" came but this has taken longer than he expected. The move to the Toveys' new house happened just when Trevelyan's letter about [John] Foulds arrived; Grettie had a collapse due to the strain of the move and is only now recovering. Would be jolly if Trevelyan came to Edinburgh in October. Trevelyan may show Foulds anything of Ariadne ["The Bride of Dionysus"] which may interest him, as long as he first see the parts which are in a final state - 'the big sheets or Raabe's copy'.

Is interested in what he has seen of Foulds' work, though has seen nothing recent: sent an early set of variations on to Röntgen, who was very pleased; Trevelyan should encourage Foulds to send something to the Carnegie people, as their first year's list is very successful, with Vaughan Williams, Bantock, Stanford and Frank Bridges and 'three totally unknown names with them' [Boughton, Howells and ?]: calls it, short of founding orchestras, 'much the best thing that has yet been done for English music.' Grettie liked [Trevelyan's] "Pearl Tree" but since she is still recovering he has not introduced her to the "Pterodamozels" yet: [Austen's] "Emma" 'represents the limit of our joint capacity for satire'. Has discovered Chapman's translation of Homer, and also that with help he can read Homer himself.

Hotel Timeo, Taormina [on headed notepaper]:- There is 'beautiful weather again', though the nights are rather cold. Everything is 'rather backward this year, and the almond trees are only just beginning to blossom'; there are many in the Cacciola garden, which 'will be a very Eden in a day or two'. Is still living a 'studious and simple life, not cottoning' to any other hotel guests, but occasionally taking meals with the Cacciolas. They have many books, and a 'really fine collection of illustrated books of all kinds, Nashes, Bidas, Dorés etc'.

Is going to Syracusa for a day on Thursday or Friday, to 'go over the place with Dr [Thomas] Hodgkin, and to listen to long-drawn comparisons between the Syracusan and Crimean campaigns'. Will 'remember and compare the Greenleighton Epypolae [Greenleighton was a moor with a prominent hill in Northumberland near Wallington, Epipolae a fortified plateau near Syracuse]' when he visits its 'prototype', though he fears the animals 'that browse about its foot will be a sorry lot and nothing to compare to MacCracken's prize sheep'. But 'the genuine Theocritean shepherd still survives here, still plays on a συριγξ (or reed) and still calls out σιτθ to his goats'. Surprisingly, he was as unable to buy a text of 'the great Sicilian poet [Theocritus]' in the capital of the island, Palermo, 'nor even a Thucydides'; he did manage to 'rout out an Odyssey' to re-read the story of the Cyclops, which is set 'in a cave a few miles south of this place'.

Her 'P. M. Budget [a newspaper his mother has sent to him?] is 'very welcome'; also sees Truth, which someone at the hotel takes. Has had a cold, but got rid of it; otherwise has been in 'first-rate health'. Hopes his family are 'all enjoying life, and not suffering too much for being London-pent'.

On the translating of Homer.

George Allen & Unwin Ltd, Ruskin House, Publishers & Exporters, 40 Museum Street, London W. C. - Trevelyan's two manuscripts have been looked through: the firm does not think there is a 'strong case' for publishing his book of essays, but would be willing to publish his translations from Greek verse if they are printed by Mr Tanner in the same way as the 'Latin volume' ["Translations from Latin Poetry"]. It is a much bigger collection than the Latin one, and the reader finds it 'unequal': it would be 'rather an expensive job' if all the submitted material is included, and the reader suggests omitting the Homer if cuts are desired. Asks if Trevelyan will collect the manuscripts or wishes them to be sent by registered post. Adds in a postscript that he gathers from Lady Allen that Trevelyan thinks Bertrand Russell's "History of Western Philosophy" is not available in this country; this is not true, as Allen & Unwin have sold around seventy thousand copies and have 'plenty in stock'.

Wallington. - Has no news, though Geoffrey and Len [Winthrop Young] are coming to lunch. Will write to Tet Htoot to thank him for the letter [see 17/171]. Thinks his eczema is much better, though there are 'some bad tickles left', Charles is reading "Middlemarch" in the evening, which he does very well, 'simply, not rhetorically'. Molly's laryngitis seems to be improving, though she is still writing out words to save her voice. He is doing some translation of Homer, not much. Catherine [Abercrombie] seems well, and 'enjoys being here'. Has been to see Edith Bulmer, who is well herself but 'as usual worried by the boy [Martin]'s having a bad cold'. Hopes Elizabeth is well, and that she enjoyed Van Stuwe's visit.

Wallington. - All is well here; the house is kept 'quite warm nowadays' and they 'shut the windows more'. Is breakfasting in his room, but getting up soon after that; has been for some short walks though not yet as far as the garden; is leading a 'lazy life, lying on the sofa a great deal', but has also done some Homer translation. The house is quiet as there are no children here yet; the Weavers are coming in a few days, as are Kitty and her family. The only other guests have been 'Dr Boon and his nice wife and children' who have now left. Charles and Molly 'seem quite harmonious, and in good health except for Molly's laryngitis'. The Geoffrey Youngs have been away, but are now returned and are coming to tea tomorrow; he has been 'very unwell lately'. Bob is staying in the 'tapestry room', which is comfortable though there are 'no clothes pegs, and of course no water'; however, the house seems 'tidier and cleaner than it has been for a long time'. His eczema seems better. Hope Bessie has had a pleasant visit from van Stuwe and feels well and happy. Catherine [Abercrombie] is well, and getting on with Charles and Molly. Very kind of Tet Htoot to send the letter by Bob's grandfather [Sir Charles Edward Trevelyan: see 17/171]; will keep it to show Joan [Allen], and write to thank Tet Htoot. Asks to be remembered to Miss Goddard and the rest of the household.