Headed: ‘A Copy of Verses Said to be written by Milton.’ First line: ‘From the blest Region of Eternal day’. Entitled ‘Verses by Milton’ in the table of contents.
Includes references to the Milton manuscript in the Library of Trinity College, Cambridge, the contract between Milton and Simmons for the printing of Paradise Lost (see ff. 26–7 above), and the conveyance from Milton to Cyriack Skinner owned by Monckton Milnes. The last was bought by Monckton Milnes at Samuel Weller Singer’s sale at Sotheby’s on 3 August 1858 (lot 75), and was sold by his descendants in at Christie’s on 23 November 2011 (lot 22).
In consideration of £5 A assigns to B the copyright in a poem entitled Paradise Lost (or by whatever other name it shall be called), lately licensed to be printed, and, in consideration of £5 to be paid by B at the end of each of the first three impressions A agrees not to print or sell this or any similar book without B’s consent. (Each impression shall be accounted to be ended when 1300 copies have been sold to ‘particular reading Customers’, and none of them is to exceed 1500 copies.) B shall be ready to make oath at A’s request before a Master in Chancery regarding the selling of the books by retail, whereby A is to be entitled to his money from time to time on every reasonable request, or shall pay the full £5 payable on the completion of each impression as if it were due.
A, as one of the representatives of Anne Moseley, daughter of Humphrey Moseley, late citizen and stationer of London, has an interest in the copyrights of ‘Priamus and Thisbe’, ‘Spencers Shepherds Calendar’, and other works, as recorded in the register of the Stationers’ Company and a transcript thereof; and also (formerly) claimed an interest in the copyright of ‘Cowleys Poems, Donns Poems, Davenants Works, Crashaws Poems, Carews Poems Ben Johnsons Works, 3d Vol, Pastor Fido, Sucklings Poems Denhams Poems Wallers Poems & Miltons Poems in Latin & English, with many others’, which all belong to B and C or one of them. For the consideration of £10 A assigns to C his interest in the copyrights of the books in the first group, and releases to B and C his claim to the copyrights of the books in the second group. Witnessed by Robert Knaplock, John Baker, and Marmaduke Horsley. (The witnesses to the receipt are the same.) Signed by ‘Dorman Newman Junior’.
British Red Cross Society, First British Ambulance Unit for Italy, S. Giovanni di Manzano, Udine, Italy. - Thanks Bob for 'Krishna' ["The Pearl Tree"], which he read yesterday on the first real Italian summer day and 'found it very refreshing to the spirit'; it has a '"mental atmosphere" of its own' giving it 'originality and success', and the metre is 'very fine and variegated'. Has been reading much Milton recently and appreciates the relation of Bob's poetry to the Miltonic metres. Is now reading the rest of the book ["An Annual of New Poetry, 1917"]. Asks in a postscript whether Bob invented the Krishna story.
Latin translations, Milton, intentions of having a new institute [in Kenilworth]: The Priory
12 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh. - Has enjoyed reading Trevelyan's paper [on metre see 18/91] even more than he did hearing it read, as he can 'go more slowly and try the rhythms in [his] own way'; has got 'more understanding' of the subject than he has from anything else, and will 'certainly print' the paper [in the collection of pieces by members of the English Association]. Will probably drop the introduction, and if he may if the space is limited omit Horace's "Ode" and the translation by Milton. Now has several papers from 'Yvor Evans'; Rylands; Sparrow; Wattie; and Dickins; but is 'specially grateful' for Trevelyan's. Sends thanks to Mrs Trevelyan for her card, which he ought to have acknowledged. Will have a proof sent to Trevelyan so that he can check the translation. Hopes that they will see him this winter. Has a 'dreadful incubus' of a paper to prepare for Manchester; is also 'slaving at Scott's letters and getting some interesting new light'. Janet will be married in November; the French relatives will come too so they will be 'pretty full', but if Trevelyan could come up after that it would be 'a great pleasure to have some rational talk'. Thinks [Donald] Tovey is in Germany, but he will be 'looking homeward soon' as the arrangements for his concerts have come out.
Brooks's, St. James's Street, S.W.1; 'as from' Dene House, Boar's Hill, Oxford. - Has enjoyed Bob's "Windfalls" very much: it is 'a really beautiful book, & a joy for ever... the pure essence of you'. Regrets that the edition is so small, and 'rather a waste of Desmond [MacCarthy]'s for once 'selling' notice!'. Disagreed only with Bob counting the sight of a tree-felling amongst his "Pleasures", and wonders how someone who can write about trees as Bob can could feel so; adds that crystals are also straight lines which appear in nature; further to Bob's comment that 'Milton's simile's never forget their illustrative purposes', he suggests that the comparison of the angelic phalanxes to a field of corn at the end of the fourth book of "Paradise Lost" does this when the doubts of the ploughman as to whether the sheaves might 'prove chaff' could 'imply in Gabriel a want of confidence in his troops'. Has just left Cambridge, and is going next Saturday to live for a while at the Boar's Hill address he gives. Notes in a postscript that he has not yet seen [Bob's translation of Virgil's "Eclogues and] Georgics" announced.
9 Clarence Gate Gardens, N.W.1. - Letters such as Trevelyan's [about "The Sacred Wood"?] are 'a greater pleasure than the most flattering review. All human feeling seems to desert a reviewer', whether favourable or unfavourable. Had 'several motives' for saying the little he did about Milton: finds him 'on the whole [emphasised], antipathetic', with Dante 'so immeasurably greater in every way' that Eliot is 'often irritated by Milton's admirers'; also has 'certain specific charges to bring against Milton' which he did not have chance to discuss at length, so 'introduced them in a way which... might stimulate the reflective' while he was 'not unwilling' they might vex the thoughtless'. Has 'no great desire' to write about Milton, and thinks it wiser to keep to subjects on which he has 'strong convictions or enthusiasm about'. Has however been intending to write about the history of blank verse, and would discuss Milton in that context.
19 M[anchester] St, W.1. - Is 'sure to be here Wednesday'; asks if a visiting time of 4 pm would suit her. Thanks her for her letter; wants to re-read it, 'but it has fallen on to the floor!'. If 'G[eorge] M[acaulay] T[revelyan]'s morality has gone sour' his own 'sensitivity is certainly doing likewise; as the date of his 'release' from the clinic 'recedes and recedes', he is 'seeing all its faults'. His wound 'went wrong again this morning' and he is back in bed. If her car is free when he is ready to come out, he 'might be very glad of it'; he has offers of transport from both Hilton Young and Leonard Woolf, but seems likely to lose them through delays. indeed he has 'certainly lost Hilton's, as he goes away in it on Thursday'.
Had a good long letter from Bob at Grasse; he seems to be 'enjoying himself' and to be 'entertained by H. G. Wells'. He himself is reading Paradise Lost 'with pleasure': it suits his mood, which is 'gloomy yet unable to contemplate realities. God's frightful muddles: his inability to make either Hell or Eden work:... his readiness to throw Christ into the soup - what a puerile yet what a terrific universe!'. Is also reading [his own] Abinger Harvest, 'though not alas on Worthing Pie'; it is a 'real comfort' to him that it has come out just now, is liked by his friends, and by many of the critics.
May D. [?Dickinson] has been to tea, at a time when Morgan was sitting up. Robin Mayor is visiting again soon: 'what a warm hearted nice chap he is'. Has 'quite lost the feeling of dryness' Mayor used to give him. Is very lucky to have 'friends in various generations', a good fortune which Bessie also shares. Note up the side of the letter saying that her letter has been picked up from the floor; his reply 'is not nearly nice enough for it, but shall go' all the same.
Postscript dated 'Sunday evening' [29 Mar] saying that he has had 'good and surprising news': MacDonald says whatever the state of the wound, he will be able to travel on Thursday; Leonard Woolf could therefore take him in his car. Will see her on Wednesday.
Notes, drafts of articles, letters, and printed material primarily relating to the Carbery copy of Milton's Eikonoklastes, now in Trinity College Library.
Robertson, Donald Struan (1885-1961), classical scholar
Re Milton MSS in Trinity Library.
Latin hexameters, lyrics, and pentameters. Including translations from Milton's Paradise Lost; 'Lament on the death of Thomson' [ie Ode on the Death of [James] Thomson, by William Collins]; pieces from Holden's Foliorum Silvula [a collection of English passages for translation into Latin and Greek]; Loss of the Birkenhead [by Sir Francis Hastings Doyle]; and 'Somerville's Chase' [or The Chace, by William Somerville]. Pieces which may be Robert Milnes' own composition are a dialogue between Mopsus and Menalcas [characters from Virgil's Eclogues], and a lyric entitles 'Salve, Alexandrovna', dated 13 Mar. 1874 and presumably written to mark the marriage between the Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia and Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh.
Lemon Corner. - It is 'delightful' to get Bob's "Windfalls" [the new edition?]: knows many of the pieces 'so well', as Bob has read them aloud to her, but it is good to read them again; 'just a sip of nectar at a time' since she can only read for a few minutes; glad the print is good. Hopes Bob will not mind if she lends the book to one of his 'most ardent admirers', the lady to whom he sent the Vaughan Williams concert tickets; Olive always lends her the Christmas presents from Bob [his "From the Shiffolds"]. Wonders if Bob is keeping warm, and trusts he is not 'like all the inhabitants of this Infirmary, afflicted with rheumatics, arthritis, neuritis and what Milton calls Fierce Catarrh'; also that the 'domestic situation' is easier.
12 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh. - Very good of Trevelyan to remember him [by sending this year's "From the Shiffolds"]; likes the 'sincerity and simplicity' of his expression and the 'real beauty of the imagery and rhythm'.. Wishes he could reply 'in kind', but has nothing at the moment; hopes later to send what he has been 'amusing' himself with preparing with 'an old House [Christ Church, Oxford] friend, an 'Anthology of Introductions, Prefaces, Dedications' which 'strike a strong personal note' ["The Personal Note, an Anthology of First and Last Words", edited by Grierson with Sandys Wason], such as Johnson in his "Dictionary" or Keats in "Endymion". Would like Trevelyan to read his 'Introductio[n] on Introductions being a Preface to Prefaces'; as he will know, the Preface is 'often or generally the last part of the work'. Has borrowed T. S. Eliot's 'In my beginning is my end' [from "East Coker", the second of Eliot's "Four Quartets"] as a motto; this is 'rather a flippant use of what he treats so solemnly, but the poetry of recurring time or timelessness is beyond [Grierson'; he does however like Eliot's poem 'in a way'. Has heard from Mrs Russel[l] about 'poor Logan Pearsall Smith's illness', though he sounds to be 'rather better' lately; has been re-reading Pearsall Smith with 'equal pleasure on Donne and Carlyle and Milton' and praises his 'good sense and real appreciation'. Mrs Russell says Trevelyan and Desmond [MacCarthy] had visited them recently; he hopes Desmond is well, and will 'soon get a freer room in the S. T. ["Sunday Times"]'. He himself is 'so lame that going round the shops is a duty' he shirks. Has been busy with Dutch poems composed during the occupation mainly by imprisoned young men 'awaiting certain or possible death'; a gread deal has been published and 'the tone is amazing, the tone and the form'. Has only been lent the books, now 'very rare and expensive', or he would have tried to create good translations; has sent an article with 'some quotations and prose' to the "Spectator". Thinks the editor [Wilson Harris] may not accept this: he 'does not care for [Grierson]' as he thinks [his] "English Bible" was not pious enough'. Will broadcast on the 11 January, and may also say a word 'with some application to Scotland'. Wonders how 'poor Gilbert Murray is getting on; 'the "Scotsman" took fright [at a recent illness?] and a friend had to prepare an appreciation to be ready for eventualities'. Has a 'great regard' for Murray himself; they are both turning eighty next month.
Had a visit in June from his 'French daughter' with her youngest son Nicolas, and from his 'Dutch daughter' and her family in November. Alice's daughter from her first marriage [with Alexander Voormolen] has 'grown a lovely young woman;, but was 'seized by infantile paralysis'. She has recovered well, and will now be for a few months at the Wingfield Hospital near Oxford, where Dr [Josep] Trueta is a 'great authority on the disease and its treatment'. Will be alone this Christmas, but his daughters in England may come up for his birthday. Likes Trevelyan's 'cat poem ["Pusska"]; has a 'handsome cat, very independent and superior, but quite friendly'. Hopes Mrs Trevelyan has 'good news of her friends [in the Netherlands?].
Cambridge Union - A copy of a sonnet attributed to Milton.
Includes folded sheet with draft of three letters by Power: one written from Nevis, 5 Jul. 1698, to George Stepney; one to Benjamin Portlock; one to Matthew Prior. Verse in English and Latin, including translations of Virgil, Aeneid VI and Horace Epistle 2.1, and drafts of Power's Latin translation of Milton's Paradise Lost.
I Tatti, Settignano, Florence. - Knows Julian's birthday was three days ago, but this will 'serve to revive the pleasant feeling of being 18'; not until after the age of thirty that 'birthdays become unpleasant, and one is sad to be a year older. Going to [Umberto] Morra's house at Cortona for a few days tomorrow, then will join C[lifford] A[llen] and Joan at Naples, and go on to Ravello with them. The people here -[Bernard] Berenson, Nicky [Mariano] and her sister [Alda von Anrep] who know Germany very well, all say that if Julian goes to Hamburg he will like it, and that all building there has to be approved by the municipal architects so it is all ' if not very good, at least never bad'; they also say 'Munich is not what it was before the war for music and the theatre', with Vienna, Dresden and Berlin being much better, though he does not think this makes much difference and Julian will probably go to Vienna for part of the time.
Saw Chartres Cathedral with Desmond and Michael MacCarthy on his way through France, and thought it 'easily the finest' he had ever seen. Is rather sleepy as there 'has been a Rothschild to lunch, and we all ate a lot. He was much like other people, and quite nice'. Expects Elizabeth will be visiting Julian soon. Hopes Julian does not 'find the Logie book too dull'; quotes Milton's "Comus" on 'divine philosophy'; Julian will anyway 'know the worst', and it gets much more interesting once through the 'elementary part', but he can always study English Literature [at Cambridge] if he thinks 'Moral Science would become distasteful'; however, he should give it a 'good try', and the psychology part ought to be interesting. Hopes he has good luck in the King's [College] exam: Nicky sends best wishes, and Berenson would too if he were not 'sleeping off his lunch'.
10 King William Street, Charing Cross. - Bought the Milton autographs for J. Penington, booksellers, of Philadelphia, presumably acting for a customer; will gladly communicate with them on the subject.
British Museum. - Believes recipient owns John Milton's receipt for money raised by first sale of Paradise Lost; does he possess writings of any other member of the family or [amanuensis]? Is assisting a gentleman who is editing Milton from material recently discovered in the State Papers Office.
Copy in the hand of Ann, Lady Cullum.
Whingate, Peaslake. - Likes Bob's style in his "Epistles" 'increasingly, and thinks the form good; it manages to 'introduce argumentation, which is generally... a mistake in poetry'; Bob's [translation of] Lucretius had the 'same tone'. It is 'pleasant to read', though he expects it cost Bob 'toil of craftsmanship perhaps travail of soul'. Sees Bob in the epistles as 'a wise, & mature, elder brother' who sympathises with the reader's 'infirmities' since he 'feels his own'; he does not seek to force agreement on the reader (Buxton quotes Browning, "One Word More"), but is 'gently persuasive' and allows the reader to doubt when he '(perhaps)' doubts himself. Bob is no 'more sceptical' with age, nor 'less sweet and gentle and inclined to reconciliation', which Buxton appreciates as 'a (would-be) Quaker'.
All this applies to a certain extent to the two new poems as well, though they are different to the epistles and have 'vast & terrifying' subjects. Has been discussing the same question, about civilisation and books, with V. [his sister Victoria?], [his wife] Dorothy and [daughter] Eglantyne: he has been claiming that no great harm would be done if historic buildings and old master paintings were 'bombed out of existence', but that ideas must be cultivated and books kept, so the people living in Bob's 'little green settlements would not be civilised men'. Knows that he is taking Bob too seriously. The '"Piers Plowman" vision' poem is a more serious piece; remembers the theme of Bob's earlier poem; thinks he remembers Goethe saying that even the devil 'could be (or did he say would be?) redeemed in the end'; does not know what to think himself, but Bob seems to him to present the theme correctly. Would like to learn why Bob wants to '"deflate" the rhetoric of an earlier handling'; this might illuminate Milton, Goethe and Meredith's practice in their own later years; sympathises with the feeling though does not know why, as he has never succeeded in finding 'any essential difference between "Youth" and "Age", though everyone says there is'.Values Bob's 'assertion that there is [underlined] a sprig of Justice and Lovingkindness among common men, which will somehow assert itself'; doubt about this is 'the most terrible scepticism of all'. Thinks this 'declaration of faith' is the modern equivalent of the creeds of Athanasius and others.
Returns Bob's two poems with thanks [no longer present]; also includes a few chapters of his "Essay" ["Prophets of Heaven & Hell: Virgil, Dante, Milton, Goethe : an introductory essay" ?", with an outline, to show what he 'dream[s] of' writing; Bob should not trouble too much about it, but any comment from him would be 'highly valued', and there is no great rush.
Is about to send Thomas Power's papers, particularly his translation of Paradise Lost into Latin, to Trinity. Power's wishes for their publication.
Weaverham VIcarage, Norfolk. - Constitution of a new parish within his large living; seeks funds for building work; remembers Houghton as a youngster at Thorne, 'disputing the merits of Burns & Milton as a Poet'.
On the death of Thomas Power in Antigua. Encloses copy of his will. Discusses conveyance of Power's manuscripts, particularly his translation of Paradise Lost into Latin, to Trinity.
Postmarked Palermo; addressed to Bob at Hotel Timeo, Taormina. - Quotes Milton as it is his twenty-third birthday; thinks the sonnet ought to be in the "Golden Treasury", as should Milton's earliest poem, the sonnet to the nightingale. A Dutch picture and the Actaeon metope were the two 'very great thing[s]' in the museum here; Segesta was so wonderful he will say nothing about it now; does not expect Grigenti [Agrigentum] to be so good, as it will not be as solitary. Will probably get into Syracuse at 9.43 on Sunday evening.
Embossed notepaper for Royal Society of Literature, 4 St Martin's PLae, W.. - No mistake about John Milton's Commonplace book: Mr [A. J.] Horwood found original at Netherby Hall. Details of Royal Society of Literature facsimile and subscription; Camden Society is reprinting Horwood's edition of the text, but the Royal Society of Literature will produce autotype copies of every page. Postscript: encloses original prospectus [no missing].
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth (printed notepaper); 35 Brunswick [?] G[ar]d[e]ns added in pencil, - Thanks Eddie for the letter about his book ["Windfalls"] with a quote from Theocritus. Hopes he can get it reprinted one day, but [Stanley] Unwin says he cannot provide the paper at the moment. Discusses a line in Milton ["Paradise Lost"]. Corrected the proofs of his [translation of Virgil's] "Eclogues and Georgics" some time ago, so hopes they will appear before Christmas; will send a copy to Eddie, also 'a kind of Christmas-card pamphlet of eight pages of short poems ["From the Shiffolds"]'. Very glad Eddie is going to live at Boar's Hill, though sorry he will not be at Cambridge; perhaps Eddie can visit the Shiffolds one day. Agrees in a postscript that he should have 'added crystals to [his] straight lines in Nature'; is going home to the Shiffolds tomorrow.
The Shiffolds. - Hopes his parents had a comfortable journey to Wallington. Bessie's nephew Johannes Röntgen has now gone to Geneva to see his fiancée; they will both come to the Shiffolds in August for a visit before the Trevelyans go north. Robert and Bessie are therefore 'mostly alone for some time', until Julian returns from school, where he now seems 'quite happy'. Bessie intends to visit him at the end of next week.
Asks if his father has 'ever looked into the fragments of Euripides'; says they are 'more extensive and interesting than those of the other two [Aeschylus and Sophocles]', mentioning Phaethon and Hypsipyle. Can 'understand the Orestes being so popular. The characters, however unpleasant, are wonderfully drawn, and there is a good deal of grim humour'; it also 'must have been very splendid and effective on the stage'. He and Bessie have just finished Pride and Prejudice; likes Elizabeth [Bennett] 'as much as any of [Austen's] heroines. She is certainly the wittiest'; suspects she is 'more like Jane Austen herself than any of the others'. If he remembers correctly, Milton 'preferred Euripides to the other tragedians'.
They are 'anxiously waiting for the rain, which is badly wanted', as it is elsewhere. Sends love to his mother.
Confesses to being uncertain about Myers' 'kind offer'. Reports that J. W. Hales is going to give a course on Shakespeare, which will be 'more literary than [Walter?] Skeat's'; thinks it better to defer Myers' [course] until the May Term, 'in order not to produce an embarras de richesse. Suggests that Myers give one or two lectures on Milton's Paradise Regained. Announces that he shall be in London on 4 [January]. Asks him not to mention 'the evening of the [Tenant's] Dinner at Terling [house of Lord Rayleigh; perhaps a reference to Sidgwick's engagement to Eleanor Balfour?]'.