Glad to hear Julian's birthday was so enjoyable; he should consider this 'a birthday letter' though it is ten days late, as 'since Einstein, Time is now known to be relative' and today may be his birthday 'in Sirius or ß Centauri'. Encloses "A Summer's Eve" by Michael Drayton [on a separate sheet] as a 'birthday poem'; discusses some points of vocabulary and grammar. Went with Elizabeth to see his translation of Aeschylus' "Agamemnon" acted by 'some Cambridge young men' [in Chiswick], which was interesting but 'they did not look much like old Greek heroes'. and Elizabeth thinks they should have been given 'bigger, bushier beards' and had muscles painted on their arms and legs. Wonders whether Julian will have to wear a beard as the King's guard in [Tagore's] "Cycle of Spring"; has the book and hopes that at the line 'What a poet writes, is not meant to have any sense' Julian will add that the poems of his 'Daddy, who is the best of poets... always have plenty of sense'. Elizabeth would like Julian to ask Miss [Isabel] Fry about his exact holiday dates and let her know, so she can plan the trip to the Netherlands.
The Shiffolds. - Thanks her for her letter and present, a 'charming edition of the Drayton' which he will enjoy reading again, perhaps to Julian. 'Very kind' of her to send Julian the Browning and is sure he will 'appreciate it, since he has no Browning, though he knows and likes some of the poems'. He seems well, and has generally 'got on well this term, and certainly seems happy there'.
Thinks he is himself 'much better now for having been to Dr Anderson', but since he still has to go to London for two or three days a week, he does not wish to miss more of Julian's birthday than he can help; hopes therefore that she will not mind him visiting her this month, though he may later on in the spring.
Is just finishing his Aeschylus translation [the Oresteia], though it will need much revision before he can publish; it has been a 'very tough job'. Bessie has just started reading aloud [Scott's] Heart of Midlothian, which Robert has 'quite forgotten'; they read it in the first edition, which the 'Vaughan Williamses of Leith Hill Place' have lent them. Sends love to his father and to Booa [Mary Prestwich].