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Fourways, Gomshall, Surrey. - Trevelyan's 'very lovely poems at Christmas' ["From the Shiffolds"] will be a 'lasting joy'; has never read a more beautiful 'In Memoriam' than his to Lowes Dickinson, who, to her 'lasting regret', she never met in person but has 'known him through his books' like many others. Dickinson is one of those who restores her 'faith in the nature of man', and it seems natural that he is the 'guardian angel' of Trevelyan's words. Knew C[lifford] A[llen], and Robert's poem 'strikes the note' which she responds to; realises how much she and Trevelyan have in common; also praises his translation of a Pindar fragment.

Hacon & Ricketts, The Vale Press, No. 17, Craven St., Strand, London. - Is answering Trevelyan's letter at one, 'partly for the pleasure of writing the above amazing date' and also to reassure him 'about the Shakespeare': had taken Trevelyan's letter as 'confirmation of [Thomas Sturge?] Moore's verbal request', so his 'early married life won't be embittered by the arrival of two sets'; in fact he would probably need to go to a bookseller if he wanted a second set. Now will 'turn... from these prosy things' to picture Trevelyan composing Pindaric poems to the 'Hieron of our latter day Syracuse' [Pindar wrote praise poems for that ruler, while the Athenians later mounted a military expedition against Syracuse, which Holmes compares to the present-day Second Boer War]: the 'simple Paul Kruger will smile at the new & glorious pedigree' which Trevelyan invents for him and performs to the accompaniment of his 'bride's Χρυσεα φορμιγξ [golden lyre: a reference to Pindar's first "Pythian Ode"] in Pretoria or 'Johannisberg [sic]'. Meanwhile, he hopes Trevelyan's Pindar is 'unencumbered with [John William] Donaldson's superfluous & interminable notes'. Wishes him 'good wishes for the end of this self satisfied century'. Postscript saying that Trevelyan should write directly to Moore if he wants his proofs, as they have none at the Press.

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.

King's Langley - unable to attend meeting of Hellenic Society, has read Norman Gardiner's paper, interpretation of the Great Games of Greece to explain religious associations and explain how Pindar found inspiration in them, does not have time to develop this theory, defends his argument against Gardiner's, aetiological myths associated with the Games are not found in modern sporting events, has no books to study from.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Thanks Robert for sending the Theocritus. Encloses a letter from Heinemann; he had written to ask if his firm could spare a copy of the Loeb Pindar, since the booksellers say it is out of print, and one of the Plato death [of Socrates] dialogues for Caroline; it was Heinemann who gave him the five volumes of Ferrero's history [of Rome], 'a noble gift', after he gave a speech after the booksellers', authors' and publishers' dinner. Intends to read some Pindar when he has finished writing 'a bit of literature' [the introduction to Edward Graham's life of Henry Montagu Butler?] which he supposes will be his 'last in this world'; does not think he writes any better or worse than he did, but he 'lie[s] awake at night composing' which he supposes is the reason 'old men leave off writing'.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Looking forward to welcoming Julian. There is a 'murderous drought', which combined with the lack of labour means that the 'fields are one wilderness of thistles'. Interesting about [André] Tolédano; he will be better up on Leith Hill with Robert than on the plain. Caroline is copying a 'lovely Corot'. Is reading Pindar for the first time in sixty two years, with some difficulty but 'great enjoyment and admiration'.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Encloses an article from the ["Times] Literary Supplement" which he read to Caroline yesterday evening; they are re-reading Horace's "Odes" together, which she very much likes; agrees with the comments about translations of Horace, and knows none he can 'put up with', only some 'very vulgar imitations and adaptations' though he likes Sir Alfred Lyall's paraphrase of Odes II.7. Both the prose and verse rendering of Pindar quoted in the article seem 'about equally futile and detestable'. Caroline is a 'very little' better; she enjoyed Elizabeth's last letter and enclosed cutting about Jan Hubrecht.