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Westridge Farm House, Streatley, Berkshire. - His and Cicely's thanks for Bob's book ["Aftermath"]; commiserations on the loss of the stock of Bob's "Collected Poems" [in a bombing raid]; his own "Painting in the Far East" 'suffered the same fate", but this does not matter much as he does not think it would continue to sell. Has been told that authors whose stock has been destroyed by enemy action will be able to claim the royalties they would have received at the end of the war; not sure whether this is true and it is not particularly consoling. Praises "Aftermath"; knew some of the poems already but many are new. Shares Bob's feelings and admires his 'fortitude', though does not think reason is as 'sufficient a stand-by' to him as it is to Bob. Thinks he likes "A Custom of Thrace" best, but is not sure; mentions others he likes. Glad Bob is continuing to write.

He and Cicely were very worried about their daughter Helen at Bath [which suffered Blitz bombing over 25-27 April; Helen was working there in the Admiralty's mapmaking department], but received a message from her by telephone that she is safe, as is Riette [Sturge Moore]. Expects the Moores will have already heard their daughter is safe; supposes they are still staying with the Trevelyans. Expects Oxford and Cambridge will be next to be bombed, since he sees the 'Germans announce they will attack every building that has a star in Baedeker'. They have four grandchildren living with their mother at Oxford. He is 'struggling with the a poem, "The Ruins"' but is currently 'stuck'; it is 'intended to be a cluster of poems each in a way independent but related & forming a single poem'; sends the first section [no longer present]. Thinks Trevelyan manages his 'new kind of blank verse very well' and it seems to suit him, though Binyon was 'glad of' the rhymed pieces as a change. Does not like 'these easterly gales', but is happy to have 'so much sunshine'; their garden is 'rather lovely just now'. Sends love to the Trevelyans and the Moores.

Westridge Farm House, Streatley, Berks, Dec. 20 . - Very kind of Bob to send the poems [the first "From the Shiffolds"]. Knew the [epistle to] "Philip Erasmus" - expects it appeared in "Horizon" - he is a '[l]ucky baby to have such a poem waiting before'. Wrote for a copy of "Windfalls" as soon as she heard about it, but was too late; will get it at some point, but the paper shortage is 'maddening'. Hopes that Bob and Bessie are well and managing to keep their 'lovely house warm'. They themselves have just managed to get a builder to 'cement [their] wall enough to keep out the rain', but 'get on all right & are expecting two French friends for Christmas'.

Westridge Farm House, Streatley, Berks. - Sends 'rather belated' thanks for Bob's translations ["Translations from Horace, Juvenal and Montaigne, with Two Imaginary Conversations"] and for the "Epistle [to Joan Allen]" he sent to Binyon and [his wife] Cicely. Cicely has been suffering from erysipelas; it is a 'very debilitating disease', and he had to take her to stay with her brother [Valentine?]in Sussex; they returned last week. Congratulates Bob on the 'suppleness of the verse', just right for translating Horace; would have liked Bob to translate some of the "Odes", but expects he is right that it is 'quite impossible to repeat the miracles of placing [emphasised]' in an uninflected language like English. Much enjoyed the "Imaginary Conversations", and thinks them a 'pleasant way of writing literary criticism'; encourages Bob to do more, as he 'write[s] such excellent prose (like all good poets)'; asks if Bob feels he is 'trespassing on Landor'. Thinks he has succeeded in 'suffusing all the elements of the book... with a wholeness of atmosphere, wise and mellow'; enjoys this, though he cannot share in it completely, since he does not 'really feel at home in the Roman world', and has an 'obstinate streak of the mystic' which he is sure Bob would disapprove of. Had already given a copy of the book to his son-in-law [Humphrey HIggens], a teacher at St Paul's school, who has read some of the Horace with his pupils and 'much admired' Bob's translations. Only has one more canto of [Dante's] "Paradiso" to translate, but Macmillan has 'lost so heavily' on the first two volumes of the Divine Comedy that he is not keen to publish the last at the moment; however, he has agreed to publish a new book of Binyon's poetry "[The North Star"], which Binyon will send Bob when it come out, perhaps in spring. Knows Bob must mind not being able to take his usual trip to Italy; expect he has heard about their five months in Greece last year, which were 'very enjoyable and interesting', though Binyon would have found Athens a 'dull place' if he had not been so busy with his lectures and the weather was bad much of the time. They flew home all of the way. Supposes Bob hears nothing direct from B.B. [Bernard Berenson]; hears Mrs [Eugénie?] Strong has been 'turned out of her flat in Rome'. Asks how Bessie is; he and Cicely send their love to her, and to the [Sturge] Moores if they are still with the Trevelyans.

Westridge Farm House, Streatley, Berks. - The Binyons are leaving for the Netherlands and Scandinavia tomorrow so he has had no time before now to write about Bob's Lucretius [translation of "De Rerum Natura". Congratulates him on what must have been a 'tough job'; thinks the blank verse is 'modulated with great variety', not becoming 'limp or stodgy', though he would 'prefer fewer disyllabic endings'. October's weather has been 'marvellous', and Bob's woods must be 'gorgeous now'. He and Cicely send love to Bessie; they hope the Trevelyans will be able to visit before long.

Westridge Farm House, Streatley, Berks. - Very kind of Bob to send her his book; hopes that he and Bessie are well.

Westridge Farm House, Streatley, Berks. - Bob's 'Christmas book' [this year's "From the Shiffolds?"] gave her great pleasure: was 'so lovely' to have a writer send her his poetry again, which she much misses. Thanks him and Bessie very much. Was glad to hear of the Trevelyans from Lady Hutchinson; often thinks about them and their 'delightful house', and the 'reading aloud' when she and Laurence stayed with them, 'till the reader laughed too much to go on!'. Did not know about the memorial service for Gordon Bottomley until she saw the "Times" notice afterwards; would have gone otherwise, but 'knew no Bottomley relations'. Sends best wishes for the new year.

Westridge Farm House, Streatley, Berks. - Thanks Bob for the 'little book of poems' [this year's "From the Shiffolds?"]; he knows how much she likes it when a poet gives her his poems, a thing she 'miss[es] & hunger[s] for out of the past'. Is going to the twins' [her daughters] for Christmas; hopes to get to Okewood in early spring

Westridge Farm House, Streatley, Berks. - Thanks Bob for the 'delightful Christmas present' [this year's "From the Shiffolds?"]; he knows how much she appreciates being given poems by the writer, which she 'miss[es] & hunger[s] for out of the past'; Is going to stay with the twins [her daughters] at Christmas; hopes to get to Okewood in early spring and to visit Bob and Bessie then. Is a 'lot older now but that is suitable'. Sends best wishes for Christmas and 1950. Quotes a few lines of verse [from Bob's book?] in a postscript, calling them 'a blessed Christmas thought'.

Westridge Farm House, Streatley, Berks. - Thanks Bob for his 'moving poem' ["The Dream"?]. Increasingly feels that 'economic re-adjustments' and 'anti-war precautions' and so on do not address 'the roots of our maladies... greed, fear, hate & ignorance'; thinks Bob agrees. Does not 'hope too much from peace, when it comes', but thinks it necessary to recognise that there is an 'immense amount of good-will in the world'. Strikes him that people seem to think the world 'can settle down to peace & prosperity once for all if a way can be found', though the future is 'unimaginable' and the only thing certain is 'perpetual change'. Finds the question of what life is, or its meaning, an 'absolute mystery', though humans have an aim even if the universe does not; gathers that is what Bob means by the end of his poem. Thinks it the most successful of his works 'in this manner'. Hopes the new year will bring the end of this 'terrible war'; sends love to the Trevelyans. Asks in a postscript if the [Sturge] Moores are staying with the Trevelyans; sends love if so; encloses a 'poor exchange' for Bob's poem [no longer present].