Barrytown N. Y. - Has just finished reading the "Bride of Dionysus"; thinks it 'must have been good as an opera... as it is all extremely effective from the stage point of view' [it had in fact not yet been put on stage]. Finds the 'verse forms are peculiar to read', but thinks they would work well in performance, while the language is vital and fitting, sometimes beautiful. Discusses what he sees as a lack of 'unity' in the drama, but does not think this would matter on stage, and that the sudden appearance of Dionysus echoes the 'artificial solutions in Greek Tragedies' and the "Book of Job". Thinks the 'reminiscence of Browning''s "Mesmerism" which he perceives in the incantation a 'very good idea'; the evocation of the Homeric hymns and Ovid is also 'delightful'; expects there are many other references but his 'classical scholarship is nil'. Congratulates Trevelyan 'heartily'. Adds a long postscript clarifying his point about the lack of unity.
Sylvania, Barrytown-on Hudson. - Thanks Trevelyan for his letter; has not yet received the "Bride of Dionysus", which he supposes is a play; will read it and let Trevelyan know his opinion, though he is not a good critic; knows this as 'everybody tells [him] so' but he himself 'feel[s] like a good critic'. Discusses the 'peculiar talent' needed to read a play through and 'luck' to understand it and know how it will work on the stage; he has sometimes missed the point of a play completely as he 'missed the mood'. Thinks the age needs 'ambitious, romantic poetic plays', though nobody at the moment can either act them or wants to go to see them; the 'plays must come first - then will come the actors & then the public'. So Trevelyan's [actually a libretto for an opera] is welcome.
Barrytown N. Y, U.S.A. - Trevelyan's beautiful volume... Sisyphus' arrived recently; has not yet had time to read it. The 'great good nature' Trevelyan showed on 'receiving [Chapman's] remarks about [The Bride of] Dionysus' puts him at ease, 'a rare thing in writing to an author about his book', so Trevelyan 'may expect lucubrations later'. Envies the Greeks, as 'Anybody could write dramas who lived in an age when the public knew these legends'. Has Euripides in the Bohn translations, and enjoys reading him ''In spite of rather hating the sort of person he is'.