Item 81 - Letter from Cyril Bailey to R. C. Trevelyan, probably incomplete

1 item

The King's Mound, Mansfield Road, Oxford. - Good of Trevelyan to give him a chance of contributing to the present to [Laurence] Binyon, who is one of his 'oldest friends'. Encloses his 'mite', and asks Trevelyan to let him know if more is wanted. Thinks the letter to Binyon is 'admirable', and will be 'proud to sign it'. Glad to hear that his "[The Greek] Atomists [and Epicurus]" has interested Trevelyan; knows its 'shortcomings only too well', and that he 'was not really either philosopher or scientist enough to write it'; but since he had been working on the subject for a long time so that he could understand Lucretius, he thought he should publish. Will be grateful for Trevelyan's 'suggestions'; does not think a second edition is likely, since he has returned now to his 'other hobby of Roman Religion', but would like to hear his comments. Very interested that Trevelyan is translating Lucretius; does not think any verse translation has quite succeeded yet.

[Abrupt change of subject here, so either this letter is incomplete or two incomplete letters have been combined]. Wishes ["The Bride of Dionysus"] had 'come off', but Trevelyan is probably right that his poem is 'too literary for a libretto'. Sure he himself would have enjoyed it, knowing 'the humorous side of D. T. [Donald Tovey]'. Much looks forward to Trevelyan's translation, and hopes to see him beforehand.