Item 2 - Letter from Gordon Bottomley to R. C. Trevelyan

1 item: in pencil

Im Gartenhaus [in the Garden House], Well Knowe House, Cartmel, by Carnforth. - Very glad to have "The Bride [of Dionysus"] and sorry to be so late with his thanks. As Bob says, will save most of his comments until they meet, but much admires the book. Some metrical effects will 'always evoke' for him the sound of Bob reading it, and 'between some lines [he will] always hear the Welsh waves'. Mentions a few passages he enjoyed. Found the Labyrinth scene so exciting that it 'nearly turned [him] into a scenic designer, and so also with Phaedra's incantation'. Liked the other poems too, and the Lucretius which was new to him; finds Bob's translations 'remarkable' and 'much more subtle and weighty' than any other English translations; now realises the significance of the originals to their contemporary audience more than ever before. Wishes Bob might at least translate all of Sophocles before Gordon dies. He and his wife have had Bob's letter this morning and are 'mournful' they missed him on his way to Seatoller. Good of him to think of coming later just to see them, but do not want to miss him when he is so near and would 'prefer both times'; they do understand that work should not be disrupted so he should not think about it until Whitsuntide. 'Parents are such [emphasised] a responsibility': Emily's mother took rooms for them at Buxton after Whitsun without their knowledge, but they have told her they cannot come until the week after. Happy to hear that both Trevelyans liked his poems so much. Is not 'made of moods in [his] natural life', but thinks Bob's wife is right and that his poems are his moods. Does not want his poems to be 'illogical', but is 'curst with a natural tendency to explanatoriness [sic]' which he is then 'driven to thought', but never wants to be 'an impressionist', however much he seems to. Is however a 'fortunate fellow' since many writers in England would 'give their heads to be praised by' Bob, [Lascelles] Abercrombie and [Thomas Sturge] Moore - even though Moore's praise is 'in patches': they 'fortify' him against the 'refrigerant reviewers'; supposes Bob has seen the "Manchester Guardian" 'deflating' him last Friday.