Item 132 - Letter from R. C. Trevelyan to Elizabeth des Amorie van der Hoeven

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The Mill House, Westcott, Dorking. - Is going to London on Friday to see his father and discuss the marriage conditions; his father is going to his lawyers tomorrow. Has done a fair bit of work lately; asks if she would like him to bring anything over to show her or whether it should wait till they are married; would like to show her all his unpublished old work as well as his recent material. Seatoller is the place where he 'conceived the story of Epimetheus", though he did not write it till later. Wonders whether, though he had written little of merit, he was 'more of a poet' then, four years ago; used to have 'wonderful lyrical moments' alone in the hills. This may only be the 'natural illusion of thinking our past more wonderful than our present'; is sure he writes better now. Discusses the fact that his poetry and his love for Bessie are two separate things, which would not have been the case then; expects all writers of that age 'create an artificial mistress of their thoughts'; this mistress was a 'much more reasonable object of... jealousy', not that Bessie feels this, than 'poor Miss [Irene] Zocco' or anyone else. Has been reading "Othello"; his play has more or less the same subject but will be a 'feeble shadow' of it. Has just written a speech for the villain; he 'always write[s] the bad people's speeches easier than the goods,' but his villain is 'weak and lifeless' beside Iago. Quotes from the play. Mrs Pepper writes to say that there are so far no visitors at Seatoller in June, which is usually a quiet month. Ends with a doggerel verse promising to kiss her and give her Grasmere gingerbread.