Item 299 - Letter from R. C. Trevelyan to Sir George Trevelyan

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Casa Boccaccio, Settignano, Florence [on headed notepaper for I Tatti]. - Thanks his parents for their letters. Will start for home next Monday, as he wishes to go to Edinburgh for Saturday the 24th as 'Professor [Donald] Tovey is doing a part of our opera [The Bride of Dionysus] at one of his concerts'. Bessie will return around the same time; she 'seems to be having a very enjoyable time in Holland'.

George and Janet were here last week; Robert saw them at the de Filippis' and at the Berensons'; was a 'great pleasure to see something of them'. Mary [Trevelyan] is coming some time this week to the de Filippis'; they are Robert's neighbours, so he hopes to see her. She 'has developed a great deal' since Robert last saw her, and 'seems remarkably intelligent. The Berensons liked her very much', and want her to visit them while she is at the de Filippis.

The weather is 'very cold, though fine now. There is a north wind, and... a great deal of snow on the Appennines over which it blows'. Has had a 'very good review' of his Aeschylus [his translation of the Oresteia] in the Times [Literary] Supplement : 'as good a review in fact as anyone could wish to have'. Symonds' remarks on Euripides [see 12/350] are 'very good, and the comparison with Beaumont and Fletcher illuminating, if not pressed too far; for after all, Euripides is divine, not always, but quite often' but Robert thinks Beaumont and Fletcher are 'never' divine 'delightful as they often maybe: and the difference is essential'. Sends love to his mother; will write to her soon.