Item 335 - Letter from R. C. Trevelyan to Sir George Trevelyan

1 doc

Pensione Palumbo, Ravello, prov. di Salerno. - Has been here since New Year, and will leave on the 27th to go to the Berensons at Florence for two weeks; will then return home after a few days at Pisa. There has been a 'chilly and rainy scirocco for the last three days', but he expects it to be 'fine and sunny again tomorrow'. Is mainly busy with his translation of Lucretius, which he would like to finish. Has now done all of books I, III, and V [of De Rerum Natura], half of II and some of the rest; has 'still about a third of the whole to do, and the dullest part too, unfortunately'. Thinks though that it is 'worth finishing'.

The headmaster of Eton, Alington, is here with his family; he is 'quite a pleasant man, and a scholar'. Robert likes his wife, 'who was a Lyttelton'; there are 'six children, from 7 to 20, who make a very pleasant family'. Has not been to Ravello for 'twenty three years', and greatly enjoys seeing it again. Spent a 'very interesting day at Pompeii, seeing the new excavations'; these were most interesting archaeologically though there was 'nothing very remarkable in the new paintings'. The frescoes at the Casa dei Misteri outside the town, however, which he had not seen before, seemed to be the 'finest classical painting' he has ever seen, and gave him 'some idea of what really fine Greek painting may have been'; they illustrate an 'initiation into the Orphic, or rather Dionysian mysteries' and he has photographs which he will bring on his next visit to Welcombe.

Hopes his mother is well and enjoying the milder weather. Bessie and Julian seem well, and have been 'spending two very full days in London'. Will write to his mother soon.