Item 125 - Letter from Mary Moorman to R. C. Trevelyan

1 letter

Was a 'delightful surprise' to get the 'beautiful little "Dream"' from 'Uncle Bob': she and her husband both like it, and she finds the rhythm 'very intriguing'. They find it strange that the 'dreamer' of the poem 'can see in the Christ of the Gospels only that shadowy, depressed, defeated figure' and think the "'self-knowledge' recommended by Socrates' is in fact also urged by Christ. Does not believe 'any great redemptive movement ever arises except through the Church', though 'in its official capacity' may 'hinder or even prevent it'. Also thinks the Church has been trying since the fourth century 'to repair the "error"' which Bob's Lucifer 'accuses Christ of making', though does not feel the efforts have been 'altogether successful or justified'. Is reading an interesting book by [Reginald Lane?] Poole ["Illustrations of the History of Medieval Thought and Learning"?]: finds John Scotus [Eriugena?] an 'interesting figure': most original and 'very much in the Platonic tradition'.