by T. S. Eliot
II. Lines to a Yorkshire Terrier
ts1 (U. Maryland): single leaf, double spaced, with typed title (without numeral) and ms corrections. On the verso are written the words “‘For Annie’ by E. A. Poe”, probably not in TSE’s hand. Formerly folded with Lines to a Persian Cat ts1.
1 In a brown] On a bare ts1
2 crookt and dry.] cramped and bowed. ts1
3 In a black sky, from] Natural forces, in ts1 1st reading
4] not ts1 1st reading shriek’d] shrieked ts1
5] Cracked, shrieked and muttered restlessly. ts1 1st reading ‖ Cracked, rattled, muttered restlessly. ts1 2nd reading
[Poems I 140–41 · Commentary I 837–40]
7 a] the Criterion eiderdown,] eiderdown; ts1
8 Yet] But ts1 cracked] dry ts1 2nd reading
9 cramped] crookt ts1
14 paws,] paws; ts1 ‖ paws. Criterion
III. Lines to a Duck in the Park
A Butterfly Book printing for Frederic Prokosch, entitled A Duck in the Park and purportedly of three copies, “Ghent, Easter 1936”, was actually printed in 1969. Its title has no authority, and it is not collated here.
Title the Park] a Park 1936 Contents (all impressions, but not US), corrected by TSE in Curtis 1936 and Washington copy 1954
13 shall] must Criterion
IV. Lines to Ralph Hodgson Esqre.
The title, capitalisation and shape of the poem presented a more harlequin appearance in the Criterion:
IV— FOR RALPH HODGSON ESQRE.
How delightful to meet Mr. Hodgson!
(Everyone wants to know him).
With his Musical Sound
And his Baskerville Hound
5
Which, just at a Word from his Master
Will follow you Faster and Faster
And Tear you Limb from Limb.
How delightful to meet Mr. Hodgson!
Who is Worshipped by all Waitresses
10
(They regard him as Something Apart);
While on his Palate (fine) he Presses
The Juice of the Gooseberry Tart.
How delightful to meet Mr. Hodgson!
(Everyone wants to know him).
15
He has 999 Canaries
And round his Head Finches and Fairies
In Jubilant rapture Skim.
How delightful to meet Mr. Hodgson!
(Everyone wants to know him).
[Poems I 141–43 · Commentary I 841–42]
ts1 (Beinecke): typescript headed by a drawing (in ink over pencil) of Hodgson with pipe in hand and his bull terrier breaking from its leash to chase a tailcoated figure off the edge of the leaf (see Commentary). Cream paper with large double circle watermark: “AT THE CANDLESTICKS | IN THE OVLD BALY 1649”. ts1 has initial capitals on the same words (when they appear) as the Criterion printing, as also 1] Delightful 2] Wants · · · Know Him 8] Delightful 17] Rapture 18] Delightful 19] Wants · · · Him.
Title] not ts1 ‖ FOR RALPH HODGSON ESQRE. Criterion
1, as also 18, 19 meet] Know ts1
2] no indent 1963+ ‖ indent 1936 ‖ triple indent US 1936, US 1952, US 1963
5–6] Who, moving Faster & Faster | Will, just at a Word from his Master ts1
7 And] not ts1
8 meet] know ts1
8 ^ 9] [indented] (Everyone Wants to know Him). ts1
9 Who is worshipped] Adored ts1
10] not ts1
11 While on] Upon ts1 fine] (fine) ts1
13–14] not ts1
14, as also 19] triple indent US 1963 him.)] Later Poems (endorsed by TSE in response to a proof query. Faber archive RdlM 80) ‖ him). printings other than Later Poems
15 999] 99999999999999999999999 ts1
16 round] around ts1 finches] the finches ts1
V. Lines for Cuscuscaraway and Mirza Murad Ali Beg
ts1 (Beinecke): matching the typescript of Lines to Ralph Hodgson, with profile at head of wide-eyed TSE wearing a hat, drawn by himself (see Commentary). The two tss were sent to Hodgson on 16 Aug 1932 (Aurelia Hodgson to Valerie Eliot, 4 Aug 1974), and both appear in facsimile in Stanford S. Apseloff, T. S. Eliot and Ralph Hodgson Esqre in Journal of Modern Literature June 1983.
ts Manwaring (untraced): in his typed collation (King’s), Beare mentions seeing, thanks to Gallup, a typescript “with corrections in Mr. Eliot’s hand, bearing the inscription ‘With the author’s compliments to Miss Elizabeth Manwaring. T. S. Eliot. 18. 10. 32’.”
ms Cournos (Beinecke): untitled fair copy in black ink on a single leaf, dated 24. ii. 33 and signed. With a later exhibition catalogue note by Gallup: “Eliot’s imitation of Edward Lear, written out [for John & Helen Cournos at New Haven] 24 February 1933. Eliot stayed with the Cournoses on the occasion of his lecture at Yale on The English Poets as Letter Writers. (This was my first glimpse of Eliot in person, although we did not meet.)” Gallup’s catalogue of his own collection notes: “Purchased Gotham Book Mart, Feb 1937.” In this authorial transcript, 2, 5–7, 9–12 and 14 are inset.
[Poems I 142–43 · Commentary I 842–43]
ts Texas (Texas): later, untitled copy by TSE on a single leaf with letterhead “T. S. ELIOT | B–11 ELIOT HOUSE | CAMBRIDGE”, which he used during his time at Harvard in 1932–33. Sackton: “Corrections and revision added as a joke, but the text finally restored to that of the [final] published version.” Described in a letter from Angela Miles, TSE’s secretary 1960–61, to F. Warren, 24 Apr 1961 (Texas): “He deliberately put it on the letter paper headed ‘Eliot House, Cambridge’ · · · the poem was [originally] written sometime prior to his stay at Eliot House.” Illustrated in An Exhibition of Manuscripts and First Editions of T. S. Eliot (Texas, 1961). The text before correction is printed (so far as it can be determined) below the collation of other versions, and has a collation of its own.
The title, capitalisation and shape of the poem again presented a more harlequin appearance in the Criterion:
V— FOR CUSCUSCARAWAY AND
MIRZA MURAD ALI BEG
How unpleasant to meet Mr. Eliot!
With his Features of Clerical Cut,
And his Brow so Grim
And his Mouth so Prim
5
And his Conversation, so Nicely
Restricted to What Precisely
And If & Perhaps & But.
How unpleasant to meet Mr. Eliot!
With a bobtail Cur
10
In a Coat of Fur
And a Porpentine Cat
And a wopsical Hat;
How unpleasant to meet Mr. Eliot!
(Whether his Mouth be Open or Shut).
Title] not ts1 ‖ FOR CUSCUSCARAWAY AND MIRZA MURAD ALI BEG Criterion
1, as also 8, 13] unpleasant to meet] Unpleasant to know ts1
2–4] inset ts1
2 features of clerical cut,] Coat of Clerical Cut, ts1 ‖ features of Clerical Cut; ms Cournos
3 brow so grim] Face so Grim ts1 ‖ brow so Grim, ms Cournos
4 mouth so prim] Mouth so Prim ts1‖ mouth so Prim, ms Cournos
5 conversation, so nicely] Conversation so Nicely ts1 ‖ Conversation, so Nicely ms Cournos
7] indent ts1 If] if ms Cournos 1st reading and Perhaps and] & Perhaps and ts1
9–12] inset ts1
9 bobtail] bobtailed ts1 ‖ bob-tail ms Cournos cur] Cur ts1, ms Cournos
10 coat] Coat ts1 fur] Fur ts1, ms Cournos
11 porpentine cat] Porpentine Cat ts1, ms Cournos
12 wopsical] Wopsical ts1 hat:] Hat. ts1 ‖ Hat; ms Cournos
[Poem I 143 · Commentary I 843–47]
14] triple indent US 1936, US 1952, US 1963+ (Whether] Whether ts1 mouth] Mouth ts1 open] Open ts1, ms Cournos shut).] Shut. ts1 ‖ Shut). ms Cournos ‖ shut.) Later Poems (endorsed by TSE in response to a proof query. Faber archive RdlM 80) ‖ shut) 1936 18th imp. (1961; presumably broken type). The triple indent in American editions aligns “(Whether his mouth be open or shut).” with “(Eve
ryone wants to meet him).” in Lines to Ralph Hodgson (2, 14, 19) to comic effect.
ts Texas 1st reading:
How unpleasant to meet Mr.
With his figure of corpulent size
And his face inflamed
And his manners untamed
5
And his Conversation, so n [illegible]
Restricted to x [illegible] x [illegible]
And his sly and watery eyes.
How unpleasant to meet Mr.
With a bobtail cur
10
In a coat of Fur
And a porpentine Cat
And a wopsical Hat,
How unpleasant to meet Mr. Eliot
Whether his Mouth be Open or Shut.
1 unpleasant] 1st and final reading ‖ pleasant 2nd reading ‖ delightful 3rd reading meet] met 1st reading ] blotted deletions as though of names 1st reading ‖ another blotted deletion 2nd reading ‖ with “stet” final reading. (None of the blots appears actually to cover a typed or ms name.)
2 figure] belly 2nd reading ‖ Features final reading corpulent size] Clerical Cut final reading
3 face] nose 2nd reading ‖ brow final reading inflamed] so grim final reading
4 manners untamed] ways so courtly 2nd reading ‖ mouth so Prim final reading
5 n[illegible]] nicely final reading. (The deletions in this line and the next appear not to have been of real words.)
6 x[illegible] x[illegible]] what Precisely 2nd reading ‖ what precisely final reading
7] And If Perhaps But. final reading
8 ] blotted deletions as though of names 1st reading ‖ another blotted deletion 2nd reading ‖ Eliot final reading
11 Cat] 1st and final reading ‖ cat 2nd reading (C struck through with “l.c.” then “stet”)
12 wopsical] wposical 1st reading
[Poem I 143 · Commentary I 843–47]
Landscapes
The manuscripts and typescripts of each piece are listed here below a late manuscript copy of all five, and the first printings.
ms Congress (Library of Congress): fair copies by TSE of the five poems on five leaves, each signed and dated 1959, presented to the library by Henry Sobiloff, 12 Nov 1959. Written out by TSE to be sold at a private auction on 7 Nov for the benefit of the Modern Poetry Association in Chicago, after a dinner in his honour. The catalogue includes a facsimile of Usk. The general title Landscapes and the numerals are omitted.
Valerie’s Own Book: fair copies of the five poems on five pages, interrupted by other poems (see Textual History headnote 6. VALERIE’S OWN BOOK).
First printings:
I. New Hampshire and II. Virginia
The two, as Words for Music, in Virginia Quarterly Review Apr 1934; reprinted under the same title in The Best Poems of 1934 ed. Thomas Moult.
Words for Music: “Twenty copies” of this Butterfly Book, privately printed for Frederic Prokosch, Bryn Mawr, 1934 (no copies for sale). TSE’s letter to Prokosch, 20 Feb 1935, thanking him for his “kind gift” (see headnote) indicates that Prokosch had printed the poems without asking permission. He had probably come across them in Best Poems, published in Sept 1934. TSE to Stephen Spender, 22 Feb 1935: “I haven’t the slightest idea who Prokosch is, but he seems a very amiable person.” The texts of a proof copy corrected by Prokosch (Texas) and of two decorated manuscript copies made by Prokosch, Butterfly ms1 (BL) and Butterfly ms2 (McCue collection), are as printed copies except where noted.
Further printings for Prokosch of Words for Music in 1951, and of each poem as a separate Butterfly Book in 1968, were all falsely dated “1934” (often since erased and overwritten); see Barker 214–18. They are not collated here.
III. Usk
Not printed individually.
IV. Rannoch, by Glencoe
New English Weekly 17 Oct 1935 (no variants).
V. Cape Ann
New Democracy (NY) 15 Dec 1935.
III. Usk and V. Cape Ann
[Poems I 144–48 · Commentary I 847–55]
Two Poems: “Twenty-two copies” of this Butterfly Book, privately printed for Frederic Prokosch by Cambridge U. Press, Christmas 1935 (no copies for sale), with Cape Ann preceding Usk. TSE to Prokosch, 17 Dec 1935, on receipt of Two Poems and referring also to Words for Music: “Thank you so much for the copies of the poems which you have had made for me, which I am sure will be as much admired as the previous ones which I have shown to friends.”
The typeface of Two Poems is Perpetua, but Texas has a “Proof in Centaur type. One of two copies” (as a note by Prokosch describes it) with text as printed copies. Later printings for Prokosch of each poem as a separate Butterfly Book were falsely dated “1935”. They are not collated here.
In the proof of 1936 the constituent titles were set the same size as those of Five-Finger Exercises (smaller than the main title), but with four differences: each part began a new page, the numerals were roman rather than italic, with no full stops, and the words were set beneath rather than alongside the numerals. In the printed volume, the titles were increased in size to that of individual poems throughout the book and the numerals were set in italics with full stops. The general title Landscapes was separated from that of the first poem by an asterisk (omitted in Later Poems). This remained the style in 1963. In US 1936, where titles are generally all in capitals, the titles of the constituent parts of both Five-Finger Exercises and Landscapes are in type of the same size as the main title, but in upper and lower case italics, with numerals in roman type. Also in US 1936, the constituent parts of Five-Finger Exercises run on, whereas the Landscapes each begin a new page.
I. New Hampshire
ts1 (U. Virginia): ribbon copy of I and II, entitled Words for Music, sent to Virginia Quarterly Review (see headnote). Single leaf with pencilled instructions to printer.
ts2 (untraced): single leaf, headed “New Hampshire”, and signed. Sold at Swann Galleries, 12 Jan, 1984 (American Book Prices Current). The sale of both this and ts2 of II. Virginia at the Swann Galleries suggests that they were originally a pair.
Title] ranged right without numeral ts1, Virginia Quarterly Review, Best Poems, Words for Music
1 Children’s] CHILDREN’S Virginia Quarterly Review (house style)
2 blossom-] blossom - Words for Music proof ‖ blossom ms Congress
7 To-day] Today Words for Music to-morrow] 1936+ ‖ tomorrow ts1, Virginia Quarterly Review, Words for Music, ms Congress
8 light-in-leaves;] 1936+ ‖ light-in-leaves. ts1, Virginia Quarterly Review, Best Poems, Words for Music
9] not Butterfly ms1
[Poem I 144 · Commentary I 847–51]
II. Virginia
ts1 (U. Virginia): see I. New Hampshire.
ts2 (untraced): single leaf, headed “II. Virginia”, and signed. Sold at Swann Galleries 6 Nov 1986 (American Book Prices Current).
Title] ranged right without numeral ts1, Virginia Quarterly Review, Best Poems, Words for Music
5 mocking-bird] mockingbird Valerie’s Own Book
9 living] typed over L ts1
13 river, river.] red river Words for Music (corrected by TSE in copy IV, sent to I. A. Richards 20 Feb 1935, now Magdalene), Butterfly ms1 ‖ red river. Butterfly ms2
III. Usk
ms1 (Houghton): on verso of ts1 of Mr. Pugstyles. Gift of TSE’s brother.
ts1 (Texas Sackton F9), single leaf sent to Frederic Prokosch in summer 1935. With Prokosch’s instruction to printer “Set in Perpetua 239/10” added at head. (The number refers to the Monotype typeface series number and size.)
ts2 (Magdalene, Box 44): sent (with Cape Ann) to I. A. Richards, 9 June 1935.
ms Spender (Lizzie Spender collection): post-publication fair copy in Stephen Spender’s poetry autograph book, now with Lizzie Spender. (Unavailable to editors.)
ms White (formerly Roy Davids collection): post-publication fair copy in Eric W. White’s poetry autograph book, which TSE directed his secretary to return to White, 4 Aug 1964,
“hoping that you will be pleased with the verses that he has chosen”. Sold Bonhams, 8 May 2013 (lot 331).
Title] Usk Valley. Brecon ms 1st reading ‖ Usk Valley ms 2nd reading, ts2 (ranged right)
1 branch, or] branch ms1 ‖ branch or ms White
3 hart] hind ms1 1st reading ‖ hart with hind braced below ms1 2nd reading behind] beside ms1 1st reading ‖ beyond ms1 2nd reading ‖ behind ms1 final reading well.] well ms1
4 aside,] asideways, ms1 1st reading not for] ms1 final reading+ ‖ cup and ms1 1st reading ‖ for cup and ms1 2nd reading
5 Old enchantments] Ancient mantrams ms1 alt added and del
6 “Gently] “Gebtly ts1 1st reading not] no ts2 1st reading (mistyping) deep”,] deep”. ms1, ts1, Two Poems, ts2, ms White ‖ deep,” US 1936
7 Lift] ms1 1st and final reading ‖ When you lift ms1 2nd reading eyes] eyes and ms1 1st reading (very uncertain)
[Poems I 145–46 · Commentary I 852]
8 Where the] ms1 1st and final reading ‖ Where ms1 2nd reading where the] ms1 1st and final reading ‖ where ms1 2nd reading
10 grey] word reinforced in ms1, possibly over “gray”. green] grey ms Congress 1st reading air] air, ms1, ts2
Rule beneath last line, after which is written and del Rannoch. (Shepherds of Glencoe) ms1
IV. Rannoch, by Glencoe
ms1 (Houghton): notebook leaf with blue rules, folded in four for posting and accompanied by an envelope addressed to Henry Eliot, postmarked 1937. Also photograph of this ms with typed transcript by Henry Eliot (Houghton). On her photocopy of the ms leaf, Valerie Eliot wrote “(Shepherds of Glencoe)”.
ms Cheltenham (Cheltenham College): fair copy made at the request of C. Day Lewis, 1956. No variants. Writing to Day Lewis, 23 Oct 1956, to agree to “transcribe a page of my verse for Cheltenham College”, TSE added “I have just done a poem for Rupert Hart-Davis’s book, and saw that you had already done the same.” This has not been identified.