by T. S. Eliot
II 68 peregrine] peregrine, ts7–ts12
II 69 worlds] states ts7 become much like] ts12a 2nd reading+ ‖ so much alike ts7 ‖ now so like to ts8 1st reading ‖ become alike ts8 2nd reading ‖ become so like ts9~ts12
II 70] “This interruption brings my footsteps back ts7 So I find] I now have ts8 1st reading ‖ Now I find ts8 3rd reading
II 70–71] thought · · · thought] underlined with “X”, as also “X” by Hayward ts12b. (See II 75.) TSE to Hayward, 7 Sept 1942: “Thought: this I have not solved yet.”
[Poem I 204 · Commentary I 1019–20]
II 71 In] To ts7 revisit] revisit, ts7
II 72 left] buried ts7 1st reading
II 73 concern] regard ts8
II 74] typed in line space, del and retyped ts8
II 75 urge] typed over i ts13 mind] conscious mind ts8~ts12 (with conscious life ts12a 2nd reading), NEW 1st proof 1st reading aftersight and foresight,] ts13a 2nd reading, NEW 2nd proof 2nd reading+ ‖ be more conscious ts8, ts9 ‖ thought more conscious ts10 ‖ thought more conscious, ts10a 2nd reading, ts12 with first word ringed with be and “original version but weak” and “X” Hayward ts12b ‖ life more conscious, ts12a 2nd reading (line ticked), NEW 1st proof 1st reading ‖ afterthought and foresight, ts13 1st reading
II 73–75] ts7 (which ends here), del:
I also was engaged (as you should know)
To give the people speech: both here where I was tutored
In the strength and weakness of the English tongue
II 76–90] For Prose draft of intervening passage (Consider what are the gifts reserved for age) in msC, see above, “Evolution of II 67–96”. The subsequent evolution of the passage appears in typescripts from ts8 onwards (here by comparison with the final text):
II 76] Reflect ts8 1st reading (false start) age] age, ts9~ts12
II 77 To set a crown upon your] The utmost prizes of the ts8 1st reading ‖ The final prizes of the ts8 2nd reading ‖ The final prizes of your ts9~ts12, with first vowels of final, prizes and lifetime’s underlined with “X X X” and crowning with “finis coronat opus” Hayward ts12b ‖ The crown to consummate your ts12a 2nd reading ‖ That put a period to a ts12a 3rd reading ‖ These put a period to your ts12a 4th reading ‖ To put a period to ts12a 5th reading ‖ The final crown upon your ts12a 6th reading ‖ That set a crown upon your ts12a final reading. To Hayward, 7 Sept 1942: “In any case, I now think ‘prizes’ is rather heavy-handed after ‘gifts’. I propose ‘Let me disclose the gifts reserved for age, | That put a period to your lifetime’s effort.’” lifetime’s effort.] life for language ts8 1st reading ‖ lifetime’s effort: ts8 2nd reading
II 78 friction] ful (perhaps for fulfilment) ts8 1st reading ‖ craving ts8 2nd reading expiring] exhausted ts8 1st reading ‖ expired ts8 2nd reading ‖ expiring ts8 3rd reading
II 79] line erroneously indented ts12 1st reading
II 79] For what, if given, would give no more pleasure, ts8 (with last two words run together), ts9, ts10, with more underlined and further by Hayward ts10b ‖ Without enchantment, with no expectation ts10a 2nd reading, ts12 1st reading, with expectation underlined and “?” ts12a ‖ Without enchantment, offering no prospect ts12a 2nd and final reading ‖ Without enchantment, offering the enjoyment ts12a 3rd reading enchantment] allurement Hayward ts13b promise] promise, comma added by TSE at the quotation of this line in G. Jones
II 80, 81] transposed with “?” Hayward ts10b
[Poem I 205 · Commentary I 1020–24]
II 80 But] The ts8 ‖ Of ts12a 2nd reading
II 81 As] When ts8–ts9, ts10a 1st reading, ts10b body] both Valerie’s Own Book 1st reading (uncertain) fall] fade ts8
II 82 conscious] growing ts8~ts12, NEW proofs 1–2 although ringed with conscious by TSE on Hayward’s 1st proof, LG proof 1st reading impotence] importence ts8 1st reading. To Hayward, 2 Oct 1942 (after NEW “First proof”): “I think of changing ‘growing impotence’ to ‘conscious impotence’ as being rather stronger, and having removed ‘conscious’ elsewhere [II 75] it is possible.”
II 83 folly] baseness ts8~ts12, NEW 1st proof 1st reading and the laceration] turpitude and folly, ts8 1st reading ‖ lethargy and folly, ts8 2nd reading, ts9 1st reading, with “ulterius cor, lacerare nequit” Hayward ts9b ‖ and the rending pain ts9a alt, ts10~ts12, with laceration Hayward ts12b ‖ and the dying spasm ts12a 2nd reading (“dying” and “spasm” written separately) ‖ And the laceration ts12a 3rd reading. To Hayward, 2 Sept 1942: “I am sorry that rending pain can’t stand. My metric requires a feminine termination there.” 7 Sept: “Laceration: yes, I like this” (with “rending pain” being transferred to II 85).
II 84 Of] And ts8 1st reading ‖ And of ts8 2nd reading, ts9 1st reading with And ringed
II 85] And last, the doubt of self in retrospection ts8–ts12 1st reading, with retrospection underlined and recollection ts12a ‖ and last in retrospect self-doubting Hayward ts12b alt ‖ And last, the pain of memory’s re-enactment / And last, the rending pain of re-enactment ts12a alt 2nd readings ‖ And last, the pain of memory’s re-enactment ts12a final reading. (To Hayward, 7 Sept 1942: “I find ‘self-doubting’ rather weak. The best I can do at, the moment is ‘And last, the rending pain of re-enactment’.”)
II 86 done, and been;] been and done, ts8~ts12a 1st reading ‖ done, and been, ts12a 2nd reading ‖ done, and been: ts12a 3rd reading, ts13, NEW. To Hayward, 9 Sept 1942: “by the way, we both missed something I have just picked up—‘Of all that you have been and done’ · · · Why whatever was I thinking of, to have been and done that? Read ‘Of all that you have done, and been:’” (OED “be” 6c. “been and (gone and)—: vulgar or facetious expletive amplification · · · used to express surprise or annoyance”, quoting Pickwick Papers ch. XXVI: “Lauk, Mrs. Bardell.. see what you’ve been and done!”)
II 88] indent 1969 (error) and] then ts8 1st reading to others’ harm] in all assurance ts8 1st reading
II 89 Which] When ts8 1st reading took for] thought were ts8~ts12 1st reading, with thought underlined with “X” and felt? / took? by Hayward ts12b. (TSE to Hayward, 7 Sept 1942: “Felt is not strong enough: I mean not simply something not questioned, but something consciously approved.”) virtue.] virtue: ts8
II 90 Then] And ts8 1st reading stains] ts10a 2nd reading+ ‖ shames ts10a 1st reading, ts10b
II 91 From wrong to wrong] ts12a 2nd reading+ ‖ Progress from wrong ts8 1st reading ‖ From ill to worse ts8 2nd reading, ts9 ‖ From wrong to worse ts10–ts12
II 93] Where you must learn to swim, and better nature. ts8, ts9 1st reading with move added above swim in ts9a and with marginal mark and swim and better nature underlined by Hayward ts9b ‖ Where you must learn your measure, like a dancer. / Where you must move in measure. ts9a alts at foot of leaf
[Poem I 205 · Commentary I 1024–27]
II 94 The day was breaking.] This you shall learn.” ts8, ts9 ‖ This you shall know.” ts9a 2nd reading ‖ The day was glimmering ts10 1st reading, with glimmering underlined by Hayward with “?” prompting TSE’s emendation to breaking ts10b In the disfigured street] with “X” Hayward ts12b ‖ And down the shabby road ts8 1st reading ‖ Down the shabby road ts8 2nd reading ‖ In the decaying street ts8 ‖ Down the dismantled street ts9, with dismantled underlined and demolished Hayward ts9b ‖ Down the disfigured street ts9a 2nd reading, ts10a 1st reading, ts10b
II 95 left] passed ts9, ts10a 1st reading, ts10b me] on ts9b alt, with with by Hayward valediction] salutation ts8~ts12, with “X” Hayward ts10b ‖ valediction? ts12a 2nd reading, then rewritten without question mark
II 95–96] with passed on v passed me and The day / east was lightening / brightening (with first pair of alts braced together) Hayward ts10b at foot of leaf (with “Part IV?”, which he had not seen in revised form)
II 96] with “and the sun had risen” Hayward ts9b faded] vanished ts8~ts10, with “vanished (also Hamlet) fading already ‘neither budding nor fading’ I” Hayward ts10b (referrin
g to I 17) on] with Hayward ts9b (suggested to avoid potential repetition from II 95)
III
msA fol. 94: prose draft of III (Composition FQ 197).
The use of memory, to detach oneself
from the one’s own past.—they vanish return
in a different action, a new relation-
ship. If it is here, now, why regret it?
[Insert] Detachment attachment only a hair’s width apart.
Air air
earth — Anima Christi
water —
fire perfect fire.
[5]
If I think of three men on the
scaffold it is not to revive dead political
issues, or what might have happened —
Can a lifetime represent a single mo-
tive? The symbol is the fact, and
[10]
one side may inherit the victory, another
the symbol. This means the moment
of union, an eternal present.
[2] one’s] uncertain reading (Composition FQ reads ones)
[4] + now] then Composition FQ (reading corrected Moody 336)
[Insert] diagonally at the foot of the leaf, with a line to indicate position. A question mark alongside the list of elements was written earlier than Anima Christi. Composition FQ transcribes slightly differently.
[8] with For added before can
[Poem I 205 · Commentary I 1027]
msA fols. 96–98 have the first verse draft of the whole of III, collated here with subsequent drafts and printings.
III 1–16] with “1st para. Too didactic? | needs fusing.” Hayward ts3b ‖ braced ts5
III 1 conditions] conditions, msA, ts2 ‖ conditions, three msA 2nd reading which] not ts3–ts5 ‖ which with “?” ts4a 2nd reading ‖ which can with “?” ts4a 3rd reading often look alike] differ completely, msA (see note to III 1–2) ‖ look very much alike ts2 ‖ look very much alike, ts3–ts5.
III 1–2] The turn of the line in msA originally read completely, | Yet grow very which was revised first to completely, yet grow | Very and then back again.
III 2] Yet grow very close together, like the life affinities of the hedgerow msA Yet differ] And differ ts2, ts4a 3rd reading, ts6~ts9, with And del and Yet substituted by Hayward ts9b ‖ Differ ts3–ts5 ‖ Which differ ts4a 2nd reading completely,] completely, and they ts4a 2nd reading ‖ completely, ts4a 3rd reading ‖ completely; they ts4a 4th reading hedgerow] hedge-row NEW
III 3 self and to] not msA, ts2–ts5, Valerie’s Own Book self] thi ts12 1st reading (typed over)
III 4 self and from] not msA, ts2–ts5 persons;] persons, msA, ts2 and,] and msA, ts3 growing between them, indifference] last indifference, msA 1st reading (with last over illegible word) ‖ third, indifference msA 2nd reading ‖ thirdly, indifference msA final reading (third, Composition FQ) growing] grown ts4 1st reading (typed over) between] close by ts2–ts5 them, indifference] turned to new line NEW 1st proof, with printer’s instruction to move back
III 5 life,] life msA, ts2, ts3, ts6
III 6–7] Being between two lives. This is the use of memory, msA (with Being written perhaps over Beg), ts2–ts5 with memory:
III 7 The live and the dead nettle] ts9a 2nd reading+ ‖ The live and dead nettle ts6~ts9, with The live nettle and the dead Hayward ts9b (see Commentary)
III 8 For liberation—] In liberation, msA less] loss msA (uncertain reading; Composition FQ reads less) expanding] ts12a 2nd reading+ ‖ extension msA ‖ expansion ts2~ts12
III 9 beyond] ts5 alt, ts6+‖ in the death of msA ‖ in the end of ts2–ts5 and so] so, msA
III 10 Thus,] So msA
III 11 as] in msA ‖ as an 1974 (corrected in later printings) attachment to] love of msA ‖ dependence upon ts2–ts5, underlined with “?” ts4a field of action] activities, but reaches completion msA field] underlined with chance? ts4a
III 12–16] msA:
In finding their unimportance—and this is not indifference
So, they vanish, the faces places,
with the self which we loved and which loved them
To be seen to be represented, in another pattern.
III 12 comes] grows ts2 1st reading
[Poem I 205–206 · Commentary I 1027–30]
III 13–14] Though never indifferent. So, now they vanish, ts2 1st reading (one line) History may be servitude, | History may be freedom.] History is servitude | History is also freedom. ts2 2nd reading, ts5 ‖ also with colon after servitude ts3 ‖ also with may be · · · may be as alt to is · · · is also ts4a ‖ His History may be servitude | But also freedom. ts6 See] So ts2
III 15–35] the following (only, and in this order) appear in msA: 15–16, 20–21, 23–24, 33–35 [line space] 26–27, 31–32, with arrow from 26 to move some lines above 33
III 15 which,] which— ts2~ts12 could,] could— ts2~ts12 them,] them: ts2–ts6
III 16 renewed] renowned 1959 pbk (corrected after a memo from TSE, 29 Aug 1963)
III 16 ^ 17 line space] ts6~ts11, US 1943 ‖ new leaf or page so line spacing indeterminate ts4, LG, 1959 pbk ‖ three-line space ts5 ‖ two-line space ts12, Valerie’s Own Book ‖ new leaf with instruction to printer “wide space” ts13a ‖ no line space 1944, 1963+ (in 1944 a new page begins with 16, which would have been left isolated by a line space)
III 17–19] not msA, ts2, ts3, ts4, ts5 ‖ “< Julian” ts4a 2nd reading (calling for quotation to be inserted), after which the lines are added in pencil
III 17] indent US 1952 Sin] “Sin ts12a 2nd reading Behovely] behovely ts4~ts12, Valerie’s Own Book 1st reading
III 19, as also III 48, V 43 thing] things 1974 (corrected in later printings) well.] well.” ts12a 2nd reading
III 20] If I think of a king at nightfall, NEW 1st proof 1st reading (error, copying III 26) If] But if ts6 1st reading think, again,] think last msA ‖ think, last, ts2–ts6 ‖ think, again and last, ts9~ts12
III 21 And] written over erasure, perhaps O msA commendable,] commendable msA
III 22] not msA immediate] underlined with “X” ts4a
III 23 genius,] genius ts2
III 24] not Valerie’s Own Book All] And ms4, ts2 genius,] genius ts2 1st reading ‖ genius; ts2 2nd reading, ts3–ts5
III 25] not msA, ts2–ts5 which] tss, NEW 1st proof 1st reading, LG+ ‖ that? Hayward ts13b ‖ that NEW proofs 1–3, NEW. Composition FQ 205: “Eliot wrote on 10 October ‘I have definitely accepted your THAT (was it Swift or Defoe who wrote a plea for WHICH?)’. He corrected ‘which’ to ‘that’ on the NEW proof and the text in NEW reads ‘that’. But his conversion to ‘correct English’ did not last. He made no correction of the text of [ts13b] for the printing of LG and Four Quartets, which both have the idiomatic ‘which’.”
III 26 nightfall,] nightfall msA, ts2–ts4, ts6
III 27 men, and more,] msA alt, ts6+ ‖ men in turn msA 1st reading ‖ men and more ts2 ‖ men, or more, ts3–ts5
III 28–30] not msA
III 28 a few] one or two ts2, ts3 ‖ two or three ts4, ts5 forgotten] quietly ts2, ts3, ts4a 1st and final reading, ts4b, ts5 ‖ obscurely ts4a 2nd reading
III 28] (One who died blind and quiet) ts4a alt, with arrow to move below III 40
III 29 and] or ts2 2nd reading, ts3~ts9
[Poem I 206 · Commentary I 1030–33]
III 30] not ts2–ts4 (but see III 28), ts5, ts6 1st reading (so that after its insertion, the typing of 29–31 appears single-spaced) of one] one ts6 2nd reading blind] blind, ts6 2nd reading quiet,] quiet 1959 pbk, Folio, Valerie’s Own Book
III 31–32] after 35 msA
III 31 we celebrate] ts3b 2nd reading+ ‖ a man lament msA, ts2, ts3
III 32 These dead men] The dead any msA, ts2 1st reading ‖ The dead men ts2 2nd reading, ts3 2nd reading, ts6 ‖ Dead people ts3 1st reading
III 33 bell] bells msA, ts2–ts5
III 34 Nor is it] It is not msA, ts2 1st reading
III 35 summon] raise up Hayward ts3b, ts5 al
t spectre] ghost msA, ts2–ts5, with spectre ts4a alt Rose] rose msA, ts2, ts3 (with “R?” ts3a)
before III 36] msA, ts2 (circled for possible deletion):
No one is wholly alive
[2]
No man is free from sin
And sordid or petty weaknesses
[1] alive] right ts2 2nd reading
[2] man] one ts2
[3] weaknesses] weakness ts2
III 37 restore] revive ts2 1st reading (error, copied from previous line)
III 38 an antique] the antique msA ‖ a broken ts2 1st reading drum.] drum 1995
III 39 men,] men msA, ts2~ts9 them] them, ts2, ts3
III 40 opposed] opposed, ts2, ts3
III 41] Consenting to a common silence, msA Accept the] Consent to ts2 1st reading
III 42] preceding III 41 msA 1st reading ‖ with rule and “X’ Hayward ts3b And are] Are msA single party.] common silence ts2 1st reading single] common ts4 1st reading. For TSE to Hayward on this change, see description of ts4.
III 42 ^ 43] msA:
The victory no longer a victory
But only a neutral fact.
No life had a single motive
with a loop, subsequently erased, to move the third line before the first ‖ ts2 1st reading, del: