by T. S. Eliot
Rupert Hart-Davis to George Lyttelton, 15 July 1961: “T. S. E. and I are supposed (separately) to record something for a twenty-minute radio programme on the Library in German · · · T. S. E. said he could read out a sentence or two, and then his pronunciation went haywire and sounded like bad French”, The Lyttelton–Hart-Davis Letters VI (1984).
Title Abschied zur Bina: [Farewell to Bina]. “Mr. H. removed from Bina Gardens in Nov. 1938”, Hayward marginalium, copy 1. variant Geburtstag: Hayward, who received the poem on 31 Jan 1939, turned 34 on 2 Feb. For another poem for Hayward’s birthday, probably by Geoffrey Faber (and now in the Faber archive), see Jim McCue and Oliver Soden, N&Q Mar 2014.
25 Ritter Meiklejohn: “Sir Roderick Meiklejohn, formerly Chief Civil Service Commissioner”, Hayward marginalium, copy 1.
27 Macdonald von den Inseln: “A great bore”, Hayward marginalium, copy 1. Hugh Macdonald worked at the Royal Courts of Justice. Hayward to TSE, [27 Feb 1938]: “I shall postpone Hugh Macdonald (‘Macdonald of the Pisles’ in his own country) until next week”. Frederick Etchells and Macdonald were the publishers of the editions of Dryden’s Of Dramatic Poesy (1928) and Johnson’s “London” and “The Vanity of Human Wishes” (1930), each with a contribution by TSE.
29 Kauffer: “A celebrated artist”, Hayward marginalium, copy 1.
35 Richard Jannings: “Mr. Jennings, a notable man of sorrows and a great wit”, Hayward marginalium, copy 1. TSE to John Betjeman, 18 Sept 1939: “I have been having a correspondence with Jennings · · · to quote the words of the Master [Conan Doyle] · · · in the whole history of Gloom, ‘Never have I risen to such a height, and never have I been so hard pressed by an opponent’.” A leader-writer at the Daily Mirror and a famously fastidious book collector, Jennings was the recipient of no. 11 of Noctes (Sotheby’s, 13 July 1966). In 1933 TSE briefly shared a flat with Jennings, C. H. B. Kitchin and Ken Ritchie.
61 Jenny: “Mme. Roland de Margerie” Hayward marginalium, copy 1. Jenny Fabre-Luce was the wife of the diplomat Roland de Margerie and was an admirer of Rilke. See headnote to the volume: 4. AFTER DISTRIBUTION.
63 Dorinda: “Mrs John Maxse”, Hayward marginalium, copy 1. (Née Dorinda Thorne.)
64 Janni Kennerlich: “Mrs. Morley Kennerly”, Hayward marginalium, copy 1.
65 Die nette Kodringburger: “Mrs John Codrington”, Hayward marginalium, copy 1.
66 Die schöne Kamerun: “Mrs. Alan Cameron better remembered as Elizabeth Bowen, a renowned writer”, Hayward marginalium, copy 1.
75 Kobolde: [goblins]. “Two High-Church curates now residing at No. 22”, Hayward marginalium, copy 1.
Farewell to Bina
A translation (for the present edition) by Rodney Dennis
In lovely Bina Gardens
Where the laurel blooms,
The cuckoo sang in springtime
With voice brief and bold.
5
In lovely Bina Gardens,
In the fresh time of youth,
Once the comrades used to meet
All composed for fun.
To number twenty-two
10
All sorts came,
People of importance:
Alas! That’s all gone by.
Various types of people—
They loved to pay a visit
15
To the clever old spider
For tea and Schnapps and cakes.
Sometimes gourmets came
To eat and to drink—
Liverwurst and bread and butter
20
And aquavit and ham.
And there met together
Judge and politician,
Diplomat and advocate,
Actor and poet.
25
Proud knight Meiklejohn
Was often at his ease;
Macdonald from the Island
Was also not unwelcome.
Old Kauffer used to come
30
And eat fried eggs.
The young Dutchman Betjeman
Who liked jokes and fun.
And sad as a widow bird,
Pale with pain and sorrow,
35
Richard Jennings used to come
And always told us jokes.
With light conversation
And with amusing poems,
With songs and with laughter
40
Till the bright light of day.
One was never bored,
Was always happy there
With cigarettes and snuff,
Burgundy and coffee.
45
Everything was pleasant,
Comfortable and great;
With colossal kindness
It was just too nice.
* * * *
Gentlemen of rank
50
Liked to pay a visit,
Ladies with silk stockings
And expensive scent;
The elegant ladies
All loved to come:
55
The thinnest and the fairest
From Mayfair’s inner core.
And duchesses arrived,
Proper and well-intended,
And other people came
60
Who were anonymous.
And pious Jenny came,
Who nicely herself comported;
And Dorinda came as well
And Janni Kennerlich.
65
Cute Kodringburger,
Lovely Kamerun—
The day being rainy
They wore rubber boots.
* * * *
To number twenty-two
70
In lovely Bina Gardens
The nobility stream no longer;
There’s nothing left to see;
In lovely Bina Gardens,
No longer sings the cuckoo;
75
You only see goblins
Creeping here and there.
In lovely Bina Gardens
Summer now is past.
I wander slowly and alone,
80
My heart has broke in two.
Noctes Binanianæ: Textual History
Text: Hayward’s copy, no. 1 (King’s), has been compared with copy no. 12 (thanks to the generosity of Rick Gekoski). Copy no. 1 has attributions and explanatory annotations by Hayward in ink, and his pencilled emendations to Abschied zur Bina.
Hayward’s sheaf (King’s): mixed ribbon and carbon copies in the Hayward Bequest, bound in two volumes, H2 (TSE poems and Geoffrey Faber’s sonnet) and V8A. How to Pick a Possum, Geoffrey Faber’s sonnet and The O’Possum Strikes Back are copies typed by Hayward; the rest were typed by TSE.
Proofs. Edwards suggests that each of the contributors probably had a proof, to be returned to and co-ordinated by Hayward.
Texas proof (Texas): first proof from Hayward’s library, with emendations throughout, including some by Hayward. Sold Sotheby’s, 12 July 1966.
BL proof (BL): second proof from Hayward’s library, with a single emendation by TSE to Abschied zur Bina. Sold Sotheby’s, 12 July 1966.
Bodleian proof (Bodleian): second proof without emendations. Sold Sotheby’s, 11 July 1967.
revise proof (King’s): a copy of the printed volume with “Revise proof” pencilled on the front cover, and emendations made, after printing, by Hayward. (None was adopted.) A printed slip, “CORRIGENDA FULICALIA” [= “of the Coot”, Geoffrey Faber], bears two corrections for poems not by TSE and not included in this edition.
Titles were typeset in italics in proof, but changed to small capitals for the final printing. Other headings were also changed, with italics for roman type and vice versa.
How to Pick a Possum
ts1 (BL): verse letter to Alison Tandy, 12 Sept 1937.
ts2 (Faber archive): revision on two leaves (the first on Criterion headed notepaper), sent to Geoffrey Faber, dated in another hand “Sept 13 1937”.
/> Hayward’s sheaf (King’s): Hayward has typed at head “Copy of Verses by T. S. Eliot sent to me in September, 1937”. A carbon, with no variants, is among the Tandy papers (BL).
An earlier version of the final stanza appeared in TSE’s letter to Bonamy Dobrée, 11 July 1934 (following the first five lines of Pollicle Dogs and Jellicle Cats, below added asterisks):
I have teeth, which are False and quite Beautiful,
And a Wigg with an Elegant Queue;
And in closing I send my most dutiful
Respects to your Lady and You.
These lines appeared again at the end of a letter to Sally Cobden-Sanderson, 6 Oct 1934 (with “Consort &” for “Lady and”, and with “& Quite · · · Closing · · · Most Dutifull”).
Dedication] not ts1 To] to ts2
3, as also 7 the O’Possum] Uncle Possum ts1, ts2
6 summer is seen] summer’s about ts1, ts2
9 appears] is drest ts1, ts2
14 abominates] objects to both ts1, ts2
17 He’s inclined] He is apt ts1
24 peculiar] important ts1, ts2
25–28] not ts1 ‖ following last line as a P.S. (probably through oversight) Hayward’s sheaf
27] But he likes to afford such sartorial ts2
29–32] not ts1, ts2
33 He’s] VIZ. ts1
35 not at all] straight and not ts1, ts2
36 would not] wouldn’t ts1, ts2 were it not] but that it’s ts1, ts2
39 rather] small and ts1, ts2
40 always] very ts1, ts2
42 withdraws in alarm] will quickly retire ts1 ‖ will shyly retire ts2
44 When pursued by] Imitating ts1, ts2
45–48] after 52 ts1
46 compelling] uncertain ts1, ts2
47] Which distinguishes it from the booming ts1, ts2 can not] cannot Hayward’s sheaf, Texas proof 1st reading
48 or cry of the] the raven or ts1 ‖ the raven, or ts2
50 saturnine] casual ts1, ts2
54 wig] wigg ts1, ts2
55 desires to convey] asks me to send ts1 ‖ he asks to convey ts2
56 family] fambly ts1, ts2
after 56] (Signed) | THE MAN IN WHITE SPATS. ts1 only
[An Answer to the Foregoing Poem by Geoffrey Faber]
ms1 (Faber archive): fair copy retained by Geoffrey Faber, with, at foot: “Addressed to the Rev. Uncle Possum by his unworthy coadjutator, Father Faber (who, alas!, will be unable to be present.) Sept. 15th 1937” (Faber archive).
Hayward’s sheaf (King’s): Hayward has typed at head “Copy of Geoffrey Faber’s Sonnet, sent to me by T. S. Eliot.”
6 creeper] ms1, Hayward in revise proof ‖ creepers Noctes
9 ^ 10] line space ms1
The O’Possum Strikes Back
ts1: ribbon copy sent to Geoffrey Faber (Faber archive).
Hayward’s sheaf (King’s): Hayward has typed at head “Copy of Verses by T. S. Eliot sent to me by the author. Sept. 1937”.
Title ^ 1 Dedication] To Geoffrey Faber Esqre. Hayward’s sheaf only
4] tss have a footnote:
E.G. presuming poets to be taken down, Sir,
Or morning coffee with our Mrs. Trouncer.
26 burses] bursers Texas proof 1st reading
The Whale and the Elephant: A Fable
ts1 (Faber archive): carbon of an early version, sent to Geoffrey Faber, probably on 1 Oct 1937. Subscribed “Anon.”
Hayward’s sheaf (King’s): ribbon copy of a retitled version, sent to Hayward also probably on 1 Oct 1937.
Title] AN EPISTLE ts1 ‖ THE WHALE AND THE ELEPHANT: A FABLE Hayward’s sheaf
Dedication] To the Learned and Ingenious DR. MORLEY. ts1, Hayward’s sheaf ‖ all italic with lower case “l” and “i” Noctes
1 at] of ts1
5 at] of ts1
9–10] not tss (see notes)
12 jungle home,] jungle home ts1
16] Is driv’n about by Tide and Wind; ts1 ‖ Is driven about by tide and wind; Hayward’s sheaf 1st reading
23 might Whales perhaps] might even Whales ts1
26] And stand at last upon their feet? ts1 feet?] feet Texas proof 1st reading ‖ feet? Texas proof
27 ’em] them ts1
Ode to a Roman Coot
ts1 (Faber archive): single leaf from Geoffrey Faber’s collection, with typed sidenotes at 9 and 34 (see notes).
Hayward’s sheaf (King’s): carbon of ts1 before the addition of the sidenote at 9. Otherwise as ts1.
Author description] not tss
4 Menninger] this ed. ‖ Meninger previous texts (see note)
5 happy lot] goofy lot, tss
7 light-headed zany] light-hearted songster tss
8, as also 10] indented tss
9 Frognal] Golders Green tss or of villas] and loonies tss
18, as also 20] indented tss
18 Turning] Tuning tss
19 (By] By tss centripetal)] centripetal tss
22 populations] generations tss
27] before 25 tss
29 from Galloway to Hants,] in Galloway or Hants— tss
31, as also 33] indented tss oft-times] often tss
32 Charmed the loud] Charm’d noisy tss
33 th’attendants] the attendant tss Bath] bath tss
34 William,] William! tss give;] give tss
35 Nature live:] nature live. tss ‖ nature live: Texas proof
41 coothlessness] couthlessness tss
42 ^ 43] new page so line spacing indeterminate Noctes
43 angel! not so far as France;] Angel! between Hants and France: tss
44 to] toward tss
47 whale] Whale tss
48 Curl’d on the Bottome] Close to the bottom tss
[Nobody knows how I feel about you by Geoffrey Faber]
ts1 (Faber archive): Geoffrey Faber’s retained carbon.
2, as also 7 you’ve] you ts1 final reading
4, as also 6 And] An’ Hayward in revise proof
12 ideas] idea ts1
13 get] git ts1 final reading
19 coming] comin’ ts1 final reading, Hayward in revise proof
20 some of] del ts1, Hayward in revise proof
23 you] your ts1, Hayward in revise proof
Three Sonnets
ts1 (Faber archive): ribbon copy, attributed “Anon.” at foot; first carbon, sent to Hayward (King’s); second carbon, sent to Frank Morley (Berg). The sonnets are numbered with roman numerals (as, for convenience, below).
Dedication] To G. C. Faber Esqre., of Oakhill ts1
[I]
1 did] didst ts1 1st reading
4 Ruling] Who ruled ts1
9 Harlem] Haarlem ts1
11, as also 14] no indent ts1
12 declines] proceeds ts1
14] To noon; and keeps on all the afternoon. ts1
[II]
1 martial] soldier’s ts1
2 Thee the] The Texas proof 1st reading
5 spotless] virtuous ts1
11, as also 14] no indent ts1
11 the barbaric] tapping of the ts1
12 sting,] sting? ts1
14 And] Or ts1 negro] negroid ts1 tone?] tone. ts1
[III]
1 FABER!] FABER!!! ts1 ’twas not least,] not the least ts1
2] Was, that thou oftentimes didst twist the tail ts1
3 basking whale] active whale, ts1
5 trophies for] glories of ts1
9 glories] grandeur ts1
11, as also 14] no indent ts1
12 Enchanted] Corrupted ts1
13 And,] Now ts1
14 Expectoratest] Expectorating ts1 spittoon.] spittoon! Texas proof emendation
Vers pour la Foulque
ts1 (Faber archive): ribbon copy, with ms corrections of a version of the first eight stanzas.
Hayward’s sheaf (King’s): ribbon copy, with ms corrections, of all nine stanzas; together with uncorrected carbon. Alternate lines indented.
Subtitle] not ts1 ‖ Feuill
et d’album. à Laurent Tailhade, le maitre Hayward’s sheaf 1st reading
5] Tu vois bien, que c’est bien grotesque tss (with terminal comma Texas proof)
6 ternes?] ternes; tss
8] Et point n’est lieu moins pittoresque. Hayward’s sheaf 1st reading ‖ Point n’est endroit moins pittoresque. Hayward’s sheaf 2nd reading
9 grince] se grince ts1, Texas proof 1st reading des] les tss, Texas proof 1st reading
12] Tu vois, ce n’est alléchant. ts1
13 pays] quartier Hayward’s sheaf bambochades,] bambochades! tss
16 En attendant] Solicitant Hayward’s sheaf
17] Peu d’êtres vivants qui se remuent. Hayward’s sheaf
18] Ce n’est pas un endroit des plus gais— ts1
21 derrière une] dans le cadre d’une Hayward’s sheaf
22 Où s’étale un vase de] Et derrière des Hayward’s sheaf un] une ts1 1st reading
24 l’être] c’est l’etre Hayward’s sheaf 1st reading ‖ C’est l’être Hayward’s sheaf 2nd reading
25–29] typed as three lines instead of four Hayward’s sheaf 1st reading, all del
30 filer droit jusqu’à] diriger nos pas ts1 ‖ marcher droit jusqu’ à Hayward’s sheaf
31] Vers les jardins de chez Bina; ts1
32 chétifs] chetifs Hayward’s sheaf, Texas proof
33–36] not ts1 ‖ bracketed by TSE in pencil with the comment “Perhaps best omitted.” Hayward’s sheaf
