by T. S. Eliot
V 4 Prophet] prophet ts1
V 7 justified] righteous ts1
V 8 vain and] profound an ts1 1st reading for silence:] in silence; ts1 1st reading
V 10 The] But the ts1 1st reading
VI
The Rock (1934) 41–42.
ts1: fol. 137–39, early draft with annotation (ribbon).
ts2: fols. 60–61, double-spaced fair copy (carbon).
ts Chamb 30–32.
Heading VI] CHORUS C. ts1 ‖ CHORUS. ts2
VI 10 whatever] all that ts1 1st reading
VI 13 hardly] long ts1, ts2, ts Chamb, proof
VI 14 teeth] teeth twice ts1 1st reading
VI 17] first word of line preceded by Whyte
VI 27] ts1 1st reading:
The blood of the Saints was not shed once for all
The
Martyrs] martyrs ts2 1st reading, printings prior the present ed.
VI 29 always] always, ts1
after VI 34] line space (new leaf in ts1) then:
[Poem I 164–67 · Commentary I 873–75]
But come, let us not lose hope in the world, prematurely;
The world is not quite given up to diplomacy,
Combinations and finding of formulas.
There are always the young, the devoted,
[5]
The enthusiasts, breakers of fetters.
And some such I now see approaching
With aloft their gay banner of sunrise.
ts1, ts2, Rock (subsequently dropped from this Chorus)
[2] is not quite] cannot be ts1 1st reading ‖ is not quite ts1 2nd reading
VII
The Rock (1934) 49–51.
ms1 fol. 85: the earliest sketch of this Chorus, a single leaf of the Bodleian drafts (Bodleian MS Don. d. 44):
History of the world from the Creation. Gradual struggle striving together towards the true Faith. Rise and Fall of Religions. Each carrying a race to a certain point of development then arrest decay. Xtianity alone seemed capable of leading man to greater greater heights. But is man now failing Xtianity? Decay of the whole world.
Stichomatheia of 2 Chorus leaders M. F.
ms1 fols. 86–87: early pencil draft of 1–17. Turned lines are not indented.
ts1: fols. 142–43, double-spaced draft (ribbon).
ts2: fols. 70–72, double-spaced fair copy (carbon).
ts Chamb 1–2.
Heading VII] PART II. OPENING CHORUS ts1, ts2 (with OPENING del) ‖ PART II. CHORUS ts Chamb
VII 1 world. Waste] world, waste ms1
VII 2 towards] toward ms1
VII 3 Blindly] Blind ms1 1st reading immediately emended seed upon] feather on ms1 1st reading ‖ seed on ms1 wind:] wind ms1 driven] Driven ms1 (starting new line) and that,] or that ms1 lodgement and] lodgment and ms1, ts1 ‖ lodgment or ts1 1st reading
VII 4 forward] not ms1
VII 5 crying] Crying ms1 (starting new line) life] this life ms1, ts1 1st reading for] and for ts2
VII 7 And] starting new line ms1 water.] waters. ms1, ts1 ‖ waters:. ts1 1st reading (mistyping)
VII 8 turned towards] knew ms1
VII 9 Religions; and] Religions. And ms1 Higher Religions were] H R were ms1
VII 10 men] them ms1 Good] good ms1 Evil.] evil ms1 ‖ Evil; ts1
[Poem I 167–68 · Commentary I 875–76]
VII 11 their] the ms1 light] light the ms1 2nd reading and shot with darkness] with darkness ms1 1st reading ‖ and shot with darkness of death 2nd reading
VII 12 air] water ms1 1st reading ‖ water ts1 1st reading temperate] the ms1 1st reading (overwritten) still dead breath] still dead cold ms1 1st reading ‖ dead cold breath 2nd reading Current;] current ms1
VII 13 stirred with] keeping ms1 ‖ stirred by ts1 life,] life ms1
VII 14 they came to] not ms1 the] a ms1, ts1 1st reading of a] like a ms1, ts1 1st reading
VII 15–17] ms1 (with or del):
Prayerwheels, worship of the dead, denial of this world,
or affirmation of empty rites
In the sand and the windy places.
W V W V
VII 15 affirmation] and affirmation ts1, ts2
VII 16 or the hills where the] ts2+ ‖ or the mountains where the ts1 1st reading with first deletion reinstated ‖ or in mountains where the ts2 1st reading, ts Chamb, proof
VII 21 Then] When ts2 2nd reading must] might ts1 light of the Word] light, in the Word ts1
VII 24 resuming] returning ts1 1st reading
VII 26 that has never] that never ts1
VII 27 Men have left GOD not for other gods, they say, but for] Men say they are following no other gods, but ts1 no god;] no gods: ts1 ‖ no god: ts2, ts Chamb
VII 28] That men worshipped a god saying it was no god, professing first Reason, as in seventeen hundred and eighty nine, ts1 with last seven words del
VII 29 And then] And ts1 or] or else ts1
VII 32 ^ 33 VOICE] VOICES ts1
VII 37 ^ 38 (more faintly):] (Afar off). ts1
VII 41 mankind · · · mankind] the World · · · the World ts1 ‖ the world · · · the world ts2 1st reading
VIII
The Rock (1934) 56–57.
[Poem I 168–71 · Commentary I 876–77]
ms1: 2pp autograph with ts transcript presumably by Henry Eliot (Houghton). Sent by TSE to J. McG. Bottkol on 8 Feb 1934, along with Usk: “Here are a few scraps, if you want genuine manuscript. I could easily fake—i.e. write out a finished poem—which would be neater and more legible. And of course real ms. is not the finished form of anything, as after this stage it proceeds by typewriter (vide verso of one page). If this is not what you want, be more specific. With all good wishes, Yours sincerely, T. S. Eliot. All this is recent—inédits.” On 4 Feb 1937 he wrote again to Bottkol: “I am sending, dispersed over several mails, a few more scraps of manuscript etc. and a couple of copies of the Little Review that remain in my possession to my brother. He will presumably hand over part or all of these to you to deal with for the Library.”
ts1: fol. 153–54, draft (carbon). By pencilling “F” and “M” in the margin here, TSE allotted 1–3, 6 and 8–26 to the women of the Chorus and 4–5, 7 and 27–49 to the men.
ts2: fols. 76–78, double-spaced fair copy (carbon).
ts Chamb 7–8.
Heading VIII] CHORUS D. THE CRUSADES. | (To Blomfield): ts1 ‖ CHORUS: ts2
VIII 2 will] shall ms1
VIII 3] not ms1 Remembering] Considering ts1
VIII 4 inheritance,] inheritance ms1
VIII 5 temple] holy temple ms1
VIII 6 Edom?] Edom | With dyed garments from Bosra? ms1
VIII 7] not ms1 He has] I have ts1, ts2
VIII 13 who were neither.] were neither ms1
VIII 16 Some went who] Some because they ms1 1st reading ‖ Some ms1
VIII 17 and] or ms1
VIII 18 Many] Some ms1 1st reading left their bodies to the kites of] came never back from 1st reading ‖ left their bodies ms1
VIII 19 sea-strewn] sea strewed ms1
VIII 20–21] Many lived on in Syria | Sunken in moral corruption ms1
VIII 22 well broken] half broken ms1 ‖ well-broken ts1 1st reading
VIII 23 and beggared,] dispossessed or ms1
VIII 24 in possession:] not ms1 ‖ in possession, ts1 ‖ in possession; ts2
VIII 25 Came home] not ms1
VIII 26 ^ 27] line space Rock ‖ new page so spacing indeterminate 1936, 1963, 1974 ‖ new page, indenting 27 US 1952 ‖ no line space 1969, CP2002
VIII 30 faith] word ts1
VIII 31 that was] which is ms1 tales] tale 1936 17th and 18th imps. (1958, 1959), Sel Poems pbk (1961)
VIII 33 the] their ms1 it;] 1963+ ‖ it. ms1 ‖ it, ts2, ts Chamb, Rock, 1936
VIII 35 many.] many | No faith of none. ms1
VIII 37 gluttony,] not ms1
VIII 38 that] not ms1
VIII 40 took men from home] sent them out ms1 ‖ took them from home ts1
1st reading
VIII 42 virtue] virtues ms1
VIII 43 vice] vices. ms1 ‖ vice; ts1
VIII 45 Because] For ts1 1st reading (typed over) will] would ts2 never] not ms1
[Poem I 171–72 · Commentary I 877–78]
VIII 46 impossible,] impossible Guild
VIII 47 men] those ms1 1st reading
VIII 49] not ms1
IX
The Rock (1934) 76–78.
ts2: fols. 95–96, double-spaced draft (carbon).
ts Chamb 28–29.
IX 10 market] markets ts2 1st reading
IX 11 secular meetings] public occasions places. ts2 1st reading (deciphered by Katherine Hawkins)
IX 12 good] well ts2 1st reading
IX 17 unites] printings prior to 1936, 1969 ‖ united 1936–61, US 1936, Penguin (and Sel Poems until 1976 or later), 1963 emended to “unites” from 2nd imp. TSE memo to Peter du Sautoy, 28 Apr 1964 (of “united”): “I think this is a misprint; in any case I think the original text is preferable” (Faber archive).
IX 20 new] comes new ts2 1st reading
IX 26 our] the ts2 1st reading
IX 33 as] with ts2 1st reading
IX 43 ^ 44] no line space Penguin (but 44 is indented, like 42 and 43, as a new paragraph)
X
The Rock (1934) 83–85.
ms draft: an early version of this Chorus, on the final two leaves of the Bodleian drafts (ms Don. d. 44 fols. 164, 164v., 165), is given here first. The text is the earliest legible reading, with variants listed below. New lines are given as in the ms (and numbered as such), but those presumed to be turned lines are indented (as are some of them in the ms). Two groups of lines defying lineation remain unindented.
Strophe
The church built, adorned, dedicated,
wedded to Christ. One light burns
in the darkness. What of the future?
Shall the Church vis. invis. go forth
[5]
to Conquer the world?
Antistrophe
The great snake lies low at the
bottom of the pit of the world, curled
round the Tree. From time to time
awakens, famished, and reaches his
[10]
neck to devour. Let me not look
into the pit seek to plumb the
Mystery of Iniquity. What fellowship
hath Righteousness with Unright-
eousness, light with darkness?
[Poem I 172–76 · Commentary I 878–80]
[15]
—Wherefore come out from among them
and be ye separate.
[new page]
Strophe
Let us therefore in the light meditate
on the Light.
Oh Light invisible
[20]
Too bright for mortal sight
We thank thee for the little light the
light of altar sanctuary
Light of the hermit in the deepest meditation
Light through the window
[25]
Sun lighting front of English
church at evening. Moon and
Starlight faint light, where the
bat squeaks over the pool.
Light through water showing the
[30]
seagods the passing shadow of Argo.
Light from stones, light from coloured
mosaic, fresco, silk curtains.
In the rhythm of earthly life we are glad
when the day ends, when the play ends, we
[35]
tire of worship sleep are glad to sleep
Controlled by the blood, the day night seasons
And the candle must be extinguished
the candle must be relighted
[new page]
We forever here light quench the flame
[40]
Children who are quickly tired fall asleep
in the middle of play
We are tired children watching the fireworks
late in the night, and can endure only a
little light.
[45]
Therefore we thank thee for the little light,
that Thou hast not made the light too
great for us.
We thank Thee who has inspired us to
build, finding life through our fingers,
[50]
and that when we have built an altar
to the Invisible Light, we may set thereon
the little visible lights suitable to our vision
And we thank thee for darkness to remind
us of light.
[6] at] sleeping at 2nd reading
[17] meditate] over illegible reading
[23] hermit] solitary 2nd reading deepest meditation] uncertain reading
[Poem I 175–76 · Commentary I 879–80]
[25] front] west front 2nd reading with “?”
[26] evening.] evening. Crossing the farrow 2nd reading
[28] with, in the margin, “glowworm” and
Glowworm showing the reach
spread of a dozen blades of grass
[28] squeaks] with fluttering added above
[31] Light from] Light returned from precious 2nd reading ‖ Light returned and scattered from precious 3rd reading from] over illegible reading
[35] sleep] we sleep 2nd reading
[44] little] over light
[45] thee] Thee 2nd reading
[49] life] over illegible reading
[53] thee] Thee 2nd reading
ms Yale (see above).
ts2: fols.106–108, double-spaced draft (carbon).
ts Chamb 34–36.
X 1 house] church ms Yale 1st reading
X 2 it is] is it ms Yale, ts2 1st reading
X 4 dark] dark, ms Yale
X 5 all we can build?] singly enough? ms Yale
X 7 half awake,] half sleeping ms Yale 1st reading ‖ somnolent 2nd reading ‖ half awake final reading
X 8 and to left] left ms Yale ‖ and left ts2 1st reading prepares] keeps ms Yale 1st reading (uncertain)
X 10 those] them ms Yale
X 11] The worshippers and dedicated victims of the snake, take ms Yale
X 17 we praise Thee!] too bright for mortal vision ms Yale 1st reading
X 19 praise] thank ms Yale 1st reading
X 22 over stagnant] on the face of ms Yale
X 23] not ms Yale 1st reading ‖ Moonlight starlight, owl moth light ms Yale in margin without indication of where it is to go, apparently written over false start S (for “Starlight”?)
X 24 Glow-worm] The glowworm ms Yale ‖ Glowworm ts2, ts Chamb glowlight] glow light ms Yale grassblade.] soaring grassblade ms Yale
X 25 worship] thank ms Yale, ts Chamb
X 26 lights] light ms Yale, ts2 1st reading
X 27 The] For ms Yale light] lights ts2 final reading
X 28 lights] light ms Yale 1st reading those] one ms Yale 1st reading meditate] meditates ms Yale
[Poem I 175–76 · Commentary I 879–80]
X 29 lights] light ms Yale, ts2 1st reading
X 30 light] lights ts2 final reading
X 31 fresco.] fresco ms Yale ‖ frescoes. ts2 ‖ fresco, ts Chamb
X 33 that fractures] filtered broken ms Yale unquiet] over false start, perhaps und- ms Yale
X 34 see not whence] see not the sun from which ms Yale ‖ not the Sun from whence ts2 1st reading
X 35 ^ 36] two-line space ms Yale
X 36 ends,] ends ms Yale is too much] destroys with ms Yale
X 37 who are] not ms Yale and fall] we fall ms Yale 1st reading ‖ who fall 2nd reading
X 39 rhythm of] not ms Yale and day and the night and] and the day night and ms Yale
X 42 light, that is dappled with shadow.] light ms Yale ‖ light, this is dappled with shadow. 1969
X 43 to forming] forming life ms Yale fingers and] fingers, the ms Yale
X 44 And] Then ms Yal
e for] to ms Yale 1st reading bodily] not ms Yale 1st reading made.] formed ms Yale 1st reading ‖ made 2nd reading
X 45 reminds us] reminds of ms Yale 1st reading (overwritten)
X 46] line stepped at Thee | thanks ts2
[Poem I 176 · Commentary I 880]
Four Quartets
See individual headnotes to each poem for drafts, proofs and printings relating to the separate poems. Editions of Four Quartets collated: US 1943 (the first collected ed.); 1944 (first collected UK ed.); 1959 pbk (first paperback ed.); Mardersteig (set from 9th imp. of 1944, 1952); Folio (Folio Society, 1968); 1979 (new ed.); 1995 (new ed.); Rampant Lions (Rampant Lions Press, 1996); 2001 paperback ed.
US 1943 galley proofs a & b (untraced):
galley a: ten leaves (dated 18 Jan)
galley b: seventeen paginated leaves.
Glenn Horowitz catalogue 22 (1990), item 103: “While textually identical, the two states differ in composition and pagination, the earlier state being entirely unpaginated. In the later state, apparently the final setting prior to publication, the pages have been numbered, divisional titles printed and justified, and stanzas broken to accommodate the design of the pages.” TSE was evidently sent galley b, for he wrote to Frank Morley: “My corrections are so few that it seems better to list them than to return the proof you so kindly sent me”, and then referred to them by page number. The corrections all appear as requested in US 1943, and are listed below (one in Burnt Norton, four in East Coker and six in The Dry Salvages). TSE’s letter continued: “I do not spot anything in Little Gidding. The very few errors seem to come from having used the N.E.W. text instead of the Faber.”
Hayward to Frank Morley at Harcourt, Brace, 7 Sept 1942: “If and when you decide to set the four poems in type, you might remember me if you should have a spare set of proofs. I should like to preserve a set with the four typescripts I have.” Hayward did not, however, receive a set.
1944 author’s proof (King’s): unbound page proofs of the UK ed. corrected by TSE and sent to Hayward on 12 June 1944; later bound for Hayward. Text as 1944 except where noted. The roman numeral part numbers are not letter-spaced in proof.
