by T. S. Eliot
I 25, 26] stepped lines more deeply indented NEW ‖ steps indented to align with “The” of 24 (creating a subsidiary triplet) Partisan
I 25 on] in ts1 1st reading
I 28] with “X” Hayward ts2b ‖ first three words underlined Geoffrey Faber ts4, with “Don’t much like this order of the words” heard:] heard; ts1–ts5, NEW
I 29 menace and caress] soothing menace ts1–ts5 (ts4 with TSE’s “X” against Geoffrey Faber’s comment: see Commentary I 28–32), NEW proof 1st reading ‖ menace and caress and NEW proof 2nd reading with last word del wave that] wave o ts1 1st reading (typed over)
I 30 rote] underlined with “?” ts3b ‖ underlined Geoffrey Faber ts4, with “this meaning of ‘rote’ is new to me—which isn’t to say anything against it!”
I 32] with “X” Hayward ts2b
I 34 under the oppression] ts4 alt, NEW proof 3rd reading+ ‖ heard in the stillness ts1–ts5 (ts4 with TSE’s “X” against Geoffrey Faber’s comment: see Commentary), NEW proof 1st reading ‖ heard in the calmness NEW proof 2nd reading
I 36 rung by the unhurried] ringing to ts1 1st reading
I 37–38] one line US 1952 proof (despite capital on Older)
I 41 unweave] penetrate ts1 1st reading
I 42 future,] future tss
I 43 when] and ts1 1st reading
I 44 before the morning watch] and at the same time ts1, ts2 1st reading (Hayward’s Queries: “at the same time (tricky pun)”) ‖ while in the night watch ts2a 2nd reading ‖ while in the morning watch ts2a 3rd reading
I 45 When time] Time ts1, ts2 ‖ When times ts5
I 46] And through the fog the pretemporal ground swell ts1–ts5 (ts4 with TSE’s “X” against Geoffrey Faber’s comment: see Commentary) ‖ And through the firtrees ts1 alt erased
I 47 Clangs] Rings ts1 1st reading
[Poem I 193–94 · Commentary I 965–70]
II
II 2 flowers] flowers d ts Richards
II 4 to] for ts1
II 8 Consequence] consequence 1959 pbk
II 11 what was believed in] that which persisted ts1 1st reading ‖ that which had persisted ts1 2nd reading, ts2 ‖ that which was believed in ts3, ts4 1st reading with TSE’s “X” against Geoffrey Faber’s comment (see Commentary), ts5, NEW proof 1st reading believed in as the most reliable] underlined Geoffrey Faber ts4, with “I feel that this is a little short of its context—I mean in the form of expression.”
II 14 Pride or] Lack of ts1 1st reading at] of ts1 1st reading ‖ at ts1 2nd reading ‖ in ts1 alt 2nd reading
II 15] with “I stick a little over this line, somehow—only over the elliptical grammar, not the sense or sound. But not seriously.” Geoffrey Faber ts4
II 19 Where] What ts1
II 20 cowers?] cowers— ts1 ‖ cowers NEW proof 1st reading, NEW (TSE’s proof correction was overlooked; he also corrected TSE’s NEW), Partisan. To Frank Morley, 20 Feb 1943, listing proof corrections for US 1943: “Insert question mark after cowers.”
II 22–23] Hayward’s Queries: “4 5 f. b.” (apparently referring to these lines, which are four and five of ts2 fol. 4, and to “forever bailing”, II 25)
II 25 as] not ts1 1st reading bailing,] bailing ts1 1st reading
II 27 unchanging] unshifting ts1 2nd reading, ts2
II 28 Or drawing] Drawing ts1 1st reading money] pay ts1 1st reading dockage;] dockage ts1 1st reading ‖ dockage: ts1 2nd reading, ts2–ts5
II 29 as] not ts1 1st reading
II 30 bear] underlined Geoffrey Faber ts4, with “Do you mean this in the usual sense of not repaying examn? or do you mean ‘that never will undergo examn’? The latter sense seems to be suggested—if so is ‘bear’ the right word?” examination.] examination ts1 1st reading
II 31 the] that ts4 1st reading wailing,] wailing ts1 1st reading
II 32 flowers,] flowers ts1 1st reading
II 33 motionless,] motionless ts1 1st reading
II 35 hardly, barely] underlined Geoffrey Faber ts4, with “Is the extra tension of the 2nd adverb so much needed as to warrant the sudden lengthening of the line? (That’s a question, not a criticism.)”
II 36 ^ 37] Geoffrey Faber in ts4: “Why do you not make a formal break here? It would ease the reader’s acceptance of the sudden change of tone.” Beside the single line space in NEW proof, TSE wrote “double this space”, and the space was increased slightly in NEW. Subsequent editions have had only a single space (1995 being indeterminate because of a new page). See Composition FQ 133.
II 37–72] Hayward’s Queries: “I—One—We” (of the shifting pronouns)._
II 37 It] ts1 1st reading:
One has to repeat the same thing in a different way
And risk being tedious: it
[Poem I 194–96 · Commentary I 970–72]
with line to indicate step after tedious: plus marginal symbol and “?”
ts2:
One has to repeat the same thing in various ways
And risk being tedious.
It
the two full lines then del ts2a
II 38 pattern, and] pattern. It ts1 1st reading
II 39 development] a mere “development” ts1 1st reading ‖ “development” ts1 2nd reading, ts2a 2nd reading, ts3, ts4 with Geoffrey Faber’s “X (inverted commas)” prompting their deletion, ts5, NEW proof 1st reading ‖ a “development” ts2 partial] cheerful ts1–ts5, NEW proof 1st reading fallacy] fallacy, US 1943, 1944 author’s proof 1st reading (comma del by TSE), US 1952. To Frank Morley, 20 Feb 1943, listing proof corrections for US 1943: “Insert comma after fallacy”.
II 40 evolution,] 1944+ ‖ Evolution ts1–ts5, NEW proof 1st reading ‖ evolution ts1 1st reading, NEW, DS (comma added in Printer’s DS 4th imp). In his list of proof corrections for US 1943, sent to Frank Morley, 20 Feb 1943, TSE asked for the comma to be added.
II 41 Which becomes, in the popular mind, a means of disowning] Which is but, in the popular view, cremation of ts1, ts2 (Hayward’s Queries: “view, but cremation”) ‖ Which is thought of as a sort of cremation of ts2a 2nd reading ‖ Regarded as a sort of cremation of ts2a final reading
II 42 not] ts2a 2nd reading+ ‖ I don’t mean ts1, ts2 (Hayward’s Queries: “I don’t mean …? = not merely”)
II 45 We] One ts1, ts2 1st reading
II 48 assign to happiness.] attach to “happiness”. ts1–ts3 ‖ assign to “happiness”. ts4 with Geoffrey Faber’s “X (inv. commas)” prompting their deletion, ts5 (with the last two words run together) ‖ assign to “happiness.” ts Richards, NEW proof 1st reading I have said before] I have suggested also ts1–ts5 (with underlining and “X” Geoffrey Faber in ts4 prompting TSE’s own “X”), NEW proof 1st reading. Hayward’s Queries: “I have suggested also …?”
II 51 not forgetting] Geoffrey Faber in ts4: “is the grammatical structure quite right here? Who does the ‘not forgetting’?”
II 52 that] which ts1 probably] underlined Geoffrey Faber ts4, with “I don’t like ‘probably’.”
II 53 behind] beyond ts1–ts3
II 54 recorded] recordable ts1, ts2
II 56 Now, we come to discover] Now I would say, ts1, ts2 ‖ Now the point is, ts2a 2nd reading, ts3 ‖ Now, the point is ts4 (underlined Geoffrey Faber with “X”), ts5, NEW proof 1st reading
II 58 hoped] hopes 1969
II 59 not in question] beside the point ts1, ts2 ‖ not the question 1969 permanent] eternal ts1 1st reading
[Poem I 196 · Commentary I 972–75]
II 60 We appreciate this better] One appreciates this better ts1, ts2a 1st reading, ts2b, ts4 (underlined Geoffrey Faber with “X”)
II 62 ourselves] oneself ts1, ts2 our] ts2a 2nd reading+ ‖ one’s ts1, ts2
II 63 our] ts2a 2nd reading+ ‖ one’s ts1, ts2 covered by the currents] covered by the tides underlined ts1 1st reading with sea / waters / compulsion of / currents alts
II 64 remains] is ts1 1st reading
II 65 attrition.] attrition; ts1 1st reading
/> II 66–69] not ts1 1st reading ‖ ts1 2nd reading:
People change, smile: but the agony remains:
Time the destroyer is time the preserver,
The fruit and the bite in the fruit
[1] remains] emended to abides
[2] destroyer] with The River? and (Like the river with its cargo of dead negroes, [stiff added] cows and chicken coops)
[3] The ^ fruit] bitten / bitter alts added
II 68 negroes] Negroes Partisan, US 1943, US 1952 (see Commentary)
II 70 restless] moving ts1, ts2
II 74 by:] ts1 3rd reading+ ‖ by; ts1 1st reading ‖ by, ts1 2nd reading sombre] sullen ts1–ts3 1st reading
II 75 that] the ts1 1st reading (typed over) fury, is: in ts4, Geoffrey Faber inserted a caret before “is”, with “I admit I want the ‘it’ again here”
II 75 ^ III] line space then Now about the future. ts1 ‖ Now about the future. ts2a 1st reading (del), ts2b
III
III 1 wonder] wonder, I wonder msA is] was msA
III 2 things—] things msA thing:] thing msA
III 4] not msA
III 5–7] msA (ending here):
[1]
Pressed in the between leaves of a keepsake and that the past
Is a pit for us still to explore: and the way up is the way down
The way forward is the way back, and the light is the darkness,
[3]
the darkness is light.
You cannot think long at a time, but one thing is sure
That time is no healer. Time can only distract
And not even time can show the right judgement or else the mistaken
For what alters the past to fit the present, can alter the present
to fit the past.
[1] keepsake, and that the past] forgotten book which has not yet been read alt
[3] back,] back. where the line originally ended. The second part, written at the foot of the leaf, but at the same time, is joined by a line.
III 5 opened] read ts1 1st reading
[Poem I 196–97 · Commentary I 975–78]
III 7 steadily] ts2a 2nd reading+ ‖ for long at a time ts1, ts2 this] one ts1.
III 11–12] Hayward’s Queries (of ts2 fol. 6): “last two lines begin ‘And’”.
III 11 (And] ts1 2nd reading, ts2 (with And del then stet ts2a), ts3+ ‖ And ts1 1st reading platform)] platform, ts1 1st reading
III 12 Their] ts2a 2nd reading+ ‖ And their ts1, ts2 relief,] relief 1979, Rampant Lions
III 13 sleepy] not ts1 1st reading rhythm] monotone ts1 1st reading hours.] hours— ts1, ts2
III 14 travellers!] travellers, ts1 1st reading
III 15 future;] future: ts1
III 16 that] one ts1 1st reading
III 18 narrowing] narrow(ing) ts1 2nd reading
III 19 And on] Or from ts1 1st reading liner] liner, ts1, ts2
III 24 Is a voice descanting] Are the voices singing ts1 1st reading
III 25 time,] time) ts1 1st reading (typed over)
III 26 that] not ts1
III 28 will] not ts1
III 29 farther] US 1943+, 1944 ‖ further ts1–ts5, NEW, Partisan, DS (emended to farther in Printer’s DS 4th imp.) To Frank Morley, 20 Feb 1943, listing proof corrections for US 1943: “I rather think that ‘farther shore’ would be better than ‘further shore’.”
III 37 shall] should DS (emended to shall in Printer’s DS 4th imp.) lives] souls ts1, ts2
III 40 come] came 1974 (later corrected)
III 41 ^ 42] The way up etc. ts1 added then del
III 42 Or] And ts1 1st reading this] not ts1 1st reading
III 44 Not fare well,] not ts1 1st reading ‖ not stepped ts1 2nd reading
III 45] not ts1 1st reading
IV
IV 1 Lady,] Lady msA stands] is msA
IV 2 for all] for msA who are in ships] in the ships msA, ts1 1st reading ‖ who are in the NEW proof 1st reading
IV 3 business] underlined, with occupation in margin, TSE’s NEW
IV 4 concerned with every] about their msA, ts1 1st reading ‖ about every ts1 2nd reading traffic] traffic, and msA ‖ affairs msA alt
IV 5 conduct] defend msA
IV 6 Repeat a prayer] Accept this intercession msA ‖ Transmit our prayer ts1 1st reading ‖ Compose a prayer ts1 alt, ts2
IV 7] Women waiting on the hither shore | Those who see their sons husbands msA or] and ts1 with or as alt
[Poem I 197–99 · Commentary I 978–82]
IV 9 Figlia] Tu, figlia msA tuo] US 1943, 1944+ ‖ suo msA, ts1–ts5, NEW, Partisan, DS (emended to tuo in Printer’s DS 4th imp.). To Frank Morley, 20 Feb 1943, listing proof corrections for US 1943: “Read ‘Figlia del tuo figlio’ … an error in our text.” figlio,] figlio. msA
IV 10 Queen] Bride msA, ts1 1st reading
IV 11 pray] not msA ‖ we pray ts1 1st reading in] in the msA
IV 12 Ended their] Find their | Cease | End their msA ‖ End their / Ended their ts1 alts
IV 13 which] that ts1 alt del them] them, msA
IV 14] with “X” Hayward ts2b Or wherever] ts1 final reading+ ‖ Where msA ‖ And ts1 1st reading ‖ Where ts1 2nd reading
V
V 2 report] verify ts3 1st reading behaviour] appearance ts1, ts2 ‖ convolutions ts3a 1st reading, ts3b ‖ behaviour underlined with appearance TSE’s NEW
V 3 haruspicate or scry] ts2a 2nd reading+ ‖ divine in sand ts1 1st reading ‖ haruspicate in sand ts1 2nd reading ‖ haruspicate with sand ts2, with “X” Hayward ts2b scry] underlined Geoffrey Faber ts4, with “I didn’t know this word, either. But the C.O.D. [Concise Oxford Dictionary] (which failed me over ailanthus) does.”
V 4 Observe] Define ts1, ts2 signatures] signature ts4 1st reading
V 5 from] in ts1, ts2
V 6–7] ts1, ts2:
And tragedy from fingers; realise omens
By crystal gazing, riddle the inevitable
[1] from] in ts1 2nd reading, ts2 realise omens] release omens ts1 2nd reading, ts2 ‖ use sortilege, or peer ts2a alt
[2] By crystal gazing] From the bottom of tea cups ts2a 2nd reading ‖ At the bottom of a tea cup ts2a 3rd reading
V 8 With playing] By laying ts1, ts2 pentagrams] ts3a 2nd reading+ ‖ pentagons ts1–ts3
V 9 acids] forces ts1 1st reading
V 10 The recurrent] Recurrent ts1 1st reading image] dreams ts1 1st reading
V 11 tomb, or dreams;] tomb: ts1 1st reading ‖ tomb or dreams: ts1 2nd reading dreams] Geoffrey Faber, ts4: “It’s perhaps an unfair comment to say that psychoanalysis is a very new addition to the list.”
V 12 press:] press. ts1 1st reading
V 13 And] Have been and ts1, ts2 1st reading some of them] and ts1, ts2 1st reading
V 15 in] not ts1
V 16 past] the past ts1, ts2 1st reading future] the future ts2 1st reading
V 17 that] this ts1 apprehend] attend to ts1, ts2, ts3 1st reading ‖ be aware of ts3 2nd reading, ts4 (where Geoffrey Faber underlined of in this line and twice in 18 with “? too many ‘ofs’”, prompting TSE’s “X”), ts5, NEW proof 1st reading
V 18 point of] unheeded ts1, ts2
[Poem I 199 · Commentary I 982–85]
V 17–23] Hayward’s Queries (of ts2 fol. 9): “last five lines weakly expressed”. (The five lines became seven.)
V 20 No occupation either] And not an occupation ts1
V 21–22] not ts1, ts2
V 24 Moment] ts2a 2nd reading+ ‖ Rare moment ts1, ts2
V 25 distraction fit] underlined Geoffrey Faber ts4, with “?”
V 25–50] leaf missing from ts5
V 26] not ts1 1st reading the] not ts1 2nd reading
V 29 lasts.] lasts, the spell lasts. ts1, ts2 with last three words then bracketed in ts2a These are only hints] Hints ts1, ts2
V 30 and the rest] but our ultimate term ts1, ts2
V 31–32] And ultimate gift, is Incarnation. ts1, ts2
V 32 half guessed] ung
uessed ts3, ts4, NEW proof 1st reading half understood] not understood ts3, ts4 (for Geoffrey Faber’s note see Commentary), NEW proof 1st reading
V 32 ^ 33] new page so line spacing indeterminate 1979 ‖ line space 1995
V 33 union] meeting ts1–ts4, NEW proof 1st reading ‖ union. US 1952
V 34] Of worlds becomes actual, ts1 1st reading ‖ Of existences becomes actual, ts1 2nd reading
V 35 the] both ts1–ts4, NEW proof 1st reading
V 36 reconciled,] reconciled ts2, ts3 ‖ reconciled. ms Mairet
V 36 ^ 37] ts1–ts3, del ts3a:
And here is implied Atonement
And Atonement makes action possible
V 37 Where] When ts1, ts2 were otherwise] had been but ts1 ‖ had been only ts2–ts4, NEW proof 1st reading. In ts4, Geoffrey Faber underlined “had been”, with “I suppose this means that in the material world, without incarnation of the spirit, there would have been no spontaneous or willed movement? I’m not sure whether ‘had been’ is factual or hypothetical.”
V 39 And] (And ts1, ts2 movement—] movement, ts1, ts2
V 40 dæmonic] ms Mairet (the only ms), NEW, DS, 1944+ (British eds.) ‖ daemonic tss, US 1943, US 1952
V 41 Powers.] Powers). ts1, ts2
V 42 future also.] future, from time. ts1–ts3 ‖ future also— ts3a 2nd reading, ts4 ‖ future also NEW proof 1st reading
V 44 here to be] to be quite ts1, ts2 ‖ here quite ts3, ts4, NEW proof 1st reading realised;] NEW proof 1st reading, NEW+ ‖ realised: ts1–ts4, ms Mairet, ts Mairet, NEW proof final reading ‖ realised. NEW proof 2nd reading ‖ realised, emendation in TSE’s NEW
V 45–47] We content and should be ts1, ts2 (with “X” Hayward ts2b), ts3a 1st reading, ts3b ‖ We content in the end / We content at last ts3a alt 2nd readings (not del) ‖ ts3a 3rd reading, ts4, NEW proof 1st reading:
[Poem I 199–200 · Commentary I 985–87]
We content and should be
[2]
If we have gone on trying;
We content at last
