by T. S. Eliot
II 48 still forming;] changing, msA ‖ changing: ts2–ts5 ‖ changing; ts7–ts12, NEW 1st proof 1st reading ‖ still forming, NEW 1st proof 2nd reading, NEW 2nd and 3rd proofs, NEW
[Poem I 204 · Commentary I 1011–15]
II 49] For recognition where was no acquaintance msA–ts7 1st reading (with recognition, msA) ‖ For recognition of a new acquaintance ts7 2nd reading preceded] pretended ts8–ts10, with portended and “(i.e. presumed) not profess falsely” Hayward ts10b ‖ underlined with predicted (underlined with “X”) / portended alts by Hayward ts12b ‖ portended / intended with “?” ts12a alts del
II 50] Driven together by ts8 1st reading (false start) And so, compliant] In step together, msA And so,] And no identity, ts2~ts7 1st reading ‖ Raised from the past, ts7 2nd reading (but with identity not del) ‖ And so ts8 2nd reading, ts9 (with comma added ts9b, probably by TSE, though attrib. to Hayward Composition FQ 180), ts10, with comma added by TSE ts10a compliant to the] blown by one msA~ts7 ‖ consenting to the ts8 1st reading common] airless msA~ts7 1st reading ‖ lifeless ts7 2nd reading (see note below at III 38) wind,] wind msA, NEW 1st proof 1st reading
II 51] opening words written after a line space (mistaking lineation of the terza rima) then erased and rewritten above msA misunderstanding,] cross of purpose msA 1st reading ‖ a cross of purpose msA ‖ any cross of purpose ts2~ts7 1st reading ‖ any cross of purpose, ts7 2nd reading, ts8~ts12a ‖ any crossed intention, ts12a 2nd reading
II 52 In concord] But intimate msA–ts5 ‖ Communing ts7 1st reading ‖ Accepted ts7 2nd reading ‖ Consenting ts8 1st and final reading, ts9~ts12 ‖ Compliant ts8 2nd reading at this] as msA ‖ at the ts2 1st reading, ts7 ‖ in the ts2 2nd reading, ts3–ts5 ‖ to this ts8~ts12 ‖ with this NEW 1st proof 1st reading intersection] intersecting msA–ts5
II 53 Of] A msA 1st reading ‖ And msA after,] after msA, ts2 1st reading, ts8
II 54 We trod the pavement] We msA 1st reading ‖ In tacit observance msA ‖ Stepping together ts2~ts7 ‖ We strode together ts8~ts13 (with “? trod” Hayward ts13b), NEW 1st proof 1st reading in a dead patrol] of a shared patrol, msA (with shared written over ch)
II 55 “The] “the msA, ts2, ts4~ts10, with “T” Hayward ts10b (calling for a capital) easy,] easy ts2~ts8
II 56 Yet] And msA~ts8 1st reading Therefore speak:] Speak to me. msA (over erasure, perhaps Do you speak) ‖ Therefore speak. ts2~ts9 ‖ Therefore speak, ts10~ts12
II 57 comprehend] understand msA~ts12, NEW 1st proof 1st reading ‖ comprehand ts13 1st reading (error, affected by “understand”?) remember.”] remember”. msA–ts4, ts7
II 57 ^ 58] caret (perhaps for line space) and new leaf ts5
II 58 rehearse] recall msA, ts2 1st reading
II 59 thought] thoughts 1963, 1974 (later corrected) theory] practice ts7, ts8 forgotten.] forgotten msA ‖ forgotten: ts2–ts4, ts7, ts8 ‖ forgotten; ts5
II 60 purpose: let] turn, so let msA (Composition 182 reads as turn. so let) ‖ purpose; let ts2, ts7, ts8 ‖ turn so let ts12a 2nd reading ‖ purpose. Let Valerie’s Own Book be.] be msA
II 62 pray] ask msA~ts10
[Poem I 204 · Commentary I 1015–16]
II 63 Both] Bood ts2 1st reading (mistyping of “Both good”) bad and good.] good and bad. msA~ts8 eaten] eaten. msA ‖ eaten, ts3–ts5, NEW
II 64] not msA (but see msB in next note) ‖ begun in line space, del and retyped ts2
II 66 ^ 67] ts7, del:
Then changing form and feature, and becoming
Another company, speaking in another chime
In another mode and to another purpose:
Evolution of II 67–96:
A) Remember rather the essential moments (First venture in verse)
First, TSE wrote in manuscript an ending in twenty-four lines (“Remember rather the essential moments · · · At which I started: and the sun had risen”). This appears in msA fols. 92–93 (the first two of the leaves he did not remove from his working pad) and then in ts2–ts5. It differs substantially from the eventual text.
B and C) Then, changing face and accent (Prose exposition)
Second, in msB, TSE wrote a prose exposition on one leaf (“Then, changing face and accent”), with, on a second leaf, a rough verse fragment of half-a-dozen lines with filaments to the eventual “Last season’s fruit” (II 63), “fullfed” (II 64) and “bitter tastelessness of shadow fruit” (II 80).
D) Then, changing form and feature (Second venture in verse)
Third, also in msB, he recast the prose exposition in twenty-five lines of verse beginning “Then, changing form and feature”. After much redrafting, this was to become II 65–75, 91–93.
E) Consider what are the gifts of age— (Prose draft of intervening passage)
Fourth, in msC, he drafted in prose what became the intervening passage, II 76–90, which appeared in typescripts from ts8, along with the final lines, II 91–96.
These are given in turn below, each with its variant readings.
A) Remember rather the essential moments
First venture in verse, given here in its first typescript form (ts2):
Remember rather the essential moments
That were the times of birth and death and change
The agony and the solitary vigil.
Remember also fear, loathing and hate,
[5]
The wild strawberries eaten in the garden,
Remember Poitiers, and the Anjou wine,
The fresh new season’s rope, the smell of varnish
On the clean oar, the drying of the sails,
Such things as seem of least and most importance.
<
[Poem I 204 · Commentary I 1016–17]
[10]
So, as you circumscribe this dreary round,
Shall your life pass from you, with all you hated
And all you loved, the future and the past.
United to another past, another future,
(After many seas and after many lands)
[15]
The dead and the unborn, who shall be nearer
Than the voices and the faces that were most near.
This is the final gift on earth accorded—
One soil, one past, one future, in one place.
Nor shall the eternal thereby be remoter
[20]
But nearer: seek or seek not, it is here.
Now, the last love on earth. The rest is grace.”
He turned away, and in the autumn weather
I heard a distant dull deferred report
At which I started; and the sun had risen.
msA, ts2–ts5. (Composition FQ 183–84 prints ts3, which in common with ts4 and ts5 has no line spaces but indents every second and third line). The passage is braced then del in ts4a.
[1] essential] unchanging ts4 (underlined in red crayon, as is change in next line), ts5
[2] the] your msA birth and death] death birth msA change] change; ts3a 2nd reading ‖ change, Hayward ts3b, ts4 ‖ chance, ts5 (Hayward to TSE, 1 Aug 1941: “Insert comma after ‘change’ and so avoid a possible Empsonism.”)
[3–8] The agony · · · the sails: Hayward to TSE, 1 Aug 1941, “a trifle overpacked with definite articles—a difficulty in catalogues—and something might be done to tighten this passage. (The first thing that occurred to me—forgive the impertinence—was ‘The walls of Poitiers, la douceur angevine’)”. See Commentary on first venture in verse.
[3] msA alt, ts2–ts5 (with terminal stop ts3–ts5) ‖ The dark night in the solitary bedroom msA
[4] Remember fear, and jealousy and hate msA 1st reading ‖ Remember even fear, loathing and hate msA
[5] The] ringed with “? δ” (meaning “? delete”) by Hayward ts3b, where he also ringed the ten other occurrences of the word between [3] and [8] in] not msA 1st reading (error) garden,] garden msA
[6] Remember] The walls of ts3–ts5 Poitiers,] Poitiers msA the Anjou wine,] the Anjou wine msA ‖ with “la douceur angevin
e” [the Angevine sweetness] Hayward ts3b
[7] season’s] seasons msA
[8] sails,] sails msA
[9] no indent ts3 1st reading Such things as seem] And all that seems msA (over erasure) ‖ And things as seem ts2 1st reading and] or msA
[10] So, as you circumscribe] Remember, as you go msA
[Poem I 204 · Commentary I 1017–18]
[11] Shall your life] So shall time msA with all you] all things msA 1st reading ‖ all things hated msA
[12] And all you] Or msA 1st reading ‖ Or all things msA past.] past msA
[13–14] msA:
United to one past and to one future
(Borne over many seas and many lands)
[16] near.] near msA
[17] on] of ts2 2nd reading, ts3–ts5 accorded—] accorded, msA (over erasure)
[18] place.] place msA
[19] remoter] less remoter msA
[21] Now,] This is msA on] is ts4a 2nd reading, ts5 grace.”] grace. msA, ts2 1st reading
[22–24] wavy line ts4a
[22] in the autumn weather] with his motion of dismissal msA 1st reading ‖ with his movement of dismissal msA autumn weather] underlined with “X” by Hayward ts3b
[23] I heard] There came msA
[24] At] over erasure msA started;] started, msA ‖ started: ts3–ts5
B) Then, changing face and accent
Prose venture, II 67–93 (msB fol. 1. Composition FQ 186):
[Th]en, changing face and accent, he
declared with another voice:
These events draw me back to the
streets of the speech I learned early
[5]
in life. I also was engaged in the
battle of language. My alien people
with an unknown tongue claimed
me. I saved them by my efforts—
you by my example: yet while I
[10]
fought some evil the darkness I also fought the
good light, striving against those who
with the wrong false condemned the right true.
Those who have known purgatory
here know it hereafter—so shall you
[15]
learn when enveloped by the coils
of the fiery wind, in which you
must learn to swim.
[1] [Th]en] first two letters partially torn away face] over form
[7] an unknown] a dying? alt
C) msB fol. 2 has a rough verse fragment (Composition FQ 188), apparently the germ of “Last season’s fruit”, “fullfed” and “bitter tastelessness of shadow fruit” (63, 64, 80):
[Poem I 204 · Commentary I 1018–19]
For the old rooted sin puts forth again
Even in exhausted soil, after many seasons,
When the starved growth shows still more foul
<
Without luxuriance. All time is in a moment
[5]
And a moment is all time.
When all is won or lost. Therefore success
Is preparation towards a greater danger.
[1] For] ringed For the] [For y]ou shall know 2nd reading, very doubtful (corner of leaf torn away)
[3] growth] unflowering growth 2nd reading (the first word emended from, perhaps, unflowered)
[7] preparation towards] precipitation towards / preparation for 2nd reading braced alts ‖ the introduction to additional alt, also braced
D) Then, changing form and feature
Second venture in verse, much revised in manuscript (msB fols. 3–4. Composition FQ 186–88):
Then, changing form and feature, he returned,
As another man, speaking with an alien voice
On another theme and to another purpose:
These desolations draw my pilgrimage
[5]
To streets and doors I thought not to revisit
When my spirit parted from the southern shore
But at these times the path is short easy
To the spirit unappeased and peregrine;
For the two worlds draw nearer to each other.
[10]
I also was engaged, as you must know,
In fighting for language: here, where I was tutored
In the strength and weakness of the English tongue
And elsewhere: when the political fire had regressed
My alien people with an archaic tongue
[15]
Claimed me. I, and another, saved them
As you, by my example, you may learn.
Yet while I fought with darkness, fought the light
As who, in imperfection, can avoid?
Striving with those who still defend the darkness
[20]
And even with the true defend the false
And with the eternal truth the local error?
Those who knew purgatory here shall know
Purgation hereafter: so shall you learn also,
In the embraces of that fiery wind
[25]
Where you must learn to swim better nature.”
[1] he returned,] he continued, Composition FQ ‖ he became 2nd reading ‖ and becoming 3rd reading
[2] As another] Another 2nd reading speaking] he spoke 2nd reading an alien] a foreign alt (with an alien voice itself written over an erasure)
[2] Another group of men company, with another [an alien alt] chime of tongues alt (upside down on msB fol. 1v, connected by a line; Gardner, Composition FQ 188, takes this to be an alternative to [14])
[Poem I 204 · Commentary I 1019]
[3] On another theme] In another mode 2nd reading
[4] draw my pilgrimage] bring my footsteps back alt
[5] and doors I thought not to] I never thought I should alt
[6] my spirit parted from the southern] I left my body on a distant 2nd reading ‖ I buried my body on a distant 3rd reading
[7] these times] this time 2nd reading the path] [the?] transit 2nd reading ‖ the passage 3rd reading
[8] peregrine;] peregrine, 2nd reading
[9] For the two worlds] Between conditions 2nd reading draw nearer to] draw closer to alt and with draw emended to drawn 2nd reading ‖ so much alike 3rd reading ‖ much alike 4th reading
[10] must] should 2nd reading
[10–11] As you should know, I spent my life contending by my efforts at foot of leaf, linked to three lines written vertically in margin:
I spent my life in that unending fight
To give the a people speech:
I too was one of those in that unending fight who for a
lifetime strove
[11] In fighting for language] ringed along with alts fighting for] the fight for / battle of 2nd reading alts here] both here 2nd reading
[12] tongue] phrase 2nd reading
[13–15] large marginal “X”
[13] when the political fire had regressed] when the political flame had dampened alt ringed along with first reading
[14] My] Another 2nd reading
[16] As you] From which 1st reading by my] for your alt
[17] with] the 2nd reading
[18] avoid?] avoid, 2nd reading
[20] And] written over As true] real 2nd reading
[21] truth] truth maintain 2nd reading
[21 ^ 22] caret in margin for unknown insert
[23] Purgation] The same alt
[24] In the embraces of that] Caught in the coils of that strong alt
[24 ^ 25] illegible erasure
[25] Moving like a dancer through the desolation at an angle at foot of leaf, perhaps as alt for this line better nature] swim rejoicing alt del
E) Consider what are the gifts of age—
Prose draft of intervening passage, II 76–93 (msC fol. 3. Composition FQ 189):
[Poem I 204 · Commentary I 1019]
Consider what are the gifts of age—
The cold craving when the sense is
gone which kept the soul body to-
[5]
human folly turpitude pusillanimity
with the knowledge of the futility
of protest; the doubt of self which
springs from retrospection of past
motives, the awareness of the
[10]
fact that one was moved while
believing oneself to be the mover
For all these ills that the enraged
spirit strives to overcome by progressing
into new and greater sin—
[15]
there is only the one remedy, pain
for pain, in that purgative fire
which you must will, wherein
you must learn to swim and
better nature.
Notes to published poem resume. (The rest of Part II is not in drafts earlier than ts7.)
II 67–69] after 72 ts7
II 67 But, as] But at this time ts7 ‖ But as ts12, ts13 now] not ts7 presents no hindrance] is brief and facile ts7 ‖ is brief and facile, ts8–ts10, with “(cf. brief sun I)” Hayward ts10b (see I 5) ‖ is quick and facile, ts10a 2nd reading ‖ is short and facile ts12, with short underlined and swift with “X” Hayward ts12b, and with short underlined and swift / quick / soft ts12a alts by TSE ‖ is quick and easy ts12a final reading (ticked) ‖ presents no barrier ts13, 1st proof of NEW 1st reading. In ts13b, Hayward suggested ? hindrance, which TSE adopted on NEW 1st proof (2nd reading), and this is the reading of NEW 2nd proof. However, NEW 3rd proof and NEW revert to barrier. TSE changed this again to hindrance in the pages from NEW which he sent to Morley, and again, definitively, on the proof of LG. To Hayward, 7 Sept 1942: “‘Swift’ might do: but it suggests great rapidity of movement, as if in a car. What about ‘quick’ or ‘soft’, or the more colloquial ‘quick and easy’?” 2 Oct 1942 (after NEW “First proof”): “I changed ‘barrier’ to ‘hindrance’ but I am thinking of changing it back again, because it seems a little insolite [OED: Obs. rare: “unusual, unaccustomed, strange”] to speak of a hindrance between two points, doesn’t it? And the freedom of movement was not in one direction only, but to and fro.” 10 Oct: “I have retained ‘barrier’ · · · one of the purposes of this interim publication is to give an opportunity for alterations in the Faber text. But are you still assured that it is proper to speak of a hindrance between two termini?”
