GHL to Robert Lytton, Redhill, 27 July 1872
Title
GHL to Robert Lytton, Redhill, 27 July 1872
Title
GHL to Robert Lytton, Redhill, 27 July 1872
Sender
George Henry Lewes
Recipient
Robert Lyt
Date(s)
- 1872-07-27
Place
Redhill
Letter Content
GHL to Robert Lytton, Redhill, 27 July 1872
MS: Lady Hermione Cobbold.
Elversley, Red Hill | 27 July 72.
My dear Lytton
I conclude from not having seen nor heard from you that either you did not come to England or were too much occupied with others' business to find a day for our pleasure here. That you are at home now I also conclude and therefore send you this to say how very much Polly and I were pleased with the m'e2le eloquence and fine thought of the article on Beethoven 109 an article such as one rarely sees. Not that we have not our differences of opinion! especially in respect to the sort of heaven-descended speciality assigned to Music. But this is a big subject -- (you know the Yankees call the Mississippi a [big drink]?) and not to be touched in a letter. Some day we may have a confabulation on it -- may that day be near!
With regard to your Fable I am really at a loss what to say. It contains passages fine as any you ever wrote, but somehow es will mir nicht zusagen. I think its chief want is unity of feeling. It does not all seem moulded out of the same metal and in the same mould. But it is very easy to say this; easy to say one is not perfectly satisfied, and damnably difficult to put one's finger on a spot and say that that is not organic, normal, healthy, so I give it up. After all readers and critics must never forget how very probable it is that the darkness lies in their minds, rather than in the want of light in the poet!
You will be glad to hear that my son Charles -- I forget whether you have seem him -- is a father at last. Six years ago his wife was confined of a strangled daughter, and now at length she has produced a squalling daughter 110 -- [pomegranate colored] according to maternal vision -- [mottled] according to paternal. It is a great comfort to us that all has gone successfully at last.
And how is your sweet wife? and the chicks? -- Not that I mean you to answer these questions until you have some reason for writing; only consider them as details of interest when you do write. Polly adds: And don't forget to tell us whether our wishes for your increase of fortune by Lord Dalling's death have been realized. 111
We are getting on in our absolute solitude as well as two pregnant authors can be expected to get on. Polly's health has been very satisfactory but it doesn't make her less miserable over her work. My health has not been satisfactory, but it has not prevented my being jubilant over my work. There is the contrast! When I see her so diffident over work I know to be so fine, it makes me dread lest my confidence may not be altogether hallucination!
You ask about the Mole cricket? All I know is that I once took out his nervous system -- nicht wichtig schien es mir -- to quote Wagner (Faust's). 112 Of his habits I know nix. Love to Edith.
Ever yours truly
G. H. L.
MS: Lady Hermione Cobbold.
Elversley, Red Hill | 27 July 72.
My dear Lytton
I conclude from not having seen nor heard from you that either you did not come to England or were too much occupied with others' business to find a day for our pleasure here. That you are at home now I also conclude and therefore send you this to say how very much Polly and I were pleased with the m'e2le eloquence and fine thought of the article on Beethoven 109 an article such as one rarely sees. Not that we have not our differences of opinion! especially in respect to the sort of heaven-descended speciality assigned to Music. But this is a big subject -- (you know the Yankees call the Mississippi a [big drink]?) and not to be touched in a letter. Some day we may have a confabulation on it -- may that day be near!
With regard to your Fable I am really at a loss what to say. It contains passages fine as any you ever wrote, but somehow es will mir nicht zusagen. I think its chief want is unity of feeling. It does not all seem moulded out of the same metal and in the same mould. But it is very easy to say this; easy to say one is not perfectly satisfied, and damnably difficult to put one's finger on a spot and say that that is not organic, normal, healthy, so I give it up. After all readers and critics must never forget how very probable it is that the darkness lies in their minds, rather than in the want of light in the poet!
You will be glad to hear that my son Charles -- I forget whether you have seem him -- is a father at last. Six years ago his wife was confined of a strangled daughter, and now at length she has produced a squalling daughter 110 -- [pomegranate colored] according to maternal vision -- [mottled] according to paternal. It is a great comfort to us that all has gone successfully at last.
And how is your sweet wife? and the chicks? -- Not that I mean you to answer these questions until you have some reason for writing; only consider them as details of interest when you do write. Polly adds: And don't forget to tell us whether our wishes for your increase of fortune by Lord Dalling's death have been realized. 111
We are getting on in our absolute solitude as well as two pregnant authors can be expected to get on. Polly's health has been very satisfactory but it doesn't make her less miserable over her work. My health has not been satisfactory, but it has not prevented my being jubilant over my work. There is the contrast! When I see her so diffident over work I know to be so fine, it makes me dread lest my confidence may not be altogether hallucination!
You ask about the Mole cricket? All I know is that I once took out his nervous system -- nicht wichtig schien es mir -- to quote Wagner (Faust's). 112 Of his habits I know nix. Love to Edith.
Ever yours truly
G. H. L.
Signature
G. H. L.
Citation
George Henry Lewes, GHL to Robert Lytton, Redhill, 27 July 1872, Complete George Eliot Letters(2026), George Eliot Archive, edited by Beverley Park Rilett. https://GeorgeEliotArchive.org, Accessed September 7, 2026. https://www.georgeeliotarchive.org/items/show/95011