BIB_ID
373280
Accession number
MA 5141.81
Creator
Sorley, Charles Hamilton, 1895-1915.
Display Date
[1915 Sept. 10].
Credit line
Bequest of Kenneth A. Lohf, 2001.
Description
1 item (4 p.) ; 18.1 cm + envelope
Notes
Envelope with postmarks and censor's stamp and addressed in pencil to "John Bain Esq / St. Davids / Pembrokeshire" and in the upper left corner "If Undelivered / Please Forward / To c/o The Bursar / Marlborough College / Wilts / who will re-address."
In pencil.
Place of writing from postmark.
Sorley had sent Bain his poem "To J.B." (MA 5141.79) anonymously in July; Bain replied with his poem to Sorley called "The Voice" (MA 5141.80).
The first line of "Lost" is: Across my past imaginings; the first line of "Death" is: Saints have adored the lofty soul of you.
The letter has the date "10/11/15" beneath the signature, however, the published letter cited below dates it to September 10, 1915; the postmark is September 13, 1916; Charles Sorley died October 13, 1915.
This item is part of a collection of autograph letters and manuscripts of War Poetry related to World War I; see collection record (MA 5141) for more information.
With two autograph poems, "Lost" and "Death - and the Downs"; "Death - and the Downs" was re-titled Two Sonnets in publication; only the first sonnet is here.
In pencil.
Place of writing from postmark.
Sorley had sent Bain his poem "To J.B." (MA 5141.79) anonymously in July; Bain replied with his poem to Sorley called "The Voice" (MA 5141.80).
The first line of "Lost" is: Across my past imaginings; the first line of "Death" is: Saints have adored the lofty soul of you.
The letter has the date "10/11/15" beneath the signature, however, the published letter cited below dates it to September 10, 1915; the postmark is September 13, 1916; Charles Sorley died October 13, 1915.
This item is part of a collection of autograph letters and manuscripts of War Poetry related to World War I; see collection record (MA 5141) for more information.
With two autograph poems, "Lost" and "Death - and the Downs"; "Death - and the Downs" was re-titled Two Sonnets in publication; only the first sonnet is here.
Provenance
Kenneth A. Lohf.
Summary
Responding to John Bain's poem "To the Voice" (MA 5141.80); "It is a month since I got your verses to "The Voice". I never dreamed you would know who I was. Somehow my name spoils it. I prefer being the Voice! But very glad and proud I was to get some lines from you. And thank you for your translation in the Westminster, which followed hard on the heels of the other. And yet I held over my thanks for a month: but I had "To the Voice" with me (and have still), all the time. I have sent up a verse to the Marlburian as my poor offering to the memory and praise of Sydney Woodroffe. My one thought when I opened the paper yesterday and read of his V.C. was 'Of course! I knew it, and had known it, somehow, all along!" In ten days time there will be bare knees and 'punts' bouncing on Common I. I'm just sending you two verses, come lately of this business. I thought you would like, perhaps, to read them. So now, I can do no more than thank you again for one of the proudest moments in my life: and echo in my heart the last verse of your "To the Voice" - next April, yes, it will be next April."
Catalog link
Department