THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

From R. Vaughan Williams,
The White Gates,
Westcott Road,
Dorking.

Dec 26 [1939]

My Dear

I spent an hour over the lovely poetry book, and found quantities I did not know – but that is not strange for an illiterate person like me.
By the way who is Emily Dickinson – and also can you search Shelley for me for some more lines to set – I want a series of war time songs¹ – I’ve done P. Unbound² last 9 lines (“Song of Victory”) and a number of earlier lines “Love from its … healing wings”³ (Song of Healing) – I want some more “Courage” “Hope” etc – but they must be “settable” e.g. the next lines starting “Gentlemen” are quite unsettable – can you find me some?
Love from

RVW

1. These were published as Six choral songs – to be sung in time of war, Catalogue of Works p.178 (1940/1).
2. Prometheus Unbound.
3. “Love from its awful throne of patient power in the wise heart / In the wise heart, from the last giddy hour / Of dread endurance, from the slippery, steep, / And narrow verge of crag-like agony, springs / And folds over the world its healing wings.” Prometheus Unbound, Act IV, lines 557-61.