T. E. Lawrence Correspondence – Page 507

LR 11/31/xx Karachi. 2/1/67 Dear Isham, Forgive the office typewriter and my batching of its keys. It's in case I need a copy of what I are to me out, temporarily. Why should you be so much better to me than I am to myself? The money sug.gested is wonderful, but that only shows how grim the errand is to be done; and I have no trust whatever in my writings. I only think of it, when "Revolt" ca.e out; but they speak as well of seventy per cent of the books they relict, in One discounts that; and in my case they were also astonished that a practical man could write at all: ... clever of him, my dear, to be able to sit up... as they'd say of a hor.dog. When your letter came, I took the Odyssey down from the shelf, (it goes with me, always, to every camp, for I love it) and tried to make myself translate one para... into English. Honestly, it would be most difficult to do. I have the rhythm of the... so in my mind, that it would not come readily into English. Nor am I a scholar; I read it only for pleasure, and have to keep a dictionary within reach. I thought of the other translators, and saw that there was not a first-rate one. Butcher & ..... too stilted. ....l Butcher ... too little dignified, too better. Morris... too literary. That ain't alway a job it is. Why should my doing be any better than these efforts of the bigger men? Bruce Rogers' dressing of the book will make it glorious, so that even an inferior version would pass muster. You are fortunate to be able to dine with him. I hear you revere admired him from ground level; and have even been able at intervals to buy books of his production; Of course I've never met him.; but you know, and he knows that he's the ideal of all those who have tried to produce books. Or perhaps I should say, of all who have gone far enough in the direction of producing books, to know what a job it is. It would be an awful thing if my share in the Essar did not justify its setting, in my own judgment. So let me make stiff terms, in the hope of being refused an honour which I feel too h.m great for me to carry off successfully. I can not invite so profitable an offer bluntly. Wha-translation-would-be- 36