536
PARTISAN REVIEW
For below a voice did answer, sweet in its youthful tone,
The sea-dog with difficulty descended, for he had a
manly bone.
(From "The Fall of Admiral
Barry")16
offering $150 for the "Waste Land" (not "Waste Land", please , but
"The
Waste Land", and (in the strictest confidence) the award for vir–
tue also. Unfortunately, it seemed considerably too late, as I had the
preceding day got the contract, signed by Liveright and Quinn,
book to be out by Nov. 1st, etc.) I can't bother Quinn any more
about it, I don't see why Liveright should find it to his advantage to
postpone publication in order to let the
Dial
kill the sale by printing it
first, and there has been so much fluster and business about this con–
tract that I don't want to start the whole thing up again, so I see
nothing but to hope that the
Dial
will be more businesslike with other
people. Watson's manner was charming, if Thayer had behaved in
the same way the
Dial
might have published it long ago, instead of
pretending that I had given him the lie as if he was
ehrenfahig
17
anyhow. Anyway, it's my loss I suppose; ifWatson wants to try to fix
it up with Liveright I suppose he can, that's his affair. I suppose the
move was entirely due to your beneficent and pacific efforts, which
are appreciated. Dam but why don't they give the prize to you?
More presently.
22 October 1922
My dear Ezra,
TS
Lilly Library
9 Clarence Gate Gardens,
London, N.W.I.
I am glad to receive your expression of approbation of the first
number. Of course I should be delighted to have a few poems of
Yeats , but so far I have had to go on the principle of asking people
whom for one reason or another I felt pretty sure of getting, and as
Yeats does not particularly like me, I believe, there appeared no
16. These unidentified lines probably refer to Rear-Admiral Edward B. Barry, who
was commander of the US Pacific Fleet, 2nd Division. His flagship , the
West Virgin–
ian,
docked in Manila Harbour in October and November, 1909.
17. 'capable of honour'.
