1899-11-06 to Augusta Gregory

Autograph letter signed, New York Public Library, 379 words

[Edited for paragraph breaks, capitalization, spelling and punctuation.]

SHELBOURNE HOTEL,DUBLIN.

Monday night [6 November 1899]

Dear Lady Gregory

I write to you for the sake of writing. All I had to say I said in a letter which Yeats will receive tomorrow morning.

Tomorrow I will send him Grania. I have carried the play a step further and I send it to him so that he may carry it still another step. Then I will write out a complete text.

He said in his letter received this morning that the end of the second act of "Martyn’s" play wanted a touch. Alas it does and I shall have to rewrite the last pages of the act. An outburst for Dean. Dean shall take Kirwan forward and tell the company that without Kirwan there would have been nothing. A few lines. Then I must write a little scene for the end between Millicent and Caroline. The act ends too tamely.

When I have done this which is, I swear it, the very last touch — I shall have done with it forever. I beg you to save me from further emendations from our friend. I'm sure that they will be excellent but my sanity must be considered.

Today I sent him the fifth act and the first scene of the second — this scene is intended to balance the first scene of the fifth act. I was a little disappointed that he didn’t like the fourth better. It was impossible for me to create a new situation but I think that by a judicious turn I kept what situation there was. The play no longer ends on the fourth act and the structure of the act is I think good.

I was pleased to get rid of Foley's proposal. I never believed in it but I believe in the fifth act. Scenes that one doesn't believe in are burdens.

I hope that you will get him to write about the fifth act but no emendations. I want him to write The Shadowy Waters. If he would only finish it. It would be finished by now if it had not been for Martyn’s play.

Always sincerely yours

George Moore