Letter from Edward Renouf to Anny Schey von Koromla

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Schwaz

September 8

Dear Baroness Schey,

Letter and books arrived today as a welcome surprise – and a real treat! I got stuck into the Rubens right away: read it straight through. His life and times are the source of his strengths and weaknesses, and they partly explain why I’ve never been totally enamoured of his work. Verhaeren puts it well when he says it’s the ever and the never, the nowhere and the everywhere, the immortal humanity of Shakespeare and Rembrandt that Rubens lacks. For this evening I’m looking forward to ‘Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship’ – and your letter! That and these little pictures are all the company I need, and I can’t get enough of them. They came out well, don’t you think? You mustn’t give them away because they’re the most personal and lyrical poems I’ve ever made.
Yesterday I was up at seven, today at half past, because it was raining. Took some exercise, had a cold bath, made the bed, had breakfast, then got straight to work. Lunch wasn’t to taste, and as I washed up I came to the realisation that I’ll never have a second career as a kitchen porter. Such are the trimmings of the over-indulged. Just as Rammy snips his turnips after a breakfast of bacon dumplings courtesy of Winderl Sepl. Hopes and dreams! Like the turtle being carried around by the eagle high up in the blue skies. Inseparable pair!

I want to! I want to! I want to! – – – – That’s my pack of hunting dogs barking. And I’m the blind hunter, stumbling after his prey, and every now and then an ‘I can!’ brings down an exhausted hare. Yet however fast I run, the pack seems to run faster! Great aunt and uncle will catch their noble quarry only when they go out hunting together.

Completely and utterly,

Edl

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