3O October 1912  Pension White  2 Piazza Cavalleggieri «FR»Florence

«FL»Dear Prof. Freud,

«IP4,0»This evening I sent you two photographs of statues in the Duomo in Florence, which may interest you.  The one by Donatello is said to have directly influenced Michel Angelo in the creation of his Moses.  Of the other I know nothing, but it seems to resemble the Moses still more.  A valuable book is a prominent feature in both.  There is in the Academy here a life‑size cast of the Moses.  Whether it is good or not I shall know better when I go to Rome, but I surmise that the face is not a good reproduction.  Do you find anything curious about the «MDUL»left«MDNM» hand?  The first two fingers are in the beard, and the others tightly clasping the clothing in a rather unneccesary way.

«IP4,0»Of foreign news I have not much.  I wrote three times to Brill to put him on his guard against Jung, but have not heard lately from him.  From other sources, Dr. Payne (Hitschmann's translator) August Hoch, and Frau Dr. Jung I hear that Jung has made quite a furore and is very happy over his success.  I enclose a copy of an interview which perhaps Brill has also sent you.«FN1.××See Jung (1912).

»  From a letter of Bleuler's that I got last week I abstract the following curious passage: "Jungs neuer Libidobegriff ähnelt meiner Meinung nach wieder demjeningen, den Freud vor einer Anzahl von Jahren hatte und seitdem wieder etwas veränderte.  Sie wissen, dass für mich die ganze Libido Theorie, wie sie jetzt ausgebildet worden ist, noch der Klarheit entbehrt.  Ich habe deshalb kein Urteil, das ich weitergeben möchte.  Dagegen halte ich die Arbeit von Jung, wenn sie auch sehr subjektiv ist, doch für eine sehr wichtige.  Es ist merkwürdig, was für ein Material der Mann in den wenigen Jahren anhäufen konnte.  Auch in Nebensachen sind eine Menge geistreicher und gewiss zum grossen Teil auch guter Ideen darin.  Aber wie gesagt, für jetzt und vielleicht noch für die nächsten zehn Jahre wird niemand kompetent sein, ein definitives Urteil über die grosse Arbeit abzugeben". «FN1.××"In my opinion Jung's new concept of Libido resembles the one Freud had a number of year's ago, which he has modified somewhat since then.  As you know, in my opinion, this whole Libido theory, as developed now, still lacks clarity.  I therefore have no judgement that I would like to pass on.  On the other hand, I consider Jung's work, subjective though it is, to be very important.  It is remarkable how much material the man has been able to amass in a few years.  Even in matters of secondary importance there are many clever and certainly to a large extent also good ideas.  But, as I say, for now and perhaps even for the next ten years no one will be competent to give a definite judgement about the work as a whole."»

I have just read your paper in Ht. 4 of «MDUL»Imago«MDNM».  The series grow, if possible, even more interesting as they progress.  I wonder what Frazer will say about them.  He is a splendid fellow, but it would be surprising if he had the courage to bow to an outside influence in a field that he has made his own.  I give only one or two little comments: (S. 312) "[...] Widerspruch [...], dass man dem Herrscher eine so grosse Gewalt über die Vorgänge der Natur zuschreibt und sich doch für verpflichtet hält, ihn mit ganz besonderer Sorgfalt gegen ihm drohende Gefahren zu beschützen, als ob seine eigene Macht, die so vieles kann, nicht auch dies vermöchte." «FN1.××The passage is from Freud (1912‑13, p. 48), «MDUL»G.W.«MDNM» 9:62 («MDUL»Imago«MDNM», 1(1912):312).  Strachey's version is "[Yet another] contradiction, [and one not so easily resolved, is to be found in the fact] that the ruler is believed to exercise great authority over the forces of Nature, but that he has to be most carefully protected against the threat of danger ‑‑ as though his own power, which can do so much, cannot do this."

»  Unless I mistake, it reads in the New Testament that one of the mockeries to Christ on the cross was "others he could save, himself he cannot save".«FN1.××Matthew C. 27, v. 42

»  Your remarks on conscience are extremely interesting, «FN1.××Freud (1912‑13, pp. 67‑70).

» and make me think that we need from you sometime a clinical paper on the relation of "Angst" to Zwangsneurose and the part it plays there.  By the way, in B. Shaw's "Fanny's First Play", the passage occurs "We are all sinners, «MDUL»what else is religion«MDNM»?"«FN1.××Line of Mrs. Gilbey, Act III, G. B. Shaw, "Fanny's First Play ‑‑ An Easy Play for a Little Theatre," (first performed 1911 London), «MDUL»Bernard Shaw: Complete Plays with Prefaces«MDNM», vol. 6 (New York: Dodd, Mead, 1962, p. 152).

»  The chapter on the vampire in my «MDUL»Alptraum«MDNM» Schrift contains much interesting «MDUL»material«MDNM» on the relation between the living and dead,«FN1.××Chapter IV of Jones (1912j), see Jones (1931b, pp. 98‑130).

» though I think I overlooked the explanation of the «MDUL»Rache«MDNM» [revenge] idea of the dead.  Kleinpaul's book on this subject I do not know, and must get sometime. «FN1.××Rudolf Kleinpaul, «MDUL»Die Lebendigen und die Toten in Volksglauben, Religion und Sage«MDNM» (Leipzig, 1898) is mentioned in Freud (1912‑13, p. 58).

»

By the way, you promised me once to give me a criticism of my «MDUL»Alptraum«MDNM» work, but it is not likely you will have found time to read it again.  As for my "salt",«FN1.××Jones (1912h).»  I can say that the second part will be much better than the first, which is mainly introductory.  By this time, or very soon, you will have received from London a copy of my "Papers on |×/".  I hope you will not find the preface too lyric; it contains one sentence specially written to please you, which I am sure you will find.«FN1.××Jones, «MDUL»Papers«MDNM», 1st ed. 1913, was dedicated to Freud; on p. xii Jones refers to Freud as "Darwin of the mind."

»  I hesitated before venturing to dedicate the book to you, because I should have preferred something far more worthy.  I did so, however, on the ground that it was my first book, so that the dedication really refers to all my future life‑work as well.  I trust that this book will be the beginning of a series that will go on improving in value until the end.

And now, what about Italy, a subject, which you see I have postponed as long as possible.  The reason is quite plain.  I have been, and still am, quite overwhelmed by the richness and depth of new impressions, and fear that any attempt to commit them to paper might risk a certain crystallising of them in a stage when they should still be fluid.  You will perhaps perceive my feelings better if I try to describe some of what Italy means to me, or rather the extraordinary many sidedness of its attraction for me.  From childhood up Italy has always been holy ground to me, through the close associations of our best poets, Milton, Wordsworth, Shelley, Keats, Byron, the Brownings, Swinburne and Ruskin.  They sing of Italy as of heaven, with a love they give to no other country on earth, and I have always pictured it as a fairy dreamland:

«IP3,0»"Women country, wooed not wed;

«IP4,0»Loved all the more by earth's male‑lands,

«IP4,0»Laid to their hearts instead."«FN1.××From Robert Browning, "By the Fireside," verse VI, see Browning (1895, p. 185).  Jones omits the first two lines of the verse: "I follow wherever I am led, Knowing so well the leader's hand:" [Freud?].  The beginning of the next line reads: "Oh woman ‑‑ country!" [Italy].

»

«IP0,0»Italy, where music, painting, and modern poetry had their origin and where still the finest examples of painting and architecture are to be seen.  Italy, with such a fascinating history, of rival courts and conflicts in the middle ages, and later struggles for freedom and unity.  And behind all this, the grand figure of Ancient Rome towering like a Colossus.

«IP4,0»In whatever direction I look there are interests to be experienced and things to learn.  Take my latest interest, Napoleon.  Here was his first magic campaign (I have been on four of his battle‑fields here), from Italy he sprang, in Italy are most members of his family buried, and at every step one comes across his traces, ruins restored at his orders, pictures stolen, monasteries replaced by public gardens, and so on.  Even on my first evening, in Venice, I came across a complete set of the «MDUL»Revue Napolienne«MDNM» in the library of a learned society, something I had never been able to find elsewhere.«FN1.××Likely «MDUL»Revue Napoléonienne«MDNM», directed by A. Lumbroso (Turin, Rome, 1901‑1904), with supplements no. 1‑6 (Rome, 1906‑1914).

»

I am trying to learn Italian, in itself a task to such a bad linguist, and also to form some impressions of the types of modern Italians, their characteristics and differences.  I am studying closely the history of the various styles and schools of architecture and painting, to repair some of the deficiencies of my early education, and this alone is an enormous undertaking.  But the subject‑matter, the religious symbolisms and different modes of expressing the main human themes, is, as you know, of the greatest fascination to a psycho‑analyst, and I have come across the most interesting imaginable things.

Italy surpasses even my expectations in sheer beauty, and I am throughout entranced.  The effort to assimilate so many new impressions, to take note of the numerous trains of thought aroused in all directions, is almost physically exhausting, and must serve as excuse for my not being able to give you at present any connected impressions.  But I know that I am benefiting and developing very greatly; it is an event in my life.

The reports from my wife sound satisfactory, sometimes suspiciously too much so, as if she were masking her resistances.  But she says she is making real progress with the analysis, understands the principles better, and is feeling pretty well.  She is full of gratitude for the kindness you show her, and is anxious to know from me if you say that she is progressing satisfactorily.  I am also of course anxious to hear some words from you.  Even if you cannot say much at present, a little will mean much to me.

For all reasons, therefore, I shall look forward eagerly to a letter from you.

Yours very affectionately  Jones.