Edward Lear's Diaries

Masada 20 day

καμμία ἐπιζολὴ.¹

Bright & colder than ever.

We rise at 7.45 or 8. ― Breakfast, εἰς τὸ δωμάτιόν μας, καὶ, ἒπειτα, διαβάζωμεν τὴν ἑφημερίδαν.²

Worked at Masada ― foreground ― all day.

At 4 walked to Weybridge, & to the Thames ― nearly all ice. Sky pure & bright ― earth iron. Yet, I am far better in health than in any other year at this season, excepting on the Nile, ― & much of this must be from dryness of the soil.

Back at 5.15…

Dinner ― Miss Howard & a new man ― afterwards whom I found to know Spedding &c. ― & to be a friend of Carlyle. He came into my room ― & I sung him some AT.

Ἐτελιώθη ἡ ἡμέρα: καὶ πολὺ ἐπιθυμῶ ὢς ἣτον τελειομέναι ἂλλαι τόσαι ἡμέραι!³

[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3.]

1. No letter (NB). [↩]
2. In our room, and, then, we read the newspaper (NB). [↩]
3. Done is the day: and I very much wish that many more days were done too (NB). [↩]

Masada 19 day

If possible, colder ― breakfast in my own room.

No letters. A porter came, for me to draw Arabs from ― dressing him ― Ἄραψ.

Worked at Masada till 4.30. The days grow a little longer. Walked to Weybridge &c. ― hard & cold.

Wrote to T. Potter.

Dined: the 2 Hardmans, Miss Howard ― & a new man. ― The first 3 came to my rooms to see the picture.

Weary life of cold & ugliness, black, & snow horror.

The secession of S. Carolina, ahu! ―

[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3.]

Letters from Ann, ˇ[Mrs. Bergmann &] Bright & cold frost. I feed the birds now, & breakfast always in “my own room.” ― Wrote 12 letters.

1 Dickenson, ― telling him to send the Masada frame.
2 Ann
3 J. Edwards
4 Mr. Edwards
5 Mrs. Shakespear
6 E.A. Drummond
7 Mrs. [Tramelle]
8 Nicolas
9 Ellis Ashton
10 Fortescue
11
12

At 2 walked to St. George’s Hill. Bright & cold ―: how the whispering tall pines ― (in that side left-hand avenue ―) brought back Athos! ― & earlier ― the pine woods of Ostia! Ὦ Ζωή μας! τὶ εἶναι.¹

Returned, & walked round by Weybridge. Iron the ground, iron the atmosphere.

Sate a little with Mrs. Davidson: & returned her a number of the Jewish Chronicle.

“Internal reflexions” on various matters.

Dined at 6½ ― the Hardmans also. ―

Τωρα ― τὶ πλέον;²

XXX3

[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3.]

1. Oh, our Life! What it is (NB). [↩]
2. Now ― what more? (NB). [↩]

Masada 18 day

Cold still ― black gloom. Birds ― fed at window. ― & half frozen cat. Letters from Ann, Harvey Bagot, [&c. &c.]

Worked at Masada.

X2

Walked ― 4 to 5.

Curt journalisms. ― dined at 6½. Mr. & Mrs. Hardman only.

Did a little Greek ― & played a deal.

Cold amazing.

[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3.]

Masada 17 day

Very cold.

Worked all day at Masada.

Dined alone.

[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3.]

Masada 16 day

Colder again, but out a bright sun: no letters.

Worked all day at Masada; ― & rather better.

W. Raleigh came: & Mr. Hewitson.

Letter from Mrs. Clive.

X1

[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3.]

Fine ― sunny all day. But the light is bad ― & the room smaller ― & noises worry me. ― I painted at the Masada ― more or less well ― all day ― but in the afternoon ― grew sad & disgusted ― & worked ill.

I would give up these pictures if I did not hate “giving up” anything.

Letters from Mrs. Gurney ― T. Baring ― C. Fortescue, Ellis Ashton ― (Mrs. A. is dead,) S.W.C. ― & Gussie Bethell.

Wrote to Ann, Col. Hornby, ― Mrs. Gurney, ― & J. Edwards.

After dinner ― it is horribly cold in that new dining room ― worked at Masada & drank tea till 11.

[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3.]

Cold, happily gone ―, but, pouring rain. Rose at 6, at 7 in a fly to Woking Station, whence in 8.20 train to Petersfield ˇ[by 10]. No J. Cross at Woking, & he had just left the Red Lion at Petersfield. ― They made me take the horses: ― a stranger asked me to let him join me to Hastings ― so I did so. ―― O woods of Uppark! ―――

At 11.15 at Compton ― bitter cold wind. The Church: the bell tolling. ― At length ― William Hornby ― whose voice trembled at first ― but in the desk he was restored to himself ― poor W.H.! he may well mourn, as all must.

Then the lonely Admiral ― Geoff ― & the rest: ― but blinded, I saw little.

Afterwards, I saw Windham, & a youth ― W. Denison. ― The last home of one I have so long known & loved: at Knowsley ― Plymouth, Woolwich, Shrewsbury House, & Littlegreen: & at all ― all kindness & wisdom. ―

I saw Cross afterwards ― a little. Then drove away.

O! Littlegreen! o woods of Uppark! O years! ― O thirty years! ― (tho’ it is 33 years since I first saw them with J. Sayers) ―

So I came to Petersfield & lunched: & walked to the station. Thereto came Penrhyn & Leycester ― & GAF ― which trio was a blessing for me: ― & we came to Woking ― waiting there ¾ an hour, & I then to Weybridge ― feeling lonely ― bitterly lonely.

Ate little dinner, & to bed. ― My new rooms.

So begins 1861. Can I make it a better year than 1860.

“What will he do with it?”

Τὶ εἶναι ἡ Ζωή μας;¹

[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3.]

1. What is our Life? (NB). [↩]

Irritation. Rose at 7.30 ― packed: & at 8½ looked at rooms below ― & fixed to take them ― for [it’s] waste of all real & chance to leave the Masadas & Cedars.

At 9.15 to Rail ― cold & foggy: at Foords ― sending down 2 men to move the pictures. Called on Mr. Morier, & lunched with him & Miss M.: wonderful man ― 78 Αετ.

Most awful dirt & cold in London.

Waterloo ˇ[Station] before 4 ― [a sentence is crossed out].

Found the pictures moved ― & in the 2 new rooms: passed the evening in unpacking & rearranging ― weary work. ―

and so ends 1860.

ἐτελειώθη.¹

[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3.]

1. It’s over (NB). [↩]

Pouring rain, & hot!!!!!!! τι καιρὸς!¹

Rose ― & wrote through the day ― some 15 letters.

Callen on Mrs. Davidson ―nice old lady.

Just after ――――― dire confusion.

The great cistern had burst, & the rooms were being flooded.

Had to pack like lightening ― & did so.

Dined.

Then, perceiving how fearfully damp all things were, I saw I could not stay in these rooms anyhow ― & packe all.

XX14

[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3.]

1. What [foul) weather! (NB). [↩]