Edward Lear's Diaries

Masada 14 day

Letters from Ann, W.N. ― & Wyatt ― wrote to all them, & later to Drummond, W. Gush [] C.F. Cold truly horrivle. Ill.

Yet I worked on the Masada ― but until 1 or 2 P.M. not at all well.

Got Miss Dent to nail list on the doors &c., & make the bedroom warmer, ― & curtains heavy.

Dinner at 5. Miss Howard, & the Hardmans. ― Upstairs, worked again at Masadada till 10. One knows so little what one does or undoes. ―

Ὦ Μαύραι ἡμέραι! Τὶ θὰ κάμωμεν;¹

Ἄφισα διὰ πολλὰς ἡμέρας, ἡ παράφρασις τοῦ Θουκυδίδου: δὲν ἐμπορῶ νὰ κάμω τίποτες.²

Σχεδον ἐπαράσθη ὁ χρόνος.³

XX13

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

1. O dark days! What are we to do? (NB). [↩]
2. I have abandoned for many days now the translation of Thucydides: I cannot do anything (NB). [↩]
3. The year is almost over (NB). [↩]

Lady Hornby is gone.

Most horrible deadly cold ― & deeper snow. Then, at breakfast ― letters from Col. H. & Jamie, that “Aunt Maria” had died on Xmas day! ―― ―― A strange feeling ― & not to be reconciled with reality. ― Dear kind good wise Lady Hornby! ―― There are no words whereby one can write her worth or my loss.

I could not work ― & went up to town: & saw Col. Hornby. ― In Stratford Pl. ― & then to Tor Villa. Visit to Hⁿ. Hunt ― not satisfactory: ― he would work ― & rightly ― but as there was ― (as there always is) ― someone in the room ― I could not talk. And the portrait he is about is absolutely shocking ― & I think he feels this & is all the more dogged thereat. ―― So I came away, δυστυχῆς.¹ ― Hard work after 2 long snow walks.

Cab from Stratford Pl. to Waterloo Station, & to Oatlands by 6.30. Dined upstairs: & wrote to several.

Col. H. tells me also that Mrs. Ellis Ashton is dead ―― but I cannot yet think this.

Ἀρκοῦν τὰ κακιὰ.²

XXX12

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

1. Unhappy (NB). [↩]
2. Enough with the bad [things] (NB). [↩]

Masada 13 day

Horrible cold ― & deeper snow.

Indigestion & deadly cold.

I do not think I can bear it after all, but would fain start off south.

Scraped the Masada ― & painted the sky: ― then drew myself γυμνὸς¹ ― & got more cold of course. Then painted the 2 figures somewhat ―.

X11?

Very miserable.

Nice letters from J. Edwards ― & R. Bright.

Went out to the Library, ― but it snowed hard; returned, & dined at 6. “Mr. & Mrs. Hardman.”

Cold so intense that I have asked a fire in my bedroom.

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

1. Naked (NB). [↩]

[Perfectly] awful cold. Left after breakfast ― & rail ― (Mr. Robertson in carriage ―) to London by 11. Called at Drummonds & then to Stratford Pl. ― & back to Waterloo by 12.30 ― then ― rail to Weybridge, & at Hotel by 2.

Arranged all ― a beautiful letter from W.H.H. ― to whom I wrote.

Walked on the terrace till 5 ――― then arranged rooms.

6½ dined. Hardman there.

Afterwards from 8 to 9½ scraped figures in the Masada. ――

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

Rose ― dark & cold ― at 6. Coffee & breakfast: at no house is there better caring for guests. ― Rail at 7.20 to Lewes. Bitter cold ― sunless. ― Most dreary “buco”¹ is Lewes! & that black damp cold garden! ―――  At 2 ― to 4 ― Bern & I walked ― & that is livelier than the awful dungeon cold of their house. Dinner excellent, & they kindly ― but nothing can outweight the deadly dire cold!

In the evening I could not sing in the cold ― which I think they did not like or attribute to the true cause ― for, from habit, they cannot perceive the horrid cold of their house, nor its effects on others. ―

Packed ― & bed by 11.

O! O! cold!

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

1. Hole. [↩]

X10?

Rose at 8. Very bright, ― cold frost. Walked on Beach=parade. Am to stay over tonight, & to go by early αὒριον¹ train. Breakfast. Wrote to Bright, Huish, & Wyatt afterwards. Then called on Mrs. W.Scrivens, ― the elder Mrs. S. ― (84 years old!!) & the Norths. Saw Mr. N. & Marianne. ― ……… Lunch. ― Afternoon walked to St. Leonards: ― Wagners ― Mr. & Miss W. ― called on the [Thurnwoods] also, who are good straight forward people. And how I recollected those endless evening walks, so lonely, & so calm ― last autumn!! ――― Return to Pelham Place. Dinner 6½, very stupendous. ―

Evening ― sang a good deal. bed by 12. ―

Most kindly good people. ―

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

1. Tomorrow (NB). [↩]

Awful cold but bright & sunshine as on the Nile.

Breakfast at 9 pleasant: & after=talk. ― Mónos, talk with Mrs. S. & about the illustrative picture for Mr. W. ―― At 12 (Mrs. W.S. having called,) I walked to V. Crakes, & found his leg was better ― he out. Back at 1 & Lunch. Then, with G.S. ― & Mr. W. ― walk throught the snow ever ― [Tiny] & all ― to Fairlight & beyond, to the “Marathon” trees ― though all the distance was dark & blotted out. & then back to Hastings. We met Mr. North & Catherine N. ― they have been to Rome & Naples ― & saw P. Williams at Rome.

At 6 Dinner ―

Afterwards played & sang.

Παραπλὺ ομιλία¹

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

1. A lot of talking (NB). [↩]

Rose very early & packed. ― At 10, Foords’ people came & took away the 5 pictures. Widdrington ― Fortescue, Bright, [&] the 2 Huish’s.

At 12 came to London Bridge. Great crowd of people. Mr. Whitman.

Slow & cold travelling to Hastings starting at 2 ― arriving at 5.30.

Dinner at Scrivens, ― very nice & pleasant: & kindly.

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

Colder ― Χειμῶν εἶναι¹ ――― & all snow: so that I thought Ann would not come. ― But at 11.30 she did ― & had actually walked from home ― not liking vehicles on the slippery roads.

She is very well ― all but eyes ― & vastly cheerful. ― Perhaps we have never had so pleasant a day. ― At 1.30 or 2 we dined ― & then Mrs. Wyatt came & Constance ― who were really pleased with the pictures ― took away the Φιλάτες ― so that has “forsaken me.” ― After 3, I walked all the way with Ann to Stonefield Street, & left her there. Her talk of Pentonville in 1800 was curious enough.

By 5.30 I had walked back thro’ the snow to Stratford Place, & at 6.30 ― I had walked also to the Crakes.

Edward & “Mary Ann” were going out to dine: so I had my evening with the old people. Mr. C. is very much fatter. The old lady ― whom I never could really like ― more obstractious than ever. Mr. C. kindly & good: ― crying suddenly on mentioning John’s name. At tea ― I played ― & talk went on to Oatlands & environs: hence Ockham ― & Lady Lovelace ― & Lord Ockham² ― (fustian & costume³ ―) & Lady Ada. One Miss Johns or Jones ― step daughter⁴ of a Rev. Mr. [Pemble]⁵ ― seems to have been a [dear friend]⁶ of Lord B.’s ― who [] Mr. Pemble with Ada Byron directly she was born ― []⁷ Mrs. C. ― I imagined that Mrs. C. knew of the reasons of Lady B.’s leaving Lord B. ― for she ― in her meandering way ― checked herself now & then, & said, “Mr. Pemble was a most cautious man!” ――

Walked back in snow at 10. ―

I dread a journey tomorrow ― & would fain return to Oatlands: μὰλλον εῖς τὸν Ἀίγυπτον.⁸ ―

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

1. It is winter (NB). [↩]
2. On the Ockhams and Lovelaces see Wikipedia. [↩]
3. A big blot covers the end of this word. [↩]
4. Also covered. [↩]
5. Smudged. [↩]
6. I am largely guessing, as the blot covers most of these words. [↩]
7. I cannot read the two words, which are badly smunged. [↩]
8. Or rather to Egypt (NB). [↩]

Drew £100 from Drummonds’ ― & placed it in the bank.

Vastly cold! ― After breakfast the 2 Campagna pictures were framed. W.F.B. came in ― but at 11 I went to Drummonds ―: poi Coutts. Then F.L. out. ― & so to Scott the bookers by 1. ― Then to the Bells; dear good Mrs. B. always oppresses me rather. ― Ἐκείνη ἡ φαμίλια ― δὲν εἶναι εύτυχῆς.¹ ―

Walked back: ― various calls ― & home by 5.

F.L. came. ἡμέραι παρασμέναι² & went at 6.

At 6.20 J.B. Edwards: ― in a better mood ― his moods being more or less owing to φυσικὰ πράγματα.³

Went to his rooms, & saw his Carpets: & read some of Mr. Parker’s letters. ―

Dined with him at the club: & sate afterwards.

He is a fine fellow ― Jemmy. ―

Home by 10.30.

9X?

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

1. That family ― is not happy (NB). [↩]
2. Days past (NB). [↩]
3. Natural things (NB). [↩]