Edward Lear's Diaries

XX4.

Ἄρχετά ἄσχημα¹ ― but one must write truth.

Dreamy ― more dreamy than ever, is life thus.

Letter from W.H.H. ― Cheales his wedding cards ― ὅλοι ἄνθρωποι εὐτυχεῖς πλῆν ἐγῶ² & P. Crake ― good old Mr. Crake is going.

Ἔπειτα³ ― I came to this most blessedly comfortable room, & was passively & monologically happy enough, all the more that the sun shone. Wrote 8 letters ―

To W.H. Hunt,
Mrs. Husey Hunt,
Mrs. G. Scrivens,
Rev. C.M. Church,
S.F. Widdrington,
F. Cockerell,
Capt. Jameson
& δεν ενθυμοῦμαι.⁴

At 2.30 ˇ[after calling on Mr. Lyle at the “temple:”] walked to Walton & beyond towards Kingston or Moulsey, returning by 5.

Dinner μόνος.⁵ Ἀνέγνωσα⁶ Urquharts Lebanon.

Pekin news.

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

1. Pretty bad (NB). [↩]
2. Everyone is happy except me (NB). [↩]
3. Then. [↩]
4. I don’t remember (NB). [↩]
5. Alone. [↩]
6. Read (NB). [↩]

Masada 12 day

3X

Rose late ― i.e. 8. I had not endeavoured latterly to make “much time” ― having found that by repose & quiet, I eventually got more work done.

Letters from Foord’s ― & F. Cockerell ― whom I had asked here because really Mr. C.’s affidavit as to the Bassæ was a kindness & service ―.―

Made figures for my Masada ― 2 Arabs ― whereby I rejoiced at my slavy labours at anatomy in 1849-50 ― for small people as I made ― I can make somewhat like figures now ― & never could before.

Painted off & on ― but on the whole ― progress.

Rain perpetual. ― If I do not hear from George ― I must send him 10£.

I do not know where I shall Xmas. Alas! 2 more weeks only! ―

By overmuch writing ― my eyes are inflamed. ― With all this gloom & horror of weather ― the country is a blessing ― if so be ― as I can here ― a comfortable home is invaluable.

4 to 5.30. Sate with Capt. & Mrs. Huish. Dinner. ―

Reading Urquhart’s Lebanon.¹

Eyes not up to penning, did Greek.

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

1. Urquhart, David. The Lebanon: (Mount Souria.) A History and a Diary. 2 vols. London: Thomas Cautley Newby, 1860. [↩]

Masada 11 day

Slept well. Letters from S.W.C. Col. C. is better
Farrant
Ann
Mrs. Hunt
Spillmans ― with recipt & settling for Condotti rooms.
Mrs. Shakespear
& C.F.

Wrote many letters.

but worked very little, tho’ tolerably well ― on Masada. At 4 a small περίπατων.¹

Day tolerably fine ― gusty.

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

1. Walk. [↩]

X2

Horrible dark wet & windy.

C.F. went at 12.30. ―

As for me ― I could not work ― indeed ἦτον παραπολὺ σκοτεινὸν.¹ ― So I wrote out my list of paintings ― & screwed in the Palermo: ― & at 4 ― walked on the Terrace. But the wind was strong & high.

5 to 6 Greek. Ἐγευμάτισα μονος.²

C. Fortescue’s going away leaves a regular blank. His accomplished refined mind ― & his kind genial heartiness are not to be found equally easily. ―

Evening ― penned out Troy.

Labour on. ―  Ἐάν ἤξευρα ποῦ εἶναι ὁ Γεωργιος καλά ἦτον!³ ―

Dumbly ― I mean ―in dumb suspense I must yet go onward. ―

Read Essays & Reviews.

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

1. It was too dark (NB). [↩]
2. Dined alone (NB). [↩]
3. I wish I knew where Giogio is (NB). [↩]

Masada 10 day

Dark ― foggious ― but fine after 12 ― warmer.

Letter from Percy Coombe ― who can’t come.

Worked at Masada till 3. Headache.

Took a little walk ― by Weybridge & back. Thucydides till 7 ― after which C. Fortescue came. Ευχε λειψει ― (εις μιαν αμαξαν ―) θηκαν τινα.¹ ―

Dinner & evening ―― most delightful.

& Greek words ― set at rest by C.F.

Ἐνεποίουν ― εμποιέω ― to introduce

Ἐπέζοντο ― πίεζω ― to press hard on

Ἐπήροντο ― ἐπέρομαι ― to consult, ask

Ἡγώρησε τὸν μικρόν Παλέρμο: διὰ εἴκοσι καὶ εἴς λίρα.²

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

1. Nina writes: “I’m guessing ‘I wish some case gets lost from the carriage.’ But why would he wish the luggage were lost? It makes no sense.” [↩]
2. [He] Bought the small Palermo: for twenty-one pounds (NB). [↩]

Masada 9 day

Ditto weather ― damp ― dark.

J.B.E. not up. Letter from Edwards père. Wrote to him ― about all the pictures.

James’s talk of him vexes me much, ― yet I do not say it is not merited, for I don’t know. J. went at 11.

Worked at the foreground of Masada ― but there was not much time ― for I began late ― & letters took up hours.

Letters from S.W.C. The Colonel seems better. from C.F. who comes tomorrow: ― & Mrs. G. Clive.

Dined solo.

Penned out a good deal ― & ditto Greek.

These rooms are wonderfully comfortable.

Nevertheless ― X1

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

Masada 8 day

Very dark ― damp. ――― Breakfast at 8.30 al solito J.B. later.

Nice letter from Sam W.C. ― the good old Colonel is dying. Wrote to him. ――― (& to Cholmondeley.)

Sat to work voraciously on “Masada ―” & worked till 3.30 ― or 3.45.

Then walked to Walton with J. Edwards ― & back ― but latterly it rained habominously: wet through.

Dinner.

Mrs. Davidson came ― & I played a little ― but ― τοῦτα τὰ πράγματα δεν με Χρεάζονται:¹ ―

Penned out Σαλονίκι: ―

J.B.E. read some of “Woolff[”]²  ― which made me sick. ―

No Greek. ― Bed at 11. ―

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

1. I do not need any of these things (NB). [↩]
2. Probably Journal of the Rev. Joseph Wolff… in a Series of Letters to Sir Thomas Baring, Bart. Containing an Account of His Missionary Years. London: James Burns, 1839; or Travels and Adventures of the Rev. Joseph Wolff. London: Saunders, Otley, and Co., vol. 1, 1860, vol. 2, 1861. [↩]

Very pleasant, cold, fine day. Breakfast at 9.

Letters from C.F. Cholmondeley ― & Mr. Hay’s man.

At 11.10 J.B.E. & I walked slowly to Oakham where I did not intend to go in, but being seen by William L. ― we were forced to lunch.

The Doctor was not there. Kindly good people. We walked in the garden, & W.L. with us two to Red Hill. ――

J.B. & I back by 5.

Visit to Mrs. Davidson.

Dinner & evening quiet & pleasant.

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

Caught cold somehow: ― not much.

Cold ― windy ― but not wet day: ― not very bad. Worked at Ζαγώρι all day ― to 4 ―

Then to Walton Station & met J.B. Edwards. ― No one else. Dinner ― & a quiet evening enough ―: music ― penning out, & Greek. ―

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

A dark ― & after 12 wet day: did not go out.

Painted at Philates mostly. It ain’t pleasant always to bring back realities. ――― Letters from Ann, & Mrs. Scrivens: ―― Capt. Huish called ― & I sate with them from 4½ to 5½. ― James Edwards wrote also.

Ἐγευμάτισα καλα: καὶ ἥθελα ἐξεύρω ποῦ καὶ πῶς εἶναι ὁ Γεώργιος.¹

The frame for the Philœ came to-day, & it looks well.

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

1. I dined well: and I would like to know where and how is Giorgio (NB). [↩]