Edward Lear's Diaries

Dark early ― but after 12 constant rain ― pouring.

Did not go out at all.

Letter from S.W. Clowes ― at Broughton. Good old Colonel Clowes is failing ― I fear ― dying. Wrote a long letter to Sam ― two letters.

Worked at figures & goats in the Campagna pictures: ― but the young Duc de Chartres came ― & staid a good bit: a nice lad.

After 4 sate a bit with Mrs. Huish. Then called on Mrs. Davidson: ― who is really a nice old lady. Played 3 games at Dominoes with her.

Dined at 6. μονος ― ῆ συνήθειά μας.¹

Then penned out a good bit of the enduring Interlaken.

Played also on an instrument ― & wrote some Greek.

The comfort of this place enables me to do so much more work than either in St. Leonards or Hastings ― where I suffered in all ways. Yet I would fain hear ἀπὸ τὸν Γεώργιαν.²

XXX13

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

1. Alone ― as usual. [↩]
2. From Giorgio. [↩]

Very fine all day. Letter from J.B.E. to whom wrote.

Worked at the 2 Camapagnas, S. Sabbas, Ζαγώρι & Φιλάτες ― & improved all. “Mr. Jones” called ― to “take leave” ―― so I am really left alone in the Coffee room of this huge place.

At 2 I was seized with incapacity to work, ― & foolishness of high spirits. ― So off I walked ― all along to Hersham, & to Esher ― (how beautiful is the home on a hill with hanging woods close to the village!) ― & to Claremont, where I left cards on the 3 R.H.s ― Paris, Chartres & Joinville ― writing a mistake on each card ― half English ― half French. Walked all the way back, by 5 ― & dinner ― with Cockayne very loquacious.

Εἄν ἦτον ὁ καλός μου Γεώργιος! Ὦ καλε ανθρωπε — και φιλυπηρέτε*! στάθε καλά!¹

Near Hersham I heard a running behind me ― & turned round ― it was a small boy with a little sack over his head. I went on ― but he overtook me ― (I was walking slowly, having hurt my foot.) A rather impy child ― oldish ― but looking straight to ones face. Forthwith he spoke

(Exit little boy suddenly ― just as the artist was going to give him 6^d.)

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

1. “If [only] my good Giorgio [were here]! O dear man – and good servant! Be well!” Nina adds: “I couldn’t find φιλυπηρέτε in my dictionaries. It is a compound of the words φιλώ+υπηρετώ or υπηρέτης which probably means he who loves to serve, to help.” [↩]
2. Molesey. [↩]

Finer. Worked at Philœ till 2.

Then walked all round St. George’s Hill.

Dinner.

Penning out Interlaken.

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

Dark ― wet all day.

Resolved to go to town: ― Weybridge Station at 12.

Stratford Place. Got frames. ―

Went to Foords & paid him 35£. Greek paper

ὁ Βρεττανικός Ἀστῆρ.¹

Waterloo Station ― & rail 4. Weybridge & Oatlands by 5.

Dined alone.

Evening at Capt. Huish’s. Miss Howard.

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

1. The indispensable Nina writes: “Ο Βρεττανικός Αστήρ [The British Star] was an illustrated Greek newspaper by Stephanos Xenos published in London from 1860 to 1862 and in Athens from 1890 to 1892.” [↩]

Very bad days.

Letter from Mrs. Clive ― wrote her.

Lady Bethell
Mrs. Scrivens
Massingberd
T. Cooper &

Dull cold gray day.

At 3½ to Weybridge church.

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

Masada 7 day

Rose, well & lively. Letter from Ann, to whom wrote.

Worked, but ἀῥῤώζησα ― καὶ¹ ― X12²

Yet worked at Masada till 4.30.

Walk ― & meeting John Lewis, walked with him.

Dined alone. ― Penned out & Greek.

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

1. I fell ill ― and (NB). [↩]
2. This X is connected to two more, apparently forming a pattern. [↩]

Masada 6^th day

A fog ― white.

No letters.

Wrote to Williams & Spillman.

Worked at Masada ― 11 to 4.

No walk.

Called on Capt. & Mrs. Huish. Nice people.

Felt very well. Dined.

Penned out Ζαγώρι.

Greek till 11.

Middle of day bright & fine ― but fog again at 4.

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

Masada 5 day

Very mild sunny ―springlike day.

No morning letters. From 9.30 ― to 4 ― worked hard on the large Masada. ― Letters from J. Harford, & W. Chappell. ―

Walked 4 to 5.30 ― (moon ―) by the dry roads & along commons: ― the number of walks here is delightful.

Dinner, alone. ―

Hum. the day is lone: ― pretty well for that ― but I am not very disgusted ― one is so comfortable here.

Evening: penned Zagori & Thucydides.

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

Masada 4^th day

Rose as usual ― but cross: ― this life is gone back to the bi=bad days. ― Bother.

No letters.

Morning fine ― but rain at 12. After 4 frightful wind & torrents ― howlings. Did not go out all day.

Capt. Huish & Mrs. H. came ― & Miss Howard: intelligent & pleasant people.

Worked at Beirût till 3 ― foreground. Then an hour at Masada.

5 to 6 Greek ―. Dinner.

8 to 9½ penned out Ζαγωριτεκὰ.¹

Greek & journal till 10.30 or 11.

No letters from Giorgio ― whom I sometimes absurdly expect to see suddenly. In reality, I suppose he is at Πατράσσος² ― or εἰς τὰς Αθῆνας.³

I think a head (sic) as little as possible ― doing all I can to collect & concentrate thoughts for what I am doing ― then 12 Ζωγραφία.⁴

X11

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

1. Villages of Zagori (NB). [↩]
2. Patras. [↩]
3. In Athens. [↩]
4. Painting (NB). [↩]

Very calm & fine all day ― & a wonderful sunset.

Rose at 7.15. ― Arranged to go on with Interlaken.

Letters from Ann, Foord, & Lady Bethell.

No newspapers. ― Wrote a letter to Sir R.B. ― asking him to mention the 2 Palestine pictures to Rothschild, ― but did not send τοῦτο τὶ γρᾶμμα.¹

At 12 came Mrs. Davidson ― Lady Montefiore’s sister, a singularly handsome elderly lady: ― she came with Miss Dent & an attendant ― gonfiata senza dubbio.²

Very pleasant & kind & ‘courteous:’ but wholly without observation. She sate herself opposite the Cedars ― & looked at them barely once, then turned & said ―Do you take portraits? ― & then talked of her 6 sons. I showed her “Jerusalem” ― & she said, ah! ― oh ― yes ― & talked on as before.

When she went I worked at Interlaken. But at 3 came Mr. Sayer ― & I fancy wishing to come here ― odd enough. Mrs. S. Mrs. Shakespear & Ida are all unwell. ― At 4.30 I walked to Weybridge Station with him. Dined alone: penned out.

Reading ― “What will he do with it?” ―

μὲ πολὺν ἐυχαρίζησιν³

X10

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

1. This letter (NB). [↩]
2. Blown up, no doubt. [↩]
3. With great pleasure. [↩]