Edward Lear's Diaries

Yet rose at 6. Partly arranging, partly drawing till 8. ― Then it began to rain.

To Lyle’s ― & Hewitsons: & from 11 to 5 painted at the Cedars. ― Elevated on tub. ― painting foreground.

Called on Mr. Hay. ― Rain ― & very dark (Brought down 2 books of Calabria, for Hewitson & Lyle. ― & a necklace from Bethlehem for Miss Rook.) Short walk with Cruise: ― table d’hôte, ―.

Wrote to Ann. ―

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

Drew 25£ from Drummond’s.

Rose at 7. Εἶναι βαρὼς, ὁ “ἀτμοσφέρος” here.¹ Very fine day. Packed &c. till 11. ― Then went to Brie’s, ― to Chappells ― (where was Rimbault ―) ― & to Drummond’s, & then to Mr. Hay. He seems very much more feeble, & “miserabilissimo”² as Giuseppe the Amatriciano says. I walked with him up & down Albemarle St. a little time ― but it was too cold for him. Capt. Devereux came in then, & I soon left. A visit to R. Hay is most sad.

Ἔπειτα I walked across the park ― to W.H. Hunt’s & it is always a delight to go to him. He was working, & then we had lunch: ― & the talk was profuse.

Some paintings left by a stranger were amazing. Also, some items about AT & the Cornwall tour .

Came away at 3.30 & home. (Earlier, I had called on Mrs. Beadon🙂 ―

At 5 to the Waterloo Station, & so to Oatlands by 6.

Table d’hôte al solito.

X4

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

1. “The atmosphere is heavy, here.” (Lear’s Greek is largely incorrect, however, says NB). [↩]
2. Suffering a lot. [↩]

Garden with J.B. Edwards. ― At 9.10 omnibus to rail.

Lively & pleasant party ― Swedish V. Consul &c. &c. Waterloo Station by 10 or so. ― Cab to Foords & Stratford Place. Arranged paintings & drawings &c. &c. Letter from Macbean; Spillman has taken all furniture in lieu of 3 quarters’ rent; so the whole of my Roman life collapses & is done.

Whereby I rejoice.

At 2 to Count de Paris & Duc de Chartres, & Prince de Joinville came, & looked at drawings till 5. ― They were much pleased: as I was with them, especially with the C.te de Paris, who is peculiar for fun, amiability, & knowledge of what he has seen.

When they left I called to Ann’s, ― but found Ellen there by chance, a sudden visitor.

Dear Ann did not think well: ― I did all I could to enliven.

At 9 was at home again.

X3

H. enlisted & was 7 or 8 years as a foot private: ― then he deserted, to a Cavalry regt. ― whereon, being sent into a Condemned regt., he wrote to his Father: ― & the D. of Yk, then Commander in chief, ― allowed him to be brought out, on account of his not having wished to desert H.M. service, but only to change his position in it.

At that time he was at Carisbrook, & then our father & mother went to see him, & brought him back. ― What a bargain!! ― This I never knew till last night, (I am writing on the 9^th) when, on our looking over Sarah’s [at the bottom of the entry for 7 October] letter from the Isle of Wight, Ann & Ellen spoke of it.

I must then have been 7 or 8 years old: anyhow the following Easter Monday came on the 8^th of April ― i.e. [that] following after H.J. returned.¹

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

1. See Levi, Peter. Edward Lear. A Biography. New York and London: Scribner, 1995. 180. [↩]

Did not sleep after 4 or 4.30 ― (I think for fear of Cramp, which I have had here several times.). but rose before 6. Then, highly professional I ἐσπούδαζα¹ myself, 5 times, till I was cold.

Dressed ― & finished the 3^rd chapter of the Πολιτεία, ― & by that time J.B.E. came. After a turn or two in the garden, breakfast. ― Letter from Mrs. G. Clive. ―― … At 10.30 J.E. & I set out to walk, ― by respectable primitive Weybridge, ― & its Dox & Lox ― & on towards Chertsey ― before which a “lane[”] scene was most lovely. ― Thence, to St. Ann’s Hill, most absolute English wood-scene! & those far realms of trees a dimmy-blueness! ― Down to a Mill, & on to Virginia water ― & an Inn, to Wheatsheaf ― where J.E. had not been  for 7 years. The day had clouded & was calm ― yet I thought the Lake very pretty ― & the more when the sun came out, & there was green Fern & Rabbits; ― not to speak of Sir J. Cursetjee Jebeehoy’s retinue. ― So, having had a glass of BEER & one biscuit, we came away. Thence, back, by the Mill, & St. Ann’s hill, & the trees & merry light wood ― for now the sun was out. ― & so to Chertsey ― & Weybridge, & at the Hotel by 6. ―― Dined at 6½, a pleasant Swiss=country=understanding=man next to me. ―

At 8.45 came away. ―

L’Irlandesi ― “Cruise” [had a]² letter from Spoleto ― but his reasoning thereon was storto assai.³

So, dormiendo, ἥλθε εἱς τὸ κραββάτιον ’ς τὰ δέκα ὥρας.⁴

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

1. Nina writes: “Σπουδάζω means several things and, for the life of me, I cannot decide for which Lear was going for here. It can mean ‘make haste,’ ‘be busy with something,’ and ‘study, read.’” [↩]
2. Blotted. [↩]
3. Lear is referring to the Irish expedition in defence of the Papal State already mentioned on 4 May, the mixture of English and Italian seems to mean: “the reasoning he did on the letter was very twisted.” [↩]
4. So, sleeping (It.), came to bed at ten (Gr.). Nina: “I am not sure about the transcription. Where I read κραββάτιον there could also be some other variation of the word, and I don’t know what the ‘ς’ stands for, it could be εἱς again though I don’t see any reason for the omission.” [↩]

Cedars Day 7

Very calm day, & positively warm.

Went at 9.30 to Lyle’s, but came a horseman from Claremont ― with a very nice note from M.[L.] Comte de Paris, asking to see my drawings on Monday. ― So I had to return & write an answer, After that, Hewitson interrupted me a bit, so that I only got 4 hours real work. ―

Then Edwards came, ― a good lad, ― & we walked about till 6.

Dinner, livelyish. ― But afterwards I was obliged to go into the reading room, & finally to sing: but barring Cruise & one or two others it was a horrid bore. However I sate till 11.

Such gregarious work is highly odious. ――

Ἄς κάμωμεν πάντοτε τὴν υπομονὴν.¹

Μόνος ειμαι: μόνος ἥμουν: κὰι μόνος πρέπει νὰ ἧημαι ―――― πάντοτε ― τουλακίζον εις τούτον τὸν  κόσμον.²

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

1. Let us always be patient (NB). [↩]
2. I am alone: I was alone: and alone I must be ―――― always ― at least [if by τουλακίζον Lear means τουλάχιστον] in this world (NB). [↩]

Cedars Day 6

X2

Slept ill, rose at 7. Drew at S. Sabbas.

Letter from J.B. Edwards ― who perhaps comes tomorrow.

By 10 at Lyles: he did not come all day.

The wind was tremenjous high, & all out-door work ummoglich¹ ― impossible. Worked from 10 to 5.30 ― but I wis not, if well or ill.

Return at 6. Dinner. The pretty Swede consul’s daughter opposite. I next to Franco Anglo soldier, Cruise…

Evening pleasantish. One Newton potius aper. ――

Came up at 9 ― & penned out, I think, ― the very last of the Athos pencil drawings.

’Even I
Regained my perfection with a Sigh.

that dark land to which I go.²

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

1. I.e. unmöglich, German for “impossible.” [↩]

2. “Poems by Emily Brontë,” XVI, dated 14 December 1837, in Poems by Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë. New: York: Dodd, Mead and Company, 1902, p. 62.

   O mother I am not regretting
   To leave this wrtched world below
   If there be nothing but forgetting
   In that dark land to which I go. [↩]

Cedars Day 5

A quaint life this ― as quaint as that of last year at St. Leonards. ――― Rose before 6; ― & a little Greek, ― & work on S. Sabbas till 8.15. The view is so lonely & glorious from this window, that that alone is worth 2.2.0.

After breakfast at 9.55 went to the “Temple,” ― & got my canvass out at once: but I was obliged to return to the Hotel ἐξ ἀιτίας φυσικὰς.¹ When I came back, the wind had become cold & high, & the place I had fixed on was in shade: so I got thoroughly chilled. After 2.30 I could work no more, so had the picture taken in: & there worked till 4.30. [Judness] knows if it will turn out well. ― ―

After witch, ― I walked through Weybridge ― very pretty cottage old scenes; & returned by 6.

Dinner, livelier: sat next to M^cMahon A.D.C. ― the pleasing Queen like girl opposite. Afterwards various talk. ―――――

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

1. By natural causes (NB). [↩]

Cedars: day 4

X1 Yet rose at 6.15 & drew from 6.45 to 8.15 at Musters S. Sabbas. Gray ― & windy.

Breakfast. Letters from P. Williams, & General Rawdon ―. ―

By 10 went to Mr. Lyles, but παραπολὺ ἄνεμος¹ to draw out of doors: so I worked indoors. Mr. Lyle generally sate by ― quaint enough life. Bye & bye Mr. Hewitson came ― but he was critical & crusty. And altogether my own work went on badly. And lastly, the boy Norman didn’t come, ― so I was obliged to carry my things home myself.

I work here tomorrow!

Dinner ― pleasant, the young Officer, Cruise, is a R.C.² & very liberal & pleasant.

Opposite, a young man Raleigh has been 15 years in Victoria: Some of the others are Swedish Consuls ― &c. &c. ― So at 8.40 I came up stairs.

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

1. Too much wind (ΝΒ). [↩]
2. Reserve Component, or perhaps Roman Catholic. [↩]

Cedars ― Day 3.

Rose at 6 , gray fine. ― Robins song in trees. Worked at “S. Sabbas” till 8. Then walked till 8.20 in gardens ― reading η Πολιτέια.¹ ―

No papers. ― Letters from Percy Coombe, F.C. going on better.

& from Edward Wilson ― a nice & kind letter, asking me to a dinner at the Crystal Palace as a farewell. I wrote an answer ― No: ― but I am sorry I can’t convey to Edward Wilson what I feel about him: a kind hearted man: ― yet we did not pull well together. ――

By 10 I got to Lyles, ― & instantly ― at the [risk]² of breaking my arm, ― got the picture out on the Lawn. From 10 [to] 5½ ― I worked on continually, & progressed a great deal. ―

At 6 home & dressed.

Dinner 6½. The Statistic boring man has gone ― Hay? ― & I sate next to a reasonable fellow ―.

At 9 upstairs ― & now ― 1 hour of penning out ― & 1 hour of Greek ― if ye eyes & head last so long. ― κὰι ἔπειτα, βέδ.³

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

1. Plato’s Republic. [↩]
2. A blot covers this word, of which I am reasonably sure, however, and the “to” in the next line. [↩]
3. And then, bed (ΝΒ). [↩]

Cedars ― day 2.

Fine, i.e. no rain ― but hardly a gleam of sun. ――

Unwell ―: yet rose at 6.30. Some Plato ― & a little drawing. ― Breakfast.

Lamoriciere & Ancona to wit are taken.

Yet the future=horizon of Italy is black & sad.

At 9.30 went to Mr. Lyles ― & at 10 began to work: ― but I did not carry the picture out: ― worked at trunx & branches all day.

Lyle a good deal there. Mrs. & Miss L. also.

― At 6 came home, dressed: dinner.

The same large party ― evidently all very happy & merry ― ἀλλὰ τι τοῦτο ἐις ἐμὲ;¹

If your Bmt put 136+402=538 {if your gate be empty put some coal on. (a riddle given.)

Sate next the boring man who always asks Hay? ― if I speak.

Came away at 8¾ ― & penned out. ―

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

1. But what good is it to me? (NB). [↩]