Edward Lear's Diaries

Perfectly fine all day ― αλλα κακη ημερα ειναι προς εμε!¹

Rose at 5½ ― & worked till 8, packed. Then deer & the trees. Breakfast ― but no time for &c. before starting ― whereby I became ill & worse when I got home at 12.

XX*

Slept, could not work.

Heard of P. Williams being at C. Eastlakes ― alone & in the dark. ― Went there & saw him, poor fellow. ―

On to Ann ― with a nosegay ― but she was at tea with 2 friends ― & I ran away [gr.]²

Dined at home. ― Still ill, bad cold & indignation.

*XX1

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

1. But it is a bad day for me! [↩]
2. παλα πολλα [], perhaps meaning παρα πολλα, “too many,” then a word I cannot read. [↩]

A really fine day all through, & a happy. ―

Rose at 5. The deer & those [tall] trees!! ― Worked at C.M.C.’s Dead Sea, till 8.45. Prayers ― μακρη ειναι η θρεσαια εδω.¹

Breakfast merry & pleasant. Mary Chester is going to be married to one Phitzgerald ― who must at least be a sensible fellow, & I should think a good one. ― 10.30 to 12 showed Palestine views with much “acclaim.” Walked at 12 to Mr. Legge ― saw Mrs. Howards & other portraits by Edwin Long. ― On to Leatherheadd. Poor Ellen: ― dined with her. ― Letter from Mrs. Smith of Charmath enclosing one from poor Mary; she speaks well of Charles [] Street, & says little of Boswell: ― I hope she may return: ― walk back by 4 ― & worked till 5. Walk with W. Legge. ― showed drawings again to him & Barbara Chester ― & sang Idyll songs to her. Dinner pleasant. The Curate ― additional.

Evening ― sang a good deal ― και καλα.²

Αυτη η ημερα επαρανε παραπολυ καλα: και επιθυμω οτε εμπουρουσα να παρασω αλλας τοιοτας.³

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

1. Long / far is the []. [↩]
2. And well. [↩]
3. This provincial day [was] good: and I do not wish to trade []. [↩]

Masada 3^rd day

Rose at 6.30.

Letter from Spillman: tin received. There is now but one year’s rint (sic) to pay. ― Wrote to Ann, C.F., C.M.C. & others. Long reading of Times.

Did a little to the 2 Nunehams ― but “muddling” ― & arranging drawings occupied most of my time.

Later, retraced & reoutlined the big Masada.

About 3, Majr. & Miss Reynolds Yates came ― but I was obliged to dismiss them ― as going to a Railway. She is gossipy & a bore: he ditto. ―― At 4.30 cab to Waterloo ― & rail to Epsom ― 5.30 ― arrive 6.10. Mrs. H.’s omnibus to Ashtead. Dressing time.

Mr. W. Legge ― H.t Paget, 2 Bagots & one Mrs. B., wh. was a Chester. ― Lady Augusta Seymour ― a “Harvey” (men, women, & Harveys) & her daughter ― & General A. Upton. Mrs. G.H. ― dear good old lady ― older: otherwise the same grand old lady. ―

Much of the narrow old [Forgion]¹ riles me now ― (not in her ― she was always a Xtian, ) but it is more foolish to speak. ――

Lady A. & Miss P. played. I sang, but [these well] alla AT ― incomprehensible to them, except perhaps Mrs. G.H. ― To bed at 11. ――― Ah! Very calm moonlight ―but dim & darkling! Yet the repose I now so seldom enjoy = the absolute quiet of these stately moveless trees! ――――

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

1. I am not at all sure of this word, might it be a conflation of “forgery” and “religion”? The whole page is quite difficult to read. [↩]

Large Masada ―― outline ― Day 2

Rose at 6. Penned. Rain at times.

Worked till 2 ― Nunehams, & outline of big Masada ― wh. I did all wrong & must do over again.

Called on Mrs. Beadon, at Wynnes, & Cock’s on Daddy Hunt, Eggs. Bus to Sloane St. & cab to Severns ― left book, out. ― back to Sloane St. & falling in with P.E. Coombe, walked to Trafalgar Square with him.

Fanny C. is very unwell. But on the whole the evening passed very pleasantly.

Bus back by 10.30.

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

Large Masada. ― 1. day

Rain at times ― & gloom always.

Letter from ET. Lady Simeon is dead!

Penned out a good deal ― & finished all the 1858 Palestine views.

Worked a little at the 2 Nunehams.

Later began the squaring of the great Masada.

Edwards came at 6 ― & at 7.30 we dined at the Blue Posts. He goes tomorrow.

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

Raining, of course. However, the B.p of Oxford has decided on praying for change of weather ― λοιπον ― ειναι να ελπιση, τος.¹ ―

Unwell: ― indigestible & rheumatic.

X10

Worked at penning out remaining Palestine sketches ― & also at the Morning Nuneham ― off & on ― dilatinly

at 5 Gibbs, 6 N. Johnson came ― they are off to Messina ― so we made “notes of travel.” The are good huming=beans.

At 7 to W.F. Beadon ― the last day before Mrs. B. returns. Little Willie goes [] Wellington College. ―W.F.B. fades, poor dear fellow, fades away.  His 20^th child is near at hand. His talk of his father, & of his sister Bruce was touching in the extreme.

X11

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

1. Therefore, there is hope, [] (GT). [↩]

A fine day!!!!!!!!!!

(But it clouded at 6 & rained at 8.)

Drew: garden ― & dined.

At 3 W.N. & I walked to West Green & walked at the old house ― now a Tulip-fancier’s one Mr. Williams. ― Back to Woodberry ― & tea. Guy Pelly N. ―

Brougham to Islington. Called again on Ann who is better. Found a letter at home from Fanny Coombe & wrote to her.

West Green, Woodberry ― Holloway & “the Ride” ― Hornery Lane, Hintons ― Haywoods &c. Holloway road ― Arnolds, Francis’s, Mr. Hicks &c. &c. & so to Grays Inn Road ― 38 Upper North Place ― & what a vast crowd of small memories from years of past life!!

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

Extreme torrents of rain all day long: & very dark.

Painted but little at the 2 Nunehams.

At 2 went to Dr. Rimabault’s ― & on to Ann who is better. Back to Stratford Pl. ― & then W. Nevill’s, with whom to Woodberry ― & dined. “Penned out.”

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

Rose at 8. Rain all day ― & quite dark, could hardly work at colors ― but penned out.

Captain Jameson. Mr. & Mrs. Coleridge, ― Major Edwards & Mr. Hawker, Mr. Morier & Burnet M. called. Dined at Blue Posts with C.F. who returned with me.

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

Rose before 6. Penned out till 8. ― Fine early ― but as usual cloud & rain after 12.

X

Letter from Emmy Penrhyn.

Deadly “low spirits” ― but I worked at the Nuneham Church-field picture & at Cedar Lebanon sketches all day off & on. W.N. came at 2: always pleasant & good. Then I took leave of Gush, who goes to America on Saturday. ― Certainly these are most comfortable lodgings.

At 5.30 ― to Egg’s ― 6.30 dinner.

Mrs. Egg: ―――

Holman Hunt ―― Wilkie Collins & ― Pigott.

Dinner & wines very good. ―

We staid till 11.15. Then W.C. & I set off to walk, but Daddy did so too & talked ever ― & ever “willful=obstinate.” ― So I got onto a cab, & came home.

XXXX9

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