Edward Lear's Diaries

Gray. No rain: & a shimmering of sun.

All the morning, looked over, & destroyed letters.

At 1.30 called on the Percys ― out, Brights ― where was Ogle. Grenfell, & Chapman, ― seeing R. Cholmondeley & Gibbs: ― Lady James, seeing Sir Walter; ― then home. Poi, Mrs. Leake, out: ― Cockerells, seeing the old gentleman & Fred: ― Miss C. to be Mrs. Benson. Then Mrs. Martineau: ― after all which I returned by 5.30 to Stratford Place.

At 6½ to Lady Bethell’s ― (Sir R. away at Hackwood. ―) Wally there, apparently gentle & gentlemanly. ― I say, apparently for I tremble for his youth. ― And, Gussie, ― always the same, good & real. ― Then came “Baptiste Metaξà ―” & 2 sons ― & it is not possible to say what a disgusting slaverer this man is: how lying, ― false, ― vulgar, ― odious. ― Nothing would be more irritating. ― But the disclosures made by poor Lady B. about Dick, the blackguard, ― were frightful. ― I do not put them down ― but keep them to shudder at. ―

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

XXX[9]

Gray ― but not wet day.

πιν το μεσημερι, δεν εμπωρουσα να καρει τιποτε.¹

Afterwards, worked at one Parnassus pretty well.

No one came. Review day.

Mr. Terrick Hamilton only ― at 5. ―

Dined at T. Wyatt’s ― Manbys & Digby W.s only there: pleasant as always.

Sang a great deal.

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

1. Then at midday, nothing at the frame shop” (GT). [↩]

Slept, or “didn’t sleep” ― particularly ill. ― Rose before 8 ― all energy about rising here is folly. ― Took some tea, & penned out Porto Venere till 10½ ― when Bright came. ― At 11 C. Fortescue, when we two breakfasted: C.F. is always unchangeably good & gentle. ― At 12 he went. ― Then I penned out again more or less. F.L. coming in, & a second time at 3½. At 4 ― Bus to city ― but feeling unwell: went to see 2 pictures of Jerusalem by [Selders] ― horrors. ― Then to Temple, & F.’s rooms; having first seen his Volunteer Corps Manœvering. His rooms, ― wh. I had never been in ― strangely recalled past years: ― the same objects & similarly placed. ― At 6¼, he, I, & Benj. Grey went to L. Bridge ― & meeting K. Macaulay there ― all to Greenwich. The others at the dinner, wh. was Chapman’s, were W.G. Clark, & W. Lushington. Dinner very oppressive to me ― & the evening dull outside ― with rain. Rejoiced to go away. ― Rail at 11 to town.

Bus to Stratford Place. ―

Τα καλα πραγματα της ζωης μας ολα, βεβαια, ετελειωθη σαν. Και δεν εμπορου πουν θα επι ζεψουν πωλε!¹

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

1. More or less, according to Google Translator: “the good things of life have, of course, all been accomplished (ετελειωθη, from James 2.22). And no merchant would say to sell [].” [↩]

Aperiently, finer.

Worked at the Cambridge Bassæ letters, & got all sealed. Began

Edward Sayres & his wife called & staid some time ― & with that visit I was greatly pleased. Then Mr. Morier, who never grows old. ― Finished Miss Yates’s Jánina. Later came Edward Wilson: & then Col. Hornby: who is much aged. ―

At 4 I went out & made many calls: Col. Clowes only at home. Talk ― nolens volens ― about S.W.C.

― Across the Park: storm: home in time. Dined on cold beef. ―

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

Wet all the morning ― fine after 4, with shower.

Rose at 7. ― After breakfast wrote many letters. ― Then I put down carpets abundantly; & later, worked at the 3 Parnassii. Then ― at 2 ― I called on Clives, out, ― Lady Grey; ― & then lunch at Sir Louis, ― with the Spencer Robinsons, ― very pleasantly. Poi ― Mrs. Bouverie, who indeed is dull.

Then lots of card leaving ― & call on J. Edwards Major! ― with him, came home, & he staid till 6½ ―

After that I had my hair cut ― & dined (badly ―) at the Blue Posts. Returning ― wrote many letters, & arranged the Cambridge Bassæ letters for sending.

Wrote also to George ― & so ― it is 11

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

Wet. Off by 8. Coach to Yarmouth ― steamer ― rail to town by 3.

It is always sad to leave Emily T. & indeed all of them ― & I was all worry ― not reflecting on much of AT’s miseries. F.L. is certainly one of a million also.

At home.

LETTER FROM GIORGIO:

all well at Corfû ― this is indeed a great comfort.

Most horrible pouring rain, & that close weather like November. (Tho’ F.L. says the streets never dry there, & do now if it don’t rain.) Calls, on Lady Hunter, ― stouter, & kind, & foolish: ― Mrs. Meade: both unpleasantly reminding me of their vulgar silly father “old Bo.” Sayers ― all out: ― Bethells ― ditto. Lady Coltman ― much older ― & praise: ― Lady [Northerlie] then: ― Sir A. Calcott’s picture ― how weak! ― Home ― meeting [Moynam]― & Mr. Louis. ― Dressed ― & cab to Crakes ― A curate of Harness’s, (Langhorne ―) Edward Crake, & Mrs. Vandeleur. ― Dinner rather pleasant though sad, for good Mr. C. is far weaker. ― Afterwards, the result of my singing A.T.’s songs was intensely absurd after last night.

RAIN.

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

X8

A long walk alone ― to the needles: day very lovely. I irritable.

Afterwards, lunch: & then all of us to Mrs. Cameron’s: ― sang ― & much applause. Later F. & I walked alone.

Returning, found that wonderful Mrs. C. had sent a grand Piano!

Dinner more pleasant.

AT’s discourses on criticism ― alas!

At 9½ or 10 ― Mrs. C. ― Miss Perry, & Prinseps came, & I sang to 12½.

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

Rain all night, & this morning ditto & wind.

Rose at 6: & penned out the first of my Spezzia drawings. Breakfast ― exceedingly uncomfortable, as al solito here: ― Gt. Eastern passing ― huge. Afterwards, AT F.L. & I set out to the Downs, ― but it rained, & after an hour we came back. Lunch. ― & some quiet talk here & there with F.L. & E.T. ― Later, we three set out to walk again, but AT was most disagreeably querulous & irritating & would return, chiefly because he saw people approaching. But F.L. would not go back, & led zigzag-wise towards the sea ― AT snubby & cross always. After a time he would not go on ― but led us back by muddy paths (over our shoes,) a short-cut home ― hardly, even at last, avoiding his horror, ― the villagers coming from church.. ― Verily this is a wondrous man ― of dreamy sweet words. ― Dinner, & afterwards dessert: & later tea: & converse till 10½. ― AT on Norway Catarax, & [Civitra] &c. &c. ― many times repeated: ― & on seasickness: ― & ― εντρ επομαι να το ειπω ― αλλα πραγματα.¹

So I came to bed: ― & believe that this is my last visit to Faringford: ― nor can I wish it otherwise all things considered. ―

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

1. More or less, “and he continued to speak ― other things.” [↩]

Rose earlier, & arranged &c. …

At 10 ― to Waterloo Station, where I met F.L. a party of Prinseps ― &c. &c. &c. ― shirked.

At Lymington, we got some beer & biscuits, ― & went over to Yarmouth in a pouring rain. There was Mrs. Cameron, rushing al solito. We two got a fly ― & to Faringford ― where soon we saw AT ― ET & the 2 boys. The place was very green & pretty, walking till dressing time. ET is very pale & languid, poor dear angel ― for she is an angel & no mistake.

Dinner ― μερικα πραγματα που δεν γραφω.¹ ―

The evening was pleasant & quiet, & would all have been happy, only at 10, Mrs. C. & her train came & odious incense palaver & fuss succeeded to quiet home moments. After all, it is perhaps better now, never to feel happy & quiet: so one gradually cares less for life, η οποια ειναι η σοφια της Ζωης μας² ―― I shall return on Tuesday, with F.L. ― “We come no more to the golden shore, where we danced in days of old.” Pouring rain.

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

1. Some things I do not write (μερικά πράγματα που δεν γράφουν, GT). [↩]
2. Which is the wisdom of our lives (που είναι η σοφία της ζωής μας, GT). [↩]

Dear me! τι έρημος¹ of stupid days!

Wrote various letters & worked a little at the 3 incubi.² Gave a draft for 30£ to Mr. Mills of the Bookcase & sideboard.

Packed & arranged for tomorrow’s giro.

C. Fortescue came: & at 3¼ ― Lord & Lady Clermont & 2 Miss Coles: very kind nice people all. Lord C. wants a “dead sea.” Everybody wants ‘Dead Sease.’

Then came Daddy Hunt, & then there was just time to cab to Drummonds ― & Bus to Brompton. Dined at the Coombes. ――

Walked at 8½ across the Park & called on E. Sayers ― but there was a party & I did not go up… Then on Mr. Morier: then on Mrs. Leake. Home by 10, but lady A. Beckett having a ball, I pulled my mattress into the back room ― knowing else no sleeping hopes.

XXX7

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

1. What desert. [↩]
2. Nightmares. [↩]