Edward Lear's Diaries

QUITE FINE!

NORTH WIND & CLEAR!!!!!!!!!!

Worked off & on at Jerusalem & other drawings. To Macbeans. V.E. has entered Bologna. Called on Reilly ― who is a very promising young painter, & a nice gentlemanly fellow.

On the K.s also. ―

At 2 came Pozza a “room=letter:” ― but even if these rooms did not let, I could but be glad to leave this odious place.

Worked again ― but very interruptedly.

At 5½ on the Pincian: always disagreeable to me. At 6½ Table d’hote D’Angleterre, ― Cholmondeley there. Altogether noisy & vulgar & odious. ― Returned to find G. out: but he came home soon.

Altogether, G. had better leave me: & live in his own Country: ― many things lead me to this conclusion. His fretting about his wife & children ― (whose existence I did not know of when I took him away,) alters him a good deal.

Let me go to Peru or Rio Janeiro ― or Ceylon ― or N. Zealand.

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

Apparently settled fine ― fog cleared at 9. ―

Drew a little, & to Macbeans. ― 1000 Irish landed at Ancona & other botherations.¹ Came home. G. unwell. Clouds & darkness. Called on P.W. ― & sent for Passports. ― At 2 violent Thunderstorm followed by hail & rain till 4 or 5. What weather!

At 6½ to Macbeans: Miss Webb only there ― & 2 female Webbs afterwards. Miss W. is not σωφοτάτη² ―: I gave her a letter to S. Saunders at Alexdria. ― Col. Gordon is a delightful old Gentleman. [7 among] his earliest Captain days being at Kendal ― where he used to draw up his Dragoons on the road just after a Gretna Couple³ had passed ―― hindering the pursuers. ― Also he speaks of “a Miss Howard of Levens” “a great heiress in those days.” ―― He is 74, but doesn’t seem 50. The Macbean Casa is certainly very pleasant.

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

1. On the Irish expedition to help the Pontifical State in 1860, see Sullivan, Alexander Martin. New Ireland: Political Sketches and Personal Reminiscences of Thirty Years of Public Life. Glasgow: Cameron & Ferguson, 1878. v. II pp. 21-48: “Papal Ireland.” [↩]
2. Meaning σοφοτατη, i.e. “very wise” (GT). [↩]
3. Gretna Green is a village in the south of Scotland famous for runaway weddings. [↩]

Sent letter to Alexander Coleman.

Rose later. Ever rain & depressing scirocco: now the very streets are dead. ―― Newbolt came ― to whom I gave 10 scudi: & Edward Coleman ― to whom also 12½ for his father: & then I wrote to Coleman’s brother at Liverpool ― offering 15£ to help C.C. home if possible.

No letters. & G. is uneasy.

Returned: but I am not able to work, unless fixed. ―

At 5 went to RC but he was going out.

To the K.s & sate with Helen for a time.

Then with RC  to the Φαλκώνε ― very pleasant. RC  is a very nice fellow.

(X2)

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

Finer. Rose earlier. At 8¼ to Alessandri’s, the Photographer, & had Giorgio Phographed. Took the Abruzzi book to show the Aquila brothers ― but I don’t think they cared about it. Little D. Gregorio Masciarelli is also in Rome: ― should I, or not, go to see him? ―― ―― Macbeans. ―

At 2 went with G. to the Cemetery: a ˇ[tolerably] fine afternoon, & all very beautiful: also up M. Testaccio. Afterwards I went on alone, & called on Newbolt, & on Coleman ―: poor C. has had another fit. ― All there is very sad, except the truth & courage of his wife.

Returned at 5 & drew till 6½ at Jerusalem.

Dined at the Angleterre; ― sitting next to RC ― & it was pleasant enough. Two angry disputers on the opposite side of the table.

XX1

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

Sent letter to W.H. Hunt.

Rose earlier. Rain & dark. Cleared at 9, & I had 2 photograph portraits taken of myself. ― Looked over an Album of Bonaparte portraits. ― Macbeans.

Letter from W.H. Hunt: the picture finished. ― Wrote to him: ― that is the really finest composition of a MAN ― body & soul. ― I have ever met with.

My day went in buying various small things ― G. says ― “[] Αγιον Ορος.”¹ ― & paying bills.

(Why are the little birds melancholy at sunrise? Because their little bills are all over dew? due?)

About 4½ I went to Cholmondeley’s ― & saw Nanna the Modelless: what wonderful hair! ― C.’s painting struck me as careful, but faint, yet, so unfinished I could not tell. Feebleness & care is a better mixture than boldness & contempt. ― Went to the K.s, & saw H. & poor Isabella, who is a little better. The Kennedys were there; & Miss K. said ― “the weather is so bad that Mr. Burgon has begun to day to pray for fine weather.”!

O Priests!

Afterwards, walked with Cholmondeley. ² ― “all about” ― & I was very merry: ― into & out of streets ―& sat by when he had his hair cut: ― afterwards, dined at the Φαλκώνε & returned by 9. ―

I do nothing in these days, but uprooting oneself takes it out of one, more or less.

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

1. [] Mount Athos. [↩]
2. Part of the page is surrounded by symbols like this one, evidently a monogram for Cholmondeley. In the posts to come this will be indicated by RC. [↩]

Sent letters to Ann & C.F.

Promising finer ― half a gleam of sun. ― But at 2 pouring rain, & black November weather again.

Macbeans. ― Did not work.

Bought things for Ann & others.

Wrote to Ann, & letter from her. ―

Went to Dessoulavy ― & certainly did puchiss photograffs, Lizards, mosaics &c. &c.
Called on Macbeans also ― & sate with clever Mrs. M. & Mrs. Gordon. ―― Rain always ― clearer before sunset & a small walk  on the Pincian. Saw a [Bopie] ― whom I suppose was Maria B.: ― they were all very kind to me in those days. ― And, as I turned into the Corso, there was Cavaliere Ricci ― of those kind Aquila Abruzzi days! ―

There’s something in this world amiss

Will be unriddled bye & bye.

And I did not speak to him: nor do I think it possible he could have known me. ― And I also thought I saw Monsignore Coletti ―――――.

At 4 P.M. a card was brought me ― “Mr. Empson” & “Mrs. Charles Empson” written thereon. I thought it was the remaining brother of the Professor ― but it turned out an old gent, of snowy & meek-like look ― “a distant relative Sir.” ― He had come so far to see W.S. Landor, & had letters to Browning, ― & knew “Pentland.” By degrees it came to me that there was a C. Empson senior: Newcastle ― who also went to Bath after a certain time: ― & I can’t but think this the man. He was about 40 when I was a lad of 17: & may be 70 now. ―― Hum. ―― He called afterwards again, ― asking G. where he could dine? ― G. said ― “In qualunque sito ―”  but finding he did not understand Italian ― added, ― “Everywhere Sir, ― all over the place! ― [Vide overleaf 29 April]

[30 Apl. (from overleaf.)]

Dined at the Falcone: rain ― al solito.

G. in the evening told me this story ― told him by a Greek of ˇ[Ianina] who was on board the boat from Corfu to Brindisi. Being at Tricala  ― a place aboundly in storx, this man ˇ[& others] saw ― sitting in a garden ― a large snake go up a tree to a storks nest: the 2 old storx made no end of clatter & by that means drew by degrees a cloud of storx ― all the storx of the Peneus ― who flew, & clattered, but didn’t touch the snake. At length some flew away, & returned with more ― 2 large or older particularly: & these fell on the snake & struck him down ― whereon all the storx rushed at the abolished serpent, & tore him into pezzi,  & were happy ever after.

X13

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

Gray ― early: & I wished to take G. to the Cemetery. Wrote to C.F. ― No church. At 12 it rained as usual, & so on all day. Nevertheless I went to S. Peters & back ―: disgustable.

Wrote to Jamieson.

Dined at the Knights ― Isabella very poorly. ―

[The rest of the page is taken by the final part of the entry for 30 April.]

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

Sent letter to F.L.

Utterly sunless, but dry ― wonderful to say! ― until 3, when it began to rain again & rained on always.

Macbeans ― no papers.

Worked at colouring sketches. ―

Amused by seeing the G. Duchess M. of Russia go from the Hotel opposite: 4 immense hay carts of vast trunks & cases ― 3 large carriages & 2 small ones. 3 carriages of servants ― 1 for 2 ladies of honour. 1 for C. Strogonoff & the G. Duchess ― & lastly one containing 2 male & 1 female servant & 23 bundles: ― the vastness of beggardom let loose on this ulterior transitory vehicle was wondrous. ―

Sat an hour with P. Williams. Anecdote of Miss Hosmer & others. ― Dined at the Φαλκῶνε.

Deep rain & mud ――― like December in 1837.

[How] George is to sit & smoke: poor fellow ― he bears up well for him: but I hope to be away in 10 days ― & he on the road home.

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

XX12

An odious month! ― The same heavy dark sky & fits of rain. ― Macbeans. ― Worked off & on at one of the 2 Jerusalems ― & coloring Syrian sketches all day. At 7 to Cholmondeleys ― only his brother Charles there ― very pleasant.

Dessoulavy came afterwards ― & was immensely amusing. He came here in Dec. 1817 ― & was then 16 years old ― ergo is 59 now. (Gibson had come in October 1817 ― & was then about 28: now consequently some 72 or 73.)

D.’s account of Turner & old Kaisermann was most laughable. He talks of going to England to settle.

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

In no country is it possible to suppose a gloomier day.

Rain early. To Macbean’s ― no news, now a days.

Then worked hard at Jerusalem, (having sponged out all the last 3 days work on it, & beginning wholly on a new task.) & on Baalbek, besides colouring penned sketches.
“Intervals of leisure” ― certainly not looking out of doors into the dismal rain. And poor George, (never again will I be so selfish as to allow a good servant so to sacrifice his life’s comfort, ― for as he says ― this kitchen “guard’a’ una mura sola ―”¹ ―) writing as long as he can, complains of the dark & dismal weather naturally. ― Indeed Rome is a gross imposture in all ways. ― After 5 I went out, & meeting Cholmondeley (who has written to me to dine there tomorrow,) walked with him a bit: he is odd & quaint, & I don’t understand him altogether, but “make allowances.” ― Later, to the K.s: & sate with “Helen” & Isabella. “Υπομονή”² indeed!
Walked back, in rain: & dined at home. ― I offered G. his “carta”³ to day, & that he might go home at once: but he was half angry, & said ― “cosa fa 1, o 2, o 3 settimane? Non vado:⁴ ― ἅς ὑπάμωμεν ὀμοῦ. ―((Clearly intending to say “Let us go [away] together” (GT).))

A blazing fire tonight ― as at Xmas, ― & chilly all the day for want of one. ―

Afterwards as I was going to bed, G. moaning about the rain & darkness, I said, “I wished I could see him more allegro”⁵ ― whereon he became agitated & angry ― come ― “con mia figlia morta ancora non è 2 mesi? ―” sono uomo ― [penso] un ora ― lavoro un’ora. ―”⁶ ― and much else poor fellow. I did all I could to comfort him poor fellow ― but life is sad enough, & I would never be the cause of its being repeated.

Still he would not go ― wh. I offered again. ―

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

1. “Looks towards a single wall,” perhaps meaning there is no view from the windows. [↩]
2. Patience. [↩]
3. Passport. [↩]
4. What difference do 1, 2 or 3 weeks make? I’,m not going” [↩]
5. Happy. [↩]
6. What ― “with my daughter dead for less than two months? ―” I’m a man ― I [think] for an hour ― I work for an hour. [↩]