Edward Lear's Diaries

X10

Sent letter to Dickenson.

A horrible night of rain & wind, ― & towards 4 A.M. a storm of thunder. Ugh! ― Finished “Yeast.”

No sleep.

Cross & unwell. To Macbeans. ―

All things odious.

Returned to idle & mope ― worked a little at one of the 2 Jerusalem pictures for Musters. Finer, but violent winds.

[gr.], this is a most unhealthful place ― this dreary old prison. ― In the afternoon I worked better, on Musters’s Beirût, G. going out, “να αφησω την φυλακα ολιγον,”¹ & returning to write more cheerfully. ― I, at 6 ― alone, to the monotonous Borghese, with its files of red, black, & blue, & white priestlets. ― Up the Corso, & at 7½ to the Falcone, where at least one dines quietly ― I prefer to dine out just now, that G. may have time for writing.

At home by 8½.

I think now, as Spillmann evidently cares “nothing about me ―” I would rather leave the rooms in [S. Lee’s], or some agent’s care, to let them as may be profitable. ― If I can but hang on till Musters drawings are done ― (not to say C. Church’s,) it would be a great thing: & it is certain that in this weather or any similar no movement out of Rome could be made with advantage.

I am obliged to have fires at night always: & when I went out at 6 it was bitterly cold. Yet so heavy is the air, that I cannot rise before 8 ― hardly then.

X11

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

1. I leave the prison (GT). [↩]

Rain at intervals till 3 or 4 then fine, but windy.

To Macbean’s. Spillmann makes “no sign” ― so I suppose my “furniture” will go a begging. ― Returned, & partly colored the Syrian penned sketches.

Thought if I should see the Etruscan country instead of the Riviera? At 2 called on Newbolt ― & bought a 10 scudi drawing ― & spoke to him of a tour to Nepi &c. &c. ― Then to Coleman ― where I got a Buffalo’s head, for the same price. Poor Coleman! ― Mrs. C. begged to speak to me, & it seems she wishes C. to get to England, ― feeling how ill he is, & that a summer there may set him right, though nothing here ever can. ― Her language about writing to his brothers was very good: for she well conceives that no Italian letter from an Italian wife imploring her husband’s removal would be dubiously looked on. I promised to write myself. ― ― Thinking the subject over, though: ― I am not sure poor C. could bear so long a journey. ― I must think, & not decide hastily. ― Then on the Knights, C.K. returned: lunch with him, & considerable talk. Among other things I find he dislikes ―――, not on my original grounds ― (the Γραφίσμος) ― but from some prepossession. ― Talk of the Etruscan tour. ―――

Returned & bought a “Central Italy Murray:” ― then walked with P.W. on to P. Pia. Rather livelier than at times: yet the penance is great. ―

Dined again at the Φαλκώνε ― quiet & decent: & some very beautiful violin music.

Returned; to coffee: & G. with a cigar: ― poor G. is fretting again about Spiro’s not writing.

ας ει παγωμεν απο εδω! διοτι δεν ειναι καλον να εμεθα εις με συ τον λακαον τουτον! κλεισμενοι εις τουτον το σπηλαιον.¹

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

1. More or less: “Let’s get away from this ice cold! Because it is not good to stay [here]! Closed in this cave” (GT). [↩]

Slepp vastly. ――――― At 8 all clear & bright, & it really seemed as tho’ the weather was changed. ―

Accounts ― & advanced 5 dollars to G. for “ricordi”¹ for his wife &c. ― Also paid Spillmann 25 dollars ― & wrote to him propoging that he should purchase the furniture of these rooms. Whether he does or not I shall only feel too liberato² και ελεθερος³ when I am out of this “buco.”⁴ ―

Went to Macbeans ― & lo! rain again!

The afternoon howbeet was clear.

I worked pretty hard all day at Musters’ Jerusalem ― at times despairingly, but leaving off at 6 in somewhat better humour.

Mr. Barton & a friend called.

At 6½ went to the Falcone & dined alone, reading Kingsley’s “Yeast.” The “lights of other days” which colour the Falcone are too sad for me to bear with very well. ―

O this sad weary place! ―

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

1. Souvenirs. [↩]
2. Set free. [↩]
3. And free (GT). [↩]
4. Hole. [↩]

The same stormy cold weather. Obliged to have a fire lighted. ―

Did not go out.

Jamieson came ― potius aper. ― θα πηγαινει ομου με εμε δια να περι πατησει απο την Σπεζιαν ― αλλα δεν α φισκει.¹

At 6 ― to Macbeans ― no one else there ― & as usual good food & thorough welcome: they are about the nicest lot of folk here.

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

1. More or less, “I had better press on to La Spezia ― but not in a crowd” (GT). [↩]

A truly horrible day. ― ημερα τρομερα κακη.¹ Pouring rain at intervals all day, ― snow ― hail, high wind, & oppressive air. Macbeans. No papers.

Ill, from violent indigestion & asthma, & so

XXXX9

Worked little ― at 2 Jerusalems.

Col. Percy came.

Walked on the Pincian ― 6 to 7 ― rain, & rainbow.

Dined alone. bed early. ―

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

1. Terribly bad day (GT). [↩]

Drew 50 dollars from Macbean.

Gracious goodness! wet again! ―

Clear at 11. Macbeans.

Letters from C.F. & Gibbs. ―

Worked really hard ― as far as the dark gray day allowed, ― the drawings of S. Sabbas, & Baalbek. ―

At 5½ called on P.W. ― out. ― Then walked to P. Pia ― very cold. “fait pas chaud” ― I heard the sentinel say. ―

Called at the K.s: C. not yet come. ――

Mrs. & Miss Kennedy there: nice people aperiently.

Called also on the Caldwells, & saw H.J. Percy. there ― how “ferret=gimlet=eyed.” ― He has been up Masada & to ποιος εξευρει ποτε, εις δυω μηνες.¹ ―

Returned to dine alone: ― & R. Cholmondeley afterwards.

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

1. Lear perhaps wanted to say, “he did not find it, and came down in a few months.” [↩]

X8

Pouring rain till after 1 P.M.

Macbeans. ― All the rest of the day worked at all the Watercolor drawings ―. Called on Cholmondeley at 3, & at 5 he came to me, & we walked round the Borghese.

Dined alone, & worked again at 2 drawings of Jerusalem.

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

Absolutely pouring rain, all day long ― never once stopping. To Macbeans: ― but on returning home, worked hard till 6½ ― at Musters’ Philæ ― except[ly] for half an hour when a Mr. & Mrs. Taylor came with the Featherstonhaughs.

Could not go out for torrents. Dined alone.

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

X7

Wet, dark, & dismal, al solito. ― A moddle came, the last ―: & then I arranged things for working at Musters’s 7 watercolor drawings. ― To Macbeans. Home: drew a little & lunch. At 3 to the Storys, where Newton lectured again, well. ― Saw Cholmondeley. ― Sate till dark with I. & H. Knight. ― Home in the rain, & dined alone. ―

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

Sent boxes ― (2) to Macbean.

Finish, ― but showers. Why does Mr. Yarrell’s room, & kind Miss Yarrell also come to me now ― but that the first letters I wrote, “Finish,” ― were like his plain hand writing? Clues ― ― linx: ― remoat threds. Essays might be written.

Completed packing, & sent off G. with a letter to Macbean. Went to Macbean’s. … Sicilian tranquillity?

Returned, & began to work a water color’d drawing till 3 or 4 ― the rooms being now clean & nearly empty. And, supposing I may go in 2 weex ― I bought a N. Italy Murray, & am studying the Riviera, & Cornice. ― At 5 several cards & calls ― & at 5½ to Williams’s, & walked with him out of the P. Pia, where, for once, there were mountains to be seen.

Del Gallo ― Giulia
Primoli ―― Carlotta
Gabrielli ― Maria
Campello ― Augusta
Cambareres ― Bathilde

The beggars, & the slow walking & the cowardice, bullied me horridly: ― & I left P.W. in the V. Rasella to hasten home ― arriving in time to be ready for dinner, & C. Newton.

C.N. is so far uncomfortable that he eats & drinx nothing, & I much: but so far otherwise that he is so pleasant & kindly & educated as to make one forget his incapacity for edible sociality. Later, our conversation was interesting, especially of R. who was at C. Church, with N. ― After he had been around, N. says [gr.]

A very nice letter from Woolner to-day: but Emily Tennyson is very unwell. ―

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