Edward Lear's Diaries

Fine. Gray.

Wrote, till 2 P.M. to James Edwards
Fairbairn
Dickenson
Egg.
Holman Hunt
T. Cooper
Major Reynolds.

At 3 called on Miss Goldsmid & Mrs. Naylor …………

The P. of W. came at noon. ―

Church at 3.30. ― The P. ― the L.H.C. & all the suite. It was odd to see the same cortege ― Genl. ― (the Col. Bruce ―) walking up the aisle, as at Rome in 1860. But how changed the prospects of that young man!! ― the guiding controlling father ――― gone.

Walk with Geoff, who was at church ― to the Temple & then Ἀνάλειψις platform ― & the one gun ― round, where, unhappily we fell in with Capt. Clifford. Later, with Hutton, who amiably walked home with me: ― he & his friends go on Wednesday.

So to Decies at 7. Geoff ― & Luard. Merry & pleasant dinner: talk: singing: & walk home ― as far as his boat ― with Geoff. Happier days in Corfû “we shall not see” ―; ― nor could we have expected such.

Home before 11. ―

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

Warm, ― gray: rainy at times ― all day. Earthquake at 7 P.M.

Worked at Janina ― hardly more than outline ― for I did all wrong yesterday.

Worried & fussed.

Letters from Dickenson ― both the {Corfu & | Cedars are “accepted.”
Ellen.
Sophy Bergmann.

Note from Mr. Craven ― he goes to Charteris’s rooms in the Politi house ―― I, upstairs, when he goes.

Walked out at 5.30 ― overtaking Col. & Mrs. Herbert & Miss Fergusson ― & walking to Kastrades & back.

Woolffs little girl remains in the same state.

At 6.35 ― home ― & when sitting down ― beginning to eat fish ― a smart wrench=shock of Earthquake ― at 7. All the bells rang.

Yet George was uncertain at the moment as to if it was not someone trying at the door!

Upstairs, Mrs. Maude understood it at once, since there, so much higher, the windows &c. jingled.

That poor lonely little woman!

Penned out till 9.30.

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

Fine, grayish, sunny at times: warm.

Worked at the large Janina: but very off & on.

Came ― Mrs. Boyd.
Giovanni Παραμυθιότι ― &
5 Ladies ― his wife one.
Sir Charles Sargent
& Geoff H.

At 3.30 went out with Geoff ―to Βηρῶ ― how lovely!! ―

Ate oranges, & returned by 6.30.

Dined alone. Penned out till 10.

εὐτυχῆς ἡμέρα:¹ ― the walk with Geoff was delightful.

Little sleep ― crying baby.

X6

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

1. Happy day (NB). [↩]

Rain, & very dark ― worked a very little to Corfû A ― to which I know not how to do any more ― tho’ it is far from finished. Heavy & dull weather, eyes & head suffering. Wrote to Ellen ― Then

X5

After which sleep till one o’clock. ― Half, or more than half distracted by noise of all sorts ― among the rest, of Mrs. Maude’s playing jigs for the 80^th time.

I really do not see that staying here at all is possible. ― What then must I do?

Reading over this day of last year ― how alike!

ˇ[At 3 P.M.] The noise apexed in Stirling & some one else singing in all the howls of Hell. ― So I found I could not bear it, & went up to see Mrs. A. Craven, ― from whom I learned that the Politi first floor is really offered to them, & they have not yet given an answer about it. I afterwards saw Paramythotti, who again promised I should have the 3^rd floor if vacant, & I wrote to Craven, saying this, & that I hoped he would go.

At 4 went out, & called on Miss Goldsmid, who, (& also Mrs. Naylor[)] are unwell. Then I saw Craven in the street ― & to Decies, who came home with me & staid till 6. After wh. I sate with the Goldsmid for ½ an hour ― & at 7.15 returned to dine.

Penned out Konitza till 10.30.

Noise again ――――――― ugh! ―――

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

Gray all day ― & rain at times: very warm.

Worked at Corfû A ― foreground ― grass &c.

At 2.30 came Geoff ― with whom walked to Ποταμὸ ― & then round by Govino road: ― he is as always a delightful chap. ―

Went to Capt. Bridges’ to dine: the Boyds there: ― pleasantish ― but così.

A Mrs. Spenser also. But then new people are a bore to me more or less ever.

Walked home with the Boyds, ― home by 11.

The Maudes have been ‘having’ a party: & it seems to me that they are still very noisy.

It is certain that Corfû life, if as this winter could not be worth while trying for another year.

Penned out, (Konitza) till 12.15[.]

Geoff’s story of Edwd. T. (διὰ τὴν γυναῖκα εἰς St. John’s Wood,) εἶναι πολὺ διάφορα ἀπὸ ταύτην τοῦ Colonel Herbert, ὁ οποῖος ἔλεγε οτι E.S. ἐπιθυμοῦσε πολὺ sposare in Canada. ¹

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

1. Geoff’s story of Edwd. T. (about the woman at St. John’s Wood,) is very different from that of Colonel Herbert’s, who was saying that E.S. greatly wished sposare [to get married] in Canada (NB). [↩]

Dull early ― rain & cloud from 12; or cloudy.

A dark gray day. Worked at Corfû A, but at intervals, ― tho’ not ill.

Col. Maude came down for a time.

(Last night (or morning,) noise went on till nearly 6: so I could not sleep & only rose at 8.30.)

At 4 went out ― meeting Geoff ―: & we went to Ascension, & along the coast, turning back before 1 Gun.

Shortly after we met Capt. Clifford.

Home by 6.20. Dinner 7. Intense stillness above, διατὶ;¹ ―

Penned out till 9: awfully sleepy.

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

1. Why? [↩]

Very fine early. Cloud at 12 ― rain, more or less ― from 4 to 11.

Worked ill & very little at Corfu A.

Worry for Steamer, wh. brought a letter from Holman Hunt. Wrote to him ― & thus did but little work. Did not go out till 6, when I called on Miss Goldsmid: ― then to Neptune ― a very disagreable boating. Dined with dear little Geoff ― how very absurd! ― remembering the gardens of Knowsley & Woolwich. Capt. Clifford ― a “cleverer” man than he seems ― but of a wearisome “humour” ― & a queer countenance. The Doctor, Parson, & Commander.

Oppressed & silent at dinner ― wh. was very good tho’, ― foreboding the boating bark. ―

At 10.30 came away. No ships for me ― if I had my will: that phase of life is shut from me. ― Home by 11 ― but as G. had lighted a fire, & the people under my bedroom were giving a dance, violin &c. ― it was no use to go to bed, so I sat up & penned out the last Ζαγώρι drawings. Bed at 1 A.M. ― when I imagine the last fiddling is extinct ― but am not sure.

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

Lovely ― all day.

Wrote long letters to C.F. & F.L. to Mrs. A.T.

At 3, I was going out, when came ― Geoff ― & we went to church together.

Afterwards we walked to Ascension & returned by 6 ˇ[5.50][.]

Home & dressed ― & by 6.30 met Geoff again & walked up to the Casino. No one but us there; later, sung. ―

Walked back, by a wonderful moonlight with Geoff. Home by 11.

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

Fine, except a storm of rain & wind at Midday.

Worked ― nor over well, at Corfu A.

Steamer in, & neither letters nor papers.

The Cravens called ― bores both ― tho’ I suppose good people. ―

Then I called on Lady Inglis? ― No
Are you not going to ――――――― Perhaps yes or no
Why so? ――――――――― I don’t wish to go out.
But you are under martial law here, & anyone is bound to call on the General &c. ―――
“We suffer fools gladly, being wise ourselves:” ― I am sure I do not suffer them gladly ― so I can’t be wise.

At 3.30 ― called on the Sargents ― out. These rooms require 2 servants ― & would not do for me. ― Walked with Capt. B. ― an intelligent little man ― by the new Parga road, Condi road, & so the long round to Castrades, & home by 6.30.

Dined at 6.45, & penned out 2 Ζαγώρι drawings ― the last but 2.

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

Very fine, & North Wind. Coldy.

It is not possible to rise before 7.30 ― in that little dark room. O Corfu houses!

Worked ― having some white & Real Alto minced & not wishing to waste them ― at a Porto 3 scoglie, from 9 to 3.30 ― but irregularly, as the Alexandria Steamer came in early, & worry abounded.

Letters ― (but no papers, which enraged me,) from J.B. Edwards, ― Mrs. Clive, & Emily Tennyson ― the last enclosing AT’s most exquisite lines on Prince Albert. ― Copied them out for Mrs. Decie.

At 4 ― walked ― cold fine. Called on Luard, & went alone to Ascension ― & back by 6.30.

Luard dined with me ― pleasant evening ― read Guinevere & Morthe D’Arthur to him ― & penned out till 11.30.

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