Did not sleep after 4 or 4.30 ― (I think for fear of Cramp, which I have had here several times.). but rose before 6. Then, highly professional I ἐσπούδαζα1 myself, 5 times, till I was cold.

Dressed ― & finished the 3rd chapter of the Πολιτεία, ― & by that time J.B.E. came. After a turn or two in the garden, breakfast. ― Letter from Mrs. G. Clive. ―― … At 10.30 J.E. & I set out to walk, ― by respectable primitive Weybridge, ― & its Dox & Lox ― & on towards Chertsey ― before which a “lane[”] scene was most lovely. ― Thence, to St. Ann’s Hill, most absolute English wood-scene! & those far realms of trees a dimmy-blueness! ― Down to a Mill, & on to Virginia water ― & an Inn, to Wheatsheaf ― where J.E. had not been  for 7 years. The day had clouded & was calm ― yet I thought the Lake very pretty ― & the more when the sun came out, & there was green Fern & Rabbits; ― not to speak of Sir J. Cursetjee Jebeehoy’s retinue. ― So, having had a glass of BEER & one biscuit, we came away. Thence, back, by the Mill, & St. Ann’s hill, & the trees & merry light wood ― for now the sun was out. ― & so to Chertsey ― & Weybridge, & at the Hotel by 6. ―― Dined at 6½, a pleasant Swiss=country=understanding=man next to me. ―

At 8.45 came away. ―

L’Irlandesi ― “Cruise” [had a]2 letter from Spoleto ― but his reasoning thereon was storto assai.3

So, dormiendo, ἥλθε εἱς τὸ κραββάτιον ’ς τὰ δέκα ὥρας.4

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

  1. Nina writes: “Σπουδάζω means several things and, for the life of me, I cannot decide for which Lear was going for here. It can mean ‘make haste,’ ‘be busy with something,’ and ‘study, read.’” [↩]
  2. Blotted. [↩]
  3. Lear is referring to the Irish expedition in defence of the Papal State already mentioned on 4 May, the mixture of English and Italian seems to mean: “the reasoning he did on the letter was very twisted.” [↩]
  4. So, sleeping (It.), came to bed at ten (Gr.). Nina: “I am not sure about the transcription. Where I read κραββάτιον there could also be some other variation of the word, and I don’t know what the ‘ς’ stands for, it could be εἱς again though I don’t see any reason for the omission.” [↩]