Edward Lear’s Diaries

Sent letter to V. Crake.

O dear! is life a bore or knot?

Bright & fine, went early to Macbeans. Italian affairs a going on somehow. ― At 10½ went out again to Cervara: where it was not so cold as yesterday.

Worked pretty hard all day ― i.e. ― from 12½ to 4 which after all is not much ― & the carriage costing 2 scudi. 4½ off ― & in Rome by 5¼.

No letters. ― Bad dinner from Spillmans.

O! how I wish I were out of this prison! ―

Penned out part of Suk Wady Bárada.

(I’m glad I’m not there tho’ just now: I’d rather be even here.[)]

The weather is cloudy again.

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

Very bright & cold. Shut up house, & went off to Cervara, with yesterday’s coachman who I believe could not help his breach of promise.

At Cervara, tho’ clear, it was so dreadfully cold that I could not work long ― & a high wind besides.

So we got back by 4.20.

Then I walked in the Borghese.

Dined alone.

Cheales came.

Wrote to V. Crake.

2nd number  of the Cornhill Mag.: sent by post, by F.L. ― AT’s new poem ― Tithonus: one of his very loveliest.

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

Perfectly clear & fine. ― Rose at 7 ― & at 10 walked to Macbeans ― but news there were none. Giorgio having made a patto¹ for 15 pauls & a 1 paul “baksheesh,” we locked up, & went off in a one horse shay, thro’ their dreary “Satanic” town, to the Posta Maggiore, where one began to breathe. At the Bridge opposite the long Alexandrian Acqueduct at 11¼ ― & then, I went south, & soon began to work hard, working on till 3 ― & so, after gathering various bits of interest διὰ stones & weeds, till 4 ― & 4½. ― The long dotted lines of sheep, & the pure pink hues of the Lionessa ― & the simple colours of the Campagna are beautiful ― yet, it seems to me, petite, & wanting in great interest.

[However], we came to the road, but no “one horse shay.” So we waited in sight of the Palestrina hill=descent till 5, & then came on. (For I thought a 1 horse shay I had seen passing might have been ours.) A mile from Rome, that 1 horse shay repassed us, & on my asking him if he had passed at 3 PM ― (he said, yes.) & on my saying then the man who had made a patto to bring me here & back is very false & “senza vera idea di affari,”² ― the 1 horse shay incumbent said in the loveliest way ― “on the contrary, he has doubtless found a better bargain since he left you![”] ― This I said is not right. “Si ― si doveva dar una caparra.”³ ―― Canaglia futtuta! ―⁴

So we walked on. Near the Gate came the original man: who made many excuses: ―― I got in at last, & arrived at 6½.

Dined alone. ― Afterwards ― a note from I.a Knight ― asking me there tomorrow ―― but I answered ― No.

A letter from W. Nevill: kind good dear old Will, little in it of himself: but JOHN CRAKE IS DEAD.

Later ―: for I could not work. Piano. ―

X4

4th Spillman dinner

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

1. Contract. [↩]
2. He has no understanding of business.” [↩]
3. You’re right, you should have paid him a deposit. [↩]
4. Fucking scoundrel! [↩]

Very fine day, ― clear, the mountains!

To Church. ― Afterwards called on Newton, & sate with him some time ― poor fellow! he begins to see Rome is not the place he supposed. Walked with him by the river, & like him much. But he has a wall of old & narrow brickwork before him.

Then, being axed by Majr. R. & Miss Yates to drive with them, we drove to Tor di Quinto.

Poi: dined at Macbeans, only Mr. Bilton & Dr. Reilly. Extremely pleasant evening.

Miss Webb has come back!

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

Sent letters to C. Fortescue, & Mr. G. Clive, & F. Coombe.

A finer day ― & apparently clearing.

Worked at the 2 Palermos ― & wrote letters.

Walked to P. Pia solo, ― & called on the K.’s who very very queer & Millenniumous.

Dined alone. Penned out [Muhallakah] sketch.

Lord Rendlesham came. ―

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

Sent letters to J. Edwards, & Mrs. Shakespeare.

Finer, ― but threatening.

Went early to Monaldini’s, to get a map done, & then to Macbeans where was news about the “Knivers” &c. all [things seem] in a mess.

Worked at Potters’s Palermo. Wrote to Mrs. Clive. At 3½ P. Williams came, who “highly rebuked” & ridiculed Clive’s Dead Sea as “not a picture.” I was ass enough to be angry for a minute or two. But not long, & after all P.W. is very amiable, & one must remember he is 59. (He was born in 1803, & came to Rome in 1826.) We walked to St. John Lateran ― for once, fine ― & one saw the mountains.

Nevertheless, I deeply hate this place. Dined alone.

Penned out Antelebanon drawing. ―

XXX3.

Incredible.

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

Fine early, then dull, then pouring, & wind, & darkness. a fêsta. ― Wrote long letters to Jemmy Edwards, & Mrs. Shakespeare. Worked at Potter’s Palermo: ― but it was often dark.

Majr. Reynolds called & sat: ― & talked of Thuggee: most curious too was the talk!
At 4½ I called on Mrs. Forster, & on P.W. & walked round the Pincian with Forster in the rain.

Dined alone. Penned out a Lebanon drawing. No one came, ― & so to bed. ――

a horrible day.

X2?

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

Wrote to Mrs. Tennyson.

The same weather ― bright ― dark, dry ― wet, hot, cold, ― all in turn & in a minute.

Worked very decently ― nearly finishing Stansfeld’s P. Molle: ― painted the sky to 3 Parnassi: & a little to Potter’s Palermo.

At 4½ went to P.W. & walked with him to P. Pia. Dear me! what a nasty winter! ― months of rain.

Giorgio has grown livelier. ―

Came home at 6: [και ε γευματισα μορος].¹

Penned out Lebanon Drawing. ―

X?

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

1. And lunched with More / the baby (GT). [↩]

Rain, & clear, ― ditto ― ditto. ―: most perplexing weather.

Worked at Stansfeld’s P. Molle, & not badly ― but irritated & unwell.

X11

Worked on: but rain & darkness ensued.

So I went to Macbeans’ & sate a bit. ――

Then walked on the Pincian (unluckily,) meeting Mr. Young ― so I couldn’t get off that odious  ring circle.

Dined alone.

BUT ― 3 LETTERS ― FROM

EMILY T. ――
MR. EDWARDS,
& J.H. HUNT.

Any one of ’em a blessing.

Penned out Lebanon drawing.

Mr. More came ― ὁ Μώρε!
[και εβαιως, ειναι Μωρος]¹

Dr. Kennedy & he go tomorrow.

At 10 shut up. ― discoursing [με τον Σουλιοτον, ω ρωτον, δια μερικα πραγματα]²

X11

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

1. O More! / And [], is a baby (GT). [↩]
2. With the Suliot, as first, a few things (GT). [↩]

Of course, ― rain again. ―

After weekly accounts & G.’s lesson ― worked a bit at the P. Molle painting.

At 12 ordered another passo di legna,¹ & called on Newton, & at Macbean’s, where I read papers. ―

Back, & worked again, rather well: letter from S.W. Clowes, answered it. ― Col. Bowen came ― 3 to 4.

4½ to P. Williams, & walked with him to S.M. Maggiore &c. ― we agree as to coming events. The Carnival Loggia was all written over with “Legni per gli Barricadi”² &c. &c. this morning, & it is said there is to be none. Alone on Pincian: gray & gloomy. 8 to Knights, Charles, & Helen, ― Monsignor Pentini, ― D.F. Chigi, the 2 Bertie Mathews, & Karristy. All there had never met all together since 1843, & 1844 ― 16 years ago. Pentini was as ever, kindly & good, ― but did not recognize me all thro’ dinner, tho’ very much interested about Terra Santa ―: afterwards, being shown the “Book of Nonsense,” he suddenly became enlightened, ― but partially confounded me with Abeken,³ & asked after my “Leone & Scimia.” ―

He is scarcely aged. ―― Karristy is the most so appearing 60. T. Chigi I never cared for nor liked ― & is or may be 260 years old. ― Altogether the dinner & evening were extremely pleasant. ― Later, played & sang to Isabella.

Mrs. Caldwell also came in.

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

1. A passo of wood. The passo is about 5,250 m³. [↩]
2. Wood for the barricades. [↩]
3. Probably Wilhelm Ludwig Abeken, an archeologist who was also in Italy in the years around 1837. [↩]