Monday, 5 May 1862
Rose at 5 ― a very sleepless & comfortless night: dogs barking ― &c. &c.
Off with G. & Spiro Assoniti ― a cloudy threatening sky. ― Across the thin woods ― wonderful scenes of long-armed light-foliaged trees ― like Calabria in 1847. But it soon poured down torrents of rain ― also hail & thunders, & [we stood up] ¼ of an hour, ― but it soon [staid],1 & we walked up to Vauriatadi, apparently a dreary village, & the people thereof gloomy & odious ― 2 or 3 gave directions as to A. Παυλιάνα,2 but followed us ― a difficult track, & one, so slushy & steep I could hardly manage. However ― at the top is the village, & Mr. Charlton’s house, a charming [place], of neatness ― roses & gardens, & a γραμματικὸς:3 who soon gave me some coffee & eggs ― & offered dinner later. Whereby I drew 3 or 4 times ― but it was cold: & at 12.30 had eggs & wine: ― 3 little children, 3d apiece, but I wrote a note to Mr. C. promising him a drawing. The view over Lefchimo to Stαξος is beautiful. At 2.30 ― we went away ― a morning of good luck: ― & came down by Κ. Παυλιάνα4 to a high road: goats & sheep! ― & so ― clouds again gathering ― to Strongili about 5 or not so late.
Then it rained a good lot. ― And afterwards I drew from the window.
Now it is 6 & fine again. Boles is bad, & all wrong to day.
After all this, did the accounts with Giorgio.
Feverish, & unwell ― nervous to a horrid degree. No sleep at all.
And (at 11.45.) I fancied I heard steps, & a trying of the door: ― which presently turned out a fact by a violent shake & force of the outer door ― which however held ― & the ladri5 ran down the steps. ― So, considering the bad air, & the affair at [Πισκοπιανῆ] ― & my being so unwell, I αποφασισα6 to go. George, who awoke also, rose ― & we did not go to rest again.
[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3.]
