X8

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

Dinner at 4 ― così.[1] Zante near, at 6.30 anchor opposite Zante ― where I hear we are to stay all tomorrow if not longer ― whereby I am not happy. My irritability ― & low spirits are terrible, & I would “weep & weep & weep.” ―― A dreadful feeling is it when all we loved are gone or going. ―

Now & then I have thought I would leave this ship at Malta or Palermo ― & go on by land, ― or uncertain do times wings seems: but perhaps it is better to bear all patiently ― as a lesson.

I wish Giorgio were here anyhow.

Grew better after a walk with Capt. McArthur: had some supper & bed at 9.30.

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

Packed. Wrote many letters.

Got ticket. Paid G. 3 months wages & Παραμυθιόττι 2 months rent.

Good old Βασίλεα came ― & afterwards Spiro. Got 40£ from Taylor. ―

Janni Kokali also came, to whom I gave a good knife & pair of scissors. Their mother was sad enough, or to use Giorgio’s few words, non poteva parlare.[1] At 3. G. made me dine on Pigeon & pease, & had it not been for a great rage I fell in about paying the zincaro who would not send in his bill, all had gone smoothly. Anch’io ― said G. ― mi arrabio:[2] & that is saying much. At 6. we went on board the Marathona ― a famous large Screw Liverpool Steamer, & I had a cabin to myself.

George soon went back ― poor fellow: doubless one of the truly best men I have ever known.

We are to start at 12 ― or 1. After the long dreadful scirocco the mountains are really clearing, & becoming divine: somehow the beauty of these Epirus hills is enough for a life..

At 8.30 ― old Lady Βαλσαμάκι came on board. There is also a daughter of Mr. Neile of Lpool, & some 4 or 5 young men on board. Walked & talked with Capt. McArthur, a very gentlemanly fellow. Tea, (worse luck), & bed at 10.

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

The Marathon is to sail tomorrow early ― & I have therefore pretty well decided to go in her. ― & have packed accordingly.

Meanwhile, that amiable Villetta has written, saying how glad he would be of my going for a month or two ― but, with this blot-out of all distance, cui bono?

Wearied, & slept.

X6}
X } O! what a bore!

Dined at home ― pigeon & peas.

No letters.

Bed early.

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

Rose at 5. ― Later, packed all my books & wrote to F.L. ― At 1 ― called at the Sargents, but only saw Miss Reeve. Then on Col. & Mrs. Wynne: ― the De Vere’s there ― & they asked me to stay dinner wh. I did ― pleasant enough. Home, & at 5 to church, ― where Craven preached an idiotic sermon.

Walk to Ascension with Col. Wynne, ― & tea with him & Mrs. W. Singing afterwards.

Tremendously oppressive scirocco all day ― no mountains visible. ― Cui bono then remaining here to draw? ―

The Marathon is to come to morrow.

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

Rose at 4. By 5 ― was out of the gates ― & by 7 at the 7^th mile beyond Sta. Decca: thereabouts I drew till 10 ― & finding no resting place intended to walk back, when an empty Carter’s carriage passed & took me ’ς τὸ χώριον[1] ― by 12.30.

Found letters from Ellen ― nothing heard of Fredk.
―― C. Fortescue: very kind & nice, but the pictures are hung high.
W.H. Hunt ― also stating the same.

G. Παραμιθιόττι took me to see the state the Maude’s had left the home in ― certainly ― most piglike. ―

Wrote to C. Fortescue.

At 4 went up to Ascension, & drew the village.

Returned by 7.

Dinner ― 7.40.

Bed early ―

& slept well.

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

Medicine ― & rose at 6.

We do not advance.

All the morning went to & fro between Charlton’s ― Woodleys ― & Taylors ― the annoyance of the pictures being still there worrying me unendurably.

Endeavored to make a drawing ― for Charlton, but failed.

Dined at 4.

At 6 ― set out to draw at Ἀνάλειψις, but was constantly waylaid by ― Grasset ― De Veres ― Fosters ― Herberts &c. &c.

So I did nothing.

At 7.30 ― went to Mrs. Woolffs, where was E. Curcumelly. ―

Bed by 10.40.

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

Rose at 4.30. At 5 ― drew the Citadel ˇ[from Καστράδες] & returned at 8 to breakfast. Accounts with G. ― & at 9  went out ― calls on Charlton ― out, Luard, ― who has lent his Yacht ― wh. I had minded to take: walked with him to the Citadel, & saw the yot where the De Vere’s are. To Taylor’s, where I found to my utter disgust that the pictures are all here still, no L.pool steamer having called ― & the only one likely to call, goes to Trieste, Smyrna, Alex.dria & where else not? This, (the Atlas,) I have ordered the things to be sent by: but they cannot be England before July.

Pleasant!

Called on Mrs. Bridge ― out: Mrs. Woolff ― & saw Ευφροσυνη Κυσκυμέλλι [sic], ― & the children. At Dr. Woolff ἀπέθανε.[1] Returning saw Clark, Herbert, & Majr. Cocks, ― T. Cock’s brother. ― Called on Mrs. Boyd: ― out, on Boyd: ― & asked him for a letter to [][2] Γεννάδες[3] ― though I am now so unsettled & angry I hardly know what to do. ― For in London, previous to the arrival of the Pictures, what is to be done? ――― Home & lunch & wrath. Saw the 2 Foster’s also: setting off to Πανταλεώνε[.]

At 2 P.M. the wind is frightful ― scirocco haze. 2 to 3 wrote out last 6 days journal.

At 4 ― went out to draw ― the view by the Casino Gate ― but no mountains were visible ― along of thick scirocco fog. ― so I walked up to Ἀνάλειψις & drew till 6.30 ― Dr. Roberts sitting by latterly, & walking back with me.

Dined at 7.30: ― Foster came in ˇ[at 8], & sat till 9.30. ―

Of course, the very best view of Clomò is just beyond the village: it was however too windy to draw. [In a rage] to Messonghi, & later passed [Capodistria’s] house ― (where I had once landed, & whence we walked back ―). ― Tired, ― sleepless ― & cross: scirocco no end. Was angry at G.’s account of the peasants in that murder affair, & spoke harshly: He also was angry ― having a bad eye & being tired. So, I set off alone, & walked straight into Corfu ― reaching home at 10.45.

Got [4][1] letters. F.L. ― Mrs. G. Clive ― no good account of G.C. ― T. Cooper ― & Dickenson.

Washed & read. Dined at 6. Bed at 9.

X4

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

I have even remembered my old days in the Abruzzi while here. ― Morning fine, & we went on to Περιβόλι, where I drew, ― tho’ it has few charms. Then, through uncultivated wilds of olive & Prinari[2] &c. &c. ― below Marathia, wh. G. says was pulled down in 18 or 19 ― when all the people died of the plague. (Pigs are not allowed by the Governo to this day ― on account of their disinterring propensities, ― throughout Lefchimo.) Next was Ἀργιράδες ― rather a putty village; I decided on coming back to it, [][3] on seeing the rough long road however to Clomo, I gave that idea up wholly. Clomo in itself is ugly ― but the views thence are wonderful. The wind however rose so that nothing could be done out of doors. Srgt. Launasio’s house ― when opened by a highly morose & unclean man, is good, ― but full of fleas: ― howbeit we must endure it for a night. No sheets ― & a vast rattling of windows. Swallows twitter all around. (Little girl near Ἀργιράδες laying up great red poppies in a wreath ― 1^st of May ― quò George ―: dunque,[4] is the May day festivity a Greek one?) ― At 3 ― the day is wholly gloomy & disgusting ― so I drew from the window of the forlorn nasty country house (moth eaten chairs &c.) G. & I went up to the top church ― Ταξιάρχας,[5] & I drew a little here & there, & then returned ordering a horse for tomorrow. No wine ― no nothing.

What a night! A hurricane of wind, & a world of fleas. ― I walked up & down from 7 ― having no appetite ― & unable to lie down by incessant torment by vermin ― all night long.

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