Diary by E.B.B.

Bro returned before breakfast: & our dearest Papa before twelve. I thought his face was grave when he kissed me—but fatigue & bad cold may have been the reasons of his gravity—

Mrs. Martin called & saw Papa & all of us. Papa talked in a fast feverish manner, as if he were determined to be considered “himself”. He told Bummy that he wd. be happy to see James!— But James wont come, I am certain!—

Everybody gone to church save me. Yesterday I sent a note to Mrs. Boyd with a message to Mr. Boyd, explaining why, i.e. on account of Papa’s return, I cant write to him about Nisbet.[1]A message to Mr. Boyd!

Hard at work at the Prometheus. Finished the translation of 130 lines. Who cd. write in a diary after that?— Tired; & walked up & down, to make my self more physically so than mentally Papa at the Ledbury Committee,—& presented every member of it with a bible.

Translated a hundred lines of Æschylus. Up & at work both today & yesterday before breakfast.

Up before breakfast, at work— Finished another hundred, in spite of Mrs. Trant & Mr. Curzon. The latter dined here, & I must go down now & drink tea with him. Going to Malvern tomorrow!--

Bummy & Arabel went in the carriage to Malvern with me: & H & Stormy were outriders. We went after breakfast, at eleven o’clock. Mrs. Trant carried my party to Gt Malvern in a fly, & I pursued my course to R C in my wheelbarrow.

Writing—but not in my diary.

Intended to have finished the Prometheus today. Not possible.

At church; & found the Cliffes there— They had luncheon here; & upon Papa’s invitation agreed to dine here on Wednesday. They sleep here besides. I hope Annie wont hear of it, & be on the Trojan horse i.e. a very high one.

Writing hard.

Oh ye Athenians how hard do I work to obtain your praise. The Prometheus not finished after all.

I have finished my translation. 1075 lines of Æschylus translated in a fortnight. And I think I am satisfied—tolerably satisfied. But the original is too magnificent for translation.

After Mrs. C & E had gone away, I wrote to Miss Bordman. I asked her to dissuade Mrs. B from leaving Malvern. Will she try, or not?— I wrote a long & kind letter. Then I began to copy out my Prometheus. I must endeavour to finish by tomorrow, as I must positively go to R C next day.

Bummy has proposed of her own accord, to go with me to Malvern, tomorrow, if I like. My yea is soon said. Could not quite finish the copying out on account of a perforce walk. Papa finished Mr. Beverley’s second letter to the Archbishop of York tonight[1]—finished reading it out loud. It is...

…> -ment, considering that the county is Herefordshire. But I am much pleased that he was pleased at all. After tea, he suggested my writing to Mr. Barker & enquiring whether Valpy wd. publish my work in the Classical Library. Wont do it without consulting Mr. Boyd. Wrote to him tonight, a...

Not at church. At the gate Mr. Curzon preached beautifully. He is to dine here,—he & Mrs. Curzon;[1] on Wednesday—& to sleep.

A letter from Mr. Boyd! How it surprised me. He does not like the Valpy plan.[1]If the translation is good enough to be creditable to me, it shd. be published separately; besides he has made a confusion between the Family & Classical library!— His letter is cool enough. I answered it by a note...

H Bro & Sam to Mrs. Trants.

Another letter from Mr. Boyd. “My dear Mr. Boyd” seems to agree with him. He enclosed a letter from Mrs. Smith[,] Dr. A Clarke’s youngest daughter.[1] Mr. Boyd’s letter was written by Miss H M,—& cool enough still. I wonder he shd. have thought it worth while to write it at all. He...

The Curzons did not go away until nearly three. Mrs. C is certainly improved. Mr. Curzon is what he always was—a follower of Christ in spirit & conduct—kind & feeling.

What did I do today?— Not write in my diary. Bro Stormy Henry & Sette to Worcester. 5 tugs & Sette’s tooth,—& he did not cry!

Confined in the house all day with one of my violent colds. Did not even go down to chapel. Finished Mr. Gipp’s book[1] which pleased me, but not altogether. No letter. Yes!—there was one from Eliza Cliffe, speaking of Annie’s album, & the present which I mean to give Mr. Boyd on his...

Wrote to Eliza,—but cd. not send my letter. Wrote also two or three lines to Mrs Boyd, to enclose Mr. Hockin’s catalogue[1] for Mr. Boyd,—& to say that we hoped Annie might receive her scrapbook this week. Mrs. Trant came here to