Diary by E.B.B.

I finished Keats’s Lamia, Isabella, Eve of St Agnes & Hyperion,[1] before breakfast. The three first disapointed me. The extracts I had seen of them, were undeniably the finest things in them. But there is some surprising poetry—poetry of wonderful grandeur, in the Hyperion. The effect of...

While we were at breakfast two men came up to the house, & rang the front door bell. I knew very well what their business was, tho’ Bummy talked about lion hunters from Malvern. As we went out of the diningroom, Lane past her, & said something in a low voice. I was therefore prepared for what...

I had intended to finish today, Theophrastus’s Ethic characters; but Eliza Cliffe’s arrival after breakfast, put all my good resolutions to the route,—as the Dutch have lately done the Belgians.[1] Eliza has not been Dutchlike & slow. She has finished my picture, which, tho’ it is not...

All gone to Church, except me; and I am going .... to finish Jewel.

It must have been nearly nine when I set off for Malvern where I arrived as Mrs. Boyd was breakfasting. So Mr. Boyd is going to scold me about something! But he wont be very severe; for Mrs. Boyd told me that he exclaimed “Good creature”! when he heard of my having come. “A good kind...

Today was as unhappy as yesterday was happy. Wheels will turn round. My first doing, was writing a long note to Mr. Boyd, to tell him about Dominick’s desire to consult him “upon the Greek historians”, & to beg him to be philosophical, if not historical, & receive his visit; & to tell him...

I read a little of Theophrastus,—not much,—for a letter arrived from Malvern, & I had to write to Mrs. Boyd as well as to my friend. He wrote to me, but not many lines: kind ones, however. He calls the Walls’ conduct, “brutal & unfeeling,” but vindicates Dr. Card who was asked to...

If this should be the day fixed on for the sale,—& I very much suspect—but I wont think or hear any certainty about it. The feeling has weighed on my brain & heart all day; yet I cant dwell on it by reflection.— Mr. Boyd said in his letter yesterday that he “cannot help indulging the...

Read some passages from Shelley’s Revolt of Islam[1] before I was up. He is a great poet; but we acknowledge him to be a great poet as we acknowledge Spenser[2] to be so, & do not love him for it. He resembles Spenser in one thing, & one thing only, that his poetry is too immaterial for our...

I determined yesterday to be the bearer of certain news to Mr. Boyd today: and the news of my having proposed to do so, appeared to have excited a tumult down stairs. According to Henrietta’s report, Bummy exclaimed “What has Mr. Boyd to do with it?” What has Mr. Boyd to do with it? Why if...

Did not go to church. Miss Gibbons arrived at one o’clock, & Mrs. Boyd with her; Some playing at cross purposes; Mrs. B having walked down the road to meet me as I came from Church, while I was sitting with Miss G in the morning room. She seems to be a feeling kind hearted woman, tho’ not a...

I have been reading Dawes’s Miscellanea Critica all the morning, & writing some of his emendations in the margin of my Callimachus. They seem to me ingenious & satisfactory.

Mr. Curzon is to be at Mr Boyd’s today. I hope he will be satisfied with regard to his spiritual state,—& that Miss Gibbons may not intrude her commentary on character. Will there be a letter today. Bummy hopes yes. I fear yes; & hope no. The next news is not likely to be good news.

A note from Eliza, while we were at breakfast, speaking of our going, & of Miss Wall’s not going, to dine at Mathon on Friday. I wd. rather not. A discussion about it after breakfast—, & the nos had it. Bummy Arabel & I drove off with our refusal & my picture, to call on Mrs. Cliffe. Called...

Th’o today is the 1st. of September & a holiday,[1] I do not go to Malvern, for it rains most past-bearingly. If I had my own way quite, I wd. go, rain or shine: but, as it is, .. I will comfort myself with Goldoni & Greek. Will there be a letter today? There may—& with an account of my dear...

Aspettare e non venire being one of the tre cose a far morire,[1] I was in an expiring state until 9 oclock this morning. Ordered the carriage at a quarter to 8: & past 9 when I sate [sic] off!! If I had been Jupiter, Billy wd. have been thunderstruck, as sure as I was Jupiter!—

I wish I were going to Malvern again today!— Well! Henrietta came up stairs to propose it,—to propose that we shd. have our dinner on the hills. But when Bummy was consulted, I suppose a veto or at least a nolo was given. I wd. willingly go down to ask Bummy over again: but my motives will...

Went to Church,—& neither Arabel nor I particularly well. Mr. Deane’s sermon was issimo, but not benissimo. Mrs. Griffith invited us, & me especially, to meet Mr. Corry[1] tomorrow evening, at the Bartons. Refused!— Mrs. Cliffe gave me the seat of her footman (thank her) behind her...

Eliza Cliffe came here to breakfast according to the arrangement yesterday; & the morning was bright for our expedition to the hills. Before breakfast, I went in to see dear Minny, whom I found much more composed & comfortable. For this, I thank God!—

Dear Minny is much better.

Wrote a note to Mr. Boyd about the direction to Mr. Bohn, & about Papa’s letter—[1] No letters from anybody.

Bro left home at 7 this morning, for the purpose of going down the Wye; but we hear that the rain has kept him shooting at Mr. Biddulphs— I dare say he will go tomorrow. I hope so, if it will give him pleasure. For my part, I should like to go down the Wye, but I wd. choose my company, & not...

Lane has gone—so I shall not go! That is quite clear!—

We did not get away from Hope End until nearly half past ten, which provoked me: but, oh shade of Marcus Antoninus, be it known to thee, that it did not put me out of humour. Henrietta was on the high horse literally; & Arabel & Bummy & I in the wheelbarrow, having a basket of sandwiches & puffs...

A controversy between Bummy & me, on the subject of my going to church. Feeling convinced as I do, that the gospel is not consistently preached there, & that my time can be more usefully & scripturally occupied at home, am I right in going? I think not; but there was so much thunder & lightening...