Diary of Marie Bashkirtseff
CZENUKFR

[On the title page: ==it ends in a fish's tail==[^1]. Hir.]

in the marginnote de Marie sur la page de titre du Livre 71
[On the title page: it ends in a fish’s tail. Hir.]
Inserted itemmaximes sur la page de titre du Livre 71
[Maxims on the title page:] Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much (Luke) The tears of those who pray are sweeter than the joys of the theatres (Augustine)

Thursday, 26 April 1877

After a bout of fever and a rainy day spent going round the shops, by evening I feel well. I travel without taste, and not at all as I ought to. Not a single objet d’art, not even an album. The thing is, I meant to buy before leaving; that is a mistake for people like us — one must buy on arriving.
When I think what pretty keepsakes I might already have by now — I have travelled so much, and little by little... Ah! let us not fly into a rage...
This evening, a gathering of the young people, presided over by the handsomest of all the Melissanos.
I played and sang with my bad throat! Ah! God, when shall I be well!
I sketched Melissano’s head life-size in two minutes. Porcinari held the canvas. And I am burying all my talents! The likeness is striking. For the last three or four days Campomarino has turned towards Dina, which fills me with astonishment mingled with pain. It is crushing proof of my decline.
Cassagnac has been convicted, and I send him the following telegram:
crossed outtélégramme de Marie à Paul de Cassagnac, 26 avril 1877, rayéParis, rue de Bologne 10 bis Monsieur Paul de Cassagnac We have followed the proceedings and I congratulate you. This defeat is a triumph. Marie Bashkirtseff
My little children are the nicest, the most useful, the most faithful. Their houses are the foremost in Naples, and whatever they tell their families can only do me good. I judge by Paul.
Melissano has already drummed it all over Naples that I know Dante by heart. Poor Melissano, he makes the same mistake as Santasiglia and the hotel secretary. How lucky I am in my conquests!!

Notes

In Latin in the original, as printed: desinit in piscen. Hir. Horace, Ars poetica 4: desinit in piscem, “it ends in a fish’s tail” — a fine beginning with a sorry end. “Hir.” is probably for “Hor.” (Horace). ↩
In Latin in the original: Remittum ei peccata multa quoniam dilexit multum. Luke 7:47 (Vulgate Remittuntur…; “Remittum” as printed). ↩
In Latin in the original: Dulciores sunt lacrymae orantium quam gaudia theatrorum. Attributed by Marie to Augustine. ↩