@samuelpepys

A generous offering of fine dishes, Sam, truly glorious. Quite an achievement to get it all done in your house! Your friends will have enjoyed the event.

You invite your friends to celebrate the success of the dangerous operation that removed your bladder stone, five years earlier, and I celebrate with you. Looking mortality in the eye changes our outlook on things, doesn't it. Most people forget the lesson once the danger is over. But you keep reminding yourself of the fact that every day alive is a gift, and for that I love you, Sam.

---
I don't want to spoil it for Pepys, so I won't ask him about "a leg of mutton boiled". If boiled here means cooked in boiling water, the mutton clearly is being ruined. But perhaps he means slow-cooked or baked? I do appreciate that preparing all those varied meats and pies in his own family kitchen all at the same time may have simply left his cook with no space in the oven or over the fire.

#Pepys #mortality #feasts #mutton

@samuelpepys

" ... a most admirable, good, learned, honest and most severe [lecture], yet comicall."

Indeed, Sam. Dr Creeton seems to have gotten his exposition just right. Pretty much what I aim for in my own lectures. (And every once in a while I even achieve it!)

The "yet comicall" is the difficult bit, since it has to flow naturally out of the material. We don't want it to be forced.

#Pepys #pedagogy #lectures

@samuelpepys

Ah, forever uncertain how our seniors see us.

First, he "... used me with great respect, and discoursed upon his business as with one that he did esteem of", which we like very much.

Then, "by and by he went away, forgetting to take leave of me, my back being turned, ...". Ouch, this hurts. Must we now doubt the respect and esteem we thought we saw earlier?

It's tough to rise through the hierarchy through hard work and diligent attention to the wishes of our superiors.

And why was our back turned and we weren't paying complete attention to our senior? We were "looking upon the aviary, which is there very pretty, and the birds begin to sing well this spring." Oh, Sam, you are a good man. The beauty of the bird song asserting its primacy over your attention.

#Pepys #CareerOfTheMandarin #birdsong

@samuelpepys

" ... but am glad to be joyned with them, for I shall learn something of them."

You are a good man, Samuel.

#Pepys #learning #BeingOpen

@samuelpepys

"A very likely girl."

Oh, what a likely usage of the word likely.

#Pepys #likely

@samuelpepys

"Deane walking with me; talking of the pride and corruption of most of his fellow officers of the yard, and which I believe to be true."

Oh, I can feel with Deane. Switch the name of the employer and keep the rest: "pride and corruption of my fellow officers of the university" --- voila, I feel it.

Anthony Deane was a shipwright, acting as a trusted professional to the ambitious administrator Pepys. They were friends, the slightly older Pepys helping to get Deane established.

Deane later was knighted. He was a successful shipbuilder. Pepys and Deane were joint MPs for Harwich twice, in 1678 under Charles II (where both were accused of treason) and in 1685 under James II. They did things!

I can picture these two meritocratic pros walking by the river, talking earnestly, sharing their contempt for all the entitlement and corruption around them.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Deane_(shipwright)

#Pepys #AnthonyDeane #TheProfessionals

@samuelpepys

"a very stout man" = a trustworthy fellow? Lovely usage.

#Pepys

@samuelpepys

" ... but with multitude of business my head aches ...".

Indeed, buddy, no need to explain. Same here. Work never ends, does it.

#Pepys

#workneverendsandachapshouldbeabletogohomeatnineoclockwithouthavingtoapologiseshouldnthe

@samuelpepys

This scene will form the first ten minutes of my Pepys movie.

Sam on board of the King's new boat, which travels fast in strong wind. Flat golden sunlight envelopes everything, Sam looks invigorated by the light and the wind and the energy of the hectic but assured work of crew. He eats the fresh oysters, his face glowing in joy.

He turned thirty just a few days ago; he begins to be recognised by the world; life is good.

#Pepys #congruence