Ethnostate

After playing a little upon my new little flageolet, that is so soft that pleases me mightily, betimes to my office, where most of the morning.
Then by coach, 1s.
and meeting Lord Brouncker, ’light at the Exchange, and thence by water to White Hall, 1s.
and there to the Chapel, expecting wind musick and to the Harp-and-Ball, and drank all alone, 2d.
Back, and to the fiddling concert, and heard a practice mighty good of Grebus, and thence to Westminster Hall, where all cry out that the House will be severe with Pen; but do hope well concerning the buyers, that we shall have no difficulty, which God grant! Here met Creed, and, about noon, he and I, and Sir P. Neale to the Quaker’s, and there dined with a silly Executor of Bishop Juxon’s, and cozen Roger Pepys. Business of money goes on slowly in the House. Thence to White Hall by water, and there with the Duke of York a little, but stayed not, but saw him and his lady at his little pretty chapel, where I never was before: but silly devotion, God knows! Thence I left Creed, and to the King’s playhouse, into a corner of the 18d. box, and there saw “The Maid’s Tragedy,” a good play.
Coach, 1s.
play and oranges, 2s. 6d.
Creed come, dropping presently here, but he did not see me, and come to the same place, nor would I be seen by him. Thence to my Lord Crew’s, and there he come also after, and there with Sir T. Crew bemoaning my Lord’s folly in leaving his old interest, by which he hath now lost all. An ill discourse in the morning of my Lord’s being killed, but this evening Godolphin tells us here that my Lord is well.
Thence with Creed to the Cock ale-house, and there spent 6d.
and so by coach home, 2s. 6d.
and so to bed.

new flag
soft as the morning light

expecting wind music
I hear a cry

God goes to stay
at his pretty playhouse

tragedy and oranges drop
into the same old well

Erasure poem derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys: unfinished entry for Wednesday 15 April 1668

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