found Greek and Latin writers gave him a headache . . . could only read
a htde, had read everything else in library several times. [When pressed
by me several times to mention the sort of books he would like, he repHed]
' Chaucer, prose translation of Dante, Pater's new book (of which I had
spoken) and some large volume of EHzabethan dramatist or dramatists '
(all this extracted with difficulty). . . . Asked how he felt generally, he
said in a half-aside low voice, ' They treat me cruelly.' I think he referred to
his food. He added as if for the benefit of the warder, ' / have only been in
infirmary two days since I was at Reading: . . . Asked if he had seen his wife
lately he said, ' No ', but beheved she was coming soon. . . . He seemed to
take no interest in Hterary or artistic news that we told him, but seemed
to talk to himself while we did so. He remained so silent that there were
several awkward pauses. . . . I do not think they treat him badly. Of
course, he does not get enough to eat for a person of his build, but I
firmly and honestly believe, apart from all prejudice, that he is simply
wasting and pining away. ... I believe that any one who knew him at
all in former days . . . and who visited him for an hour as a purely
scientific subject, as the result of hard labour on certain constitutions, would
arrive at the same conclusion. Of course, he would have to conceal from
Oscar that his visit was actuated by anything save friendly interest, other-
wisp Oscar would hastily assume one of his hundred artificial manners
which he has for every person and every occasion, even when broken as he
is now. Each person has his view as to what constitutes a decayed mind,
but if I was asked about Oscar before a commission I should say that
' confinement, apart from all labour or treatment, had made him tem-
porarily SILLY '. That is the mildest word that will describe my meaning.
