Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of December 9, 1871

Overview

Cosima takes Wagner to the station in bitter cold and returns alone to grief that must simply be borne. Telegrams and letters from his journey begin arriving, and she answers him while sharing news with the children. Reports from Florence say Lohengrin is turning audiences fanatical, giving public triumph as counterpoint to private separation.

Content

Saturday, December 9:

At five o’clock took R. to the station; the cold cruel; final sorrow. Home alone, to bed. It must all be borne in God’s name! At 10 o’clock telegram from R. in Zurich, announcing a letter. Lunch with the children. Wrote to Hans, afterward fetched my letter; it had arrived, and later still a telegram from Lindau! — R. had a cold journey, very cold, but “his heart kept him warm.” Frau W. sends some dolls. Loldi dictates a letter, I write to R. — Telegram from Lucca in Florence, saying Lohengrin is making fanatics of everybody there! — Shared everything with the children.