Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of February 10, 1872

Overview

R. broke off his dictation, insisting that she already knew the story well enough to tell it better than he could. They read Schopenhauer on death, and he began the morning with a joyful song before turning bitter about the demands of composition and the way his profession keeps him from peaceful domestic life. She spent the day writing and teaching the children, while the fine weather drew her outdoors, though R. remained inside and seemed unsettled by it.

Content

Saturday, February 10:

Here R. broke off and observed that I knew it all exactly and would tell it better than he could, which I consequently intend to do. We read Schopenhauer on the subject of death.

This morning R. woke me up with the blissful “Dream Song.” Then he pours abuse on his profession, which forces him to compose instead of living with us peacefully and happily: “I am always in convulsions, always preoccupied.”

He works, I write letters to Judith, and teach the children. The weather is splendid. I go into the garden with the children; R., however, again does not go out, which has a bad effect on him.

In the evening Schopenhauer.