Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of March 21, 1872

Overview

The day centered on Fidi’s bright mood and on the arrival of our nephew Fritz, which pleased everyone. R. continued working, shaping Brünnhilde’s first lines, while letters arrived from several correspondents and Lauterbach finally apologized. Fritz’s visit led to long conversations, including a discussion of the Vehmgericht, and he also brought us Nietzsche’s lectures from Basel. In the evening R. spoke with unusual tenderness, saying that repeated declarations of love were unnecessary because we were one.

Content

Thursday, March 21:

Much joy in our bright Fidi; yesterday, as he was drinking his chocolate, I asked him, “Fidi, what do you wish for your birthday?”; whereupon Eva: “Wish for an appetite!”

Our nephew Fritz arrives around noon, to everybody’s satisfaction. R. has also been working: Brünnhilde’s first words, “Schweigt eures Jammers” etc. Letter from E. Krockow (answered at once), H. Neumann, and to the children from their grandmama. Herr Lauterbach has apologized. Much conversation with our nephew.

R. says to me in the evening, “I have stopped telling you that I love you, because we are one and the same, and so it is foolish to keep on saying it.” Spoke a lot with Fritz about the Vehmgericht. He brings us Prof. Nietzsche’s lectures in Basel.