Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of July 21, 1872

Overview

A peaceful Sunday was interrupted at first by the architect, but Richard recovered his focus and reached the end of the act, though the remaining work left him highly charged. When she spoke of once imagining a celebration for the completion of the Nibelungen, he teased her for wanting an outward sign after having already been the one who sustained him. Later they enjoyed books about sacred mountains and the origins of the Nordic sagas, then took a moonlit walk and finished the evening with Darwin.

Content

Sunday, July 21:

Fine weather; the children in church, I writing letters. R. is unfortunately disturbed in the morning by our architect, Herr Wölfel, then he settles down again to work and reaches the end of the act, but he is in a very excitable state about the task still ahead.

I tell him how in earlier times I had considered how I should celebrate the completion of the Nibelungen, but now I could do nothing. “So it is not enough for you,” says R., “that you alone gave me the strength to complete it, you alone made it possible for me? There must also be some outward sign, how vain women are!”

Some books he has received give R. much enjoyment, among others one about sacred mountains, from which it emerges that the people of Iceland stem from the ancient Saxons, and the Nordic sagas are of Saxon origin.

R. very excitable on account of his work; we go for a walk together. Lovely moonlight. In the evening R. reads me a chapter from Darwin, on social instinct.