Monday, November 11:
R. slept well. He recently remarked that the feel of my hand had a magnetic effect on him; the feel of soft silk, he said, had a somewhat similar, though very much inferior, effect on him.
First sight of the castle from the room, then visit it with the Ritters; magnificent impression, particularly of the staircase. The details of the rooms ridiculously tasteless, but imaginative and inventive. Then through the very interesting town, but wretched faces! Lunch with the Ritters, very soothing and pleasant.
At home a curious court painter from Coburg, pictures depicting God and the Indian dancing girl, which the King of Bavaria has commissioned from him. Very clumsy stuff, with Amor in the main role. After initial silence, R. becomes heated and explains to him the difference between the Greek and Indian outlooks on life; says that Amor, who was defeated by the god, has no place here, for another god is in command. The good man understands not a word, but I have my pleasure from it.
In the evening the Ritters with us. We go through a bit of Götterdämmerung, the battle in Faust, Part Two, and Die Kapitulation! So ends Würzburg, which was nice, and it even brought us some nice letters. A lady from a seaside resort on the Baltic indicated her wish to become a patron and sent us a very remarkable letter about R. from a young person. Bought toys for the children. A letter from Hans, nice and friendly.