Wednesday, July 9:
R. tells me a curious dream he had last night: he had stood with a prince, whom he called “Your Highness,” in a similar relationship as with the King of B.; this prince reproached him in a friendly manner for having ridden in a special train on his (R.’s) birthday, asking him not to do so again. R. assured him that this had gone on so long. R. said to himself, “May he never discover my terrible guilt!” For he had been guilty of a kind of deceit which he had thought no body would discover, and this could perhaps lead to a death if, as now seemed unavoidable, it were to be discovered; and now R. asked how he would be able to bear it if an innocent man were accused instead of him; in a terrible agony of conscience he woke up, feeling very unwell, but downright relieved.
Herr Brandt is here to inspect the theater building; we admit to one another our mutual anxiety. Brandt tells us about Semper, who had asked him to cable to Munich demanding the plans, which he wished to exhibit in Vienna, but then he had withdrawn his request. Lunch with Herr Br. and the Kietzes; his wife has also arrived, and R. says it is remarkable to see what sort of wives artists always choose in Germany. But the bust has finally turned out very well, and I am really grateful to the good man for the way he accepted all my remarks so patiently and willingly and responded to them. R. has much vexation with the new house; Herr Wolffel is behaving rudely and deceitfully.
Royalties from Berlin: the works were performed only 3 times in the whole quarter, and a performance of Lohengrin on R.’s birthday brought in 5,000 thalers. I write to Barcelona and to M. Donhoff, also to M. M. In the evening read Uhland. A quotation from Otfried makes a great impression on me. (“If the melody of this language (the Frankish) was bound by no rules, it nevertheless has a fine simplicity: ‘Take care only that God’s word sounds well to the understanding. Let your sermon be time and rule itself, observe the meter in your tongue, let fine verses be your deeds, let your feet follow God’s command! Think and make your poetry on these six times, so that you may rest on the seventh.’ ”) I see Luther’s spirit in this.