Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of September 21, 1873

Overview

The day is dull and oppressive, and R. is too unwell from a bad night to work. While walking with the children, she wanders into the cemetery and thinks about death as a wished-for rest for both of them. R. later leaves the lunch table for a long walk, and in the evening the reading of Uhland with Malwida turns to Christian recognition and the serene world of German myth. They also discuss the King of Italy’s visit and the way kings are elevated by others’ expectations, which R. compares to marionettes moved by divine hands.

Content

Sunday, September 21:

Dull, close day; R. had a bad night; he cannot work. I go for a walk with the children; chance leads me to the cemetery, we go inside; thoughts of death within me, yearned-for rest for R. and myself. R. leaves the lunch table to go for a long walk.

In the evening continued reading Uhland with Malwida and R.; the recognition of Christianity by the gods makes a very fine impression, moving picture of Wotan (Nornagest), who himself lights the candle of his life and dies beside the font. “One knows nothing like this among the Greeks,” R. observes. “These German myths are so serene, so touchingly venerable, omniscient man and god! It could not have been easy,” R. observes, “to drive these gods out of the hearts of the people.”

Before our reading we spoke of the visit of the King of Italy to Germany and the hopes attached to it. “How noble kings are made to look by the importance attached to their decisions! They are like marionettes in the hand of God; we others are still lying in the box and need enormous efforts of genius to crane our necks over the side!”