Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of July 7, 1869

Overview

Cosima's maternal work and Richard's composition proceed side by side, and he joyfully finds the conclusion for Wotan and Erda. A visit with Frau Am Rhyn and the children's play are followed by Mathilde's wounded discovery of the fifth child through Hornstein, which alarms Cosima because of the Munich connection. Richard reproaches her softness toward others, and she answers Mathilde calmly but with renewed worry.

Content

Wednesday, July 7:

Work everywhere: mine maternal, R.’s magnificent. At noon he calls out to me that he has found it, that is to say, the conclusion for Wotan and Erda.

After lunch, as I give him my hand, he tells me that the slightest touch from me does him good, no more sympathetic creature exists, but that is also why nobody else can leave me alone!

To Frau Am Rhyn, who then accompanies me back here. The children play merrily with the Am Rhyn children. In the evening R. brings me a letter from Mathilde; she has heard about my 5th child from Hornstein and cannot understand why I told her nothing about it!!! R. very annoyed with her, reproaches me for being too weak toward everybody. I reply to her late in the evening, calmly and shortly. But all the same it has again raised a great worry in my mind, since Baron Hornstein lives, of all places, in Munich!