Wednesday, February 5:
Went to the house in the morning. When I returned, I found R. beside himself with rage. Herr J. J. Weber is laying claim to the rights in the text of Der Ring des Nibelungen which R. has assigned to Herr Schott. I manage with difficulty to calm R. down over this bit of sharp practice.
It is the fact that nobody is indignant over Herr Weber's behavior which so upsets him. I tell him: “We have the theoretical knowledge of Man's wickedness, the others the practical knowledge; that is why they are never indignant, but just protect themselves with provisos. They do not want to acknowledge the theory, because the doctrine of the sin of existence and the wickedness of the human race contains too much ugly truth for them.”
In the afternoon a letter from friend Heckel says that the Grand Duke of Baden regrets not being able to do what R. asks, since he is convinced the step would prove unsuccessful. And Herr Wesendonck is prepared, “with reservations,” to subscribe 700 thalers to the guarantee fund. We, R. and I, cannot help laughing. “One has done one’s best,” R. says. “I didn't expect much, but one acts as if one expects something and leaves nothing untried.”
In the evening, Gibbon, always with enjoyment. Unfortunately my eye is not yet sufficiently restored to allow me to do the reading. R. is still very indignant over Herr Bate and Herr Weber.