Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of August 15, 1869

Overview

On the Feast of the Assumption, Cosima shows the children Titian's Assumption and spends the day with them, including family lunch and inking. Richard plays the third act for her in the afternoon, stirring emotion and a reflection on the kiss of love as a first intimation of death. Count Bassenheim's Goethe anecdote and a children's dance close the evening.

Content

Sunday, August 15:

Feast of the Assumption. Showed the children Titian's Assumpta, then sat with them inking in; family lunch. In the afternoon R. plays me his third act, great emotion.

"The kiss of love is the first intimation of death, the cessation of individuality; that is why a person is so terrified by it."

In the evening visit from Count Bassenheim, who related to me an anecdote which happened to his father-in-law, Prince Wallerstein: Goethe wished to receive the Order of Saint Hubert, King Ludwig [I] was prepared to give it to him, but on condition that Goethe praised his poems. Goethe was unwilling, and so the King was also unwilling, and the Saint Hubert diamonds remained in the treasury!

In the evening children's dance.