Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of September 27, 1869

Overview

Autumn beauty lets Cosima work with the children in the garden while Richard writes about Rheingold and Rienzi. News from Munich, Peter Cornelius's daughter's birth, and discussion of whether Richard should stop taking the King's allowance raise grave questions about honor, work, and survival. On Cosima's name day, Richard gives flowers and Liszt sends a telegram, but she can only keep silent.

Content

Monday, September 27:

Lovely day, finest blessings of autumn; I can work with the children in the garden. R. writes to Darmstadt and Kassel about Rheingold.

In the morning a visit from Prince Georg; very well meaning, but scant! In the evening more about Das Rheingold in the newspaper, that it is a lavishly decorated, boring work! Letter from Peter Cornelius, birth of his daughter, and great depression over the situation in Munich.

In the evening a long conversation with R. about whether, without saying a word, he should stop drawing his allowance, or think only of the completion of the Nibelungen and give up the fight. I tell him to do what best accords with his inner feelings, with no thought for the possible consequences.

Gnawing worry for R.; is he now to sacrifice all his works in this way? Deep melancholy; he says if I were not there it would be the end of him! It was my name day today; he gave me flowers, and my father also sent a telegram from Rome. I can only keep silent.