Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of April 4, 1877

Overview

The day began with routine work and financial checking, which produced unease over how much had recently been spent. It was softened by a warmly enthusiastic letter from the king and by an evening spent admiring Aristophanes, whose comedy seemed to the writer to capture a civilization's decline with remarkable brilliance.

Content

Wednesday, April 4:

Saint Richard's Day; R. at his writing, I with the children and the books, from which I see that we spent 14,999 marks in the last quarter, which worries me very much. Letter from the King in his usual kind and enthusiastic style! In the evening Aristophanes's Plutus, which seems to us utterly splendid! How sublimely the downfall of this most talented people is reflected in the humor of their deeply discerning dramatist!