Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of April 11, 1878

Overview

Wagner continued writing for the Platter and entertained their mayor, but remained frustrated by the lingering lack of spring. He was also provoked by a careless literary judgment, then quickly corrected himself and spoke strongly in defense of Balzac.

Content

Thursday, April 11:

R. works on his article for the Bayreuther Blätter—still no spring! Our good mayor dines with us. In the evening a game of whist, a curious sight in Wahnfried; R. says it will still be haunting it 100 years hence.

At lunch R. gets indignant because a Colonel S. describes Balzac as superficial, Gutzkow as deep and fundamental. Afterward he is annoyed with his indignation: “I never consider the people with whom I am talking, I see everything sub specie aeterni.”

He spoke up splendidly for Balzac.