Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of December 18, 1879

Overview

R. finally returned to the salon and celebrated the chance to sit among the family again, even comparing himself to Mary Stuart in captivity. He played piano, reflected on the power of melody, and then drifted into thoughts about Germany's discouraging state and the ongoing reading of Don Quixote.

Content

Thursday, December 18:

R. is once more down in the salon, feels like Mary Stuart in Fotheringhay, plays some things on the piano, and says, "What can compare with a melody? What would the world be without these sorrowing, pure, uplifting sounds?" He is very happy to be in the salon. Siegfried gets up, too, and at least Eva is no worse. Discussion with friend Gross about our funds, which are not flourishing at the moment.

Over coffee R. says that what he finds most oppressive is that one can take no pleasure in what is now happening in Germany; in one's youth one had at least had one's hopes. In the evening we read Don Quixote, the beginning of the second part - utterly splendid, but the Baccalaureus annoys R.