Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of August 16, 1880

Overview

A bad night left R. regretting Naples and discouraged that his rash was still not improving, though he later surprised the writer by meeting her at the cathedral and joining her walk before returning home exhausted for a bath. Their afternoon drive to the Tiber valley and the graves of the Volumni moved him into thoughts on the Etruscans and their disappearance into Rome, and the evening ended with shared pleasure in Schopenhauer.

Content

Monday, August 16:

R. did not have a good night, probably an error of diet to blame; he also regrets having left Naples, since his rash is not improving. In the morning I visit the cathedral, S. Severo, the Oratorio of S. Bernardino, return to the cathedral and there to my surprise meet R., whom I was just about to fetch in the carriage. We walk to the cambio, which disappoints him, since he expected it to be bigger. He is very tired, takes a bath when we arrive home.

In the afternoon we drive to the Tiber valley and on the homeward journey visit the graves of the Volumni, which make an impact on R. as well. Thoughts of the Etruscans, their civilization, their absorption by the Romans. In the evening I read to R. Sch.’s chapter “On Apparent Deliberateness in the Fate of an Individual,” with great enjoyment.