Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of March 8, 1881

Overview

The day centers on animated comparisons between European and Asian culture, with Wagner contrasting the heavy scholasticism of the German scholar Pott with the elegant, freewheeling brilliance of Gobineau, and declaring himself willingly parted from the German Reich and world order alike. Frustration with Joukowsky's still-unsatisfactory Magic Garden sketch gives way to rapture over Indian art and architecture, while a hurricane cuts short Wagner's walk but not his spirits. The evening's reading of a classical Indian play moves the household profoundly, prompting Wagner and Cosima to rank it above contemporary European drama without hesitation.

Content

Tuesday, March 8:

Our first conversation concerns Gobineau, whom R. praises as a 'crazy, excitable fellow.' [Added in the margin two pages later, presumably for insertion here: 'He says Pott gives him the impression of being a stiff German student in heavy armor, whereas Gobineau comes in lightly, flourishing a foil.'] Turning to me, he says gaily, 'I have parted company with the German Reich, I am very willing to part company with the world order.'

Over coffee we discussed with Dr. Landgraf the question of the Boers, the German Reich's attitude toward them when they asked for protection: 'Then I will join in, and at the same time put my signature to your anti-Jewish campaign.' Another letter from Moltke gives us little pleasure; what this great genius and expert has to say about the need for and benefits of war is in fact nothing but words.

Jouk. shows me a new sketch of the Magic Garden; it is still not right! R. is rather vexed about it. On the other hand, he is entranced by the installments of India, asks what our cathedrals express in comparison with these splendid works. It is looking like spring; R. goes for a walk, the hurricane drives him home after he has heard some blackbirds singing: 'Nature in its life instinct is so good.' From there we pass on to Aeschylus, Calderon, Goethe, Shakespeare: 'Since in your presence one must always discuss such nonsense.'

'Goethe, Cervantes, Dante saw and created characters, D.Q., Sancho, Faust, Mephisto; Dante, Vergil were wanderers who looked around them, whereas Aeschylus spoke like a priest in the midst of a community. Shakespeare neither the one nor the other, the most enigmatic of them all.' Thus he speaks on parting, as he goes to change his clothes after his walk and return to his composing. It is causing him trouble: 'Yesterday I was dissatisfied with what I did the day before, today with what I did yesterday - so you see how it is.'

In the evening he shows me Captain Darmer's letter and his reply, tells us also of Boer successes, finally reads aloud a modern Indian play which charms and indeed deeply moves us. We have no hesitation in placing it higher than the Intermezzo, and all things European sink deeper and deeper in our estimation next to the Asiatic. We continue for a long time to talk about it and go over it in detail.