Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of June 4, 1881

Overview

Wagner passes a pleasant morning in the summerhouse absorbed in philosophy, sharing a thought from Thomas Aquinas on justice, before the family delights in a springtime excursion to the Fantaisie in full bloom. The evening brings a visit from Wolzogen, music from the Lohengrin Prelude, and the ceremonial presentation of Wagner's collected writings to the Count with a dedication on the Norman-Saxon bond. The day closes under the shadow of news arriving of their friend K. Eckert's death.

Content

Saturday, June 4:

R. had a good night and spends the morning reading Dogme et philosophie in the summerhouse. He quotes from it a saying by Thomas Aquinas about justice, and observes that we have now gone beyond that. We all drive to the Fantaisie and take enormous delight in the lovely blossom time.

Friend Wohlgen in the evening. R. plays the Prelude to Lohengrin. He presents his collected writings to the Count, with a dedication extolling the bond between Normans and Saxons. Blandine brought us the news of K. Eckert's death!

Enclosed in the Diaries a letter to Cosima from Ernst Dohm, written from Berlin on June 1 and conveying the same news.