Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of June 5, 1881

Overview

A day of eerie coincidences unfolds as reports of a ghost seen by Siegfried and Georg are uncannily linked to their feverish servant Rausch, who later staggers to the house half-dressed and delirious. Cosima seizes the moment to gently break to Wagner the news of Eckert's death, adding grief to an already unsettled atmosphere. The evening offers some emotional relief as Wagner and Rubinstein play the Siegfried Idyll together, prompting tender reminiscences of Siegfried's birth despite the constant intrusion of uninvited guests.

Content

Sunday, June 5:

R. had a restful night and wanted to have breakfast in the summerhouse, but I am hoarse. He tells me of a ghost which Siegfried and Georg saw at 10 o’clock last night. We connect it with Rausch, who is very ill in the hospital. I use the conversation to inform R. of the death of our poor good friend K. Eckert.

At 12 o’clock Rausch comes to the house in a high fever, half dressed and looking terrible, and asks for his room. The topic of our conversation is ghost stories. R. is upset by all these experiences: first thundery heat, then thunder.

We have our coffee in the summerhouse, then R. walks into town with Jouk., to see whether, in spite of its being Whitsuntide, he cannot buy a chain for S.’s watch. He is successful.

In the evening he plays the Idyll with Rubinstein, much emotion and much reminiscing. He talks of the birth, and we are moved, though constantly disturbed by uninvited guests.