Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of November 12, 1881

Overview

Conversation about Joan of Arc in Henry VI led Richard to contrast Shakespeare's patriotic distortions with Schiller's greater freedom from national barriers. Dr. Berlin adjusted his diet, and Richard once more marveled that he was sixty-eight, insisting nonetheless that Parsifal proved he was still bringing something new into the world. A long walk in the Giardino Inglese, the completion of Henry VI Part I, and a glorious summer night on the terrace left the day feeling spacious and renewed.

Content

Saturday, November 12:

Lovely morning. The curious and unpleasant scenes with Joan La Pucelle in Henry VI are discussed; R. says: “One sees they caused him real trouble.” On the other hand, we think with delight of the heroic idyll of Talbot and his son.

At noon Dr. Berlin arrives, making some changes in R.’s diet. At lunch R. again remarks how strange it makes him feel that he is 68; he says it always comes as a surprise to see that his hair is gray, he always feels as if he has Fidi’s hair. Recently he made the remark, “I am not a ghost, after all - with my Parsifal I am again coming along with something new.”

We take a 2-hour walk which enchants R., in the English Gardens [Giardino Inglese], heavenly air and indescribable colors. Returning home, R. writes his score, and in the evening we finish Part I. What patriotism does to a person, he says, we can see in the wretched scenes with La Pucelle, whereas a German, unaffected by any such barriers, Schiller, saw the truth. When Schopenhauer’s remarks are discussed, R. says, “He was a philosopher, but no sage.” At the conclusion of the evening R. calls me out onto the terrace to show me the glorious summer night.