Friday, January 6:
R. had a good night, and we have a cheerful breakfast in the conservatory, talking about all kinds of things, including Cherubini, whom Schemann is trying to bring closer to our hearts: “Man should not visit the gods,” says R. R. describes this outmoded master as interesting and boring at one and the same time. Then he passes on to the French, saying that the way they have turned pater and mater into père and mère says everything. R. then goes to his work, which, however, puts a great strain on him today. Page 331, with the harps (Parsifal mounting the steps to the altar), causes him much exertion; the weather is dull, and the news that Lusch is about to return produces from him only the remark that she is now just a guest in our home. We take a drive to the Favorita, but he does not feel well. At supper he discusses the news that it will be L. Bucher’s task to arrange the Pope’s new position in Rome as a free city. He already mentioned this during our walk: “Who possesses the rights, then?” he said, talking of the Piedmontese rulers. At lunch he defended Frederick Barbarossa against the accusation of cruelty: “They believed in themselves, those rulers, were caught up in a magnificent error. At that time the Pope represented the people. But one cannot call them simply cruel.” I continue reading G. Keller to distract him, and the story of Salome offers us quite a lot to enjoy.