Friday, September 22:
R. had a bad night, and he is weighed down by all sorts of cares! Even the Glasenapp family’s move to Bayreuth, pleasing in itself, causes him concern. But he is very gentle toward me, and since I seek to reduce his turmoil just by maintaining silence, he feels this to be kind and loving! — But the town gives him much pleasure; he goes out before lunch and tells us of his delight. Unfortunately his room is not yet furnished, so that he still has to live amid much turmoil. All the same, his amiable manner does not desert him, and after coffee, when I ask Herr von Stein to read me his article about Luther and the peasants since I wish to comment on it to him, R. creeps in unobserved and then makes many jokes about us! After that we go to see the lion at the Arsenal, which makes the same magnificent impression on R. as before, then to the Giardino Pubblico, since R. wishes to inquire whether Siegfried can take riding lessons there. — We ride as far as the Piazzetta and from there walk to the Rialto, but R. finds walking difficult, his chest spasms always threatening. In the evening we talk much about Calderon, Rub. having returned the plays he borrowed. We recall our previous enthusiasm for him and decide that one probably needs to be in a special mood to appreciate these works of art.