Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of June 8, 1870

Overview

Wagner’s praise of Cosima’s soulfulness contrasts with her own sense of unworthiness. Children’s lessons continue while Wagner’s illness and gloom make the long visit from Friedrich Porges and his wife especially ill-timed. Cold weather, biography proofs, late supper, and the absence of evening reading leave the day feeling endured rather than lived.

Content

Wednesday, June 8:

“You are all soul, love, kindness,” R. said to me yesterday, whereas I feel like Gretchen: “know not what he finds in me.” Gave lessons to the children; R. unfortunately unwell and in gloomy mood. Very inopportune the visit of Friedrich Porges and his wife from Vienna, since R. has little inclination to talk, and they stay a long time. Wretched cold weather, the sort of day one just has to put up with.

Late supper, since R. has to correct the proofs of his biography. And we read nothing in the evening.