Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of August 26, 1871

Overview

Wagner's miserable night blends sleeplessness, a haymaker's song, and a dream of defiance toward Cosima's father over his final score. Cosima has her own disturbing dream of her father, deepening the shared unease. Wagner remains too ill to work, so the day turns to correspondence, lessons with the children, and an evening visit from Princess Hatzfeld and Frau von Schleinitz.

Content

Saturday, August 26:

R. had a very wretched night; he walked about until dawn, listened for a long time to a haymaker yodeling, then went to bed and dreamed that my father was treating him contemptuously, in an offhand manner. R. said to himself, “Just you wait, you are not yet acquainted with my last score; you will treat me differently then, or have you already grown so stupid that you will no longer be able to understand it?” I had also dreamed of my father, wildly and hideously.

R. is still very unwell and cannot work. I write to Councilor Duefflipp and work with the children. In the evening, visit from Princess Hatzfeld and Frau von Schleinitz.