Restless night. I dreamt of torture devices and murderers, while R. dreamt of Frederick the Great, whom he saw approaching with his general staff, wearing a peculiar hat made only of two wings; we on higher ground; he wanting to come up, and we helping him. He asks: “Where is your husband with the white feather in his hat?” He meant the Wanderer, about whom R. had spoken to him. As he is being pulled up, R. notices that the fabric of his coat (blue) was so new, and he awoke laughing. –
Memory of our return from Italy,[1] the flooding in Ticino, a miracle that Fidi came into the world so smoothly despite the extraordinary exertions and colds at the start of the pregnancy. A beautiful, sacred time of seclusion with the two little ones in Tribschen until the morning sun. “A lovely, free being should come into this world,” says R. – That gives one a religious trust. –
Flood in Switzerland in 1868
In the autumn of 1868, storms and floods hit the cantons of Ticino, Valais, Graubünden, Uri and St. Gallen. 51 fatalities and enormous material damage initiated the development of modern flood protection (Image: Flood in the canton of St. Gallen)
Last evening, he spoke of the impression the Porter’s Songfrom Schiller’s “Macbeth”[2] had made on him during a performance in Dresden, beautifully felt by Schiller, although the humour in Shakespeare is something entirely different. This led the conversation to the scene following Juliet’s feigned death; R. reads it aloud to us, and he and I once again marvel at this view into the world! Only Friar Laurence, who knows of the pretence and plays along, speaks truthfully, seriously, and deeply; the others, who believe the death is real, wail in falsetto, and through this pretense, everything has something of a musical reconciliation about it, and the scherzo of the conversation between the musicians does not upset this. – A Mr Böhme writes an impertinent letter to R. because he has not responded immediately to a manuscript he sent. – Mr Beta prophesies the reign of cacocracy[3]. –
The oath will be abolished, and our prince is now beginning direct negotiations with the delegates of the Social Democrats; very fine! – R. brings his Siegfried to the railway station. An unclear telegram from Richter about the Vienna concert. In the evening, read Gfrörer (second volume) with much interest; I have ever less understanding for the people who allow the treasure of the Revelation to wither away.
[1] The journey of Cosima and RW from 14th September to 5th October, 1868, during the floods in Ticino and the thunderstorm experience, see Annals in “Mein Leben”.
[2] Übersetzung und Bearbeitung des Shakes[2] Schiller’s translation and adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”, 1801.
[3] Rule of the wicket.
Revised English translation by Jo Cousins.