The whole day weighed down upon me like a nightmare. I felt unwell. Everything conspired to make me awkward, sluggish, and sullen. In the morning, as usual, I gave lessons to the children. Since Wagner had gone to the orchestral rehearsal, I remained free until three o’clock, at which time the swimming rehearsal had been scheduled.
The sisters Lilli and Marie Lehmann, together with Fräulein Cammert, had arrived. Friendly greetings. They beheld the machinery and the gymnasts swimming therein. ‘No,’ said Lilli, ‘no human being can expect that of me; under no circumstances shall I do it. I have only recently risen from a sick-bed, and besides I am continually dizzy.’ The other two remained silent. ‘Fräulein Marie,’ said I, ‘courage! Try it but once, and I wager the fear will pass and the pleasure of swimming will gain the upper hand.’ The ladder was brought forth; Brandt and I assisted her inside. Amid cries of “Ach!” and “Oh!” and exclamations, screaming and squealing, we strapped her in and the ride began very slowly. She gradually lost her anxious expression, laughed, and declared that it was going quite well. Then Lilli likewise resolved upon it, and lo and behold, within a few seconds she became the boldest of them all. Fräulein Cammert now followed as well, and presently all three were swimming amid merry laughter. Wagner appeared; the entire scene was rehearsed smoothly through. At the same time the three ladies sang their parts enchantingly. They moved exceedingly well. Indescribable was the feeling that came over me; tears came into my eyes at the success of the undertaking, which we (with the exception of Wagner) had doubted, indeed had assumed with certainty that the young ladies would never consent to it. The scene in itself is of such strange beauty that one may well lose all composure over it. Until now there had lain in the machines only little, awkwardly moving young gymnasts, and now these lovely figures; it was marvellous. After the ladies had left the machines, Wagner thanked them amid tears of joy, and hugged and kissed them heartily enough — and I had become well again.
Revised English translation by Jo Cousins [© Jo Cousins | WAGNER Salon]