R. dreamt that he was to conduct the Ninth Symphony, in Dresden or Munich. Beforehand he wandered very hungry through a railway restaurant, where there were Frankfurt sausages; he ordered some, but when he came to fetch them he saw two men eating his portion, and the person at the buffet was maliciously impertinent, as was the landlady, who refused him not only the sausages but even beer; he became violent, then said kind words, all in vain. At last he left the place cursing, came to the hall, passed through the orchestra, was received with applause, but had to climb, relies upon his agility, yet came to a spot that was too deep, where he could not leap, and awoke! … He says: it needs only that the powers of the brain, through evil experiences, be hindered in the activity for which they are intended, and then all the demons seize upon them and produce nothing but hideous images! …
Resolutions concerning my Daniella; I keep Blandine at home. We begin “The Pilgrim” by Lope[1], but find no pleasure in it and read instead a novella by Boccaccio. —
Bon Seydlitz reports that he was with Frau von Bonin Schl., instead of finding her cast down, he found her joyfully hopeful, surely she would have telegraphed to me; no telegram arrives! — — — Herr O. Wesendonck reports that he cannot make the advance payment.
[1] “The Pilgrim in His Homeland” by Lope de Vega.
Revised English translation by Jo Cousins [© Jo Cousins | WAGNER Salon]