Friday, May 20:
Continuation of the birthday contrarinesses, but glorious hot weather, the work in the garden more planned than carried out. The boats on the lake remind one of that image which R. gave for melody in Opera and Drama: it floats above the element, is distinct from it, but cannot exist without it. Fidi, our prince, looks splendid: “Through him the Universal Spirit has shown what it wanted, why it put our love and our loyalty to the test.”
I prepare Lusch to release the birds given to her on her birthday; it costs her a great struggle, but she decides to keep birds only in winter and to free them in summer. How much I praise the star which has allowed the children to pass their youth in this solitary place and in R.’s proximity! None of life’s battles, no anguish will ever be able to affect this felicity.
After lunch, when we are reading Wallenstein, Jakob comes in struggling for breath: the King’s head coachman is here, has brought a horse. The arrival of Grane, the children’s joy, Thespis wagon (the little ones jump on to the wagon and dance). Poor Fritz! The coachman brings good news of the King. Happy walk with R. in the evening in the finest May weather. Fidi on the horse, earnest, wondering, but secure.