To N. F. von Meck.
“Maidanovo, August 4th (16th), 1886.
“ ... I feel at my best when I am alone; when trees, flowers, and books take the place of human society. O God, how short life is! How much I have yet to accomplish before it is time to leave off! How many projects! When I am quite well—as I am at present—I am seized with a feverish thirst for work, but the thought of the shortness of human life paralyses all my energy. It was not always so. I used to believe I could, and must, carry out all my ideas to completion; therefore my impulses towards creative work were then more lasting and more fruitful. In any case I hope to have the outline of the opera (The Enchantress) ready in a month’s time, and then to begin the orchestration.”
Diary.
“August 6th (18th), 1886.
“Played the conclusion of the sickly Manon and Lefèbre’s inanities to the end.”
“August 15th (27th).
“ ... Worked a little before and after supper. Kouma’s Arioso is finished. Read Loti’s Pêcheurs d’Islande. Not very pleased with it. The tone of the descriptions remind me of that ... Zola and....”
“August 18th (30th).
“Walked in the garden. Worked and completely finished the rough sketches for the opera. Thank God!”