Chronicle of Nietzsche 's Life 365Writes to Peter Gast: "I am one of those machines that can shatter!"
(August 14). To Overbeck: "It is a commencement of my commence-
ments—what still lies before me! On me! At some point, I will have no
choice but to vanish from the world formally for a couple of years, in
order to delete everything from my memory of the past and all of my
interpersonal relationships and the present, including friends, relatives,
everything, everything" (August 20). N. discovers his intellectual affinity
to Spinoza. Euphoria is followed by deep depression. Rohde and
Gersdorff fade out of his life.
Genoa from October to March 1882: N. attends a performance of
Bizet's Carmen. Works on a sequel to Daybreak, which becomes The Gay
Science. "We have had the most beautiful weather lately, and all in all I
have never had it better. Every afternoon I sit at the ocean. Because
there are no clouds, my head is free and I am full of good thoughts"
(November 18).
1882
The beautiful clear weather lasts throughout the month of January.
Works on The Gay Science: "Oh, what a time! Oh, these miracles of the
beautiful Januarius!" (January 29). Paul Rèe comes. They visit a casino in
Monaco. Rèe loses a large sum of money. Because of problems with his
vision, N. has a typewriter sent to him. It breaks after a few weeks. "The
typewriter is at first more intimidating than any process of writing"
(February). In Rome, Rèe meets the "Russian woman" (Lou Salomé)
and is charmed by her. He suggests that N. join them.
N. travels to Messina as the only passenger on a freighter (April). On the
way back, he meets Lou Salomé in Rome. They travel together back to
Orta, Basel, Lucerne, and Zurich. N. proposes marriage to Salomé twice,
but she turns him down both times, first in Rome and then in Zurich.
Plan for a ménage à trois of Ν., Rèe, and Salomé. May and June in
Naumburg. August in Tautenburg, first alone and then with Salomé and
N.'s sister. Intense discussions: Salomé:^4 <We have always chosen the