Now tell me, Minna, what am I to think of you? Are you out of your mind, that you leave me in this state without a letter for so long a time? Must not all my thoughts, quieted by my great trust in you, be reawakened with double force when I know that you are in Berlin, and in what surroundings?
My dear, if it is mere negligence on your part, you are doubly to be blamed—or have you really already forgotten me? I'm furious! You women really are more insensitive than stone!
I read in the paper that you are to appear as Esmeralda today—otherwise I would have known nothing about it. I can easily imagine how people are after you in Berlin—behave worthily, though I must often have doubts about it when you fail to write to me at all.
I have now completely won your mother over; she is more friendly toward me and more confiding than I would ever have believed; I told her quite plainly that I can't live without you, and that I must soon have you as my own. She took it very well and said to me (and this surprised me) that you will surely return when it becomes feasible; so that we may be together through the winter, and you can hold out well enough until Easter. She spoke this way yesterday, even though she has been against it until now. You may imagine how great my faith and love must be when I have been able to touch this cold woman and bring her around—besides, she said: "She will arrange her relations with Berlin in such a way that, returning after starring there, she may have renewed terms here, if she is justly dealt with; if worst comes to worst—she could accept Berlin's offer!" These are her own words—how much hope and comfort they have given me! But I wish you not to think of Berlin again. It is not a question of one or the other, there is only one choice: You must choose me.
People here say you were entirely in the right; only last night I met some from the familiar orchestra box, and all were agreed that the mixup with the Grabowskys should stop and shall be stopped; and it may also happen that they will be ousted very soon, since it is the general wish to engage the Pellerts. It was common talk that the Grabowsky was terrible in tragic roles and that you are indispensable. This is the real situation.
O Minna, my sweet betrothed, come, come—you will nowhere feel so happy, so much at home, so well and cozy as in the arms of your
Richard
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner: The Burrell Collection, ed. John N. Burk (Macmillan, 1950), No. 11