My good Minna!
Although you are likely to receive my last letter today or at the latest tomorrow, I can't let today pass, having received your letter from Chemnitz, without sending you a few more lines, because I want you to know something about myself and the shape of the future as often as possible during our—let us hope—short separation.
You may easily imagine that I now have nothing in my mind any longer but your coming here: everything depends on that. I can't speak to you about anything else today because I know that—once we are united again—everything will be brought to a peaceful and trusting agreement between us. You are ready in spite of all that lies heavily on your spirit to come to me and to share my lot: Good! Now you will surely learn that it won't be so bad and so difficult as you imagine and expect it to be. Really, I am living in the firm and well founded hope that soon, perhaps very soon, everything will turn out according to my wishes.
In the first place, I repeat again, dear wife, that Liszt's endeavors to bring about an annual salary for me have been interrupted for the present only, according to my wish, but they have by no means been abandoned. The time was very unfavorable to me so soon after the Dresden catastrophe. I have been painted much too black, as I have also seen from your own reports; but even now I gather from many signs that the general feeling is beginning to turn in my favor; I perceive it clearly in articles about me in the Augsburger Allgemeine and the Deutsche Zeitung which I have just seen here. I see, after all, that I am treated with respect, justice, and sympathy. Let only a few more months pass by, and then perhaps the general opinion about me will have changed in a way which may lighten Liszt's task and permit him to go warmly into my case without compromising me. If I had no other prospect whatsoever than this (and I do have other ones), it would be only a matter of gaining time and meanwhile making life as bearable as possible. But that we can really do only if we are together. It is already arranged so that we can do this. You will get as much money from Liszt one of these days, I believe, as you will need to get away from Dresden and to come here. I have borrowed from friend Müller 300 Swiss gulden (that is, 5 kreuzer less than an Austrian gulden and 5 kreuzer more than the Rhenish gulden), this on the strength of the future receipts from my opera, Lohengrin. In case Liszt doesn't send a little more than you actually need, so that you don't bring any money along with you, those 300 gulden would be quite enough so that we could live here for three months comfortably and free of care, while we wait for our expectations to be fulfilled.
Since you, my dear wife, don't deem it advisable to have the remainder of the furniture transported here, let's agree that you sell all you can beyond what you need: if you ship the beds, mattresses, etc., perhaps also the two mirrors I mentioned recently, then Müller, whom I have consulted, thinks that we could procure the necessary furniture here for 60 gulden. See what you can do to get 60 gulden from this sale. As soon as you write me, dear Minna, exactly when you expect to arrive here, I will rent a small furnished lodging by the week for us both—Müller protests that you too may put up at his house—but I think we should be alone when we are first together again; besides, it is not expensive here, the usual charge is 8 gulden a week for room, dinner, and supper for two people. So we would wait for the beds, etc., and meanwhile we could rent a permanent apartment of our own, buy furniture, and you could take part in procuring our little household needs as you wish and as far as you are able. The heavenly beauties of nature and the clear air should be the best support for my endeavors to make your lot at my side as easy and happy as possible. You will also make some female acquaintances, which should appeal to you. People are inquiring after you with warm friendliness. You will watch me then doing my work for Paris—and be convinced. Before three months are over, you will breathe freely and without worry about our future, for then we will have gained time and, I hope, put it to good use. Be reassured, dear Minna! The past shall not be repeated. Although a storm now has taken much from me, I have become another person from what I was ten years ago, for I have proved to people what I am able to do. The clouds will disappear, and the calm, friendly sun will at last rise for us for good. Be reassured!
Well, dear wife! Bear in mind that even if our present unsettled state lasts a little while longer—we are on our way: our journey may be rather variegated at times; things may not always be just right and what we are accustomed to, but that is what journeys are like. Finally one does settle down; and we shall find a home everywhere that we are together; at least, I have no other home than you; and where I have you, there is my home.
So write immediately, as soon as you get the necessary amount from Liszt, and let me know the exact day of your departure; find out so that you can tell me definitely when you are to arrive in Rorschach, your first stop in Switzerland on the Bodensee, because I want to meet you there. Well, I'll close for today. I may have forgotten many things, for I have nothing else in my head than your trip. Ah, dear good wife! My soul can be at peace only when I know that you are coming to me! God knows what otherwise would have happened!
Greet the Wolframs very heartily for me: may they win in the lottery so as to spend some of it on us! At least they should always keep a sympathetic heart for us. So, a thousand greetings and a thousand kisses! Dear Minna, be of good cheer; the sun is shining again! Be fond of me, then everything will go well! Farewell and write soon again!
Your
Richard
Last time I forgot to answer your inquiry on the alleged financial sacrifice which Röckel made on my behalf: Will you feel appeased if I authorize you to call that allegation a shameless invention, from whomever it may come?
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner: The Burrell Collection, ed. John N. Burk (Macmillan, 1950), No. 78