Dear Friend!
On my way back from your house last night I asked myself whether or not you've accepted the role of godfather.
Since you express certain reservations which seem to yield only to considerations of friendship, I had to conclude that you would not like to accept the role which I mentioned. In such matters there can be no half-coercion, and your freedom of conscience must remain intact. Therefore you'll surely understand that today I'll ask an old-time friend of the family to be godfather to our Guido; I'm certain of his consent.
I hope that you'll be well enough to attend the christening from the beginning or to come afterward. Well—I'll visit you soon again to see how you are.
Your
Otto Wesendonck
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner: The Burrell Collection, ed. John N. Burk (Macmillan, 1950), No. 159