. . . Yesterday I had a fine morning. Friedrich invited me to have breakfast in the garden, it was really wonderful, and I enjoyed that pleasure to the full. Afterward my work went very well. In the evening I had company: Frau Heim with her brother (since her husband is never free) did the honors; young Hinzel came too, and Herwegh; Semper—the rascal—didn't come. I played a lot for them on the Erard.
At Sulzer's—last Sunday evening—no whist was played; the hostess had laid out a terribly lavish dinner and was annoyed when I stuck to tea, bread, and butter; she made the first cup of tea so strong that I still feel it today. We chatted about politics and Napoleon until eleven o'clock. Well, it's over now!
Now I won't see anyone else this week. On Saturday I'll come to you early in the morning so as to have dinner en famille on my birthday. The train is supposed to be in Wildegg about eleven o'clock; so send the carriage, for Herr Müller can't be prevented from coming with me. Then we shall be together for about two full days, and I only hope that the doctor doesn't mind, for it is a definite interruption of your cure. Arrange it according to your state of health; if you have bad nights just before, we won't come until the seven o'clock. Well, you will soon see it all! Be patient for the time being and stick to the cure; if it should not help you, it would be too bad! Everybody says that considering your state the cure had to be very long and couldn't have been otherwise; compared to the advantage you are to get from it, whatever you may have missed is of no value. So—God protect you! Don't be despondent! Keep brave and take my blessing.
Your Richard
Old Parson
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner: The Burrell Collection, ed. John N. Burk (Macmillan, 1950), No. 180