O my good Minna!
How can you believe that I forgot about the money for you? Especially now that it lies around here like hay. But did you not think of my coming to you on Sunday? Well, then I will bring you what you need. Two weeks from today I'll come with an enormously big, wide, and high carriage and will call for you with all the household furniture and bring you to the deserted house which will finally know what it is to have a mistress again. Your letter to Lizette, which I read out to her with great unction, was quite extraordinarily beautiful; it touched even me to tears, not to speak of Lizette—her answer I am going to relate to you by word of mouth. Your straw hat also wandered to Arbenz today. May I not order something quite pretty for you? Well, you'll tell me! But you, you good patient, try to get through smoothly with the rest of your cure. Those cold showers must certainly stimulate you in the long run; it could not be otherwise. For goodness' sake, don't exaggerate such strenuous treatments; the damage can be very great. Think of my oversevere cold cures in Albisbrunn and how I lost all my sleep. Well, I hope the doctor is a reasonable man and stops it in time; I only do not trust you to be sensible (if you'll pardon me!), for I know how careless you sometimes are about yourself. On the whole, you should not be worried if an immediate success fails to come. Generally, every cure affects one unfavorably at first, and the good after effect usually starts only with the return to normal life. You will, I think, finally also regain good sleep in your house and bed, and so everything is regained; for in the present treatment your constitution has been altered, especially by the revived skin activity. I certainly hope for the best! When I left Mornex, I was at the last very stimulated too. In any case you did the best that could be done and certainly helped yourself. The rest will come, be sure. I'll have to tell you pleasant things about Vienna. I expect a very good performance of Lohengrin there. Nothing else has happened. I have been paid back a lot; but there is still an immense sum of money left, and you are to resume your regimen with a well filled purse. Today I wrote again to Bordeaux for wine—so you see—I hope for tranquillity and permanent comfort. I haven't yet paid Ochsner; if he doesn't dun me, I'll wait until you are back; but you mustn't be bothered with such unpleasant trifles either. You ought to be kept quiet.
I'll leave the Herweghs alone in any case. They now have their D'Agoult and 300,000 Frenchmen and Italians daily in their home; and on the whole I believe it is better for you to keep away from all possible excitements. My little devil of a fellow, however, wants to join me. He has taken a fancy to you. So be good enough to order the carriage for Sunday morning at eleven o'clock in Wildegg. If we like it and there is room enough, we may stay there overnight, although I now have some respect for the Brestenberg nights.
Well, may the good God protect you and bestow on you a tender sleep, a good awakening, and a merry mood!
This for a greeting from your
Richard
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner: The Burrell Collection, ed. John N. Burk (Macmillan, 1950), No. 181