I have come to the following decision in regard to Tristan.
I authorize you to deliver Tristan und Isolde also to the theaters but only on condition that the same royalties be paid by the theaters in question, not only for that opera, but for all my former operas from the day of signing the contract.
I don't believe that Mannheim and Wiesbaden, which now are in question, will be able to perform the Tristan in such a way as to make it quickly into a repertory opera; if royalties are to be paid for this opera, but not for my previous operas, then it is with certainty expected that Tristan will be completely neglected and put on the shelf, while my older works, now as ever, will be given for nothing. Therefore I intend to stick to this condition consistently. If they won't agree to it, it is all right with me.
How is our trial going on? When will the disputed receipts arrive, by which I could—if not build—at least equip my house? It seems to me that everything is dragging.
Well, God protect us! Greet Herrn Carl W. Batz.
Yours truly
Richard Wagner
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner: The Burrell Collection, ed. John N. Burk (Macmillan, 1950), No. 322