Dear fr. & bro. -
It has never been my intention to write to you offering consolation, for I knew you had no need of consolation. But now that I learn that the King of S. has confirmed the death sentence on you both, I should like to give you pleasure by conveying to you a most devoted brother’s greeting. I am, however, far away from you: I scarcely dare hope that these lines will reach you, and so I can only wish that you receive them in time.
Whether I was awake or dreaming, you were always close to me: you stood before me strong and suffering, a source of both envy and pity. Now I see you both ready to receive the fatal blow at the hand of that same executioner for whose humanization you once fought. My brothers, let me confess to you the frailty of my love which allowed me to hope that I should see your lives spared. I now understand that, just as you are great and strong, so the fate which your enemies inflict upon you must in turn be decisive and violent: they dare not fail to counter your bold strength with their most daring resolves, and thus to honour you. Therefore be proud of yourselves! Dear brethren! what was it seemed to us most necessary to transform men into true human beings? - That they should be forced by adversity into becoming heroes. We now see two heroes before us: driven by the holy need of human love, they have developed into joyful heroes: accept our greeting, dearest of men! You show us what we may all become. Die then, happy to rejoice in the highest standards which you know yourselves to have set us!
If, from afar, your brother may mingle a drop of sweetness in the draught of deadly earnest which you are about to drink, let it be to share with you the news that, cared for by the most blissful friendship and love, I can face the future in freedom and serenity, and that, with strength renewed and keenly fired, I for my own part and according to my own capabilities, am working away at that same task for which you heroes are now laying down your lives. Mikhail! August! my dear and beloved brethren whom I shall never forget! Your lives will live on. Like the ripples on a pond, your memory will spread in ever widening circles, forming a token of love destined to bring happiness to future humanity! Thus you may die, then, envied, admired and - loved! -
If I might be granted the ineffable pleasure of yet receiving a final word from you, then you must needs know where it will reach me: at M. J. L. - If this greeting should find you still of this world, I doubt not but that my most heartfelt desire may yet be fulfilled.
And so, my dear brethren! I embrace you with all the fervour of a man whose love comes from his innermost soul. Accept this kiss and this final tear! Allow me to share with you the strength with which I see you now standing serenely before me! Happy and proud - that is how you will appear before me until the end of time - allow me thus to dedicate my life to the glory of our friendship!
Yours —
Source: Selected Letters of Richard Wagner, trans. and ed. Stewart Spencer and Barry Millington (W. W. Norton & Company, 1988), No. 104