Oh dearest! dearest Franz! -
Your answer was far too emotional! Let me add a humorously realistic commentary to my last letter! - What of Dingelstedt! What of the Grand Duke! What of Rienzi! - Stupid things, the lot of them! - I need money. If only that wretched night-watchman had sent me his miserable 25 l. d’ors at once, I wouldn’t have minded. But then to receive a promise to pay me “after the first performance” - (idiot!). You speak far too nicely about me with other people. Tell them “Wagner doesn’t give a damn about you, your theatres, and his own operas; what he needs is money; that’s all!” Did you not understand me either? Did I not say to you, clearly and distinctly, that I was trying to scrape together some money at all costs? Did I not ask you to put in a word for my operas (Lohengrin or flying Dut.) in Coburg etc? What in God’s name am I supposed to do with Diana de Solange? Why should I put up with such open contempt on your part? - Not a word? No money? -
All right! I haven’t even 10 gulden left; I can’t pay the rent, and can’t send my wife anything, although she wrote to me a fortnight ago to say she had very little left. - But all of this is only temporary. Next Easter, when Tristan is finished, I’ll have more than I need. But now everyone leaves me in the lurch. Everyone! Everyone! Not a single prospect of a definite receipt. - And what I now get is — Diana de Solanges! It’s enough to drive a person insane! I can see you simply do not know what hardship is - you lucky man! -
Or is this a way of reproaching me for living too well? My Franz, when you see the second act of Tristan, you’ll admit that I need a lot of money. I’m a great spend-thrift; but, really, it does produce results. - You know that. But just think about it. And never believe that I take seriously any of the complaints that I have about Dingelstedt, the Duke or anyone else. All that I need from the world is money: apart from that I have everything. - It is you and your delight in the 1st act of Tristan that are to blame for this fit of high spirits on my part. When you get to know the second act, you’ll even be able to forgive me for doing nothing today except to shout out for - money! Money! - How and from whom doesn’t matter. Tristan will repay it all! - When I’m completely insane, I’ll telegraph you with my last remaining napoleon! -
Adieu! Happy New Year!
Send Dante and the Mass! But first send me - money! A fee - for God knows what! Tell Dingelstedt he is a fool as long as he lives! And tell the Grand Duke that his snuff-box has been pawned - it’s true! It’s up to him to redeem it for me. -
Never again write to me in such a serious and emotional tone! God! I told you last time that you all bore me. Was it to no avail?
Get better in the New Year! A fine how-do-you-do that will be! Oh! Oh!
Good night!
Yours,
R.W.
Source: Selected Letters of Richard Wagner, trans. and ed. Stewart Spencer and Barry Millington (W. W. Norton & Company, 1988), No. 229