You are mistaken, my dear Herr Schott! You are greatly mistaken as to the way in which a man like me may be treated. Many things may be extorted by hunger, but not works of a higher nature. Or do you think that when my cares prevent me from sleeping at night, I shall be serenely cheerful the next day, and full of good ideas for my work? The “Mastersingers” would have been very close to completion by now if you had taken due care of me since the date when I first settled here for that very purpose. You had done enough - and I shall never cease to acknowledge it! - to enable me to undertake such a work: - but you should have done more - since it was necessary and there was no alternative - and kept me in a good mood as well. If it meant making sacrifices, here - if anywhere - was the place for them, whereas parsimony and timidity have caused everything to stagnate. Since the end of August - almost two months ago - you have left me very much in the situation of a drowning man. You finally declared yourself ready to offer a certain amount of help: and again you have spent 2 whole weeks forcing yourself to torment me! -
Well, you, too, complain of lack of peace and quiet: I suppose that I might concede that you contribute to your own peace of mind by making mine impossible, but I scarcely think that likely.
Very well, then! You will know how best to act in keeping with your character: I am, and shall remain, mindful of my obligations, but I wish that I could discharge my debt to you in cash rather than manuscripts, - something which you yourself would no doubt ultimately prefer? All that can be done will be done, and if any good can come of torment, some good will no doubt come of me, for - I am in torment! -
I felt that in accordance with the eternal laws of justice I should not spare you the effusion of a sleepless night.
Your most obedient servant
Richard Wagner.
PS. If it had really been your earnest intention to publish the poem of the “Mastersingers”, I ought no doubt to have seen a proof-sheet by now. I can scarcely believe that it takes 14 days to produce a printed sheet in Mainz.
RW.
Source: Selected Letters of Richard Wagner, trans. and ed. Stewart Spencer and Barry Millington (W. W. Norton & Company, 1988), No. 281