My dear, sweet child,
I have some important news for you; how will my love receive it? God knows how passionately I had contemplated settling down by the Rhine! The greatest enthusiasm that friendship and love could muster was unable to provide me with what I desired. With what coldness and apathy have I recently been made to wait - in vain - for a reply from Zurich. - Here - it was sufficient to make known my wish, and lo and behold! scarcely have I turned round when - I have found what I was looking for, at least in terms of space. A certain Baron von Rochow, a great admirer of mine, reckons it a stroke of great good fortune to be able to make available to me his country house in Penzing, half-an-hour from Vienna, with a large, parklike garden and splendid tall trees, and to lease it to me for life, or for as long as I wish to live there, at a relatively very low rent! -
The surrounding area, like everything else in Vienna, is quite delightful; in the immediate neighbourhood I have the large gardens of Schönbrunn, with their splendid zoological garden for my morning walks. In winter, whatever my needs, all the company I might wish for: and the only place where I shall ever concern myself with performances of my works is barely a stone’s throw away; travelling for that purpose, living in hotels, etc., will cease. -
Of course, my dear child! only when I think of you could I hesitate for a moment in the face of this offer. But I have indulged this feeling for a whole week now. What finally triumphed was my deep-seated need to attain domestic peace at any price: I have rented the place, and telegraphed to Biebrich for my furniture. I am now writing to assure you of my total love! you see, it is so earnest and so sincere that it no longer admits of any substantial obstacle, even in our lasting separation. I have just found an expedient; I have a couple of dear little guest rooms for the summer; my sweetheart will come here often with her Mama or her cousin, and will visit me here. -
Oh, not another word on the subject today! It has - lasted a week.
You dear, noble creature! - Wish me — good luck! As though anyone could ever be happy! -
Now just let me set up house here, as quick as I can: once everything is in place and all is ready, I shall know where I am and where I am really at home, and I shall then set out at once and visit you on the Rhine - no doubt about it!
The fourth page of this letter is reserved for business matters: ask Lieschen for the keys to the cupboards and chests, and send them to me separately. Ask Schuler to settle your expenses, together with Thomas’s bills; I am writing to him on the matter today to give him my instructions. And now? -
Accept a sincere and heartfelt kiss from me; look me calmly in the eye! We shall soon see each other again, and one day you will finally come here for good: my hair is already growing greyer by the hour! - Fare you well! A thousand good wishes to you all!
Yours,
R.W.
[...]
Source: Selected Letters of Richard Wagner, trans. and ed. Stewart Spencer and Barry Millington (W. W. Norton & Company, 1988), No. 285