Dear and honoured friend,
I am sure that I scarcely need tell you how pleased we were to receive your letter and invitation! - Of course we shall come, for you must be the first to see us as man and wife. It has cost us a good deal of patience to reach this position: something that has been imperative for years could finally be resolved only through suffering of every description. Since I last saw you in Munich, I have not set foot outside my refuge, a refuge in which she, too, has sought shelter who was to prove that I could be helped, and that the axiom of so many of my friends, that “I could not be helped”, was untrue. She knew that I had to be helped, and so she helped me: she has borne me a wonderfully handsome and sturdy son, whom I was bold enough to call “Siegfried”: he is flourishing, as is my work, and giving me a new and long life, which has finally found a meaning. -
And so we have managed without the “world”, from which we have withdrawn completely. All that is genuine has proved its worth, and more touching than the acquisition of new friends was the loyalty of old ones. My sister, Ottilie Brockhaus, visited us with her family late last summer: I wish you, too, could have been there. But Midsummer Day has brought you here instead. Our sincere good wishes to you!
But listen now: I hope you will find it right and sensible if we do not accept your invitation until I can bring my son’s mother to you as my wedded wife, too. This is no longer far off, and we hope to be in Mariafeld before the leaves start to fall. But you must first prove your own friendship by bringing your splendid family very, very soon and staying with us here at Tribschen. If you have grandchildren, bring them, too; you will find lots of young people here cheerfully gathered around their mother, who is also their teacher and governess. And perhaps many other things besides, which you will like.
How deeply and truly happy it would make us to know that you were coming here very soon! Any day would be acceptable, we are constantly prepared. -
Do you remember prophesying that this would happen, you noble woman, six years ago, when you released me from your hospitality? I was utterly wretched. But you looked at me, and - prophesied - you must recall what you said? Now, my friend, come and convince yourself that you have the true heart of a good prophetess!
Take this my blessing! I pray that all may prosper to which your great and noble heart is attached! This do I wish you in return! -
Yours,
Richard Wagner.
Source: Selected Letters of Richard Wagner, trans. and ed. Stewart Spencer and Barry Millington (W. W. Norton & Company, 1988), No. 395