Dearest,
I write to you to-day only hastily! I intended doing so in greater detail in a few days; but Kolatschek gave me to-day a commission for you which must be attended to now.
That is, Kolatschek begs you to prepare as quickly as possible a thoroughly representative article on my operas (i.e., specially Lohengrin) for the Deutsche Monatsschrift. It ought to appear in the last number of October, and you must therefore see that it is in Stuttgart by October 20th. Moreover, notice of it is sent from here to the publishing-house (Hoffmann's in Stuttgart), and you would have to send your article there, when ready, by letter-post, and simply, by letter, to refer to Kolatschek's order. I think you will be able to knock up an article by October 20th. So much, for the present, about the commission. I was opposed to it: but Kolatschek proved to me that in the interest of our party it would be inexcusable if the Deutsche Monatsschrift did not just come out with something substantial about the matter in hand, and only regretted that it could not have been done sooner. So he particularly begs you, even without being specially prompted by him, to inform the Deutsche Monatsschrift of anything that appears to you worthy of mention, and to do this as often as a suitable opportunity presents itself. You have only each time to send a short notice, something to this effect: In so many days I shall forward a notice of so and so — whereupon Kolatschek will send instructions to Stuttgart; you would only have each time to send directly to that place.
Already Kolatschek wished to fix upon one of your old articles for the number of the 1st of November (from now the Monatsschrift will appear in fortnightly numbers); consequently he had scarcely any desire to put your article again into your hands for revision. Anyhow he will yield to your wishes, and in any case write to you. With regard to the non-appearance hitherto of the article, he begs to be excused. As we have got on to the subject of literary work, listen to the following: Give up the attempt to publish my article on reform! That means this much: I have determined to let the document rest as it is, and not to make it public. (1) I could not do this without the preface, which I lately sent you; now I fear no one in the world, but I would willingly spare the feelings of any one who wishes me well, even though he be narrow-minded. My friendly intendant at Weimar (a thoroughly good soul) would just now feel unhappy at my description of the courtier. I should be sorry just now to cut him to the heart! (2) The document, after all, has no further interest! You can show the manuscript to any one in Dresden who takes an interest in it. (3) J. J. Weber at Leipzig, who would be most likely to take it, must shortly do me other service. My would-be article on opera is becoming rather a voluminous piece of writing, and will perhaps not be much less in size than the Kunstwerk der Zukunft. I have decided to offer this writing, under the title Das Wesen der Oper, to J. J. Weber; so we will not use up the man. I have only finished the first half; unfortunately I am now quite hindered from continuing the work. Every day I must hold rehearsals, and, besides, conduct the orchestra myself, as X. is not getting on very quickly. In a month I hope to be able gradually to withdraw myself from the theatre. For a wonder, this time we have got very good singers!
Stop! I must come to an end! They are already waiting for me — so you must be satisfied for to-day. Shortly I will write more, especially about your water-opinions! I only drink water when I thirst after it, and yet I am far less sanguine than you. What do you expect then? Be true, mercilessly true; rejoice in truth for its own sake; thus will you have enough for the present! We shall not set matters right, but what of it? Shall we, too, on that account, begin to tell lies? How I rejoice now that the hollowness and nothingness of political life and art-doings are ever becoming more evident! All men know now that they are thoroughly contemptible!
Is that not then enough for the present? Only think that a few years ago no one had any suspicion of it! To the Dresden journalist I can only say: "Fellow, you lie and deceive!" Well, more soon. Also to Frau R. Farewell, you water-man!
Your
Richard W.
Source: Richard Wagner's Letters to His Dresden Friends, Theodor Uhlig, Wilhelm Fischer, and Ferdinand Heine, trans. J. S. Shedlock (Scribner & Welford, 1890), No. 17