Dear Fellow,
I do not see why I should not write to you to-day, even if it be but little. We are surrounded by a thick cloud. I have just come down from the Albis heights, where I have had the most magnificent view since I stood on a certain "Kreuzthurm." The whole chain of the Alps, from Säntis to the Bernese Oberland, in the clearest sunlight, and a thick sea of cloud spread over all the depths, from which the awful world of islands stands out nobly. I wonder what it is like on the Räcknitz heights now?
Emilie wrote the day before yesterday. She is coming to us here at Albisbrunn. We can always make something of her!
If you hear anything of Liszt's doings at Weimar, please let me know. Your news about Moscheles gave me much matter for reflection. Ah! if I could only draw Liszt away from his illusions, it would be grand. It has much to do with my works. My Weimar Siegfried becomes more and more problematical, but not Siegfried itself. For this much is certain — I only work for art, for nothing else, unless it be for a little decided humanity.
I am getting more and more to believe in my cure; anyhow, my condition was and is now of a critical nature: were it not for my wife, I should remain here the whole winter.
Please send me the exact title of Rausse's writings on hydropathic treatment. I shall order them, in any case, for myself. You would probably also like soon to have your Rausse back again?
One thing more. I beg of you to get from Fischer the following scores of mine which are in his possession, to make a pile of them, to pack them up, and send them to me the first chance you get. Could not Emilie bring them? Otherwise, perhaps by parcel-post, or, in the worst case, by carrier. The things are:
1. Die Feen. Opera. Three vols., original MS.
2. Das Liebesverbot, oder die Novize von Palermo. Two vols., ditto.
3. Rienzi. Four vols., ditto.
4. Der fliegende Holländer. One vol., ditto.
5. Der fliegende Holländer. Lithograph score, in handsome binding, with leather back.
6. Beethoven. Ninth Symphony. Engraved score.
7. Beethoven. Pastoral Symphony. Ditto.
8. Bach. Motetts.
9. Schumann. Symphony.
And the rest of the engraved music; only not the arrangements of Rienzi, etc. These I present to the gods.
See how you can get all that for me.
Do you really think that, in consequence of the forthcoming historical concert, I might be called back to Dresden? Ah, that would be too grand!
Yesterday I wrote a few lines to Emilie. With regard to the miserable business I referred her to my last letter to you.
May heaven keep and preserve you in its incomprehensible love and foresight! Also may it grant you black hair and a good corporation!
Write soon, do you hear?
How is Elsa?
Your
R. W.
P.S. If you have any fancy for keeping the printed music of No. 6 and onwards, pray do so. I really don't want it.
Source: Richard Wagner's Letters to His Dresden Friends, Theodor Uhlig, Wilhelm Fischer, and Ferdinand Heine, trans. J. S. Shedlock (Scribner & Welford, 1890), No. 38