Dear Friend,
You must lately have definitely expected a big letter. I could not write it. I certainly had finished my work by the middle of last week; yet I was much exhausted, and as the weather quite unexpectedly turned fine, I made a three days' excursion among the Alps with Herwegh and Wille (a Hamburger who has settled here by the lake): to Glarus, the Glärnisch, also the Klön valley and the Wallenstadt lake. Unfortunately I was the worse for the excursion, as in the first inn where we spent the night I could not sleep at all, and then on the following day — in spite of my terrible exhaustion — for my companions' sake I made a forced journey, which, like everything forced, quite upset me. So I only now set to work to write my "big" letter: it will probably not be extraordinarily "big," for I would rather not force myself once more, and with my complete lack of life, I have so little worthy of communication.
But first of all, the "chapter of health." Dearest old friend, let us be sensible, and calmly recognize that each one of us nourishes within himself the germs of his own death, and knowing this, it is only a question of warding off as long as possible from the body this certain specific death. With me, for example, everything points to a death by wasting of the nerves: my special and characteristic mode of life consists, to a certain extent, in avoiding the necessity of this wasting. This death — though it finally result from an apparently remote and secondary fatal illness — is to me a certainty, as certain as the speciality of my life; and the only question is, shall I fall a victim sooner or later? So long as I have still an aim in life, I wish to keep death from my throat, and therefore adopt all possible measures to preserve myself. I intentionally avoid all over-exertion, go as much as possible out of the way of over-excitement, seek to regulate my digestion and nourishment, and, above all, aim at the utmost comfort, rest, and agreeable impressions, so far as lies in my power.
That I can endure for some time yet, if I stick close to this diet, is what many assure me, and what from analogy seems credible to myself. Now look at yourself: your whole long and meagre body tells you that you possess very deficient nutrimentary powers: by a foolishly inactive and sedentary mode of life in youth, you have increased that constitutional defect to a degree which is now causing you anxiety. Realize your condition, and attack it from the right point: if you commence properly, you are just the man to succeed easily — and (owing to your colder temperament) more easily than I — in forcing the duration of your life, with a little display of energy, to follow your own will. Look, above all, to your nourishment! I am glad that you are already on the right road. Simple nutrient substances are not for folk of our sort: we require something complex, substances which combine the greatest amount of nutrient matter with the smallest demand on the digestive organs. Our rule should be to eat often, little, and well, and besides, to avoid every great exertion, even in movement; while on the other hand studying comfort and agreeable rest. Considering your general state of bad nutrition, it is natural that your throat suffers most, for the throat is the weakest, tenderest organ. You lack (these are Herwegh's words) sufficient fat-formative power, and you should take everything that will help to this — even cod-liver oil, which in such cases is said to have worked wonders. So reflect, best friend, that you have your health, your life, entirely in your hands! But let go every consideration which would hinder you from the mode of life which to you is a necessity. Above all this, I conjure you: take three months' leave of absence next summer, and spend this time with me (Franz is coming also). Simply get a certificate from the doctor that you require it: he cannot possibly refuse it, and then the leave of absence cannot possibly be denied you. I must agree with you in your unwillingness to exchange your official position: but I can only advise you to stick to it on the condition that you know how to subdue your official conscience, and can thoroughly make up your mind to take matters easily. Otherwise, if the worst comes to the worst, rely on me — I mean on my future, from the success point of view. With a fair amount of certainty I may venture to assume that I may expect good profits in the course of the next few years: you know the necessities of my life are now ensured, and as for "luxury," I earnestly beg you in advance to consider yourself a sharer in that with me. It would be folly if I were now to fall a-boasting; but so much you must understand, that even now, as soon as I was forewarned of your exact situation, I could help you right well. Now, I merely mean that in forming a resolution, you must take into consideration this possibility also of providing for your life! And for the present enough of this!
I have not much more to tell you that would need a spun-out tale. The Dresden "event" has become especially interesting to me, in that from among all my "friends" I have scarcely received any news about it: with your exception, there was — as I said — only a dressmaker's assistant, who informed my wife; otherwise, unless I include the horrid correspondence-notes of the Brockhaus newspaper, I had no news from any one; neither R. nor H., nor F., and so on, has sent me a line.
Well, after all, I do not get much from news of that sort. But I think I can explain in quite a way of my own why F. and H. do not write to me: the D. A. Z. writes definitely about an intended performance of Lohengrin at Dresden. Now, these two old fellows know that I will not consent to this performance: and, so that I may not prevent it, they will not write anything about it to me, which they would of course have to do if they wrote to me at all. But I beg of you to tell me exactly what you can learn about it: if it is really so, I am determined to write to Lüttichau himself and enter protest. I will not have the distress of knowing that this opera is maltreated by K. or R.: they shall not do that until Lohengrin has been given at other good places, where I can gain an influence over the conductors.
My "ingratitude" might almost have determined me to draw the pen against a third person on this subject; in order to ask quite quietly whether I had not returned "thanks" for "benefits" received, through the simple service for which I received them, through my artistic activity in Dresden: whether this then was a — etc., etc.
Only I have no inclination any longer for these stale wares: it may be otherwise with those who are in the thick of it; but then they are merely fine Dresden "friends."
Schindelmeisser (who will produce Tannhäuser on the 13th November, for the first time) causes me great joy: my Guide has had a splendid effect on him, and I believe his performance will be a really good one. He writes me that he is "amazed" at this music, and cannot find expressions of "rapture" sufficient to describe the revolution which is taking place in him.
You will have received the Michaelson commissions: be prepared to receive an order from Freiburg in Breisgau. For there are desperate enthusiasts of mine there. Apropos! If one could keep a strict eye on the whining X.! From time to time I hear of an already very wide circulation of my pianoforte scores! That the fellow always says he has made no money out of it, really makes me somewhat suspicious. My creditors deserve a good hiding, if they do not keep X. under control: I can do no more in the matter!
Brendel's Zeitschrift becomes more and more delightful! Tell me, how can you consent to your articles being always so cut asunder? With the last choice reading it was a regular mess! How can anything have effect that way? Even the "Programme" article he completely mutilated by this dividing and interrupting! I was really sorry that you did not take Gumprecht to task for his explanation of the A major Symphony.
Your "Characteristik" has pleased me very much, although it was in fugue style; this will set your back up, for that you make your strong point! But I no longer understand anything about fugue: it is no longer point d'honneur with me; in itself it is distasteful to me. It was the musical life, the expression itself, which pleased me most in your composition. I cannot say this to you properly.
Franz has sent me his Lieder; as yet I have not looked at them, but I am promising myself great pleasure when I do. Please give him best greetings from me when you write.
It is astonishing to me how quiet Brendel keeps over the Leipzig Tannhäuser affair: yet this is an occasion in which one could thoroughly expose the whole miserableness of the Leipzig music-makers' guild. Härtels wrote to me in great concern: the director, etc., had declared that my operas contained insoluble difficulties, and "there were the same complaints" (so said W.) "from most of the theatres." Nice sort of fellows!
Well, my soda-water machine is splendid: so I am satisfied with it! With the little estate, it stands so-so! I am no longer thinking of purchasing (and indeed for many reasons): but I would willingly take on hire, for a fairly long time, a pretty country house with a nice large garden. I am on the look-out for it, but can't find anything suitable as yet. But I won't give up, and hope next summer to be able to offer good shelter to my guests.
Your packet (the great letter) has just come; I will send for it to the post-office, and then conclude.
I have read your letter, and thank you heartily.
I do not find much to answer, and as it is twelve o'clock, and writing of an afternoon is impossible to me, I will only add a few brief lines by way of close, so that it may go off to-day. The Alcibiades I will read through in the evening. The news about your health is welcome, and welcome as only it can be. Think above all of leave of absence and the Swiss journey. Härtels have not yet answered about Iphigenia (the revised copy of the score is the one belonging to the Dresden Theatre). With regard to the Tannhäuser news, I begin to be struck with admiration at L.'s revolutionary position: it really needs a sort of love of the thing to oppose such a storm. That the kernel of the matter will be brought out on this occasion, makes this Dresden "event" gradually interesting to me. The ways of Providence are indeed wonderful! Your vouchers, my good fellow, will not be looked at! Farewell! Greetings to the wife!
Your
R. 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. 88