My Most Esteemed Friend and Well-wisher,
As you know me and have already suffered in a most unheard-of manner by my worryings, it will not surprise you if I now again keep you wide awake on the exercise of that most heavenly of virtues, patience. I grant that you are the victim of my fussiness: but reflect that he who suffers untold sorrows in this world has to look forward to repayment, out of all proportion, by joys in the world to come. And even here below, reward is not entirely forgotten: out of pure sympathy for your sorrows I have, for instance, resolved not to return to Dresden until the end of this month. Understand that thereby the joy is prepared for you of seeing me for three weeks less than, according to my former plan, you had to fear! I am preparing for you the joy of not having anything to do with me personally until the end of this month, so that it ought to appear to you only fair to show me some gratitude, i.e., to allow me to worry you somewhat this time by letter. Permit me then to-day to ask this question: "Have Mad. Devrient and Herr Tichatschek already arrived in Dresden, and are the parts of my unfortunate opera distributed?" In order seriously to make known to you my frame of mind, I must assure you that if it remains settled that before my opera no other new one is to be put into rehearsal, I would certainly force no one, and ask for no hurrying on of the performance (for it is fairly indifferent to me whether it come off a month sooner or later).
Only, since we shall in some measure be forced to be ready at latest by the beginning of September — owing to the unfortunate circumstance that the fortnight's absence of Tichatschek in the latter half of that month would be detrimental to a later rehearsal of my opera — I am so persuaded of the importance to us of a right early and undisturbed commencement of study, that I may be forgiven if I am somewhat anxious about the matter.
Most honoured friend and well-wisher, this time you shall not be troubled with further questions; my poor understanding feels only too little qualified to give lessons to you, and so I only add one inquiry respecting the health of your good spouse, who was indeed better, but not fully restored, when I left.
It is to be hoped that our excellent friend Herr Heine is quite well: I hope that in return for the forbearance which I show him by not writing to him also, he will be grateful and bestow upon me his fullest protection; be kind enough to give him heartiest greetings from me.
If Mad. Devrient has already arrived, I ask you likewise to give her my respectful remembrances; may she be and remain favourably disposed towards me!
From your extraordinary affability, may I venture to expect that you will let me have a line or two to set me at ease? I expect this as a fresh proof of the undeserved affection which you have bestowed on me, and for which I am bound to deepest lifelong thanks. Be assured that at least this feeling will never die within me, even though my power should be too little to thank you in deed.
With the heartiest wishes for the prosperity of yourself and wife, I am ever
Your most grateful and devoted
Richard Wagner.
"Zur Eiche," Schönau, near Teplitz.
Source: Richard Wagner's Letters to His Dresden Friends, Theodor Uhlig, Wilhelm Fischer, and Ferdinand Heine, trans. J. S. Shedlock (Scribner & Welford, 1890), No. 97