My Dear Friend!
For a long time I have felt the urge to write to you again to thank you for your great love and friendship, and furthermore to ask for information and advice regarding the health of my poor wife.
Unfortunately, I have been obliged to realize that your care and treatment are the only good things that have marked my wife's stay in Dresden. For the rest, I regret very much that I did not sufficiently consider what bad influences she was exposed to there in the way of her numerous acquaintances. While I have striven from afar for the pacification and protection of the patient, to my great sorrow I have heard time and again of new disturbances of her peace of mind which have been provoked by the most heedless tittle-tattle and gossip. I remark this with the greatest horror, because it seems to me that not only the wickedness but also the silliness and perverseness of people have conspired to worry a soul who is already fearfully agitated. I say then: what good is a physician under such circumstances? What help can he provide?
If I do not insist on her choosing another place of abode, this is still because I am confident that your attention may yet succeed in influencing her as favourably as circumstances permit. But the time has come now for discussing with you a plan for the further course of treatment. My wife writes that you are urging a "cure" in the country, for this summer, and that you feel that much depends on the outcome of this. Tell me, dearest, what have you in mind? You well realize how important it is to me to know something of your intentions. Have you any definite place in view, in the country? It would especially reassure me if this were in your neighbourhood, perhaps in Pillnitz or Tharandt. For I know well enough from experience that the most important thing in any "cure" is to have the doctor at hand as freely as possible. Therefore, tell me how you propose to arrange matters? Or do you consider a stay in some special climate necessary, so that there could be no possibility of your occasional attendance?
I think it advisable for my wife to go through with this course of treatment without thinking of joining me. My reunion with her will certainly have a cheering and enlivening effect on her; nevertheless, in my opinion the actual advantage of this "heart tonic" can only work its soothing effect if she is first properly disposed for it by means of a beneficial cure. But above all, my own life until that time is so uncertain and many things regarding it so indefinite, that I do not like to see the cure of my wife involved in the events which may perhaps crop up. Among others I can indicate to you — under the seal of strictest confidence as regards my wife! — the fact alone that the Saxon government (would you believe it??) will actually not deign to relax its efforts until the Austrian government is ready to turn me out of Venice. (After 10 years, therefore, not that much clemency to be willing to leave me in peace at least afar!!) I hope to keep myself here until spring, especially on the pretext of my poor health, supported by a doctor's certificate, for it is more important than anything else to permit no fresh disturbance — to which I am now exceedingly sensitive — to occur before I have completed my Tristan. For you can easily understand what effect such recurrent fresh disturbances have on me — many a time I have felt as though I must soon succumb to my fate. And this is not the mood in which my wife can find peace at my side. I am occupied above all with the completing of my work, and under the most favourable conditions I cannot count on doing that before the end of June.
Should I, however, have to leave Venice before that and first find peace for myself somewhere else, then it would certainly take several months; and during this time I must not be hindered by any other consideration in my personal surroundings if my desire for work is not to succumb as well and, on the other hand, the subject under consideration suffer thereby. Therefore my desire would persist, to have my wife finish her summer cure by herself. Early in September we can then meet in Karlsruhe for the first performance of Tristan. (This also must be kept in strict confidence from the world; namely, that I myself shall go to Karlsruhe.) By that time, according to my intention, it must also be decided finally whether or not I can settle again in Germany. In any case, I shall then know definitely where we shall settle down, and from Karlsruhe I shall go there with my wife. Such is my plan. Tell me whether it fits in with your plan of treatment?
Regarding our sojourn next winter, everything will also depend very much on the state of my wife's health. It seems to me that she has had to suffer very much under the rawness of the present winter in Dresden. Perhaps I must look out, with her, for an especially mild climate, which I, too, need very badly. In this matter also I should like your friendly advice!
Now still a word on another subject.
My wife thinks she has heard that those concerned are trying to sell Härtel's the publishing rights of my three operas at a price of 500 thalers per opera. If there is anything to this, then listen to my opinion in this matter! After the earlier and surely not unwarranted expectations, I must by all means consider it a wretched outcome of this business if it turns out that all further prospects are let go at such a price. Nevertheless, the affair is all quite unfortunate. We have in any case been much deceived by Meser — God rest his soul! — and then the business was all so badly managed! — One must admit that this speculation has come entirely to grief, and it's now only a question whether we wish any longer to be burdened with the annoyance and trouble of it. I never hear whether even a penny was saved from it. There must be something wrong about it all. While you are fortunately in a position to be able to bear what you lost previously on my account, I can still understand that it must be considerably important to poor Kriete to succeed finally in getting back some part of his money. Likewise, I too should feel free of a vain and tormenting hope, and all that I then should have to do would be to determine how I could meet my obligations to you both. In this case, I cannot do anything but promise Kriete gradually to repay, as best I can, the balance of his existing claims, just as it may fare well or badly with me. It's possible that a favourable turn in my financial position may soon take place; I am doing everything possible towards that end, and I don't believe that this can remain entirely unsuccessful. Then Kriete shall be satisfied all the sooner, in full.
My Paris prospects have had to be given up entirely for this year. I had not the energy to master this difficult field at a time that is so full of suffering for me. But naturally there is nothing lost here, and my rights are protected. If I cannot return to Germany next winter, then — if no other reasons occur to prevent it — I think I shall settle down permanently in Paris, and then I shall also make energetic efforts to have my operas performed there. The fees of the music-dealers for the French editions of my operas shall be ceded to you and Kriete — this remains definite — until you both are completely repaid. If, however, this should fail and I have to abandon all hope of being able to repay you during my life, then I shall appoint you, dear Anton, and your descendants, as my heirs in my will — this can be arranged soon — and so this may not strike you as an illusion. I may hope to have more of an income after my death than proportionately during my life. For instance, I can only have my Nibelungen published by sharing the profits with the publisher. I am convinced that after my death this will be a profitable title. The theatre tantièmes are good for ten years after my death, and I feel that I shall leave behind me many a work unproduced or at least not yet produced everywhere by far, that should bring considerable profit to my heirs. — Well, we can discuss and arrange this some more. For today I wished only to tell you how I felt about this unhappy publishing business and, if you agree to its sale, how I intend to conduct myself.
I am always very much worried if my wife does not write to me regularly. For several days now I have been made increasingly uneasy by the non-arrival of an answer, and today I was almost on the point of telegraphing to her about it. I received a letter several days ago from Fischer, telling me that he had just seen my wife; she was well, but very much excited. How miserable that always makes me, to hear such news! Please call on her as soon as possible, tell her of my worry, and scold her soundly.
And so good-bye, dear faithful friend! Be assured that your fine deep sympathy over my fate is beneficial and consoling to me. Hearty, hearty thanks for all the kindness you have shown my poor suffering wife! Give my best greetings to your dear wife and also to your fine children, and tell them I shall always be
Your grateful friend,
Richard Wagner
Source: The Letters of Richard Wagner to Anton Pusinelli, trans. and ed. Elbert Lenrow (Alfred A. Knopf, 1932), No. 24