My Dear Anton!
Indeed I have been thinking continually of informing you of my altered resolve concerning my visit to you. It is friendly of you, but mortifying to me, that you have got there ahead of me. Various fateful constellations have brought us to the decision of putting off our "peace-trip" until next spring. Since I am now beginning to be easily excited, I should like very much to combine with this trip the various things — or rather, all of the things — that are connected with my resolution to make a final settlement of my life's affairs. To do the latter, I must obtain a last insight into certain possibilities, necessary to my artistic goal, concerning which my experience leaves me very doubtfully disposed. And the question also whether I shall make a final removal to Germany must depend on the success of my efforts in this ideal intention. It shall now be decided whether I ultimately attempt to settle in the place that can provide a suitable and at the same time entirely neutral seat for my artistic purposes, or whether, renouncing this higher aim, I shall seek only a simple place for a home for my family (in which event, I should then decidedly choose Dresden). And in order to consider all this in a very favourable light, we have now determined to make our trip in the first fine weeks of next spring.
All this by way of suggestion, and at the same time of inducement, to your dear wife, to be of good cheer and keep the leg of mutton in the stove even without us. Your house is now well enough populated for you to have no difficulty over using up provisions. Your brother's fate reminds me anew of the atrocities of these French, who on their side are complaining that the Germans have been forcing on a war of races — and no nation calls to mind this brutality at the outbreak of a war. We must now study the attitude of Europe, in order to realize in what world we are living. I confess that, if I did not see Moltke and the German Army before me, I should not at all recognize what there could be any reason to hope for. Thus, for instance, I need only to think of a Dresden performance of my works (with Herr Rietz à la tête) in order at once to lose all courage. And — how deeply and closely that is all connected together! I have just comprehended that fact, and so, for that reason, it makes me sad to glance at the world.
Yet — then I need only to look at a friend like you (to be sure, I've put that pleonastically, for you're the only one of your kind!) — that's enough, for I brighten up again, and — many things can then be forgotten! (To forget — ! The final good fortune!) But then it's just memory that brings back pleasure: and that's what we want to revive now, properly. Still a few months more, and we shall see each other, dear old fellow! A thousand greetings from us to you all!
Your
R. W.
Source: The Letters of Richard Wagner to Anton Pusinelli, trans. and ed. Elbert Lenrow (Alfred A. Knopf, 1932), No. 57