[...] I have trouble enough at present—chiefly bitter ingratitude—to bear. I am learning to know life, God knows! Winter with all its misery is creeping into my very bones again. I am pale and find little pleasure in anything. I am thinking of rehearsing my Feen here very shortly. In spite of everything I feel my vigour renewed. [...]
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Vol. 1, selected and ed. Wilhelm Altmann, trans. M. M. Bozman (J. M. Dent & Sons, 1927), No. 25