[...] I am not inviting you two to stay with me this year, as I have come to the point when I really shrink, not only from excitement but even from stimulation. Next year I hope I shall be able to lay before you a pleasant scheme for spending the summer together. [...] I must ask you, when you are able, to help me a little in giving my marvellous young King an idea of my Nibelung music. I have spoken of you to him already, and he is looking forward to this with pleasure.—
My relation with him is, indeed, my finest achievement; there is not a flaw, not the tiniest cloud, nothing but an enthusiastic disciple's pure and perfect devotion to the master. I have no other disciple who is so utterly my own. It is scarcely credible! You must hear, see, feel this glorious youngster for yourself: "Parzival." He is said to be resolute, strict and most zealous in the business of government. He stands alone, no one influences him and all recognise him as absolutely and veritably king.—
Dearest friend, a real miracle!—
And then—the leading of Fate! In the nature of things he might have been all this and I never discover it—his father need only have lived another ten to twenty years! Then suddenly, unexpectedly, he comes to the throne and a month after his father's death he sends to find me. Now the whole country is looking to see how I shall use my enormous influence over the young King! Fools! I am I, and he is he. He loves me as I am and he would not understand me for a moment if I were to try to be anything different.
All is so genuine, so pure here!—
But, indeed, I feel I love him as well as one can love a creature. I believe I should die at once were he to die. [...]
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Vol. 2, selected and ed. Wilhelm Altmann, trans. M. M. Bozman (J. M. Dent & Sons, 1927), No. 581