Most revered master,
The days spent in Bayreuth live constantly in my memory, and in retrospect the newly acquired knowledge and experiences assume still greater dimensions. I can perfectly well understand your not having been satisfied with me while I was there, without being able to do anything to change this. My excuse must be that I learn and perceive very slowly, and every moment spent in your society I experience something about which I have never thought before and am endeavoring to impress this indelibly upon my mind. I realize clearly, dearest master, that such a visit can be no refreshment for you; in fact, that it must almost be unbearable at times. I have often wished for the appearance (at least) of greater freedom and independence, but in vain. Enough! I can only implore you to accept me as your pupil, if possible with pen in hand and a copy-book spread open before me, and moreover as a pupil with a very slow and not at all versatile ingenium. It is true that I grow more melancholy each day in realizing how utterly incapable I am of contributing anything to your diversion and recreation, however gladly I would be of the slightest service to you.
Possibly I may yet be able to do this when I have carried to completion the work I now have on hand, namely a polemic against the distinguished writer, David Strauss. I have just finished reading his The Old Faith and the New and have been moved to wonderment both by the dulness and commonplaceness of the writer as well as the thinker.
During my absence, the work of my house-friend Overbeck on the Christianity of Modern Theology has made splendid progress. It will be of so offensive a character to all parties concerned, and on the other hand is so irrefutable and sincere, that when it is published he will also be agitated against as one who has "ruined his career"—to quote Professor Brockhaus in my own case. In time, Basle will become most offensive.
I parted with friend Rohde in Lichtenfels, where we found a bust of you in the restaurant at the railroad station. On Easter Sunday we took a walk to Vierzehnheiligen, about an hour from Lichtenfels. Do you not think that I have splendid friends?
Today I sent Renan's Paul to your wife with my best greetings, and will send the promised work of Paul de Lagarde together with Overbeck's book when the latter is finished.
I was so sorry not to have seen the dean. Farewell! Farewell, dearest master, to you and your entire family.
Source: The Nietzsche-Wagner Correspondence, ed. Elizabeth Foerster-Nietzsche, trans. Caroline V. Kerr (Boni and Liveright, 1921), No. 39