Well, my good old Minna, another greeting to you before I start my Berlin day's work! I feel quite lonely, and have a talk with you at every season of the day, also dreamed of you both nights. How are you getting on? Are you thinking of me, or must Papo first remind you?
I'm not quite straight with my abode yet: owing to Werder's having stipulated that I should only be bound for a week, the landlord went and let the rooms engaged for me, along with others, to a family that turned up afterwards and wanted the whole for a longer term. However, I'm to have two other rooms this evening that after all aren't bad; only, I have the inconvenience of not being able to unpack before I'm settled in my proper quarters. —
Yesterday I dined at Meinhardt's hotel, where I happened on Pfister, — Stawinsky, too, is usually there. The landlord seems to want to take no payment, — all the better — I pocket the damage! — This Pfister is swimming in rapture and enthusiasm about his part, and behaved uncommonly modestly to me: — If I would take him in hand and instruct him thoroughly, said he, I might make his fortune, etc. — Everything else seems standing well, — I was a deal with Taubert yesterday, and found him too a decent, well-intentioned fellow who shewed much zeal. For that matter, I am convincing myself that an unlimited influence now stands at my command here; all have assured me the King's orders were so categoric, that I might ask for whatever I liked and Küstner would have to play up to my wishes: directly he opposed me in anything, I had only to go straight to the Minister of the Household, Prince Wittgenstein — nay, I merely need threaten him to. — Well, that remains to be seen! Whichever way, — nowhere have I been in such clover as here. So — everything stands well! The Chorus is to be introduced to me to-day; tomorrow I mean to take Pfister in hand alone; Wednesday there's a string-rehearsal. Taubert has held eight rehearsals already. The Köster arrives tomorrow, and on Wednesday will join our rehearsals. — To-day I mean to polish off my calls. Such is my life. —
At Leipzig, where I got shaved and ate a beefsteak, I had a moment's talk with Julius; he bids me tell you the wine is quite ready and may be bottled in a month, even earlier if you chose: — another care the less, you see, for you poor harassed one!
Now don't forget the grapes, good Mienel; indifferent though Küstner is to me, still I had promised him. — Don't be cross at my having forgotten to leave you the money for them! If yours won't last, as I shouldn't be at all surprised, I can send you more money from here; for, judging by appearances, Berlin won't cost me much: — in fact, we shall even put a little by here. God keep you well and in good heart! You have more reason to be cheerful now than ever, if you reflect what a long-delayed good turning stands in front of us at last. — Things are bound to flourish with us, after all. What would you say to a pretty country-house? Not bad, eh? —
Greet your house-mates, our old pet animals. Keep well and write me some day! For the matter of that, I can't at all see why you shouldn't come to me sooner. If your money is on the decline, just come: we shall be living at the King of Prussia's cost here! —
Adieu! Farewell, and think of me as frequently as I of you, you good old Minna!
Thy Richard.
Regards to Röckels too.
Source: Richard to Minna Wagner: Letters to His First Wife, trans. William Ashton Ellis, Vol. 1 (H. Grevel & Co., 1909), No. 21