O you poor ill-used Wife, disgracefully thrust out into misery!!
Be assured, I heartily regret my having so insisted on your starting; only believe me, it was from the best of motives in the world, out of true zeal for your health! But all our hopes of better weather have shamefully been set at naught; each morning I awake with horror, and think of you with deep regret. In my opinion, if it becomes too much for you to wait for decent weather, you should return at once until it quite clears up. — Indeed you are right, it is too bad that none of our acquaintances can ever give us proper information; one always tells us this, another that! Your travelling adventures moved me deeply, you always seem to have bad luck when riding. And then, you're all alone as yet up there! My God, that really must be dreadful; do please turn back, and don't force anything: perhaps it will be fine in a week, when you can return again.
No further reply can I make to your letter of lamentation, than to help you lament, and declare you are right should you be wanting to hook it!
It's deuced quiet here; not a soul to be heard or seen. On the day of your departure the little Major ran into me in the afternoon: he was meaning to call on the Marschalls; I accompanied him, but the Marschalls weren't in. So I took Müller up home with me; Nette had to brew tea and provide tongue, which the Majorkin greatly enjoyed. Otherwise no one has shewn his face; but I'm invited to dinner at Herwegh's on Sunday — to-morrow — they are the only people who have bothered about me. Nothing has altered in my mode of life, excepting that I am even more industrious than before. Besides the forenoon, I also work two hours an evening now, from 6 to 8, then go and drink a glass of beer — all alone — and get home again by 9. In the early morn I now go out for Carlsbad water; I have also given up eating butter: it was a mistake.
Things at home seem otherwise going fairly straight: I can detect no disorder; the food is tolerable, only the soups are wretched; quiet reigns. Jacquot is in fine form, prattling and whistling to his heart's content; often he has flown into my room; otherwise I insist on N.'s remaining in the parlour with him. Peps seems to have lost a little of his appetite all at once; yesterday, as it at least was dry again, he had to walk with me to Zollikon, when I was also accompanied by Herr Wiedu, who got nicely taken in, for once, in this way: of a sudden I saw him watching a spot in the field behind us, and creeping stealthily towards it; really, Peps was snuffing around there, half hidden; but Wiedu took him for a cat, and was just about to attack him very gingerly, when — at close quarters — he precious soon discovered his mistake. I couldn't help roaring with laughter! —
Hardly a single letter; I'm waiting anxiously for money, or I shan't quite know how to get away. I have had profuse apologies from Coburg: the Intendant was still absent, they wrote, but they had no doubt he would comply with my request — for prepayment. The same letter wound up with the brief intimation that Fischer had had a stroke, but with no preciser statement, which Fischer or where, so that I'm waiting for a corroboration from Dresden; meantime I shall continue to refuse to fear the worst. — Otherwise only Schmidt of Frankfort has written: he cannot come; their Lohengrin had much success again; Hoffmann will give the Holländer also this autumn. To-day a letter came from Seelisberg — but you already know that. —
If it weren't for that cur Music-feast, I shouldn't stir a foot, but go straight on composing; I am quite in the vein again. It annoys me to think I must interrupt myself; if anything were to go just halfway counter to my wish, I should be equal to declaring myself ill and letting the whole business drop. Well, you shall hear again if I start.
So! So! So! — I have begun attending to your orders. Herewith you have the Kladderadatsch; it's a double number, and will last you out. Cheer up; as soon as the weather behaves itself, I am sure you'll feel quite well up there. I wish it you with all my heart, and am looking forward gladly to the certain good result.
The animal and human household sends kind love. Papo is just hopping about with Peps. Farewell and write me pretty soon again, that I may know how you're doing. Adieu, dear Minna.
Thy R.
Source: Richard to Minna Wagner: Letters to His First Wife, trans. William Ashton Ellis, Vol. 1 (H. Grevel & Co., 1909), No. 61