Dear good Wife,
To-day, this 1st of June, I've had a roaring fire lit again; which will shew you the delicious climate I am living in. Everything combines to make my sojourn here as charming as possible! However, I already am thinking almost less of that sojourn, than of the departure; for I shall be at Zurich 4 weeks from tomorrow! The day before yesterday I commenced my purchases, Mad. Praeger helping me; for which I had to remember her as well with lace, of course, and presented her with a collar and cuffs — in revenge for much that I have enjoyed in her house. Concerning this lace, however, a doubt has now cropped up in me; for Mad. Praeger declared that only collars and cuffs of it are generally worn, as people always have high bodies to their dresses. As to the Wesendonck, it immediately occurred to me that she always wears high bodices, and therefore needs no embroidered chemisette (chest); but how about yourself? Of the richest lace I've only bought collar and cuffs for you, as also for the Wesendonck; in the less expensive lace, however — such as Mad. Wolfensperger wears — I have added a chemisette. So, if you think a stomacher of the richer lace should also be purchased — both for yourself and the W. — please send exact instructions, that I may buy it yet. Of course the thing is not precisely cheap — for there's a difference in the quality; but if it is needful, don't hesitate to speak straight out, and the cost must be saved off something else. — I have also got you stockings: 1½ pound the dozen. —
At the French Customs they're very strict, and I have been generally advised to declare the things, especially the lace, and pay duty, which comes to 25 per cent, though. — But there's no hurry about that. — As to news from here, unfortunately I know of absolutely none to give you, however much I rack my brains; so that I really am only writing to give you a sign of life and thank you most sincerely for your letters, which have truly rejoiced me by relieving my mind in respect of your health. As for my own, I couldn't remain here much longer without becoming downright ill: my lower regions are badly out of order; the food here is doing me great harm, particularly the lack of soft vegetables and plenty of them; the only way I can remedy it, is to eat as little as possible. However, I don't intend to fall into laments again; you have heard them often enough. If I only had anything pleasant to tell you instead; but I know of nothing good, except that it's drawing to an end here. —
What we shall set before the sovereign Court at our next concert, I haven't heard yet; moreover it is infamously indifferent to me. — At last I have the score of Rheingold in my hands again; the Dresden copyist hadn't even yet got through the half of it, so I lost patience and begged Fischer to send the whole bundle to me here, as I meant to get the copy finished at Zurich. (It cost a tidy sum per post.) — Tell me (before I forget it), has Schmidt of Frankfort had the present I intended for him?? —
A lady here is plaguing me for my portrait for Berlin, where the last doesn't satisfy and they want a better one of me. For that purpose she wishes me to get photographed again, which I won't; nothing decent will come of it in all my life, and I haven't the least desire for any of that sort of nonsense now. — The day before yesterday I and Praeger were at a theatre no farther off from our abodes than 7 Engl. miles; it is called the City-of-London theatre. The dearest seat was 1 schilling; Publicus was in its shirt-sleeves etc., and kicked up such a row that it took me a long time to get as accustomed to it as the actors had, who played on quite calmly albeit not a word of theirs was understood. They played Schiller's Robbers, and after it a French piece, the Corsican Brothers. In the Robbers it startled me to see Frau v. Marschall as Amalie; please tell her I should never have believed she was playing comedy incognito in London. At one point in the last piece there appeared the ghost of the slain brother, which was represented so vividly that I've been quite afraid of it at home of nights. There also was a duel in it, carried out so intensely naturally and excitingly that I rarely remember my interest being so held at the theatre. Praeger has assured me, moreover, that the most celebrated English actors do not play a hair's breadth otherwise or better than those at this out-of-the-way theatre — which I simply wished to see for the sake of enlarging my experience. —
There, I have pumped up all my news now, and it's your turn to tell me Zurich novelties, which will amount to pretty much the same. That doubtless arises, dear child, from our having led so moving and eventful a life that we no longer take an interest in what strikes others as still of account. Neither do we need anything of the kind, and the beautiful Seelisberg shall narrate us more news than this whole big political and artistic Jew-world, to which I at least am dead for good. God rest its soul! —
Klindworth, who is better again, has just turned up; we are dining together at Sainton and Lüders' to-day. If it were not for these good amiable fellows, and the Praegers, decidedly I should have been unable to hold out here. Within their limited means they give themselves all conceivable pains to make my life agreeable. What nonsense, that they should need to!
As for that, I did not invite them after the last concert; to speak candidly — out of economy (you will laugh at that, but it's the truth). The disappointment was general, however, and I shall invite them again after the next Royal concert in the white cravat. — Now fare immensely well, good Muzius! Keep brave and of good humour. Hearty thanks for your letters once more. To a speedy, glad, glad Wiedersehen!
Thy Richard.
Source: Richard to Minna Wagner: Letters to His First Wife, trans. William Ashton Ellis, Vol. 1 (H. Grevel & Co., 1909), No. 95