O Minna! — very, very bad weather; rheumatic pains, and all the rest! To work it off, I climbed up the pear-tree again yesterday. Heims came in the evening; they send you kind regards: I had to tell them a lot about you. — But what shall I tell yourself? Whence take, without stealing? Stay, tho', here's something I have stolen from the Tagblatt, but which had already appeared in the Eidgenössische yesterday: Friedrich brought it up to me with great importance — it would interest me, he thought. —
I have received no further letter of congratulation at all, except from Herr Regierungsrath Franz Müller of Weimar, but another surprise in the garden, and we are quite unable to find out to whom one owes it. On the morning of my birthday an extremely choice rose-bed was planted in the garden; indeed, it was already there at 6 o'clock, when Friedrich got up. At first we believed Lorck had received orders for it; but then I remembered having never expressed such a wish to the Wesendoncks, — albeit to Herwegh, whom I asked a month ago for his opinion whether it wasn't too late to plant such a bed, whereon I let the subject drop. Friedrich now declares he knows for absolutely certain that Lorck did not lay out the bed, neither he nor his men; what is more, they hadn't any rose-trees of that sort. They are all ticketed and appear to be very expensive, consequently I presume that Fröbel supplied them; and as I also know that last year's cushion was not from Wesendonck, I'm half inclined to think some unknown being is making game of me. I really didn't want to tell you of it till I found a clue; so — don't get angry over it, old dog in the manger!
Concerning the strawberries, I have to tell you that they really have all come to flower. So soon as Lisette finds some good asparagus, you shall have it sent you. Everything else is in order, only Friedrich is grumbling about the snails. I haven't been to town yet, to see after the ring.
My little Tausig (Tausendsappermenter) played to us magnificently yesterday; almost a second Bülow. He gives me great delight, affording me distraction, entertainment, and incentive. To-day, too, I have again been able to compose well. —
There now! But how goes it with yourself? Slowly — very gradually! I know all that: but only so can you be re-established in the end. Simply force yourself to repose and indifference! Rest assured it will work; I know it from my own experience. Often, if I have a fit of the blues, I suddenly tell myself: "But if that really is the case, cannot you prevail against it by sheer composure?" So much will then pass over one with no particular impression, and finally one sees it wouldn't really have been worth the while, and everything would only have worsened, if one had flown into a passion. How should I have the heart left for any work you please, for instance, if I dwelt on nothing but its future bad performances? —
Apropos, Tichatscheck has sung Tannhäuser at Berlin with éclat; consequently there will be good tantièmes in July. We can do with them!
I'm expecting news from you tomorrow, and hope for thorough good ones. The doctor has firm trust; so you must let him prove it!
Fipps was quite haughty when he got home, and wouldn't deign a glance at Friedrich, so that the latter felt quite hurt. Last evening, when there was company, however, he thawed. Unfortunately I cannot take long walks with him in this bad weather. —
Now be right good and patient. My heart has really great misgivings lest you should suddenly lose patience and do yourself some injury through fretting. Simply remember what a good husband you have! So farewell; be good — and sleep a lot!
Thy out-and-out good Man.
Source: Richard to Minna Wagner: Letters to His First Wife, trans. William Ashton Ellis, Vol. 1 (H. Grevel & Co., 1909), No. 126