My good Mutz,
Your latest letter has done me a power of good once more. I had become so anxious, that I really was afraid my attack on the L. might have upset you again and put something else in your head; so it certainly was a great relief to hear you make such excellent fun of the lady. All I'm really sorry for in the end, is the 10 Rthlr this latest attestation of her friendship costs you, and my only solace is that Sch. has also had to part. God the all-merciful keep such friendships off your neck and mine in future! I always had an antipathy to her, and no doubt the greater part of it came from her roguish physiognomy and her rollicking ways; she is demoralisation itself, lost to all manners and shame. On the other hand it perhaps was a little excusable that her husband's more elegant, refined and better-cultured personality should have let me uphold a more favourable opinion of him for a length of time than I certainly can maintain if I finally admit to myself the truth. Particularly since I discovered that his intellect also is of no great account — which with so entirely unoriginal a person can be concealed for a time — he can no longer pass muster before my judgment and feeling. That eternal tavern life too, with all its concomitants, has lowered him more and more in the end. G. himself strictly ended by leaving me with no very favourable impression; this going to the beer-house every evening fostered his failings also more and more; he has become a thorough washerwoman, like all this tavern brotherhood. With his real talent, activity and estimable attitude towards his family, however, he naturally remains a very different chap in my eyes from brother L.; of that there can't be any doubt.
Apropos of that, dearest Minna, I now have a communication to make to you which I hope will be welcome. Listen! For a long time I've felt that a bold front must be presented to the mischief which precisely these washerwomen and their like have wrought, a mischief so closely affecting the honour of so many concerned, your own as well, and at any rate originated by my so startling departure from Zurich. I'm glad to say, the possibility of doing so has gradually been paved. Last autumn Wesendonck informed me of the death of his Guido in a very touching letter; I answered him in the same tone, and we have remained in correspondence ever since, from time to time. It wasn't this, however, that determined me to quarter at Lucerne; for, notwithstanding my having given Heims the prospect of a visit this summer, I did not propose to touch Zurich. But Wesendonck invited me a few days back: I was to put up at his house, he would send his carriage to the station, and gave me to understand that he wished to put an end to all exaggerations and perversions through so open an act of friendly intercourse. So I accepted, went to Zurich last Saturday, got into Wesendonck's carriage there, slept the night in his house, and travelled back on Sunday afternoon, after driving to the Zeltweg in the morning, in Wesendonck's carriage again, and paying a solitary call on the Heims. This was a very salutary demonstration, as both of us hope, and all the world will naturally infer my footing with the family, which of course has made a great impression even on the servants. He was very glad and happy, and from myself, no less, it has removed a great embarrassment. You too, I hope, will draw the same conclusions from this as have been so reassuring to Wesendonck. Before I quite leave Switzerland again, I think of accepting a second invitation of his, when a larger party is to be bidden. —
I scarcely need to tell you that this does not make the smallest difference in my and our mutual dispositions for the future. Everything remains as fixed; only, behind me — and I hope, behind yourself — all is clear and bright now, and there are no more clouds or vapours to dispel. —
Thus it also is very good news to me that you have decided to come on from Carlsruhe to Paris with me, even if I should have to pass the winter in America. I am convinced you will feel quite happy there, even without me; and Kietz shall be wholly adopted, that is self-understood, as youngest child of the house. It would be a great advantage to you, then, if you would take regular lessons in French; I cannot but think they are bound to afford you a very agreeable, and at last a fascinating distraction; in fact I even believe it will have a peculiarly beneficial effect on you, as it is an occupation that doesn't tire one in the slightest and also has quite a definite object, which would multiply your enjoyment of Paris by ten. We'll have another talk on that; I must first know exactly how I stand with Newyork, which is bound to decide itself within a month from now. I may merely tell you that in this affair that good soul Wesendonck has already been co-operating. It came very natural to assure myself through him about the Newyork undertaking; he has written about it, and if it comes to pass, I shall know it is something solid; for the money is to be deposited with his American house.
God only grant my work may now go quickly forward; so much depends on it. Last week the weather continued so abominable, that I could only go for two brief walks between the showers and under difficulties. I felt infamous, and had to lay aside my scarcely started work again. In the circumstances, Wesendonck's invitation was also quite a welcome diversion. When I returned last evening, together with your own I found a quantity of other letters I still must answer; a lot of useless stuff, thanks for diplomas etc., also to our lawyer Schmidt — oh dear! but probably that will be an end of it. An order for Tannhäuser has also come from Pesth; Fischer must be so good as to rectify one of that pair of scores at once, but not despatch it until after receipt of the certificate I've given the director. That Müller (of Dresden) still has a score; in my answer to Schmidt I am insisting that he shall give it up to Fischer. Russia and America may be coming along yet, and I'm in the greatest fix. By the way, give Papa F. a thousand greetings, and tell him I should be immensely delighted to get a sight of him this year. Now he's a free man, I think it would be best if he came with you to the Carlsruhe Tristan; but if he wants it earlier, let him visit me in God's name at Lucerne. I shall be here till the end of June for certain; after that it will be difficult, as strangers come in streams then, the pensions and hotels get packed, and my beautiful repose is done for; besides which, I of course should have to pay much more. God only grant I may have done with my act by then! — If that's the case, I unconditionally shall go to Paris, and in the event of nothing coming of America, have a good hunt for an abode to suit the needs of both of us: quiet for myself, and amusing for you, giving you something to look at when you peep out with Fipps. Well, all in good time; but now for my other letters: I've a stack of them before me still. Only don't get so impatient at once, if my answer happens to be a couple of days behindhand; I could really do nothing but write letters the whole time.
And fine weather has come to-day at last; so I'm looking forward to a rousing walk, and hope to have a willing head for work tomorrow. Keep writing me such nice things as the last time, and especially if you sing Pusinelli's praises, which I always am so glad to hear: God, then stones fall off my heart, and I say to myself — So, a bright and tranquil evening is to come at last! —
So, do your part of the business, and be very much 'away' to Juliuschen. Salute the watchful N., Fipps and Jacquot, and hold dear
Thy Thine.
Zurich, for that matter, was monstrous indifferent to me, and the only wish I felt, was — not to return there again — at least for many years. This parochialism — I can stand it no longer; I must have the biggest now, and some measure of outward activity. I mean to procure those in Paris.
The Above.
The notice is borrowed from a Correspondence of the Allgemeine Zeitung, where there have often been benevolent reports on me from Venice, though I've no idea from whom. —
Source: Richard to Minna Wagner: Letters to His First Wife, trans. William Ashton Ellis, Vol. 2 (Charles Scribner's Sons, 1909), No. 169