Very good day, good Mutz! —
Tho' tired and half broken, / I let you hear by this token / that my health isn't bad, / and things aren't so sad.
At this morning's rehearsal / the band tusched me a morsel: / it is being better placed, / too, to humour my taste, / and to earn what I need / in a world full of greed.
Now yourself write me soon, / that I may not be woon- / d'ring if you're not ill-used / and Fips is amused.
Tomorrow morning more rehearsing, / then my garments reimbursing; / to the concert off then quick, / curiosity to prick.
Eke from Antwerp and from Ghent / shoals of offers have been sent / to me, concerts there to give, / or they really cannot live.
But I shall nicely keep away, / save my person for another day; / it's already much fatigued, — / see these rhymes that I have rigged.
Now fare you right wohl, / and don't eat too much cole, / lest it make your tummie hard: / the advice of your Richard.
And if you go to Frau Szemere, / don't forget your Herr Jemere, / how he freezes here and sweats, / and conducts with all his wits — / just as if it were for honey, / whilst it merely is for money. / Now preserve you the dear God, / else He won't be worth a nod! / But may me His mercy bless / with this concert's great success; / and Therese with her doughing, / and Josephine with her sewing! / And just think in all your woes / of your own dear loving spose / Herr Wilhelm Richard Wagner, / your arm-and-leg-bruised pardner!
Pimperlepep!!!
Source: Richard to Minna Wagner: Letters to His First Wife, trans. William Ashton Ellis, Vol. 2 (Charles Scribner's Sons, 1909), No. 201