Volume II Part 29 (1/2)

WEYMAR, May 18th, 1858

260

ZURICH, July 2nd, 1858

At last, dearest Franz, I have once -delayed intention of writing to you

I have to thank you very ht, upon the whole, silence was the best answer I hope you understood enerally too talkative, and chat about s which it would be better to keep to eous to others also, for he who refuses to understand a silent friend will find a talking one troublesoood Princess for her letter

Of ”Tristan” I have sketched the second act; whether I have succeeded I shall see when I co to me to see you treat this peculiar affair as a matter of literary business in your letter I explained to the Princess soer, that I riting this opera for a first perfor I could not help s in the assertion of this odd man sufficiently to speak to me seriously of the matter, and to offer me your amiable assistance

You raved in this early stage of the proceedings But there is a very simple reason for it I had, as you know, no , I saw no other way except ”doing business” with the Hartels For that purpose I chose ”Tristan”, then scarcely begun, because I had nothing else They offered to pay me half the honorarium of 200 louis d'or, ie, 100 louis d'or on receipt of the score of the first act, so I hurried to get it done head over heels This was the reason of ether, the fate of reat indifference toas I iven you s, for which he asked me in a very ae hie H R H wanted to knohether, in case I were pero to Weiee I expected from my amnesty was, to be able to visit Germany periodically, and that for that purpose I had chosen your house, because it was your house, asat Weiht refuse to receiveme at Weimar would entirely depend upon your friendshi+p, which, therefore, he should try to perpetuate With that he was quite satisfied

You have givenWhen he ca your letter, I shook you cordially by the hand He is a terrible youth I ahly developed intellect and his ays

He will beco at all When I see hi no end of tea, while as yet there is not the slightest hope of a beard, I as, whom she has hatched by mistake, take to the water What will becoet from me I should, without hesitation, have taken him into my house, if we had notSo I have found him a room in a little hole close tohis other daily business at my house He does, however, no credit to rasserhood, is fairly well provided He sits down to table every day stating that he has no appetite at all, which pleases me all the less, because, the reason is, the cheese and the sweets he has eaten In this manner he tortures me continually, and devours ly even to , and yet declares that he would like to come with me when I propose to leave his behind, as if he had walked four hours My childlessphenomenon, and I take in, in rapid doses, the quintessence of paternal cares and troubles

All this has done ood; it was a splendid diversion, for which, as I said before, I have to thank you You knehat I wanted Of course the youth pleases hty boy, he talks like an old man of pronounced character Whatever subject I may broach with him, he is sure to folloith clearness of mind and remarkable receptivity At the same time it touches and , such large sympathy, that he captivates ifted, and his furious pianoforte playing e influence which you exercise over soenuinely ad and existence

My ill return in a fortnight, after having finished her cure, which will have lasted three months My anxiety about her was terrible, and for two months I had to expect the news of her death from day to day Her health was ruined, especially by the immoderate use of opium, taken nominally as a remedy for sleeplessness Latterly the cure she uses has proved highly beneficial; the great weakness and want of appetite have disappeared, and the recovery of the chief functions (she used to perspire continually), and a certain abatement of her incessant exciteement of her heart will be bearable to her only if she keeps perfectly cal of this kind can never be got rid of entirely Thus I have to undertake new duties, over which I s Well, and how about you? Will you coain this year? Your kind heart pro the nine years ofyou away froh you have promised me your visit for this year, you will find it natural if I a ation and of prayer

Cordial thanks to the dear, heavenly Child for her last letter; I hope s and cordial responses to you three dear ones! I also wish to be reratulation on my birthday I shall write to hiine how often I a at the piano Between us, all is one Farewell, and continue to love me

Your

R W

261

DEAREST RICHARD,

When I saw the Grand Duke last night for the first time after his return, he told me much about the visit you paid him at Lucerne

I do not knohat impression your acquaintance with him has left on you, as we have had no news fro time, but from what I have heard, and what has already happened, I conclude with tolerable certainty that we shall see you here for the first perforrant that it will be sooner; and I need not tell you that nothing I can do will be left undone

Dingelstedt will shortly write to you about ”Rienzi”, which is to be performed next season, in Deceet on with the work for reasons which, as they exist no longer, are not sufficiently important to be discussed

Let me soon hear from you

Your