You are truly a wonderful man, and your Nibelungen poem is surely the most incredible thing you have ever done. As soon as the three performances of the Flying Dutchman, Tannhäuser, and Lohengrin are over, I shall lock myself in for a few days to read the four poems; as yet I have been unable to get a free hour for it. Excuse me, therefore, for not saying more today than that I rejoice in the joy which the printed copies have given you. The one intended for the Grand Duchess I have presented to her, and that for the Princess of Prussia I have given to her brother, the Hereditary Grand Duke. The others also have been forwarded to their respective owners. If it is possible, send me about three copies more; I can make good use of them.
Your letter I have not put on the shelf, and hope to be able in about six weeks to give you a definite and, D.V., a favourable answer concerning your return. I am extremely sorry that hitherto I have had to be so reticent, but you may be sure that I have not omitted to do all that appeared to me opportune and was in my power. Unfortunately I have nothing but very timid hopes; still they are hopes, and all timidity and lukewarmness must be far from me in my endeavour to gain you back for yourself. Rely upon my warmest friendly love in this as in other matters.
The Berlin affair you have arranged in the best possible manner, and it is probable that, if henceforth you leave it entirely to me, you will be satisfied with the final result. Whether Tannhäuser and Lohengrin are given in Berlin a year sooner or later matters little to you; the chief question is how and in what manner they are given. And as long as you are not back in Germany, I believe that in our present musical circumstances I can offer you the only perfect security on this point. Moreover, Berlin is the most important field for your works, and on the success of those works there your whole position depends in the most decisive manner. However, the performances at Frankfort, Breslau, Schwerin, Leipzig, and elsewhere are in themselves very desirable, because they keep the matter alive and facilitate the conquest of Berlin. They have also tended to place the artistic question which has arisen through your means in a clearer light than was previously possible. Before all, regain your health, dearest friend. We shall soon take some walks together, for which you will want good, steady legs. I do not mean to drink tisane with you at Zurich; therefore you must take care that I do not find you a hospital patient.
The Prague affair can, I hope, be arranged, and I am willingly at your service. A very reasonable and intelligent man, whom I used to know very well at Lemberg, Herr von Sacher, is now commandant of Prague, and I shall apply to him in this matter. Write to me at once, by return of post, from what quarter and when the prohibition of the Tannhäuser performance was issued, and send me the letter of the Prague manager, so that I may be able to explain the matter properly. Apart from this, I can knock at another door in Prague. But, before all, I must be more accurately informed of the actual state of things.
Franz Liszt
Source: Project Gutenberg eBook #3835, Correspondence of Wagner and Liszt — Volume 1, No. 99