The journey has refreshed and increased my artistic vitality uncommonly, and I have now completely made up my mind as to what I have to do in Paris. I do not believe very much in Fate, yet I know that my recent experiences have set my feet on the road to the accomplishment of the greatest and most significant work which my nature is capable of creating. Only four weeks ago I had no inkling of what I now know to be my highest task. My deep and intimate friendship with Liszt has discovered to me the inward and outward forces by which it is to be accomplished. It is to be our common work. You shall soon hear more of it! Any day now Liszt may receive a package containing scores, etc., from my wife. Let him open it! I ask him to examine the score of Lohengrin somewhat leisurely. It is my most recent and my ripest work. I have not shown it to any artist yet and therefore do not know what impression it may make. How eager I am now to hear what Liszt has to say of it!
Now I hope my magician may be able to do something for my poor wife. I am particularly anxious for her to get out of Saxony, above all out of that damned Dresden. To this end I have thought out a plan for getting a modest yet friendly asylum for her with her family, somewhere in Weimar, perhaps on some grand ducal estate, where she could establish a new home with what has been saved of our household goods, for herself now, and in the future for me too. I hope my friend may succeed in bringing this about.
Richard Wagner
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Volume 1, ed. Altmann/Hull (London: Dent, 1927), No. 150