I am living a completely retired life, as has always been my custom, and only meet a few Zurichers, men of good standing, who, in spite of the newness of our acquaintance, have shown themselves better and more actively sympathetic friends than all the Dresden amateurs who used to praise my works. Those rumours which appear to worry you about the extent of my participation in the Dresden Rising are not much better than those about my doings in Zurich. For Minna's sake I have now entered an application in Dresden to have the term "for common criminality" withdrawn from the warrant against me. I almost regret it, for at bottom I would rather bear this added burden of infamy heaped on me by the Dresden courts, my contempt for the whole rabble of them is so great. But it is quite possible it will be refused me.
The only thing that can depress me is just this worry about my wife, without whom I would not wish to live. The fact that she has drawn strength from the consciousness that she is indispensable to me, to share my troubles with me, despite her inner disapproval of me, has gained her a very high place in my heart, and it is my love for her which actually still binds me to a world from which, guided by my own utter disgust for it, I should like to turn aside for ever. I hope my efforts may succeed in making our life as bearable as possible. Meanwhile Minna is bearing her lot bravely and, as always, with uncommon energy. She is also beginning to get a circle of women friends.
Richard Wagner
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Volume 1, ed. Altmann/Hull (London: Dent, 1927), No. 163