If I have turned my back on the actual public once more, I have again found compensation in the joy of being able to take comfort from certain sympathetic individuals. Herwegh, pretty well the only man with whom I could possibly establish a full understanding, begged me urgently to perform the Tannhäuser Overture for him, and for his sake I overcame my disinclination to the enterprise, exerted myself to the utmost to overcome attendant difficulties, and with Herwegh in my mind all the time brought off a performance which was a surprise to myself and pleased me uncommonly. It produced a tremendous sensation, and hearts which had hitherto beat dully indifferent to me were suddenly taken by storm. Of course I refer more particularly to women, for our business men cannot but seem ridiculous to me, whatever attitude they adopt. Accordingly, some friends of mine with whom I see eye to eye have now induced me to perform The Flying Dutchman for them, and I do not doubt but that, as with the aforementioned overture, I shall succeed with this performance also, for I have a real impulse to the undertaking and faith in it as well. Now, do you not think that my impulse would be strengthened and that my faith would grow if you were to be among those on whom my eye might light when I produce the work? Do you not think that, just as you would stimulate me delightfully, I could give you true delight if you would only come to us at last?
I can create nothing when I have no one to whom I can impart what I am able to give, so you see we both go empty on account of our separation. If you were here I would and could give you many a joy of which, I say boldly, you have no idea. My performances of Beethoven's works succeed far better here than they ever did in the Dresden days, for here I already feel greater delight in creation than I did there. If now the little company of those who see eye to eye with me were to increase, my output would increase too, and I and others would be happy. But we must be able to see eye to eye; the multitude does not exist for me. Now, let me speak straight out: I could then at last be completely happy about my dependence on your kindness. You alone make my present work possible for me, for you alone have made it possible for me to create independently. With your help I need not work for money, and only thus can I work at all. For instance, it is only through you that I can produce The Flying Dutchman here, for because of you I am in a position to scorn any kind of honorarium and by so doing attain a status which makes such a production possible, the status of one completely independent and caring only for the matter itself. Do you suppose that this can continue if you remain far away from me? No, indeed. For I know that in the end you are bound to lose the requisite warmth of feeling for me. The sacrifices you make for me must, with time, assume increasingly the nature of a mere honourable duty. Everything loving in our relationship will assuredly give place to a colder emotion, that of mere solicitude for me. Some day I shall have to relinquish you unless we can regularly revivify our relations by proximity.
Now for a piece of news that I think important. I shall go in for no more hydropathic cures. I have come to the conclusion that, with my nerves in their present condition, the method of cure by waters is indeed the only one from which I can expect any good result, but that I must proceed with it so gently that I can only achieve the desired effect gradually and over a long period. The regime I need is therefore rather a purely dietetic one, and one which can be reconciled with mental exertion. I made a great mistake when I believed that I had to avoid mental effort of any sort. We are not children of nature any longer. The exercise of our mental powers in reasonable relation to those of our body is a necessary condition of life. To come to a full stop with the former is to bring ruin on the whole. I had recently become clear about this and it was confirmed for me moreover by a doctor in whom I have come to place full confidence, Dr. Karl Lindemann, at present in Paris. He is a deeply learned and cultured physician who has fully mastered both the theory and practice of the science of cure by water. He has personally investigated Rausse and his institution, fully recognises his genius, but knows too where he goes wrong and where new developments in the science should be adopted. He has now drawn up a plan of cure for me, upon an exact account of my condition, with which I am in full agreement. In it he has laid down regular artistic work as a definite obligation upon me. My chief object in telling you this is to influence Karl. I do not like giving him further advice and yet I would urge this last upon him. I implore Karl to get ready at once and go to Paris. There let him visit Lindemann, begin his cure in Paris under the doctor's very eyes, and then continue it wherever he likes. Karl is being inevitably ruined by this retired way of life and work of his.
Richard Wagner
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Volume 1, ed. Altmann/Hull (London: Dent, 1927), No. 215