Wagner's Letters

Richard Wagner to Franz Liszt

November 16, 1855

Overview

Wagner thanks Liszt's daughter for her letter and says he is keeping her album until he can write something worthy in it, while also remaining indebted to the Princess for a proper reply. He is still confined indoors, doing a little work, and says he would gladly remain silent until Liszt's arrival because whatever he says or writes now seems foolish to him.

Letter

Dearest Franz,

Thank the Child a thousand times for her letter, and tell her that I shall not send the album back till you return from here, because I want to write something good in it which will not be finished till then. I must write many and reasonable things to the Princess, and that I cannot do at present. So I remain in her debt also, but only to satisfy her. She may see from this how much I value her letter. I have not yet gone out into the air; but I am getting accustomed to my room, and do not particularly long for our autumn mists. I am doing a little work too. You are coming, are you not? I should like to be silent till then and for ever, for whenever I speak or write it is sure to be something stupid.

Richard Wagner

Source: Project Gutenberg eBook #4234, Correspondence of Wagner and Liszt — Volume 2, No. 203