Now let me consecrate my pen for the new year; and better I cannot do it than by greeting you. My first pen-stroke in the new year shall be nothing but a right good, resounding greeting to you. I want to tell you as well, however, that yesterday I at last finished Act I of Tristan and that a week ago I serenaded my neighbour Frau Wesendonck on her birthday morning with a quite passable orchestra. I composed something for the occasion, too; and I have now and then amused myself with a little nonsense and set to music some pretty verses which were sent to me, a thing I have never done before. Now I shall work really industriously upon Tristan; I must manage to produce it somewhere at the opening of the next winter season. My only reading now is Calderon, who will ultimately lure me into learning some Spanish.
I have struck up a friendship with the Kochlys simply to avoid being passed over uninvited next time, but I regret it terribly already and all my doting on our Princess cannot give me a taste for this devilish race of professors. But you can see by the above-mentioned attempt how inclined I am to smooth down my angularities and be really amiable at the next visit.
Richard Wagner
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Volume 1, ed. Altmann/Hull (London: Dent, 1927), No. 343