Wagner's Letters

Richard Wagner to Mathilde Wesendonck

Undated · Zurich

Letter

[April 1858?] And my dear Muse still stays afar ? In silence I awaited her visit; with pleadings I would not disquiet her. For the Muse, like Love, beatifies but freely; woe to the fool, woe to the loveless, who fain would constrain what will not yield itself of its free will. They cannot be constrained ; is it not so? Not so? How could Love be Muse withal, did it let itself be forced? And my dear Muse stays far from me? —

Richard Wagner

Source: Richard Wagner to Mathilde Wesendonck, translated by Ellis, No. 49

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