Venice, February 22, 59* According to the law of the most-gloriously-perfect Buddha, the accused shall confess his offence aloud before the congregation, and thereby alone is he absolved : you know how I have involuntarily become a Buddhistt To the Buddhist beggar maxim, also, I have unconsciously ever t " Sie wissen, wie ich unwillkurlich zum Buddhisten geworden bin. Though the " unwillkurlich " might be translated " instinctively," I take this to be a more concrete allusion, either to some passage omitted by adhered. And that's a very lofty maxim : the monk comes into the towns and streets of men, shews himself naked and reft of possessions, and thus his appearance confers on believers the precious opportunity of practising the noblest, the most meritorious work of gifts and alms. Consequently his acceptance is the most visible grace he can bestow, and in that grace resides the blessing, the exaltation, he sheds upon the givers. He needed not the gifts, since of his own free will he had given up all for very sake of reviving men's souls through his receipt of alms. — I mean to be privy to my fate, down to its minutest ramification ; not to divert it from its course, but merely to face it without a vestige of illusion. For my future, however, I have no need : the noblest need of my life — you know that ! — I have to restrain ; how, then, could I flatter myself with any kind of ordering of my fate ? Only for others do I wish : if those wishes are unrealisable, I must learn to renounce them as well. For, after all, the blessing of each one of us must flow from his inner self : medicaments are snares. Does that sound sad and serious? — And yet I say it for your comfort. You needed that relief, I know, because you need reassurance about me ; so we will vie with one another in this sweet exercise, relief for relief ! — I renounce Germany with cold and placid heart ; I also know that I must. I have determined nothing for my future, however — except — to complete the Tristan ! — As a beginning, immediately on receipt of my memorial the Archduke Max had the measures for my expulsion quashed [see footnote], so I'll see if I can bring the draft Frau Wesendonck when transcribing, or to the petition for amnesty rejected about this date (see Die Musik I. 20-21), as the Archduke Max is mentioned there in the same terms as later in this letter — which unfortunately is so disconnected as to suggest more than one involuntary transposition — Tr. of the third act also off here. Then I should instrument it in Switzerland, presumably not far from you, at Lucerne, which I rather liked last summer. Next winter I shall probably pass in Paris,— so I imagine at least, albeit without a spark of wish, but rather with great reluctance. — I thank Wesendonck much for his offer, but don't let my correspondence with America etc. worry you and him too much. It is my lot, to have to help myself in this way, and the help's unproductiveness makes me suffer less than the road thereto ; from which, however, none can spare me. To be sure, posterity will some day wonder that I, of all men, should have been compelled to turn my works to wares : for, only as posterity (Nackwelt) does the world ever come to a little understanding, and then forgets with childish self-complacence that it also is a contemporary {Mitwelt) itself ; in which latter capacity it stays as dense and feelingless as ever. But that's the way it wags, and we can't alter it. Eh, and that is what you tell me of people in general, neither is there much chance of alteration in myself: I retain my little weaknesses, am fond of nice rooms, love carpets and pretty furniture, like to dress for my indoor work in silk and velvet, and — have to pay for it in correspondence ! — No matter, if but my Tristan turns out well : and that it will, as never anything yet! — Is Koboldchen laid, and Lady-friend relieved ? — Don't forget Vienna ; perhaps it will give you a little delight — I would gladly go there myself some day : for the present you must take my place. Again and again I hear very good news of the representation of Lohengrin there, and from all I gather, it is the best of any of the performances of my operas. I'm waiting for definite notice from there, how long the season still lasts and you will be able to hear the Lohengrin ; as soon as I know, I will send you word ! — 106 WAGNER TO MATHILDE WESENDONCS And now kindest greetings and thanks to Wesendonck. — Koboldchen has been on its best behaviour, and I greet Lady-friend from the bottom of my heart ! Adieu ! R. W.
Richard Wagner
Source: Richard Wagner to Mathilde Wesendonck, translated by Ellis, No. 60