Venice, March 10, 59.* To Mamma. Yesterday I got finished with my second act at last, the big (musical) problem so dubious to all, and know it solved in a manner like nothing before ; it is the acme of my art till now. I still have a week to employ on the manuscript, then to attend to my awful correspondence ; whereupon I think of honouring Verona and Milan with a few days, and crossing my old Gotthardt vi& Como and Lugano. Rejoice me ere that with one more account of yourself ! — Best thanks, too, for the punctual execution of my " business ; " f God knows what will come of all these follies ! If only / know what I will, I am fairly phlegmatic as to what the world wills with me, so we'll wait and see ; meantime I turn dizzy at the thought of having to spend any sort of pains on my existence ! For my art I feel less and less need of the world ; so long as health permits I could keep working on, even tho' I never heard a scrap thereof performed. — Yesterday Winterberger, who is going to Rome, took leave of me ; whereat he wept and sobbed convulsively. Karl, too, when he left me last November, was incredibly moved. They really are all very fond of me, and I must have something — I almost fancy venerable, in their eyes. Karl I leave behind me ; he is miserable about it, quite dreads my departure. — t The American offer? see pp. 105 and 128. — Tr. With the fairy-tale I've already made it up, though I sometimes am dense, as you have often learnt before. You weave so deftly out of Nature, that all one needs is to have leant over your terrace with wits alert, to perceive whence you mould that fairy-world whose every strand of life so beautifully conflows. — Fare you well. Kindest regards to Wesendonck, and thanks for his practical forethought ! — Fare you well ! — Your R. W.
Richard Wagner
Source: Richard Wagner to Mathilde Wesendonck, translated by Ellis, Letter 62a, No. 62