I should like to ask you, however, to return the two acts of the “Valkyrie” to me at once before you start.  I have at last found a good copyist to whom I have promised work, and I am anxious to have the copy finished soon,—­perhaps for the same reason which induces insects to place their eggs in safety before they die.

If I ever finish the last act I will send you the whole, although you are so great a man of the world.  Till then be of good cheer, and remember that if you are abused you have willed it so.  I also rejoice in the fiasco of my “Faust” overture, because in it I see a purifying and wholesome punishment for having published the work in despite of my better judgment; the same religious feeling I had in London when I was bespattered with mud on all sides.  This was the most wholesome mud that had ever been thrown at me.

I wish you joy for the Vienna mud.

Adieu, and do your work well.  Of your Christianity I do not think much; the Saviour of the world should not desire to be the conqueror of the world.  There is a hopeless contradiction in this in which you are deeply involved.

My compliments and thanks to the Princess, and tell the Child that I was unable to manage it today.  When shall I?  Heaven knows!  It is largely your own fault.

Adieu.  I cannot say more, and have, moreover, talked nonsense enough.  Farewell, and enjoy yourself.

208.

TELEGRAM

To R. Wagner, Zeltweg, Zurich.

Yesterday “Tannhauser.”  Excellent performance.  Marvellous mise-en-scene.  Much applause.  Good luck.

F. Liszt.

Berlin, January 8th, 1856.

2O9.

Dearest Richard,

From Berlin I brought home so dreadful a cold that I had to go to bed for a few days, and to delay my journey till this evening.  I have to supplement my Berlin telegram by the following notes:—­

Johanna was beautiful to see and touching to hear as Elizabeth.  In the duet with Tannhauser she had some splendid moments of representation, and her great scene in the finale she sang and realised in an incomparable manner.  Formes’s intonation was firm, pure, and correct, and there was no sign of fatigue in the narration, where his sonorous, powerful voice told admirably.  Altogether Formes is not only adequate but highly satisfactory, in spite of his small stature, which, especially by the side of Johanna, somewhat interferes with the illusion.  Herr Radwaner as Wolfram, although not equal to our Milde, deserves much praise for the neatness, elegance, and agreeable style of singing with which he executed his part; and Madame Tuczek proved herself to be an excellent musician and a well-trained actress, who may be confidently intrusted with the most difficult part.  Dorn and the band took every pains to carry out your intentions, and the orchestral performance was throughout successful, with the exception of two wrong tempi, in the first chorus