Well, if you only will come, I shall not trouble Saxony and the rest of Germany for some time.  Bring the Princess with you, do you hear?  And the Child, too, must come.  If you put me in a good temper I shall perhaps lay my “Victors” before you, although this will be very difficult.  For although I have carried the idea about with me for a long time, the material for its embodiment has only just been shown to me as in a flash of lightning.  To me it is most clear and definite, but not as yet fit for communication.  Moreover, you must first have digested my “Tristan,” especially the third act, with the black flag and the white.  After that you will understand the “Victors” better.

But I am saying vague things.

Come and bring me the divine comedy, and we shall see then how we can come to an understanding about the divine tragedy.

Thine for ever and aye,

R. W.

I pray you most ardently to let me know at once by a line the receipt, or possibly the non-receipt, of my scores.

I always feel nervous when I know they are on the road.  They left
Geneva yesterday.

My address is:-

a Mornex, Poste restante, No.  III, a Geneve.

220.

I say, Franz, a divine idea strikes me.

You must get me an Erard grand!

Write to the widow and tell her that you visit me three times every year, and that you must absolutely have a better grand piano than the old and lame one in my possession.  Tell her a hundred thousand fibs, and make her believe that it is for her a point of honour that an Erard should stand in my house.

In brief, do not think, but act with the impudence of genius.  I must have an Erard.  If they will not give me one let them lend me one on a yard-long lease.

Adieu.

221.

I am leaving Mornex.

I shall be better than ever on September 20th.

Write to Madame Erard that she must send me a grand piano at once.  I will pay her in instalments of five hundred francs a year without a doubt.

It must be here when you come.

Happiness and joy to you.

222.

I thank you, dearest, most unique of men, for having sent me your scores of “Rhinegold” and the “Valkyrie.”  The work has for me the fabulous attractive power of the magnet mountain, which fetters irresistibly the ship and the sailor.  H. has been with me for a few days, and I was unable to withhold from him the joy of viewing Valhall.  So he tinkles and hammers the orchestra on the piano, while I howl, and groan, and roar the vocal parts; this by way of prelude to our great performance at your Zurich palace, to which I am looking forward with longing.

In a week’s time I start for Hungary, and my Mass will be performed on August 31st, on the occasion of the Gran ceremony, for which it has been written.  For several minor reasons I must, after that, stay at Pesth and Vienna for a few weeks, and shall therefore not be at Zurich till about September 20th.  Probably the Princess will come, too, together with her daughter.