I have therefore but one desire, that of being able to visit you when I wish, and of living with you periodically.

Well, seriously speaking, how does this matter stand?  This letter will find you at Weimar.  What news have you to give me from the Grand Duke?  I ask you urgently, let me have conclusive and definite information soon.  Much depends upon it.  Let me explain about Weimar.  I want to come to the Altenburg, not to Weimar; and if it were possible I should be quite willing to live there incognito.  As this will be impossible, my existence might be noticed by the Court.  If the Court wants anything of me, I am prepared to appear there in person, either reading my poems, or performing fragments of my music, such as the first act of the “Valkyrie,” in conjunction with you, and after our fashion.  I do not want to go before the public at all.  Can this be arranged, and can the possibility of my visit to Weimar be accelerated?

Concerning my income and my recent hopes of a pension from the Weimar Court separately, or in conjunction with others, you have given me some important hints, which I have not left unnoticed or unconsidered.  I should prefer to remain without subvention from that quarter which would make any subsequent relation to the Weimar Court much easier to me, because it is my nature to give rather than receive.

I do not deny it would be very desirable if you could soon make an arrangement with the Hartels about the “Nibelungen,” for which object, in accordance with your kind offer, I gave you discretionary power.  If you should succeed in this, it would certainly be advisable to interest the Weimar Court in my work, to the extent that it might for some time grant me certain advantages on account of the honorarium which I should receive for the publication.

If you could not ask this without loss of dignity, my only way would be to give up the “Nibelungen,” and begin a simple work such as “Tristan” instead, which would have the advantage that I could presumably dispose of it to the theatres at once, and receive royalties in return, although, as you know, the music trade would give me nothing for it.

Let me express my sincere regret at giving you again care and anxiety.  If you decline to meddle with what I ask you, I shall think it quite natural on your part; but more depends upon your decision, and especially upon your success, than you may perhaps imagine.  I cannot drag on like this.

Since my return from St. Gallen I have not seen a soul except Herwegh.  Solitary walks, a little work and reading, constitute my whole existence, in addition to which there were some unpleasant attacks on the little rest I have, which did not allow me to breathe freely, and impaired my health to an unbearable extent.  The correspondence between Goethe and Schiller alone pleased me much; it reminded me of our relation, and showed me the precious fruits which, in favourable circumstances, might spring from our working together.