[Musical Notation] He — da!  He — do!

is hammering in my head I can enjoy nothing else, either old or new, and dream only of the “Ring of the Nibelung,” which God’s grace may soon vouchsafe to me.

Your F. L.

Weymar, February 16th, 1857.

The three last numbers of my Symphonic Poems will appear by the end of this month, and I shall send them to you at once.  A similar thing, “Die Hunnenschlacht,” I completed last week.  The Princess of Prussia has commanded “Tannhauser” for next Sunday.

237.

Please forward the enclosed proof to Brendel, so that the good man may get a notion of his bad editorship.

(To Brendel.) Zurich, April 15th, 1857.  Dear friend,

The somewhat tardy publication of my letter about Liszt I recently read in your paper, and saw, to my regret, that it was very incorrect, and even showed several omissions, disfiguring the sense, owing to the inattention of the printer.  At first I thought of forwarding you a list of errata, but considered, on reflection, that such corrections are never read in context with the article, and therefore made up my mind to send a revised version to Zellner at Vienna, asking him to print it at once in his paper.  My intention is by no means to punish you for the neglect shown to me, but to induce those interested in the matter to read the corrected letter once again.  In case you intentionally made such changes as “Purer form of art” into “Newer,” etc., you have certainly misunderstood me very much, and in that case you must look upon my correction as a demonstration against yourself, although only in private.  But I presume that most of the mistakes were caused by the fact that instead of my manuscript you received a copy, which you should not have accepted.

Shall I soon see you?  I live in the greatest retirement, and do as much work as my health will let me.

Best remembrances from

Your

Richard Wagner.

238.

You have given me a delightful Easter Sunday, dearest, most unique of friends, by your letter.  By the loving “Azymen” which you offer me with so much kindness and friendship, you have given me strength, health, and total oblivion of all other leaven.  Receive my most cordial thanks, and let it be a joy to you to have given me so much and such heartfelt joy.  That joy shall not be disturbed by a few misprints and omissions.  The essential thing is that you love me, and consider my honest efforts as a musician worthy of your sympathy.  This you have said in a manner in which no one else could say it.  I confess candidly that when I brought my things to you at Zurich, I did not know how you would receive and like them.  I have had to hear and read so much about them, that I have really no opinion on the subject, and continue to work only from persistent inner conviction, and without any claim to recognition or approval.  Several of my intimate friends--for example, Joachim, and formerly Schumann and others—­have shown themselves strange, doubtful, and unfavourable towards my musical creations.  I owe them no grudge on that account, and cannot retaliate, because I continue to take a sincere and comprehensive interest in their works.