233. To Friedrich Hebbel
[Communicated by Dr. Felix Bamberg, from the original]
The words which you write to me bear the two-fold eloquence of the praiseworthy man in the fore-rank of Art, and of the friend dearly loved and highly respected by me. Accept my warmest thanks for it, and please excuse me for not having told you sooner what a strengthening and healing effect your letter made on me. Work of all sorts and a long absence from here occasioned this delay. In the interim I was often with you in thought; only the day before yesterday I read to the Princess your two glorious Sonnets an den Kunstler ["To the Artist">[, "Ob Du auch bilden magst, was unverganglich"—"Und ob mich diese Zweifel brennen müssen?"["Whether thou canst form what is imperishable": "And whether these doubts must burn me.">[—
From Weymar I have nothing interesting nor especially agreeable to tell you. This winter will pass away pretty quietly and insignificantly at the theater, with repertoire works and pieces that will bring in money, and in society with the customary pleasures. A new drama by Rost, "Ludwig der Eiserne," made some sensation, as is peculiar to the very popular productions of this author, who has achieved a public-house notoriety here. The nobles ought to have appeared in it yoked to the plough, but on Dingelstedt's advice Rost toned down that scene!—A translation by Frau Schuselka (who has performed here sometimes) of the "Pere prodigue" of Dumas fils was to have come on the boards; but it appears that there are scruples about making such very ominous demands on the customary powers of digestion of our un-lavish fathers of families! Amongst other inconveniences the piece also contains logarithms, to which the respectable German Philistine cannot attain.
As regards myself, I am quietly waiting for the spring, when I shall in all probability move on further—of course not to renew my occupation of conducting, as it is said I shall do in Munich, Berlin, or elsewhere—an occupation I have gladly given up;—but in order to be able to pursue my work further than I am able to do in Weymar, which to me is a more important matter.
Remember me most kindly to your wife, and be assured that I remain ever in truest devotion yours most faithfully,
F. Liszt
Weymar, February 5th, 1860.
234. To Dr. Franz Brendel
[February 1860]