Stirred by deep emotion, his face streaming with tears that he could not check, Wagner comprehended that misfortune was finally overcome, and that a treaty of sublime alliance was about to be made between himself and the royal disciple so suddenly revealed to him.
The first act of this eighteen-year-old king, who had ascended the throne less than a month before, was to render homage to an artist of genius, and to reach out to him a fraternal hand.
While Ludwig II., in his palace at Munich, awaited the arrival of Wagner with joyful impatience, a courtier wishing to flatter the sovereign, said to him:
"Men of genius equal to that of Wagner re-visit the earth only once in a thousand years."
"A man with genius equal to that of Wagner," responded the king, "has never before come to this world, and he will never come again."
And Ludwig II., to the great scandal of his Court, ran hastily down the staircase of honour, to greet Richard Wagner.
That meeting was perhaps one of the most touching and memorable incidents of history.
Wagner retains a magical impression of it.
"The king is so comely, his thoughts are so elevated and his soul so noble," said he, "that I am afraid his life may pass athwart this vulgar world like a dream of the Gods.
"He knows and understands me like my own soul. He longs to remove all my troubles and embarrassments, and help me to accomplish my work!"