Wagner, Richard

On ludwig ii and his immaturity

Written to a friend, the political theorist Julius Fröbel (1805-1893), Wagner comments on the immaturity of Ludwig II and the political impact of that immaturity. He comments on the futility of consulting with Ludwig "...The complete immaturity of the young prince in political matters has become so evident to me that I, for the time being, have abandoned every attempt to turn to him for his opinion...." Wagner concludes his tirade declaring that "...the higher art of statesmanship has now fallen into the level of the most bureaucratic metier: the imaginative youth is horrified by these revolting machinations, and his revulsion expresses itself for the time being still as modest respect. Let us wait to see what the inevitable lessons of time will bring to fruition!"

Wagner then turns to his own personal situtation. He notes that his decision to leave Munich has been shattered "by the most touching evidence of the great love that the king bears for me and his wish that I must never think of any other permanent residence than the one that I have already occupied in Munich..."  Wagner explains that he has found a country house on Lake Lucerne which caused great anguish to Ludwig who had wanted Wagner to move into one of the royal hunting castles in Upper Bavaria. Wagner confirms that he has held fast to his decision to keep his own house despite great anguish. He surmises, "No matter how difficult and unpredictable the development of this last and highly gifted German prince to his complete state of maturity, fated to redound to the benefit of the German people ... no matter how difficult it may turn out to be, nevertheless my faith in him endures—but only in him—a firm and unshakable faith..."

A complete English translation is included in the lot.