nly
inspire Gustave Vaez, and impart to him the understanding of my
intention, and the will to carry it through with me, well and
good, if not, I'll seek till I find the right poet. For every
difficulty standing in the way of the understanding I, and the
subject connected with me, are attacked by the Press; if it is
a question of clearing away without mercy the whole rubbish and
cleansing with fresh water--in that matter I am in my right
element, for my aim is to create revolution whithersoever I
come. If I succumb--well the defeat is more honourable than a
triumph in the opposite direction; even without personal victory
I am, in any case, useful to the cause. In this matter victory
will only be really assured by endurance; who holds out wins
absolutely; and holding out with me means--for I am in no way in
doubt about my force of will--to have enough money to strike
hard and without intermission and not to worry about my own
means of living. If I have enough money, I must at once see
about getting my pamphlet on art translated and circulated.
Well, that will be seen when I am on the spot, and I shall
decide according to the means at my disposal. If my money comes
to an end too soon, I confidently hope for help from another
quarter--_i.e._ from the social republic, which sooner or later
must inevitably be established in France. If it comes
about--well, here I am ready for it, and, in the matter of art,
I have solidly prepared the way for it. It will not happen
exactly as my good-natured friends wish, according to their
predilection for the evil present time, but quite otherwise,
and, with good fortune, in a far better way--for, as they wish,
I only serve myself--but as I wish to serve all."

The history of this third Paris episode is distressing enough; but we
to-day, knowing what Paris was and what Wagner was, need not trouble
much about it. I have passed over it quickly; but yet another excerpt
from an Uhlig letter may be given to show how matters did _not_
progress (dated Paris, March 13, 1850)--

"So, my Parisian art-wallowings are given up since I recognized
their profane character. Heavens, how Fischer will rejoice when
he hears I have become a man of order! Everything strengthened
me in my ardent desire for renunciation. After endless waiting,
I at last receive the orchestral parts