Book-bot.com - read famous books online for free

Beethoven's Letters 1790-1826, Volume 2 by Ludwig van Beethoven
page 48 of 297 (16%)
All that can be comprehended in one wish, or individually named,--health,
happiness, and prosperity,--all are included in the prayer I offer up for
Y.R.H. on this day. May the wish that I also form for myself be graciously
accepted by Y.R.H., namely, that I may continue to enjoy the favor of
Y.R.H. A dreadful occurrence[1] has lately taken place in my family, which
for a long time stunned my senses, and to this must be ascribed my not
having waited on Y.R.H., nor taken any notice of the masterly variations of
my much-honored and illustrious pupil, and favorite of the Muses. The
gratitude I feel for the surprise and the honor you have done me, I dare
not venture to express either verbally or in writing, for I am _too far
beneath you_, even if I _could_ or wished ever so ardently _to return like
for like_. May Heaven accept and listen with peculiar favor to my prayers
for Y.R.H.'s health. In the course of a few days I trust I shall myself
hear the masterpiece Y.R.H. has sent to me, and nothing will rejoice me
more than to assist Y.R.H. as early as possible, in taking the place
already prepared for you on Parnassus.

[K.]

[Footnote 1: The "dreadful occurrence" which took place in the end of 1818
in Beethoven's family cannot be discovered.]


260.

TO RIES.

Vienna, April [March?] 30, 1819.

DEAR RIES,--
DigitalOcean Referral Badge