6.

Milan, Carnival, Erchtag.

MANY kisses to mamma and to you. I am fairly crazed with so much
business, [Footnote: Concerts and compositions of every kind
occupied Mozart. The principal result of his stay in Milan was,
that the young maestro got the scrittura of an opera for the
ensuing season. As the libretto was to be sent to them, they
could first make a journey through Italy with easy minds. The
opera was "Mitridate, Re di Ponto."] so I can't possibly write
any more.



7.

Milan, March 3, 1770.

CARA SORELLA MIA,--

I am heartily glad that you have had so much amusement. Perhaps
you may think that I have not been as merry as you; but, indeed,
I cannot sum up all we have done. I think we have been at least
six or seven times at the opera and the feste di ballo, which, as
in Vienna, begin after the opera, but with this difference, that
at Vienna the dancing is more orderly. We also saw the facchinata
and chiccherata. The first is a masquerade, an amusing sight,
because the men go as facchini, or porters; there was also a
barca filled with people, and a great number on foot besides; and