return to Vienna to encounter the attacca--that is, in order to
become a true Venetian, you must allow yourself to be bumped down
on the ground. They wished to do this to me also, but though
seven women tried it, the whole seven together did not succeed in
throwing me down. Addio!

The travellers arrived again at home towards the end of March,
1771. The marriage of the Archduke Ferdinand with the Princess of
Modena, which took place in the October of that year, was
attended with great festivities, and recalled the father and son
to Italy in the course of a few months, Wolfgang having received
a command from the Empress Maria Theresa to compose a dramatic
serenata in honor of these nuptials.



32.

Verona, August 18, 1771.

DEAREST SISTER,--

I have not slept more than half an hour, for I don't like to
sleep after eating. You may hope, believe, think, be of opinion,
cherish the expectation, desire, imagine, conceive, and
confidently suppose, that we are in good health; but I can tell
you so to a certainty. Wish Herr von Heffner a happy journey from
me, and ask him if he has seen Annamindl?

[Wolfgang, who was then fifteen, had taken advantage of his