finished. [Footnote: He alludes to his Milan opera, "Lucio
Silla."] Indeed, the trio and the duet may be considered as four.
I cannot possibly write much, for I have no news, and in the next
place I scarcely know what I am writing, as all my thoughts are
absorbed in my opera, so there is some danger of my writing you a
whole aria instead of a letter. I have learned a new game here,
called mercanti in fiera. As soon as I come home we can play at
it together. I have also learned a new language from Frau von
Taste, which is easy to speak, though troublesome to write, but
still useful. It is, I own, rather a little childish, but will do
capitally for Salzburg. My kind regards to pretty Nandl and to
the canary, for these two and yourself are the most innocent
creatures in our house. Fischietti [the Archbishop's
Capellmeister] will no doubt soon begin to work at his opera
buffa (translated into German, his CRAZY opera!). Addio!

The following letter of Wolfgang's shows the sparkling state of
his spirits, caused by the completion of his opera. At each line
he turns the page, so that one line stands, as it were, on the
head of the other. The father, too, in the joy of his heart that
the arduous work was drawing to a close, and with it his long
journey, writes four lines, one above another, round the edge of
the page, so that the whole forms a framework for a sketch of a
burning heart and four triangles (symbols of fidelity), and a
bird on the wing from whose beak a distich is streaming:--

Oh! fly to seek my child so fair Here, and there, and everywhere!

Wolfgang adds:--