With regard to my invitation to take a drive with you and Caroline, it was natural that, as Bigot, the day before, was opposed to your going out alone with me, I was forced to conclude that you both probably found it unbecoming or objectionable—­and when I wrote to you, I only wished to make you understand that I saw no harm in it.  And so, when I further declared that I attached great value to your not declining, this was only that I might induce you to enjoy the splendid, beautiful day; I was thinking more of your and Caroline’s pleasure than of mine, and I thought, if I declared that mistrust on your part or a refusal would be a real offense to me, by this means almost to compel you to yield to my wish.  The matter really deserves careful reflection on your part as to how you can make amends for having spoilt this day so bright for me, owing as much to my frame of mind as to the cheerful weather.  When I said that you misunderstand me, your present judgment of me shows that I was quite right—­not to speak of what you thought to yourself about it.  When I said that something bad would come of it if I came to you, this was more as a joke.  The object was to show you how much everything connected with you attracts me, so that I have no greater wish than to be able always to live with you; and that is the truth.  Even supposing there was a hidden meaning in it, the most holy friendship can often have secrets, but on that account to misinterpret the secret of a friend because one cannot at once fathom it—­that you ought not to do.  Dear Bigot, dear Marie, never, never will you find me ignoble.  From childhood onwards I learnt to love virtue—­and all that is beautiful and good.  You have deeply pained me; but it shall only serve to render our friendship ever firmer.  Today I am really not well, and it would be difficult for me to see you.  Since yesterday, after the quartet, my sensitiveness and my imagination pictured to me the thought that I had caused you suffering.  I went at night to the ball for distraction, but in vain.  Everywhere the picture of you all pursued me; it kept saying to me—­they are so good and perhaps through you they are suffering; thoroughly depressed, I hastened away.  Write to me a few lines.

Your true friend BEETHOVEN embraces you all.

NO. 198

TO BREITKOPF AND HAERTEL

Vienna, August 8, 1809.

I have handed over to Kind and Co. a sextet for 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, and 2 German lieder or songs, so that they may reach you as soon as possible—­they are presents to you in return for all those things which I asked you for as presents; the Musik Zeitung which I had also forgotten—­I remind you in a friendly way about it.  Perhaps you could let me have editions of Goethe’s and Schiller’s complete works—­from their literary abundance something comes in to you, and I then send to you many things, i.e.,