Kings and princes can indeed create professors and privy-councillors, and confer titles and decorations, but they cannot make great men,—­spirits that soar above the base turmoil of this world.  There their powers fail, and this it is that forces them to respect us.  When two persons like Goethe and myself meet, these grandees cannot fail to perceive what such as we consider great.  Yesterday on our way home we met the whole Imperial family; we saw them coming some way off, when Goethe withdrew his arm from mine, in order to stand aside; and say what I would, I could not prevail on him to make another step in advance.  I pressed down my hat more firmly on my head, buttoned up my great-coat, and crossing my arms behind me, I made my way through the thickest portion of the crowd.  Princes and courtiers formed a lane for me; Archduke Rudolph took off his hat, and the Empress bowed to me first.  These great ones of the earth know me.  To my infinite amusement, I saw the procession defile past Goethe, who stood aside with his hat off, bowing profoundly.  I afterwards took him sharply to task for this; I gave him no quarter and upbraided him with all his sins.

TO COUNTESS GIULIETTA GUICCIARDI

MONDAY EVENING, July 6th.

You grieve! dearest of all beings!  I have just heard that the letters must be sent off very early.  Mondays and Thursdays are the only days when the post goes to K——­ from here.  You grieve!  Ah! where I am, there you are ever with me:  how earnestly shall I strive to pass my life with you, and what a life will it be!!!  Whereas now!! without you!! and persecuted by the kindness of others, which I neither deserve nor try to deserve!  The servility of man towards his fellow-man pains me, and when I regard myself as a component part of the universe, what am I, what is he who is called the greatest?—­and yet herein are displayed the godlike feelings of humanity!—­I weep in thinking that you will receive no intelligence from me till probably Saturday.  However dearly you may love me, I love you more fondly still.  Never conceal your feelings from me.  Good-night!  As a patient at these baths, I must now go to rest. [A few words are here effaced by Beethoven himself.] Oh, heavens! so near, and yet so far!  Is not our love a truly celestial mansion, but firm as the vault of heaven itself?

JULY 7th.

Good morning!

Even before I rise, my thoughts throng to you, my immortal beloved!—­sometimes full of joy, and yet again sad, waiting to see whether Fate will hear us.  I must live either wholly with you, or not at all.  Indeed, I have resolved to wander far from you till the moment arrives when I can fly into your arms, and feel that they are my home, and send forth my soul in unison with yours into the realm of spirits.  Alas! it must be so!  You will take courage, for you know my fidelity.  Never can another possess my heart—­never, never!