I was operated on for the fourth time on the 27th of February, and now symptoms evidently exist which show that I must expect a fifth operation.  What is to be done?  What is to become of me if this lasts much longer?  Mine has indeed been a hard doom; but I resign myself to the decrees of fate, and only constantly pray to God that His holy will may ordain that while thus condemned to suffer death in life, I may be shielded from want.  The Almighty will give me strength to endure my lot, however severe and terrible, with resignation to His will.

So once more, dear Moscheles, I commend my cause to you, and shall anxiously await your answer, with highest esteem.  Hummel is here, and has several times come to see me.

Your friend,

BEETHOVEN.

[Footnote 1:  Schindler mentions, on Beethoven’s authority, that this gentleman translated Beethoven’s letters to Smart into English, which his nephew had previously done.]

474.[1]

TO SCHINDLER.—­

March 17, 1827.

WONDERFUL!  WONDERFUL!  WONDERFUL!—­

Both the learned gentlemen are defeated, and I shall be saved solely by Malfatti’s skill!  You must come to me for a few minutes without fail this forenoon.

Yours,

BEETHOVEN.

[Footnote 1:  Schindler dates this note March 17, 1827, and says that these are the last lines Beethoven ever wrote.  They certainly were the last that he wrote to Schindler.  On the back of the note, in another writing (probably Schindler’s), the receipt is given in pencil for the bath with hay steeped in it, ordered by Malfatti, which the poor invalid thought had saved his life.  The “learned gentlemen” are Dr. Wawruch and the surgeon Seibert, who had made the punctures.]

475.

TO MOSCHELES.

Vienna, March 18, 1827.

No words can express my feelings on reading your letter of the 1st of March.  The noble liberality of the Philharmonic Society, which almost anticipated my request, has touched me to my inmost soul.[1] I beg you, therefore, dear Moscheles, to be my organ in conveying to the Society my heartfelt thanks for their generous sympathy and aid.

[Say[2] to these worthy men, that if God restores me to health, I shall endeavor to prove the reality of my gratitude by my actions.  I therefore leave it to the Society to choose what I am to write for them—­a symphony (the 10th) lies fully sketched in my desk, and likewise a new overture and some other things.  With regard to the concert the Philharmonic had resolved to give in my behalf, I would entreat them not to abandon their intention.  In short, I will strive to fulfil every wish of the Society, and never shall I have begun any work with so much zeal as on this occasion.  May Heaven only soon grant me the restoration of my health, and then I will show the noble-hearted English how highly I value their sympathy with my sad fate.] I was compelled at once to draw for the whole sum of 1000 gulden, being on the eve of borrowing money.