257.

TO THE RECHNUNGSRATH, VINCENZ HAUSCHKA.[1]

1818.

First and foremost member of our society, and grand cross of the violon—­cello!  You wish for an heroic subject, whereas I have none but a spiritual one!  I am contented; still, I think an infusion of the spiritual would be quite appropriate in such a mass.  I have no objections to H. v.  Bernard, but you must pay him; I do not speak of myself.  As you call yourselves “Friends of Music,” it is only natural that you should expect a great deal to be done on the score of friendship.

Now farewell, my good Hauschka!  As for myself, I wander about here with music paper, among the hills and dales and valleys, and scribble a great deal to get my daily bread; for I have brought things to such a pass in this mighty and ignominious land of the Goths and Vandals, that in order to gain time for a great composition, I must always previously scrawl away a good deal for the sake of money, to enable me to complete an important work.

However, my health is much improved, and if the matter is urgent, I can do as you wish now.

In haste, your friend,

BEETHOVEN.

[Footnote 1:  Hauschka was at that time on the committee, and agent for the “Friends to Music” who commissioned Beethoven to write an Oratorio in 1815.  Schindler is of opinion that the repeated performance of the Abbe Stadler’s heroic Oratorio, Die Befreiung von Jerusalem, was the cause of the Society in 1818 bespeaking, through Hauschka, “An oratorio of the heroic order.”]

258.

TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

1819.

I have the honor to send the masterly variations[1] of Y.R.H. by the copyist Schlemmer, and to-morrow I shall come in person to wait upon Y.R.H., and much rejoice at being able to serve as a companion to my illustrious pupil on the path of fame.

[K.]

[Footnote 1:  The letters 258 and 259, allude to the pianoforte variations composed by the Archduke Rudolph and dedicated to his instructor.]

259.

TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH.

Jan. 1, 1819.

All that can be comprehended in one wish, or individually named,—­health, happiness, and prosperity,—­all are included in the prayer I offer up for Y.R.H. on this day.  May the wish that I also form for myself be graciously accepted by Y.R.H., namely, that I may continue to enjoy the favor of Y.R.H.  A dreadful occurrence[1] has lately taken place in my family, which for a long time stunned my senses, and to this must be ascribed my not having waited on Y.R.H., nor taken any notice of the masterly variations of my much-honored and illustrious pupil, and favorite of the Muses.  The gratitude I feel for the surprise and the honor you have done me, I dare not venture to express either verbally or in writing, for I am too far beneath you, even if I could or wished ever so ardently to return like for like.  May Heaven accept and listen with peculiar favor to my prayers for Y.R.H.’s health.  In the course of a few days I trust I shall myself hear the masterpiece Y.R.H. has sent to me, and nothing will rejoice me more than to assist Y.R.H. as early as possible, in taking the place already prepared for you on Parnassus.