Schindler, who was near him for the last ten years of his life says in relation to Beethoven’s love of the Greek classics.  “He could recite long passages from them.  If any one asked him where this or that quotation was to be found he could find it as readily as a motive from his own works.”  Elsewhere he says, “Plato’s Republic was transfused into his very flesh and blood.”  He was an insatiable reader of history.  As may be supposed Shakespeare was an especial favorite with him.  There is a curious little work published called Beethoven’s Brevier, made up of those portions of Shakespeare and the classics for which he had a particular regard.  Here, Shakespeare is first on the list.  There are also many selections from the Greek, and from Schiller, Goethe, Herder and others.

Although a man of considerable culture, he was not an educated man, all his available time and strength having been required for his musical training.  He was, however, the equal or superior in mental attainments of any of the great musicians, with the exception of Wagner.  He had the strongest faith in his own powers.  It was his belief that almost anything could be accomplished by trying.  Side by side with this belief was the ineradicable conviction that intellectual culture was of more importance than anything else in the universe.  He stated his views finely on this subject in a letter to a young girl, unknown to him, who had sent him a present with a letter expressing her appreciation of his music.  “Do more than simply practice the art (of music), penetrate rather, into the heart and soul of it.  It will be found well worth while, for art and knowledge alone have the power to elevate mankind up to Deity itself.  Should you want anything of me at any time, write me with entire confidence.  The true artist is never arrogant; rather he sees with regret how illimitable all art is, and how far from the goal he remains.  While he may be admired, he only grieves that he cannot reach the point toward which his better genius beckons him.”

We read of his ordering complete sets of Schiller and Goethe in the summer of 1809.  The study of these authors carried on under most unfavorable conditions, bore good fruit subsequently, as some good work was inspired by them.  The Egmont music, which appeared the following year, the Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage, Bundeslied, the different settings of Erlkoenig, the four settings of Sehnsucht are instances, although this does not by any means complete the list of his settings from the works of the authors just named.

CHAPTER XIII

MISSA SOLEMNIS

Christianity is the doctrine of the deep guilt of the human race
through its existence alone, and the longing of the heart for
deliverance from it. 

          
                                                                                              —­SCHOPENHAUER.