But what is the good of it all?  Seeing that I have begun so
   many new works, perhaps the wisest thing I can do is to stay
   here.

Leaving this question undecided, he undertook in October, 1829, a journey to Posen, starting on the 20th of that month.  An invitation from Prince Radziwill was the inducement that led him to quit the paternal roof so soon after his return to it.  His intention was to remain only a fortnight from home, and to visit his friends, the Wiesiolowskis, on the way to Antonin.  Chopin enjoyed himself greatly at the latter place.  The wife of the Prince, a courteous and kindly lady, who did not gauge a man’s merits by his descent, found the way to the heart of the composer by wishing to hear every day and to possess as soon as possible his Polonaise in F minor (Op. 71, No. 3).  The young Princesses, her daughters, had charms besides those of their beauty.  One of them played the piano with genuine musical feeling.

I have written [reports Chopin to his friend Titus on November 14, 1829] during my visit at Prince Radziwill’s an Alla Polacca with violoncello.  It is nothing more than a brilliant salon piece, such as pleases ladies.  I would like Princess Wanda to practise it, so that it might be said that I had taught her.  She is only seventeen years old and beautiful; it would be delightful to have the privilege of placing her pretty fingers on the keys.  But, joking apart, her soul is endowed with true musical feeling, and one does not need to tell her whether she is to play crescendo, piano, or pianissimo.

According to Liszt, Chopin fondly remembered his visits to Antonin, and told many an anecdote in connection with them.

The Princess Elisa, one of the daughters of Prince Radziwill, who died in the first bloom of her life, left him [Chopin] the sweet image of an angel exiled for a short period here below.

A passage in the letter of Chopin from which I last quoted throws also a little light on his relation to her.

You wished one of my portraits; if I could only have pilfered one of Princess Elisa’s, I should certainly have sent it; for she has two portraits of me in her album, and I am told that these drawings are very good likenesses.

The musical Prince would naturally be attracted by, and take an interest in, the rising genius.  What the latter’s opinion of his noble friend as a composer was, he tells Titus Woyciechowski at some length.  I may here say, once for all, that all the letters from which extracts are given in this chapter are addressed to this latter.