WOLFGANGO in Germania.  Amadeo Mozart in Italia.

Roma caput mundi il 25 Aprile anno 1770
    nell’ anno venture 1771.

[Footnote:  “Dearest sister,—­“I assure you that I always expect with intense eagerness my letters from Salzburg on post-days.  Yesterday we were at S. Lorenzo and heard vespers, and to-day at the chanted mass, and in the evening at the second vespers, because it was the Feast of the Madonna del Buonconsiglio.  A few days ago we were at the Campidoglio, where we saw a great many fine things.  If I tried to write you an account of all I saw, this sheet would not suffice.  I played at two concerts, and to-morrow I am to play at another.  After dinner we played at Potsch [Boccia].  This is a game I have learnt, and when I come home, I will teach it to you.  When I have finished this letter, I am going to complete a symphony that I have begun.  The aria is finished.  The copyist (who is my father) has the symphony, because we do not choose it to be copied by any one else, or it might be stolen.

“WOLFGANGO in Germany.

“Amadeo Mozart in Italy.

“Rome, mistress of the world:  April 25, 1770.”]

12.

Naples, May 19, 1770.

Cara sorella mia,—­

Vi prego di scrivermi presto e tutti i giorni di posta.  Io vi ringrazio di avermi mandata questi “Art of Ciphering,” [Footnote:  “I beg you will write to me soon, indeed every post-day.  I thank you for having sent me the ‘Art of Ciphering.’”] e vi prego, se mai volete avere mal di testa, di mandarmi ancora un poco di questi “books.” [Footnote:  “And I beg if you ever want to have a headache, that you will send me some more.”] Perdonate mi che scrivo si malamente, ma la razione e perche anche io ebbi un poco mal di testa. [Footnote:  “of the same kind.  Excuse my writing so badly, but the reason is that I have a bit of a headache myself.”]

Haydn’s twelfth minuet, which you sent me, pleases me very much; you have composed an inimitable bass for it, and without the slightest fault.  I do beg that you will often exercise yourself in such things.  Mamma must not forget to see that the guns are both polished up.  Tell me how Master Canary is?  Does he still sing? and still whistle?  Do you know why I am thinking about the canary?  Because we have one in our ante-room that chirps out a G sharp just like ours. [Footnote:  Mozart was extremely fond of animals, and later in life had always birds in his room.] A propos, Herr Johannes [Hagenauer], no doubt, received the letter of congratulation which we intended to write to him?  But if he has not got it, I will tell him myself, when we meet in Salzburg, what ought to have been in it.  Yesterday we wore our new clothes; we were as handsome as angels.  My kind regards to Nandl; she must not fail to pray diligently for me.