14.

Naples, June 5, 1770.

Vesuvius is smoking fiercely!  Thunder and lightning and blazes!  Haid homa gfresa beim Herr Doll.  Das is a deutscha Compositor, und a browa Mo. [Footnote:  “Today we dined with Herr Doll, he is a good composer and a worthy man” [Vienna Patois]] Now I begin to describe my course of life.—­Alle 9 ore, qualche volta anche alle dieci mi svelgio, e poi andiamo fuor di casa, e poi pranziamo da un trattore, e dopo pranzo scriviamo, e poi sortiamo, e indi ceniamo, ma che cosa?  Al giorno di grasso, un mezzo pollo ovvero un piccolo boccone d’arrosto; al giorno di magro un piccolo pesce; e di poi andiamo a dormire.  Est-ce que vous avez compris?  —­Redma dafir Soisburgarisch, don as is gschaida.  Wir sand Gottlob gesund da Voda und i. [Footnote:  “I rise generally every morning at 9 o’clock, but sometimes not till 10, when we go out.  We dine at a restaurateur’s, after dinner I write, and then we go out again, and afterwards sup, but on what? on jours gras, half a fowl, or a small slice of roast meat, on jours maigres a little fish, and then we go to sleep.  Do you understand?  Let us talk Salzburgisch, for that is more sensible.  Thank God, my father and I are well” [Patois]] I hope you and mamma are so also.  Naples and Rome are two drowsy cities.  A scheni Schrift! net wor? [Footnote:  “Fine writing, is it not?” [Patois.]] Write to me, and do not be so lazy.  Altrimente avrete qualche bastonate di me.  Quel plaisir!  Je te casserai la tete. [Footnote:  “Otherwise I will cudgel you soundly.  What a pleasure—­to break your head!”] I am delighted with the thoughts of the portraits [of his mother and sister, who had promised to have their likenesses taken], und i bi korios wias da gleich sieht; wons ma gfoin, so los i mi und den Vodan a so macho.  Maidli, lass Da saga, wo list dan gwesa he? [Footnote:  “And I am anxious to see what they are like, and then I will have my father and myself also taken.  Fair maiden, say, where have you been, eh?” [Patois.]] The opera here is Jomelli’s; it is fine, but too grave and old-fashioned for this stage.  Madame de’ Amicis sings incomparably, and so does Aprile, who used to sing at Milan.  The dancing is miserably pretentious.  The theatre beautiful.  The King has been brought up in the rough Neapolitan fashion, and at the opera always stands on a stool, so that he may look a little taller than the Queen, who is beautiful and so gracious, for she bowed to me in the most condescending manner no less than six times on the Molo.

15.

Naples, June 16, 1770.

I am well and lively and happy as ever, and as glad to travel.  I made an excursion on the Mediterranean.  I kiss mamma’s hand and Nannerl’s a thousand times, and am your son, Steffl, and your brother, Hansl.

16.

Rome, July 7, 1770.

Cara sorella mia,—­

I am really surprised that you can compose so charmingly.  In a word, the song is beautiful.  Often try something similar.  Send me soon the other six minuets of Haydn.  Mademoiselle, j’ai l’honneur d’etre votre tres-humble serviteur et frere,