Beethoven's Letters 1790-1826 Volume II Part 32

418.

TO HIS NEPHEW.

May 19.

Ask the house agent about a lodging in the Landstra.s.se, Ungarga.s.se, No.

345, adjoining the Brauhaus,--four rooms and a kitchen, commanding a view of the adjacent gardens. I hear there are various others too in the Hauptstra.s.se. Give a gulden to the house agent in the Ungarga.s.se, to promise me the refusal of the lodgings till Sat.u.r.day, when, if the weather is not too bad, I mean to come on to fetch you. We must decide to-morrow whether it is to be hired from Michaelmas or now. If I do come on Sat.u.r.day, take care that I find you at home.

Your attached

FATHER.

419.

TO HIS NEPHEW.

Say everything that is kind and amiable from me to my esteemed fellow-guardian, Dr. v. Reissig; I feel still too feeble to write to him myself. I hope he will not object to your coming to me here every Sat.u.r.day evening. You are well aware that I _never abused_ such a permission when you were at Blochlinger's [see No. 276]. Besides, I feel sure of your intercession _in support of my request_.

Your attached father,

BEETHOVEN.

420.

TO HIS NEPHEW.

Baden, May 23.

I have been a.s.sured, though as yet it is only a matter of conjecture, that a clandestine intercourse has been renewed between your mother and yourself. Am I doomed again to experience such detestable ingrat.i.tude? No!

if the tie is to be severed, so be it! By such ingrat.i.tude you will incur the hatred of all impartial persons. The expressions my brother made use of yesterday before Dr. Reissig (as he says); and your own with respect to Schonauer (who is naturally adverse to me, the judgment of the Court being the _exact reverse of what he desired_), were such, that I will not mix myself up with such shameful doings! No! never more!

If you find the _Pactum_ oppressive, then, in G.o.d's name, I resign you to His holy keeping! I have done my part, and on this score I do not dread appearing before the Highest of all Judges. Do not be afraid to come to me to-morrow; as yet I only _suspect_; G.o.d grant that those suspicions _may not prove true_, for to you it would be an incalculable misfortune, with whatever levity my rascally brother, and perhaps your mother also, may treat the matter to the old woman. I shall expect you without fail.

421.

TO HIS NEPHEW.

Baden, May 31, 1825.

MY DEAR SON,--

I intend to come to town on Sat.u.r.day, and to return here either on Sunday evening, or early on Monday. I beg you will therefore ask Dr. Bach [advocate] at what hour I can see him, and also fetch the key from brother Backer's [a brother-in-law of Johann Beethoven's], to see whether in the room inhabited by my unbrotherly brother, the arrangements are such that I can stay a night there; and if there is clean linen, &c., &c. As Thursday is a holiday, and it is unlikely that you will come here (indeed I do not desire that you should), you may easily execute these two commissions for me. You can let me know the result when I arrive on Sat.u.r.day. I don't send you money, for if you want any, you can borrow a gulden at home. Moderation is necessary for young people, and you do not appear to pay sufficient attention to this, as you had _money without my knowledge, nor do I yet know whence it came_. Fine doings! It is not advisable that you should go to the theatre at _present_, on account of the distraction it causes. The 5 florins procured by Dr. Reissig, I will pay off by instalments, punctually every month. So enough of this! Misled as you have been, it would be no bad thing were you at length to cultivate _simplicity and truth_, for my heart has been so deeply wounded by your deceitful conduct, that it is difficult to forget it. Even were I disposed to submit like an ox to so hard a yoke without murmuring, if you pursue the same course towards others, you will never succeed in gaining the love of any one. As G.o.d is my witness, I can think of nothing but you, and my contemptible brother, and the detestable family that I am afflicted with. May G.o.d vouchsafe to listen to my prayer, for _never_ again can I trust you!

Your Father, alas!

Yet fortunately not your Father.

422.

TO HIS NEPHEW.

Baden, June 9, 1825.

I wish you at least to come here on Sundays. In vain do I ask for an answer. G.o.d help you and me! As ever,

Your attached

FATHER.

I have written to Herr v. Reissig to desire you to come here on Sundays.

The _caleche_ leaves his house at six o'clock, from the _Kugel, auf der Wieden_. You have only to work and study a little in advance, to lose nothing. I regret being obliged to cause you this annoyance; you are to return the same afternoon at five o'clock, with the _caleche_. Your place is already paid for; you can shave here in the morning, and a shirt and neckcloth will be ready for you, so that you may arrive at the right time.

Farewell. If I reproach you it is not without good cause, and it would be hard to have sacrificed so much, merely to bestow a _commonplace man_ on the world. I hope to see you without fail.

If the intrigues are already matured, say so frankly (and naturally), and you will find one who will always be true to the good cause. The lodging A.

was again advertised in the paper on Tuesday; could you not have arranged about this? You might at all events have done so through some one else, or by writing, if you were at all indisposed. I should much prefer not moving, if I were not compelled to do so. You know my mode of living here, and it is far worse in this cold stormy weather. My continued solitude only still further enfeebles me, and really my weakness often amounts to a swoon. Oh!

do not further grieve me, for the scythe of Death will grant me no long delay!

If I could find a good lodging in the Alleenga.s.se, I would at once engage it.

423.

Tuesday Morning.

MY DEAR SON,--

The two patterns, one placed at the top and the other below, each 21 florins, seem to me the best; the landlord can advise you. For the trousers 88--4-1/2. I enclose 62 florins W.W. 30 kreutzers. Give me an exact account of how you spend this money, for it was hard to earn; still it is not worth while, for the sake of a florin a yard, not to select the best material; so choose, or get some one to choose for you, the best of the two at 21 florins. Order the highest quality for your trousers also; remember you ought never to wear your best clothes at home; no matter who comes, you need never be well dressed in the house.[1] The moment you come home change your good clothes, and be at your ease in those set aside for the purpose.

Farewell. Your attached

FATHER.

P.S. The creature went off yesterday and has not returned; we shall see how this turns out. The old beast was determined to be off, being like a restless wild animal devoid of purpose or reason. May Heaven have pity on me! The new cooking began yesterday.

[Footnote 1: See Weber's narrative in his _Biography_, Vol. II. 510. "The square Cyclopean figure was attired in a shabby coat with torn sleeves."]

424.

TO HIS NEPHEW.

Baden, June 15.