238.

TO ZMESKALL.

August 12, 1817.

MY DEAR GOOD Z.,—­

I heard of your indisposition with great regret.  As for myself, I am often in despair, and almost tempted to put an end to my life, for all these remedies seem to have no end.  May God have compassion on me, for I look upon myself to be as good as lost!  I have a great deal to say to you.  That this servant is a thief, I cannot doubt—­he must be sent away; my health requires living at home and greater comfort.  I shall be glad to have your opinion on this point.  If my condition is not altered, instead of being in London I shall probably be in my grave.  I thank God that the thread of my life will soon be spun out.

In haste, your

BEETHOVEN.

N.B.  I wish you to buy me a quarter of a yard of green wax-cloth, green on both sides.  It seems incredible that I have not been able to get anything of the kind from these green people here.  It is far.... [illegible].

[X. brought the Trio in C minor (Op. 1, No. 3) to show to Beethoven, having arranged it as a quintet for stringed instruments (published by Artaria as Op. 104).  Beethoven evidently discovered a good many faults in the work; still, the undertaking had sufficient attractions to induce him to correct it himself, and to make many changes in it.  A very different score was thus of course produced from that of X., on the cover of whose work the genial master, in a fit of good humor, inscribed with his own hand the following title:—­

A Terzet arranged as a Quintet,
by Mr. Well-meaning,

translated from the semblance into the reality of five parts, and exalted from the depths of wretchedness to a certain degree of excellence,

by Mr. Goodwill.

Vienna, Aug. 14, 1817.

N.B.  The original three-part score of the Quintet has been sacrificed as a solemn burnt-offering to the subterranean gods.][1]

[Footnote 1:  This Quintet appeared as Op. 104 at Artaria’s in Vienna.]

239.

TO FRAU VON STREICHER.

When we next meet, you will be surprised to hear what I have in the mean time learned.  My poor Carl was only misled for the moment; but there are men who are brutes, and of this number is the priest here, who deserves to be well cudgelled.

240.

TO G. DEL RIO.

August 19, 1817.

I unluckily received your letter yesterday too late, for she had already been here; otherwise I would have shown her to the door, as she richly deserved.  I sincerely thank Fraulein N. for the trouble she took in writing down the gossip of this woman.  Though an enemy to all tattling and gossip, still this is of importance to us; so I shall write to her, and also give her letter to me to Herr A.S. [Advocate Schoenauer?] I may possibly have let fall some words in her presence in reference to the recent occurrence, and the irregularity on your part, but I cannot in the slightest degree recall ever having written to her about you.