I remain, with all dutiful fidelity and devotion, your R. Highness’s obedient servant,

BEETHOVEN.

386.

TO HIS NEPHEW.

Baden, August 29, 1824.

MY DEAR YOUNG SCAMP,—­

How active our mahogany Holz [wood] is!  My plans are decided.  We will give the present quartet to Artaria, and the last to Peters.  You see I have learned something; I now perceive why I first explored the path; it was for your sake, that you might find it smooth.  My digestion is terribly out of order, and no physician!  I wish to have some ready-made pens, so send some in a letter.  Don’t write to Peters on Saturday; we had better wait a little, to show him our indifference on the subject.

Since yesterday I have only taken some soup, and a couple of eggs, and drank nothing but water; my tongue is discolored; and without medicine and tonics, whatever my farcical doctor may say, my digestion will never improve.

The third quartet [in C sharp minor, Op. 131] also contains six movements, and will certainly be finished in ten or twelve days at most.  Continue to love me, my dear boy; if I ever cause you pain, it is not from a wish to grieve you, but for your eventual benefit.  I now conclude.  I embrace you cordially.  All I wish is that you should be loving, industrious, and upright.  Write to me, my dear son.  I regret all the trouble I give you, but it will not go on long.  Holz seems inclined to become our friend.  I expect a letter soon from [illegible].

Your faithful

FATHER.

387.

ROUGH DRAFT OF A LETTER TO PETERS.

1824.

I wrote to you that a quartet ["and a grand one too” is effaced] is ready for you; as soon, therefore, as you let me know that you will accept it for the 360 florins C.M., or 80 ducats, I will at once forward it to you.  My works are now paid at a higher rate than ever; besides, you have only yourself to blame in this affair.  Your own letters show what you formerly desired to have, and the works I sent you were what they ought to have been (the numerous pirated editions prove the truth of this); but the Quartet will convince you that, so far from wishing to take my revenge, I now give you what could not possibly be better, were it intended even for my best friend.

I beg that you will make no delay, so that I may receive your answer by the next post; otherwise I must forthwith return you the 360 florins C.M.  I shall, at all events, be rather in a scrape, for there is a person who wishes to have not only this but another newly finished work of mine, though he does not care to take only one.  It is solely because you have waited so long (though you are yourself to blame for this) that I separate the Quartet from the following one, now also completed. (Do you think that the latter ought to be also offered here? but, of course, cunningly and warily:  comme marchand coquin!) You need have no misgivings that I am sending you something merely to fulfil my promise; no, I assure you on my honor as an artist that you may place me on a level with the lowest of men, if you do not find that it is one of my very best works.