I remain Y.R.H.’s obedient servant,

BEETHOVEN.

395.

TO SCHOTT,—­MAYENCE.

Vienna, November 18, 1824.

I regret being obliged to tell you that some little time must yet elapse before I can send off the works.  There was not in reality much to revise in the copies; but as I did not pass the summer here, I am obliged to make up for this now, by giving two lessons a day to H.R.H. the Archduke Rudolph.  This exhausts me so much that it almost entirely unfits me for all else.  Moreover, I cannot live on my income, and my pen is my sole resource; but no consideration is shown either for my health or my precious time.  I do hope that this may not long continue, when I will at once complete the slight revision required.  Some days ago I received a proposal which concerns you also; its purport being that a foreign music publisher was disposed, &c., &c., to form a connection with you, in order to guard against piracy.  I at once declined the offer, having had sufficiently painful experience on these matters. (Perhaps this was only a pretext to spy into my affairs!)

396.

TO CARL HOLZ.

I send you my greetings, and also wish to tell you that I am not going out to-day.  I should be glad to see you, perhaps this evening after your office hours.

In haste, your friend,

BEETHOVEN.

I am by no means well.

397.

TO CARL HOLZ.

MY WORTHY HOLZ—­BE NO LONGER HOLZ [WOOD]!

The well-beloved government wishes to see me to-day at ten o’clock.  I beg you will go in my place; but first call on me, which you can arrange entirely according to your own convenience.  I have already written a letter to the powers that be, which you can take with you.  I much regret being forced to be again so troublesome to you, but my going is out of the question, and the affair must be brought to a close,

Yours,

BEETHOVEN.

398.

TO SCHOTT,—­MAYENCE.

Vienna, December 17 [Beethoven’s birthday], 1824.

I write to say that a week must yet elapse before the works can be dispatched to you.  The Archduke only left this yesterday, and much precious time was I obliged to spend with him.  I am beloved and highly esteemed by him, but—­I cannot live on that, and the call from every quarter to remember “that he who has a lamp ought to pour oil into it” finds no response here.

As the score ought to be correctly engraved, I must look it over repeatedly myself, for I have no clever copyist at present.  Pray, do not think ill of me! Never was I guilty of anything base!

399.

March, 1825.

MY GOOD FRIENDS,—­

Each is herewith appointed to his own post, and formally taken into our service, pledging his honor to do his best to distinguish himself, and each to vie with the other in zeal.