But let us say no more of all this bedevilment.  My brother Asinanio has written to me.  What I find most trying of all is being alone at dinner, and it is really surprising that I can write to you even tolerably from here.  Possibly I may come to town on Saturday, and if so you will perhaps drive out here with me at six o’clock in the evening?

Now farewell, my darling! deserve this name.  Retain what money you require; anything you want shall be purchased for you when I come in.  I embrace you, and hope you will be my good, studious, noble son.

Now as ever, your attached

FATHER.

I should like to know that you received the money safely.  Did the
Correpetitor come?

425.

TO HIS NEPHEW.

MY DEAR SON,—­

I send you herewith the 90 florins.  Get a written receipt from the landlady to prevent all mistakes afterwards; this is the invariable custom with those still under the control of guardians.  My wafers are done; cannot you manage to send me a box in some way or other?  Acknowledge the receipt of the money at once.  God bless you!  Do all you possibly can to rid me of that old demon.

Do not involve yourself in any clandestine doings with my brother; above all do nothing clandestine towards me; towards your attached father.  Goodnight.  Farewell! farewell!  The old witch and Satan and I?!

426.

TO HIS NEPHEW.

I rejoice, my dear son, that you take pleasure in this new sphere, and such being the case you must zealously strive to acquire what is necessary for it.  I did not recognize your writing; I indeed look only to the sense and meaning, but you must now attain some outward elegance also.  If it is too hard a task for you to come here, give it up; but if you can by any possibility do so, I shall rejoice in my desert home to have a feeling heart near me.  If you do come, the housekeeper will settle that you leave Vienna at five o’clock, which leaves you ample time for your studies.

I embrace you cordially.

Your attached

FATHER.

P.S.  Don’t forget to bring the “Morgenblatt” and Ries’s letter.[1]

[Footnote 1:  A letter from Ries of this date, in the Fischhof’sche Handschrift, is of sufficient interest to be given here at full length:—­

Godesberg, June 9, 1825.

Dearest Beethoven,—­I returned a few days ago from Aix-la-Chapelle, and feel the greatest pleasure in telling you that your new Symphony [the 9th] was executed with the most extraordinary precision, and received with the greatest applause.  It was a hard nut to crack, and the last day I rehearsed the finale alone for three hours; but I in particular, and all the others, were fully rewarded by the performance.  It is a work beside which no other can stand, and had you written nothing but this you would have gained immortality.  Whither will you lead us?