Dear Simrock ! Vienna,
August 2, [1794]
Indeed I deserve a bit of a scolding from you
for having kept back your v[ariations] for so long. But truly I am not
lying when I tell you that an accumulation of business affairs prevented
me from correcting them at once.
What is missing you yourself will discover.
By the way, I must congratualate you on your engraving, which is beautiful,
clear and legible. Really, if you continue to work in this way, you
will become one day the chief of engravers, of engravers of music, I
mean --
In my previous letter I promised to send you
some of my compositions; and you treated my statement as if it were
merely the fine phrase of a courtier. How on earth can I have merited
such a description? -- Fie, who in these democratic times of ours would
indulge in that kind of talk? Well, in order to clear myself of the
epithet you have attached to me, you are to receive, as soon as I have
made the grand review of my compositions which is now about to take
place, something which you will certainly engrave --
Moreover, I have looked around for an agent
and have found an excellent and capable fellow. His name is Traeg.
Now all you have to do is to write to him or to me and stae what conditions
you are prepared to accept. He wants you to give him discount amounting
to a third. May the devil get the hang of your business dealings --
We are having very hot weather here; and the Viennese are afraid that
soon they will not be able to get any more ice cream. For, as
the winter was so mild, ice is scarce. Here various important
people have been locked up; it is said that a revolution was about to
break out -- But I believe that so long as an Austrian can get his brown
ale and his little sausages, he is not likely to revolt.
People say that the gates leading to the suburbs are to be closed at
10 p.m. The soldiers have loaded their muskets with ball. You dare not
raise your voice here or the police will take you into custody.
If your daughters are now grown up, do fashion
one to be my bride. For if I have to live at Bonn as a bachelor, I will
certainly not stay there for long -- Surely you too must now feel rather
anxious.
How is our good friend Ries? I will
write to him soon. He is bound to think badly of me. But that cursed
letter-writing -- and in this respect I cannot change -- Have you
already performed my partita?
Write to me now and then.
Your,
Beethoven
Do please send me a few c[opies] of the first
variations as well.