My Dear and
much admired Marie!
The
weather is so divinely beautiful -- and who knows whether it will
be like this tomorrow? -- So I propose to fetch you about noon today
and take you for a drive -- As Bigot has presumably gone out already,
we cannot take him with us, of course -- but for that reason to
abandon my plan altogether, why, Bigot himself would surely not
want this -- Only the morning is now the most lovely part of the
day -- Why not seize the moment, seeing that it flies so quickly?
-- It would be quite alien to the outlook of our so enlightened
and cultured Marie if for the sake of mere scruples she were to
rob me of my greatest pleasure -- Oh whatever reasons you may put
forward for not accepting my proposal, I shall ascribe
your refusal to nothing else but to your distrust of my character
-- and I shall never believe that you cherish sincere friendship
for me -- Wrap up Caroline from head to foot in swaddling-clothes
so that nothing may happen to her -- Now, send me a reply, dear
M[arie], whether you can come -- I am not asking you whether
you want to come -- for I should interpret the latter only
to my disadvantage -- So just write one of two words, yes or
no -- Accept my good wishes, and see to it that I shall be
granted the selfish pleasure of sharing with two persons in whom
I take so much interest, the delightful enjoyment of Nature's glorious
beauties --
Your
friend and admirer
L.
v. Beethoven