Your Imperial Highness!
Having read in the paper of your arrival in Vienna, I wanted to write immediately to express to Y.I.H. my delight at this news. Well, I did this in thought a thousand times. I don’t care to entrust to the post my letters for the Burg, for several times already I have found that they have never been delivered. I therefore awaited the arrival here of one of my friends so as to know for certain that my letter would be delivered in Vienna – With much grief and the greatest sympathy I have heard from Y.I.H. that you are indisposed. I trust that this indisposition will very soon disappear. But I doubt whether at this time the air in Vienna would be good for Y.I.H.’s state of health – If I had rooms in town, then I would have gone into town before now, nay, at once, in order to wait upon Y.I.H., as I should do. – Unfortunately my health some time ago suffered a severe blow owing to an inflammation of my intestines, which brought me almost to death’s door. But I am now much better, although I am not yet completely recovered – It is sad that a certain formation of the human body must also pay its tribute to the weakness of nature – I will write again tomorrow or the day after and will take the liberty of telling Y.I.H. what would be the best arrangement if Your Highness should wish to spend a few hours again with me in a musical way –
May everything which Heaven sends in the way of prosperity be the portion of Y.I.H –
With the deepest
Sympathy
I remain
Y.I.H.’s
Most obedient and
Most faithful
Servant
Beethoven