Chapter 18 Letters Collection-3

Letter to Wegler Vienna, November 16, 1801 My good Wegler!Thank you for the renewed concern you have shown me, especially because mine is undeserved. ——You need to know how my body is and what I need.Although it is so unpleasant for me to talk about this subject, I am more than happy to tell you. Waring has been rubbing foaming medicine on my arms for months... the treatment makes me extremely unhappy; pain is needless to say, and I won't be able to use my arms for a day or two... confess the buzzing in my ears The booming is less than it used to be, especially in the left ear, the one that got sick first; but my hearing, so far, hasn't improved at all; I can't decide if it's getting worse. ——The stomach is much better; especially after I take a few days of warm bath, it can be comfortable for eight or ten days.How often I take some stomach-strengthening medicine; I also follow your advice and apply herbs to the stomach. ——Waylin doesn't want me to mention Yu Yuyu, and I don't like him very much.He was so careless and thoughtless about such a disease that if I didn't go to him--and it was such a trouble to me--I never saw him. —What do you think of Schmidt?I'm not happy to change doctors; but it seems Welling is too surgical-minded to supplement his knowledge with books. ——Schmidt is completely different on this point, and perhaps not as careless as he is. ——People say that direct current has magical effects; what do you think?A doctor told me that he saw a deaf-mute child recover his hearing, and a man who had been deaf for seven years was also healed. — I am hearing that Schmidt has experience in this area.

My life has become more pleasant; I have more contact with people.You can hardly believe what a lonely and sad life I have lived for two years.My disability blocked me everywhere, like a ghost, and I avoided people.Others must think that I hate humans, but I don't! —I know no rest but sleep; and poor me I have to spend more time on sleep than ever before.If only I could be half free from my sickness, then——I would come before you as a more autonomous and mature human being, and strengthen our everlasting friendship. I should be as happy as I can be in this world,--never be distressed. —No, this is what I cannot bear!I want to hold the throat of fate.It never fails to bring me to my knees. --Oh!How beautiful it is to live your life a thousand times over!

...Send my love to Luoheng for me... You do love me a little bit, don't you?Trust me in love and friendship. your beethoven Wegler and Eleonore von Breuning Letter to Beethoven Koblenz, December 28, 1825 Dear old friend Ludwig: I couldn't help thinking of you when I sent one of Reese's ten sons to Vienna. According to Reese (1784-1838), he was a German pianist and composer.If you have not received a long letter every two months since I left Vienna twenty-eight years ago, you are to blame for your silence after my last two letters.This is not allowed, especially now; because old people like us are more than happy to live in the past, and our greatest pleasure is the memory of our youth.For me at least, knowing you and your close friendship through the power of your mother (God bless her!) was a bright spot in my life that I look back on with pleasure... when I watched you from afar , as if beholding a hero, I can say with pride: "I was not entirely uninfluenced in his development; he confided to me his wishes and dreams; my passions." Thank God I can talk about you with my wife and now with my kids!My mother-in-law's home is dearer to you than your own, especially since the death of your noble mother.Say it to us again: "Yes, in joy and in sorrow, I miss you." Even if a man rises as high as you, there is only one happiness in his life: the time of youth.Bonn, Kreuzberg, Goldesberg, Peppignier, etc., should be the places where your thoughts and joyous attachments should be.

Now I will tell you about me and us, so that you may have an example when you write your reply. Things were not going well for me after my return from Vienna in 1796; for some years I lived only by my practice of medicine;Afterwards I became a professor, got a salary, and got married in 1802.A year later I gave birth to a daughter, who is still alive and well educated.In addition to judging integrity, she inherited her father's clear temperament, and she played Beethoven's sonata very movingly.She deserves no credit for that, it's all about talent.In 1807 I had a son who is now studying medicine in Berlin.In four years I will send him to Vienna: will you take care of him? ... In August of this year I celebrated my sixtieth birthday, and I had about sixty friends and acquaintances here, including some of the most important people in town.I have lived here since 1807, and now I have a beautiful house and a good position.My superiors were pleased with me, and the king awarded me a medal and a ribbon.Both Lohan and I are in good health. — Well, I have told you all about us, now is your turn!Should one of Vienna's famous churches move elsewhere?Doesn't traveling make you happy?Don't you want to see Rhine again? ——Lohan and I express our sincerest sincerity to you.

your old friend wegler Coblenz, December 29, 1825 Dear Beethoven, dear man for so many years!It is my wish to ask Wegler to write to you again. — Now that this wish has been fulfilled, I think I should add a few words, — not only to remind you of me especially, but to strengthen our request, ask you if you have no intention of seeing the Rhine and your birthplace again, — and give Wegler and my greatest joy.Our Langheng A. her daughter thanks you for the happy time you have given her;—how glad she is to hear us talk about you;—she knows in detail the little stories of our youth in Bonn,—quarrels and peace Well...she will be more than happy to see you! ——Children also have a gentle and happy mood.Way loved to play themes from your variations; the old men had their favorites, but he also played new pieces, often with incredible patience. ——Your songs are especially his favorite; Wei has never entered his room without sitting on the piano. --Therefore, dear Beethoven, you can see how vividly and persistently we miss you. —But please tell us that it has been of some value to you, that we have not been entirely forgotten by you. — We would have visited you at my brother's house in Vienna if our most ardent desires had not always been elusive; — but the trip is impossible, since our son is now in Berlin. ——Wei has told you about our situation:——We shouldn't complain. —Even the hardest times are better for us than for most of the rest. ——The greatest happiness is that we are in good health and have good and pure children. —Yes, they did not embarrass us, they were happy, kind children. —Langhen had but one great sorrow, namely, when our poor Bourscheid died—that was not forgotten by any of us.Farewell, dear Beethoven, please miss us with compassion.

Eleonore Wegler