PS.
I
herewith declare, therefore, that all the works for which you
have written are your property; another copy of the list will
be made and sent to you with my signature, certifying that they
are your declared property - And I accept the price of 50 ducats
- Does that satisfy you? Perhaps I can let you have instead of
the variations for violoncello an violin some variations for four
hands on a song composed by me. But the poem by Goethe would have
to be engraved too, because I wrote those variations in an album
as a keepsake and consider them to be better than the others.
Are you satisfied? - The arrangements were not made by me, but
I have gone through them and made drastic corrections in some
passages. So do not dare to state in writing that I have arranged
them. If you do, you will be telling a lie, seeing that, moreover,
I could never have found the time, or even had the patience, to
do work of that kind - Are you satisfied? -
Well
all good wishes. And indeed all I can wish you is that you will
thrive and prosper. Moreover I would most willingly give you everything
if I could only make my way in the world, but - please remember
that all my acquaintances hold appointments and know exactly what
they have to live on; but, Heaven help us! What appointment at
the Imperial Court could be given to such a parvum talentum com
ego? -- -- -- --
Your
friend
L.
v. Beethoven