Your Imperial Highness!
I had just gone out yesterday when your gracious letter arrived –– As for my health, it is pretty much the same, the more so as moral factors are affecting it and these apparently are not very speedily removed; the more so as I must now look to myself alone for help and can find the means of doing so in my head alone; the more so as of nowadays neither anybody’s word, nor his honour, nor any written declaration seems to bind him. –– As to my various tasks I have completed some of them and even without your gracious invitation I would have gone to you today at the usual hour –– As to Rode, if Your Imperial Highness will only be so gracious as to send me the part by the bearer of this letter, and I will send it on to him immediately with a billet doux from myself. He will certainly not take it amiss that I send him the part, alas! most certainly not! Would to God that there were reasons to big his pardon for doing so; for, in that case, things would indeed be in a better state –– Will it be convenient to you if I come at five o’clock this evening, as usual? But if Y.I.H. commands me to come at another hour, I will endeavor, as always, to comply with your wishes as punctually as possible. ––
Your Imperial Highness’s
Most obedient servant,
Ludwig van Beethoven