Dear Friend and Brother! –
I ought to have written to you before now; in my heart I have done so a thousand times –– you ought to have received the t[rio] and the s[onata]much sooner, indeed a long time ago –– I cannot understand why M. –– kept them back from you for so long –– Indeed, so far as I remember, I told you that I would send you both the sonata and the trio. Do whatever you prefer. Keep the sonata or send it to Forray, just as you like. Why, in any case, the quartet was originally intended for you. That you have not received it until now is due entirely to my untidy habits –– and since we are talking about untidiness, well, I am sorry to have to tell you that this untidiness still haunts me everywhere and that nothing has been decided in my affairs. Presumably this disastrous war Will hold up the final settlement or render my affairs even worse –– Sometimes I take one decision, then I take another; and unfortunately I must remain nearer Vienna until this question has been settled –– Oh fatal decree, as seductive as a siren. To resist it I should have had my ears plugged with wax in my arms down fast, like those of Ulysses, to prevent me from signing –– If the surging waves of war roll nearer to Vienna, then I shall go to Hungary. Perhaps I will go there in any case, since I have nothing to provide for save my own miserable person; and therefore I shall certainly manage to make both ends meet. Away with you, nobler and loftier plans –– our striving is infinite, but vulgarity makes everything finite! –– I sent you all good wishes, beloved brother, and ask you to be a brother to me, for I have no one whom I can really call brother. Do as much good to those around you as these evil times allow you to do –– In future write the following address on the covers of letters to me ‘To J. B. von Pasqualati’. That rascal Oliva (but he is not a noble r[as]c[a]l) is going to Hungary. Don’t have very much to do with him. I am delighted that our association, which was brought about solely by necessity, will thus be completely broken off –– More of this when we meet –– Sometimes I am at Baden –– sometimes here –– At Baden you should enquire for me at the Sauerhof – All good wishes. Let me have news of you soon –
Your friend
Beethoven