To: the Archduke Rudolph
Vienna, April, 1814

Anderson v1 pg452 - letter #474


Your Imperial Highness!

       The song ‘Germania’ [WoO 94] belongs to the whole world, that is to say, to everyone who is interested in it – and to you – in preference to everyone else, just as I too belong to you – I wish you a pleasant journey to Palermo –

                                                   Your Imperial Highness’s
                                                                  loyal and most obedient
                                                                                                           Beethoven