Dear Tr[eitschke]!
I am infinitely delighted that you are satisfied with the chorus [WoO 94] –– It was my opinion that you should turn all the numbers, and therefore my own also, to your advantage. But if you refuse to do this, then I should like my contribution to be sold entirely for the benefit, in some way, of the poor ––
A few of your copyists, and Wranitzky too, came to see me about this. I told them that you, my dear Tr[eitschke], were entirely in control of the situation –– Hence I now await your considered opinion on this matter –– Your copyist is –– an ass! –– but he entirely lacks the proverbially magnificent ass’s skin –– So my copyist has taken on the copying, and by Tuesday there will be little left to do, and he will bring everything to the rehearsal ––
Let me add at this whole opera business is the most tiresome affair in the world, for I am dissatisfied with most of it –– and –– there is hardly a number in it which my present dissatisfaction would not have to patch up here and there with some satisfaction –– Well, that is a very different thing from being able to indulge in free meditation or inspiration ––
Wholly your
Beethoven