Your Imperial Highness!
My most profound thanks for your gift – My only regret is that you could not attend the concert – I have the honour to send you herewith the score of the cantata [Opus 136] – Your Imperial Highness may keep it for several days. Afterwards I will see that it is copied for you as quickly as possible – I am still exhausted by fatiguing affairs, vexations, pleasure and delight, all intermingled and inflicted or bestowed upon me at once. But I shall have the honour of waiting upon Y.I.H. in a few days – I hope to hear favourable reports of Y.I.H’s health. How gladly would I sacrifice many whole nights if I could thereby restore your health completely. –
Your Imperial Highness’s
most obedient and most faithful servant
Ludwig van Beethoven