[He had received from the Pope the cross of the Order of the Golden
Spur.]
17.
Bologna, July 21, 1770.
I WISH mamma joy of her name-day, and hope that she may live for many
hundred years to come and retain good health, which I always ask of
God, and pray to Him for you both every day. I cannot do honor to the
occasion except with some Loretto bells, and wax tapers, and caps, and
gauze when I return. In the mean time, good-bye, mamma. I kiss your hand
a thousand times, and remain, till death, your attached son.
18.
Io vi auguro d'Iddio, vi dia sempre salute, e vi lasci vivere ancora
cent' anni e vi faccia morire quando avrete mille anni. Spero che voi
impararete meglio conoscermi ni avvenire e che poi ne giudicherete come
ch' egli vi piace. Il tempo non mi permette di scriver motto. La penna
non vale un corno, ne pure quello che la dirigge. Il titolo dell' opera
che ho da comporre a Milano, non si sa ancora.
[Footnote: "My prayer to God is, that He may grant you health, and allow
you to live to be a hundred, and not to die till you are a thousand
years old. I hope that you will learn to know me better in future, and
that you will then judge of me as you please. Time does not permit me
to write much. My pen is not worth a pin, nor the hand that guides it. I
don't yet know the title of the opera that I am to compose at Milan."]
My landlady at Rome made me a present of the "Thousand and One Nights"
in Italian; it is most amusing to read.
19.
Bologna, August 4, 1770.
I GRIEVE from my heart to hear that Jungfrau Marthe is still so ill, and
I pray every day that she may recover. Tell her from me that she must
beware of much fatigue and eat only what is strongly salted [she
was consumptive]. A propos, did you give my letter to Robinsiegerl?
[Sigismund Robinig, a friend of his]. You did not mention it when you
wrote. I beg that when you see him you will tell him he is not quite
to forget me. I can't possibly write better, for my pen is only fit to
write music and not a letter. My violin has been newly strung, and I
play every day. I only mention this because mamma wished to know whether
I still played the violin. I have had the honor to go at least six times
by myself into the churches to attend their splendid ceremonies. In the
mean time I have composed four Italian symphonies [overtures], besides
five or six arias, and also a motett.
Does Herr Deibl often come to see you? Does he still honor you by his
amusing conversation? And the noble Herr Carl von Vogt, does he still
deign to listen to your tiresome voices? Herr von Schiedenhofen
must assist you often in writing minuets, otherwise he shall have no
sugar-plums.
If time permitted, it would be my duty to trouble Herr von Molk and Herr
von Schiedenhofen with a few lines; but as that most indispensable of
all things is wanting, I hope they will forgive my neglect, and consider
me henceforth absolved from this honor. I have begun various cassations
[a kind of divertimento], so I have thus responded to your desire. I
don't think the piece in question can be one of mine, for who would
venture to publish as his own composition what is, in reality, written
by the son of the Capellmeister, and whose mother and sister are in
the same town? Addio--farewell! My sole recreations consist in dancing
English hornpipes and cutting capers. Italy is a land of sleep; I am
always drowsy here. Addio--good-bye!
20.
Bologna, August 21, 1770.
I AM not only still alive, but in capital spirits. To-day I took a fancy
to ride a donkey, for such is the custom in Italy, so I thought that I
too must give it a trial. We have the honor to associate with a certain
Dominican who is considered a very pious ascetic. I somehow don't quite
think so, for he constantly takes a cup of chocolate for breakfast, and
immediately afterwards a large glass of strong Spanish wine; and I have
myself had the privilege of dining with this holy man, when he drank a
lot of wine at dinner and a full glass of very strong wine afterwards,
two large slices of melons, some peaches and pears for dessert, five
cups of coffee, a whole plateful of nuts, and two dishes of milk and
lemons. This he may perhaps do out of bravado, but I don't think so--at
all events, it is far too much; and he eats a great deal also at his
afternoon collation.
21.
Bologna, Sept. 8, 1770.
NOT to fail in my duty, I must write a few words. I wish you would tell
me in your next letter to what brotherhoods I belong, and also let
me know the prayers I am bound to offer up for them. I am now reading
"Telemachus," and am already in the second volume. Good-bye for the
present! Love to mamma.
22.
I HOPE that mamma and you are both well, but I wish you would answer
my letters more punctually in time to come; indeed, it is far easier to
answer than to originate. I like these six minuets far better than the
first twelve; we often played them to the Countess [Pallivicini, at
whose country-seat, near Bologna, father and son spent some months].
We only wish we could succeed in introducing a taste for German minuets
into Italy, as their minuets last nearly as long as entire symphonies.
Forgive my bad writing; I could write better, but I am in such a hurry.
23.
Bologna, Sept. 29, 1770.
IN order to fill up papa's letter, I intend to add a few words. I grieve
deeply to hear of Jungfrau Marthe's long-continued illness, which the
poor girl bears, too, with such patience. I hope, please God, she may
still recover. If not, we must not grieve too much, for the will of God
is always best, and God certainly knows better than we do whether it is
most for our good to be in this world or in the next. But it will cheer
her to enjoy this fine weather once more after all the rain.
24.
Bologna, Oct. 6, 1770.
I AM heartily glad that you have been so gay; I only wish I had been
with you. I hope Jungfrau Marthe is better. To-day I played the organ at
the Dominicans. Congratulate the .... from me, and say that I sincerely
wish they may live to see the fiftieth anniversary of Father Dominikus's
saying mass, and that we may all once more have a happy meeting.
[Footnote: Jahn observes that he probably alludes to their intimate
friends, the merchant Hagenauer's family, with whom old Mozart had many
pecuniary transactions for the purpose of his travels, and whose son
entered the church in 1764.]
My best wishes to all Thereserls, and compliments to all my friends in
the house and out of the house. I wish I were likely soon to hear the
Berchtesgadner symphonies, and perhaps blow a trumpet or play a fife
in one myself. I saw and heard the great festival of St. Petronius in
Bologna. It was fine, but long. The trumpeters came from Lucca to make
the proper flourish of honor, but their trumpeting was detestable.
25.
Milan, Oct. 20, 1770.