You have, no doubt, heard from papa that I am well. I have nothing to
write about, except my love and kisses to mamma. Give the enclosed--Al
sig. Giovanni. La signora perla ricono la riverisce tanto come anche
tutte le altre perle, e li assicuro che tutte sono inamorata di lei,
e che sperano che lei prendera per moglie tutte, come i Turchi per
contenar tutte sei. Questo scrivo in casa di Sign. Wider, il quale e un
galant' uomo come lei melo scrisse, ed jeri abbiamo finito il carnavale
da lui, cenardo da lui e poi ballammo ed andammo colle perle in
compagnie nel ridotto nuovo, che mi piacque assai. Quando sto dal Sign.
Wider e guardando fuori della finestra vedo la casa dove lei abito
quando lei fu in Venezia. Il nuovo non so niente. Venezia mi piace
assai. Il mio complimento al Sign., suo padre e madre, sorelle,
fratelli, e a tutti i miei amici ed amiche. Addio!
[Footnote: "To Herr Johannes [Hagenauer] The fair 'pearl' has the same
high opinion of you that all the other 'pearls' here have. I assure
you that they are all in love with you, and their hope is that you will
marry them all (like the Turks), and so please them every one. I write
this in the house of Signor Wider, who is an excellent man and exactly
what you wrote to me, yesterday we finished the Carnival in his house.
We supped there and then danced, and went afterwards, in company with
the 'pearls,' to the new masquerade, which amused me immensely. When
I look out of the window at Signor Wider's, I see the house that
you inhabited in Venice. I have no news. I like Venice very well. My
compliments to your father and mother, brothers and sisters, and all my
friends. Adieu!"]
31.
Venice, Feb. 20, 1771.
I AM still well, and, thank God, in the land of the living. Madame de'
Amicis has been singing at S. Benedetto. Say to Herr Johannes that the
Widerischen Berlein family are constantly speaking of him (particularly
Madlle. Catherine), so he must soon return to Vienna to encounter the
attacca--that is, in order to become a true Venetian, you must allow
yourself to be bumped down on the ground. They wished to do this to me
also, but though seven women tried it, the whole seven together did not
succeed in throwing me down. Addio!
The travellers arrived again at home towards the end of March, 1771. The
marriage of the Archduke Ferdinand with the Princess of Modena,
which took place in the October of that year, was attended with great
festivities, and recalled the father and son to Italy in the course of
a few months, Wolfgang having received a command from the Empress Maria
Theresa to compose a dramatic serenata in honor of these nuptials.
32.
Verona, August 18, 1771.