Beethoven and his Immortal Beloved



Love letters always fascinate me. Here's one from Beethoven:

"Though still in bed, my thoughts go out to you, my Immortal Beloved, now and then joyfully, then sadly, waiting to learn whether or not fate will hear us - I can live only wholly with you or not at all - Yes, I am resolved to wander so long away from you until I can fly to your arms and say that I am really at home with you, and can send my soul enwrapped in you into the land of spirits - Yes, unhappily it must be so - You will be the more contained since you know my fidelity to you. No one else can ever possess my heart - never - never - Oh God, why must one be parted from one whom one so loves. And yet my life in V is now a wretched life - Your love makes me at once the happiest and the unhappiest of men - At my age I need a steady, quiet life - can that be so in our connection? My angel, I have just been told that the mailcoach goes every day - therefore I must close at once so that you may receive the letter at once - Be calm, only by a calm consideration of our existence can we achieve our purpose to live together - Be calm - love me - today - yesterday - what tearful longings for you - you - you - my life - my all - farewell. Oh continue to love me - never misjudge the most faithful heart of your beloved.

ever thine
ever mine
ever ours
L.

Comments

Anonymous said…
What ashames / fascinates me with people like Beethoven, is that their world is filled with art everywhere. His writing is full of poetry like his music.
Thursday, 28 July, 2005
Anonymous said…
How can you be 'ashamed' of Beethoven?
Thursday, 28 July, 2005
Anna said…
And of course love tends to bring out the poet it most of us...
Thursday, 28 July, 2005
Anonymous said…
Sorry my bad english: I meant Beethoven and his many talents put ME to shame.
Friday, 29 July, 2005
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