In conclusion, accept the assurance, etc., ANTON SCHINDLER. FOOTNOTES: [85] For the Letters, I have been kindly allowed by Messrs. J. M. Dent & Co., to use Mr. J. S. Shedlock's splendid translation in his monumental, "_Letters of Ludwig van Beethoven_" (2 volumes, 1909), which contain no less than 7,220 documents. [86] The variations mentioned were those for Piano and Violin on the well-known theme, _Se vuol ballar_, from Mozart's _Figaro_. (See page 224, 1A). [87] Quotation from a well-known song. [88] This English Society had sent him a present of £100 and a magnificent edition of Handel which gave him the greatest pleasure during his last days. THOUGHTS [ILLUSTRATION: PAGE OF AUTOGRAPH OF "MOONLIGHT" SONATA.] (IN BEETHOVEN'S HOUSE AT BONN.) _To face page_ 100. THOUGHTS ON MUSIC. "_Il n'y a pas de règle qu'on ne peut blesser à cause de_ SCHÖNER" (There is no rule which one cannot break for the sake of BEAUTY). This expression appears in the original in French except for the last word _Schöner_. * * * * * "Music ought to create and fan the fire of the spirit of man." * * * * * "Music is a higher revelation than the whole of wisdom and the whole of philosophy.... He who penetrates the meaning of my music shall be freed from all the misery which afflicts others." (To Bettina, 1810.) * * * * * "There is nothing finer than to approach the Divine and to shed its rays on the human race." * * * * * "Why do I write? What I have in my heart must come out; and that is why I compose." * * * * * "Do you believe that I think of a divine violin when the spirit speaks to me and that I write what it dictates?" (To Schuppanzigh.) * * * * * "According to my usual manner of composing, even in my instrumental music, I always have the whole in my mind; here, however, that whole is to a certain extent divided, and I have afresh to think myself into the music." (To Treitschke: from correspondence concerning Beethoven's musical settings to some of his poems. Treitschke was the man who revised the libretto of _Fidelio_ when it was seriously thought of reviving it.) * * * * * "One should compose without a piano. The faculty of expressing what one desires and feels (which is so essential a need to noble natures) comes only by degrees." (To the Archduke Rudolph.) * * * * *