"Beethoven himself now began to believe in his approaching end; for hardly had the clergyman gone than he exclaimed, '_Plaudite amici, comedia finita est_; have I not always said that it would come thus?' He then begged me again not to forget Schott, and to thank the Philharmonic Society once more for their gift, adding that the society had cheered his last days, and that even on the verge of the grave he thanked them and the whole English nation. At this moment the servant of Herr von Breuning entered with the little case of wine sent by Schott. I placed two bottles of Rudesheimer on the table by his side; he looked at them and said, 'What a pity!--too late!' These were his last words. In a few moments he fell into an agony so intense that he could no longer articulate. Towards evening he lost consciousness, and became delirious. This lasted till the evening of the 25th, when visible signs of death already showed themselves. Notwithstanding, he lingered till the evening of the 26th, when his spirit took flight, while without a violent storm of thunder and lightning seemed to reflect his death struggle in Nature herself--his best friend." The last agonies of the master were soothed by but _one_ friendly touch, that of Anselm Hüttenbrenner from Gratz, who had hurried into Vienna to press the loved hand once more. He was borne to his last resting-place by an immense concourse, exceeding twenty thousand; composers, poets, authors, artists, surrounded his coffin with lighted torches, while the choristers sang to one of his own melodies the words of Grillparzer:-- "Du, dem nie im Leben, Ruhestätt ward, und Heerd und Haus, Ruhe nun im stillen Grabe, nun im Tode aus,"-- Thou, who ne'er in life hadst resting-place, nor hearth, nor home--rest thee now in the quiet grave--in death. Amen. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 32: Of those last interviews between the two great composers, Dr. Ferdinand Hiller, the veteran composer and probably the last link between the "classical" period and our own, has published an interesting account. He was at the time a pupil of Hummel, whom he accompanied to Beethoven's residence. His description of the Master in his helplessness is most touching.] [Illustration] THE PIANOFORTE SONATAS.[33]