"My most fervent wish will be realized if you are not altogether dissatisfied with the music to your heavenly 'Adelaïde,' and if you are incited by it to compose a similar poem soon, and (should my request not seem too bold) to send it to me forthwith, when I shall put forth all my strength to approach your lovely poetry in merit. "Consider the dedication as a mark of my esteem and gratitude for the exquisite pleasure which your poetry has always afforded, and will still afford me. "When playing the 'Adelaïde,' remember sometimes "Your sincere admirer, "BEETHOVEN." FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 16: Surgeon-in-Chief to the army.] [Footnote 17: Eleanore von Breuning.] [Footnote 18: Stephan von Breuning.] [Footnote 19: Probably in the house of Baron Pasqualati.] [Footnote 20: A painting by Füger, Director of the Vienna Academy.] [Footnote 21: Christoph Breuning.] [Footnote 22: Madame von Breuning.] [Footnote 23: Franz Ries, the violinist.] [Footnote 24: Ferdinand, afterwards Beethoven's pupil.] [Footnote 25: Professor of Medicine at the Académie Joséphine, and author of several works.] [Footnote 26: Undoubtedly the Countess Julia Guicciardi.] [Footnote 27: The Breuning family had long been in possession of one of the most honourable posts in the Teutonic Order, four members had successively filled the office of Chancellor, and Stephan himself was afterwards appointed to the government of Mergentheim. He was generally esteemed, and died a short time after Beethoven.] [Footnote 28: The omission of the name of Johann van Beethoven from this document is somewhat unaccountable. It may have been caused through Beethoven's irritation at his conduct. The original of the Promemoria is now in the possession of Madame Jenny Lind-Goldschmidt.] [Footnote 29: Beethoven was at the time in his thirty-second year; but he never knew precisely his age.] [Illustration] [Illustration] CHAPTER VII. LOVE. The Fourth Symphony--Julia Guicciardi--Letters to her--To Bettina Brentano--Beethoven's Attachments--Domestic Troubles--Frau Nanette Streicher--Daily Life--Composing _im Freien_. "In love with an Ideal, A creature of his own imagination, A child of air, and echo of his heart; And like a lily on a river floating, She floats upon the river of his thoughts." Whence comes it that after a storm of darkness and gloom--after the disappointment of his "Leonora"--the next offspring of the poet's fancy should be a symphony (No. 4), the most delicately finished and bright in colouring which we possess?