You will soon receive four of my compositions whereat you should not have to complain too much about the difficulties--have you read Goethe’s “Wilhelm Meister,” Shakespeare translated by Schlegel, one has so much leisure in the country it might be agreeable if I were to send you these works. Chance has brought it about that I have an acquaintance in your neighborhood, perhaps you will see me at your home early some morning for half an hour and then away, you see I wish to be as little tedious as possible. Commend me to the good will of your father, your mother, although I have no right as yet to ask it of them, also to your aunt M. Farewell, honored T. I wish you all that is good and beautiful in life, think of me and willingly--forget the nonsense--be convinced no one can wish that your life may be more joyous and more happy than I, even if you have no sympathy for Your devoted servant and friend Beethoven. N. B. It would really be very nice of you if you were to write a few lines to say what I can do for you here? [Sidenote: PREPARATIONS FOR MARRIAGE] Under such circumstances Beethoven wrote the famous letter of May 2, 1810 to Wegeler in Coblenz, asking him to procure a copy of his baptismal certificate for him. In this letter he says: A few years ago my quiet, retired mode of life ceased, and I was forcibly drawn into activities of the world; I have not yet formed a favorable opinion of it but rather one against it--but who is there could escape the influence of the external storms? Yet I should be happy, perhaps one of the happiest of men, if the demon had not taken possession of my ears. If I had not read somewhere that a man may not voluntarily part with his life so long as a good deed remains for him to perform, I should long ago have been no more--and indeed by my own hands. O, life is so beautiful, but to me it is poisoned.