237 To Eduard Liszt
Dearest Eduard,
You remain perpetually in the home of my heart, not at all in countless company, but all the more in picked company. When I think I have done anything pretty good I think of you and rejoice that what I have done will be a pleasure to you—and in the hours when sadness and sorrow take hold of me you are again my comfort and strength by your loving insight into my innermost wishes and yearnings! My thanks, my warmest and truest thanks, to you for all the sustaining and soothing friendship that you show to me. It is to me a special token of Heaven’s favor to me, and I pray to God that He may unite us for ever in Himself!—
Cornelius writes me word that you will probably come to Weymar towards the end of the summer. That will be a great pleasure to me; I often feel as if I must have a talk with you out of the depths of my heart—for with writing, as you know, I don’t exactly get on. I expect the Princess towards the middle of August. Meanwhile I receive good and satisfactory tidings from Rome. I hope all will turn out for the best.
In these latter weeks I have been completely absorbed in my composing. If I mistake not, my power of production has materially increased, while some things in me are made clear and others are more concentrated. By the end of October the last two of the Symphonic Poems will be out (“Hamlet” and the “Hunnenschlacht”). Then come the Psalms, which you do not yet know, and which I much want you to know-and also a new number of songs which will please you. I shall then work at the Oratorio St. Elizabeth, exclusive of all else, and get it completely finished before the end of the year. May God in His grace accept my endeavors!—
I must express myself not entirely in accord beforehand with your plan for your son, although I consider your way of looking at the present state of things by no means a wrong one. I am also convinced that, when it comes to settling definitely, the talents and capabilities, as well as the bent of mind, of your child will be satisfactory to you. If the young one has a mind for a uniform—well, let it be so. To cut one’s way through life with a sabre is indeed for the most part pleasanter than any other mode…The business paper for the Princess I will keep till her return, unless you write to me to forward it to her in Rome.
May I bother you with a commission for provisions? Forgive me for the way in which I am always making use of you, but I do so want to make a little joke for Bulow, and I have no one now in Vienna who could help me in it except just you. It is about sending a pretty considerable amount of Hungarian Paprika [Hungarian, Turkish, or Spanish pepper from Hungary] and a little barrel of Pfefferoni (little green Hungarian pepper-plants preserved in vinegar). Please ask Capellmeister Doppler where these things are to be procured genuine, and send them me as soon as possible to Weymar. I won’t hide from you that I intend to go shares with Bulow, as I am particularly fond of Paprika and Pfefferoni. So take care that there is enough sent, and that it arrives in good condition.—And as this will give you occasion to see Doppler, give him my warm thanks for the instrumentation of the Pester Carnaval (in which musical Paprika and Pfefferoni are not wanting). He has again been most successful in it, and I intend to push on in the autumn the publication of the six Rhapsodies for orchestra, for which indeed I shall have to obtain the permission or consent of three separate publishers (Schott, Senff, Haslinger)—a circumstance which may of itself occasion some delay, especially if the gentlemen behave in regard to my wish as Spina did in so unpleasantly surprising a manner in regard to the instrumentation of the Schubert Marches. To tell you this incident briefly: I wrote to Dachs and asked him to request Spina in my name either to publish the three Marches himself in score—without any remuneration for me!—or else to give me permission to bring them out through another publisher. Spina’s answer, as Dachs gave me to understand, was that he could not consent to either the one or the other of my proposals (which were certainly reasonable enough)! And thus I must wait until Spina can hit on a better plan! When I have an opportunity, I shall venture to apply to him direct.
For the present, in consideration of the fact that Paprika and Pfefferoni make one very thirsty, a barrel of Gumpoldskirchner (with a slightly sharp, flowery after-taste) would be very welcome to me, if by chance you are able to find a good kind and cheap.—Forgive me for all these Lucullian extravagances!—
I will write soon to Cornelius. Give him my heartfelt greetings. Also please remember me kindly to Dr. Kulke. I will give him my thanks by letter on the first opportunity for his Prometheus articles, as I would have already done through Cornelius, had he not started so suddenly.—
Now farewell, dearest Eduard. Spare yourself and take care of your health. Assure your dear wife of my heartfelt attachment, and kiss your children for your faithful
F. Liszt
Weymar, July 9th, 1860