| October 14, 1791 |
| Dearest, most beloved little Wife, Hofer drove out with me yesterday, Thursday the 13th, to see our Karl. We lunched there and then we all drove back to Vienna. At six o'clock I called in the carriage for Salieri and Madame Cavalieri-and drove them to my box. Then, I drove back quickly to fetch Mamma and Karl, whom I had left at the Hofer's. You can hardly imagine how charming they were and how much they liked not only my music, but the libretto and everything. They both said that it was an operone, worthy to be performed for the grandest festival and before the greatest monarch, and that they would often go to see it, as they had never seen a more beautiful of delightful show. Salieri listened and watched most attentively and from the overture to the last chorus there was not a singel number that did not call forth from him a bravo! or bello! It seemed as if they could not thank me enough for my kindness. They had intended in any case to go to the opera yesterday. But they would have had to be in their places by four o'clock. As it was, they saw and heard everything from the comfort of my box. When it was over I drove them home and then had supper at Hofer's with Karl. Then I drove him home and we both slept soundly. Karl was absolutely delighted at being taken to the opera. He is looking splended. As far as health is concerned, he could not be in a better place, but everything else there is wretched, alas! All they can do is turn out a good peasant into the world. But enough of this. As his serious studies (God help them!) do not begin until Monday, I have arranged to keep him until after lunch on Sunday. I told them that you would like to see him. So to-morrow, Saturday, I shall drive out with Karl to see you. You can then keep him, or I shall take him back to Heeger's for lunch. Think it over. A month can hardly do him much harm. IN the meantime the arrangement with the Piarists, which is now under discussion, may come to something. On the whole, Karl is no worse; but at the same time he is not one whit better than he was. He still has his old bad manners; he never stops chattering just as he used to to do in the past; and he is, if anything, less inclined to learn than before, as out at Perchtoldsdorf all he does is to run about in the garden for five hours in the morning and five hours in the afternoon, as he himself has confessed. In short, the children do nothing but eat, drink, sleep and run wild. Leutgeb and Hofer are with me at the moment. The former is staying to supper with me. I have sent out my faithful comrade Primus to fetch some food from the Burgerspital. I am quite satisfied with the fellow. He has only let me down twice, when I was obliged to sleep at the Hofer's, which annoyed me intensely, as tehy sleep far too long there. I am happiest at home, for I am accustomed to my own hours. This one occasion put me in a very bad humour. Yesterday the whole day was taken up with that trip to Perchtoldsdorf, so I could not write you. But that you should not have written me for two days, is really unforgivable. I hope that I certainly have a letter from you today, and that tomorrow I shall talk to you and embrace you with all my heart. Farewell. Ever your Mozart October 14th, 1791 I kiss Sophie a thousand times. Do what you like with N.N. Adieu. |