(Beethoven’s ‘Immortal Beloved’ was Antonie Brentano, a married woman.)
“Though still in my bed, my thoughts go out to you, my Immortal Beloved [unsterbliche Geliebte], now and then joyfully, then sadly, waiting to learn whether or not fate will hear us–I can live only wholly with you or not at all– Yes, I am resolved to wander so long away from you until I can fly to your arms and say that I am really at home with you, and can send my soul enwrapped in you into the land of spirits– Yes, unhappily it must be so– You will be the more contained since you know my fidelity to you. No one else can ever possess my heart–never-never– Oh God, why must one be parted from one whom one so loves. And yet my life in V[ienna] is now a wretched life– Your love makes me at once the happiest and the unhappiest of men– At an age I need a steady, quiet life–can that be so in our connection? … Be calm, only by a calm consideration of our existence can we achieve our purpose to live together–Be calm–love me–today–yesterday–what tearful longings for you–you–you–my life–my all–farewell.–Oh continue to love me–never misjudge the most faithful heart of you beloved.
ever thine
ever mine
ever oursL[udwig]”
*sigh*. Handsome, passionate, genius Beethoven…
I have read several of his letters and they are all so passionate. People don’t write letters like that anymore. Or at least people I currently know don’t. Maybe in another life, a different life, there are people like that.
and yes… *sigh*
(hugs)
S.
SLACK! ME! I was something the other night, a movie I think, that referenced this letter as well. It was in that book about famous persons’ love letters.