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hearing your sublime music the other day。〃
〃But I proved to them that I had become so feeble that I could no
longer bear listening to my own music。 I had to leave the room long
before the performance was at an end。〃
〃You ought not to have gone to the concert at all；〃 said Schmid。
〃The excitement might have been injurious to your health。〃
〃It was injurious to me；〃 said Haydn； 〃but considerations of health
had no right to prevent me from being present。 It was not the first
time that homage had been rendered to Haydn； and I wished to show
that I was able to bear it this time too。 Ah； it was a glorious
evening； and never did I hear a better performance of my
'Creation。'〃
〃It was the great composer's apotheosis which the musicians and
singers were celebrating；〃 said Iffland； deeply moved。 。
〃It is true the Viennese have done a great deal for me。 They are so
good； and they love me dearly。〃
〃Oh； the Viennese are not ahead of the people of Berlin in this
respect；〃 exclaimed Iffland。 〃In Berlin； too； every one knows and
loves the great Joseph Haydn； and his 'Creation' is likewise
recognized there as a masterpiece。 It was performed in Berlin quite
recently at a charity concert； the receipts of which amounted to
over two thousand dollars〃
〃Over two thousand dollars for the poor；〃 said Joseph Haydn； with
beaming eyes； 〃oh； my work； then gave the poor a good day。 That is
splendid； that is the most beautiful reward for a life of toils and
privations。 But；〃 he added； after a brief pause； 〃it is all over
now。 I can no longer do any thing。 I am a leafless tree； which will
break down to…day or to…morrow。〃
〃The fall of this tree will move the whole of Germany as a great
calamity befalling every lover of his country。〃
〃Yes； it is true； much love has been manifested for me； much homage
has been rendered to me；〃 said Haydn； musingly。
〃All nations and all princes have rendered homage to you；〃 exclaimed
Iffland。 〃The laurel…wreath； for which we other poets and artists
arc struggling all our lifetime； and which is generally bestowed
upon us only after we are in the grave； was long since granted to
you in the most flattering and gratifying manner。 Europe has
presented you； not with one； but with many laurel…wreaths； and you
may look back on your life like a victorious hero； for each of your
exploits was a triumph for which you received laurel…wreaths and
trophies。〃
〃Yes； I have many souvenirs of my past；〃 said Haydn； smilingly。 〃I
will show。 them to you。Conrad； give me my treasures。〃
Conrad opened the drawer of the large writing…table which was
standing close to Haydn； and which contained a great many large and
small etuis； caskets and boxes。
〃You shall see my treasures now；〃 exclaimed Haydn； cheerfully。 In
the first place； he showed them a beautiful casket made of ebony and
gold。 It was a gift with which the young Princess Esterhazy had
presented the beloved and adored friend of her house only a few
weeks ago； and on whose lid was painted a splendid miniature
representing the scene at the last performance of 〃The Creation；〃
when Haydn received the enthusiastic homage of the audience。 He then
showed them the large gold medal sent him； in 1800； from Paris； by
the two hundred and fifty musicians who； on Christmas evening in
that year； had performed 〃The Creation；〃 and thereby delighted all
Paris。 Then followed many other medals from musical societies and
conservatories； and valuable diamond rings； snuff…boxes； and
breastpins from kings and emperors。 Last； Haydn showed them； with
peculiar emotion； the diploma of citizenship which the city of
Vienna had conferred on him： It was contained in a silver case； and
its sight caused his eyes even now to flash with the most intense
satisfaction。
He had placed on the table before him every piece； after showing it
to them and explaining its meaning； and now that all the treasures
were spread out before him； he contemplated them with a blissful
smile； and nodded to them as if to dear old friends。
〃Do not laugh at me；〃 he said； lifting his eyes to Iffland； almost
beseechingly。 〃I am fondly attached to these things； and hence it
delighted me to look at them from time to time with my friends。 You
will say they are the playthings of an old man。 But they are more
than that to me； on beholding them； I think of my past life； and my
recollections render me young again for a few moments。 After my
death all these things will pass into dear hands； and I hope that；
when I am slumbering in my grave； my souvenirs will be carefully
preserved and honored if only for my sake。〃 ＇Footnote： Haydn
bequeathed all his trinkets and manuscripts to the Esterhazy family；
who had honored him so highly during his whole life。＇
〃I hope the day is distant when Germany will have to lament the
death of her favorite； Joseph Haydn；〃 exclaimed Iffland。
〃That day is close at hand；〃 said Haydn； calmly； 〃I feel to…day more
distinctly than ever before that my end is drawing nigh。 My strength
is exhausted。〃
〃Let us go；〃 whispered Schmid； pointing to Haydn； who had feebly
sunk back into his easy…chair； and was leaning his pale head against
the cushions。
Iffland fixed his eyes for a long time with an expression of heart…
felt grief on the groaning； broken form reposing in the easy…chair。
〃And that is all that is left of a great composer； of a genius who
delighted the whole world！〃 he sighed。 〃Ah； what a fragile shell our
body is； a miserable dwelling for the soul living in it！ Come； my
friend； let us softly leave the room。 Only I would like to take a
souvenir with me； a flower from the bouquet which Haydn held in his
hands。 May I venture to take one？〃
At this moment Haydn opened his eyes again； and fixed them with a
gentle expression on Iffland。 〃I heard all you said；〃 he remarked；
〃but I was too feeble to speak。 You wish to get one of my flowers？
No； you shall have them all。〃
He took the bouquet； looked at it tenderly； and buried his whole
face for a moment in the flowers； and then handed it to Iffland with
a gentle smile。
〃Farewell；〃 he said； 〃remember me on looking at these flowers。 I
would I had known you in happier days； when I should have been able
to enjoy your genius and admire your art。 You must be a great actor；
for you have a wonderfully sonorous and pliable voice。 I should like
to hear you declaim； even though you should recite but a few
verses。〃
〃Permit me； then； to recite the lines in which Wieland celebrated
your 'Creation；'〃 said Iffland； and； advancing a few steps； holding
the bouquet in his hand； and fixing his gleaming eyes on Haydn； who
gazed at him with a gentle smile； Iffland recited in his full
sonorous voice Wieland's beautiful lines：
〃Wie stroem't dein wogender Gesang
In uns're Herzen ein！ Wir sehen
Der Schoepfung maecht'gen Gang；
Den Hauch des Herrn auf dem Gewaesser wehen；
Jetzt durch ein blitzend Wort das erste Licht entstehen；
Und die Gestirne sich durch ihre Bahnen drehen；
Wie Baum und Pflanze wird； wie sich der Berg erhebt；
Und froh des Lebens sich die jungen Thiere regen。
Der Donner rollet uns entgegen；
Der Regen saeuselt； jedes Wesen strebt
In's Dasein