Louisa of Prussia and Her Times

sound interrupted the silence of this small, elegantly-furnished sitting-room. Even the sun apparently dared only to send a few stealthy beams through the windows, and

oping form, it became evident that he was an old man, nearly seventy years of age. But as soon as he raised his eyes from the paper, as soon as he turned them toward heaven with an air of blissful enthusiasm, the fire of eternal youth and radiant joyousness burst forth from those eyes; and whatever the white hai

n, the great composer, whose glory, even at that time, filled the whole world, althou

and which his worthy friend Von Swieten had translated into German, lay before him. He had read it again and again, and gradually it seemed as if the words were transformed int

into an harmonious whole, were to form the new immortal work of his genius. While thus reading and composing, the aged musician was transformed more and more into a youth, and the glowing enthusiasm

and full voice. "God will give me the strength to complete this work; but

ed: "O, Lord God, give me Thy blessing and Thy strength, that I may gloriously and successfully carry out this work, which praiseth Thee and Thy cr

ut knowing what he was doing. He sat down on the stool, and did not know it; his hands touched the keys and drew magnificent chords from them, and he did not hear them. He only heard the tho

into a tremendous jubilee, then again it died away in melancholy complaints a

s and brilliant passage, and then with y

he said, aloud, "and n

ith lace trimmings around his neck and arranged the tie before the looking-glass in the most artistic manner; then he slipped into the long waistcoat of silver-lined velvet, and finally put on the long-tailed brown coat with bright metal buttons. He was

armth, "for I think the day on which a new work is begun is a holi

h, threw it over his neck, and sli

s would sparkle, and what a heavenly smile would animate her angelic features! Yes, yes, I will remember

important thing-my ring. While looking at the precious ribbon of my beautiful English friend, I did n

k from it a ring which he put on his finger. He contemplated the l

s I have the ring on my finger. [Footnote: Haydn had dedicated six quartets to Frederick the Great, who acknowledged the compliment by sending him a valuable diamond ring. Haydn wore this ring whenever he composed a new work, and it seemed to him

and played an anthem, then he resumed his seat at the desk, took a sheet of music-paper and commenced writing. He wielded

udden his pen stopped, and a slight cloud settled on his brow. Some passage, may be a modulation, had displeased him, in wha

s lay on his desk, "Help me!" he muttered once more, and, while hurriedly pacing the r

es beamed again with the fervor of inspiration. He resumed his seat and wrote on with renewed energy.

a loud noise resounding from below. Vociferous lamentatio

s was soaring far away in the realm of inspirati

ng the liveliest anxiety, rushed into the room. Catharine and Conrad, the aged footman, appeared behind her,

him to be disturbed by his wife during his working hours, hence he very naturally concluded that something unusual, something really ter

composing is past. Conrad has brought the most dreadful tidings from the city. We are all lost!-Vi

g like an aspen-leaf, thre

ed Haydn-"what is it that has frightened y

lost-and consequently we are lost, too! Late dispatches have arrived from the army. Ah! what do I say?-army? We have no longer an army-our force

lders, "still they are no reason why we should despair. If the

ith a profound sigh, "he wins every battle, a

especially your jewels and trinkets, so that those French robbers and cannibals will not find

not think that the French just want to come to Vienna for what few gold snuff-boxes and rings I have got. If they were anxious

y is empty, doctor, entirely empty. Every thing is gone; there is n

le treasure then, you fool?

ch lamentations, such wails!-and finally the people became desperate, and roared and yelled that the government should make peace, and prevent the French from corning to Vienna and bombarding the city;

d-and the enemy marching upon Vienna. But don't despair-courage, courage, children; let us put our trust in God and our excellent emp

d his wife. "For that is the worst part of the news, and sh

o assert that the emperor has forsaken his Viennese when they are in danger? No, no, the emperor is an honest man and a faithful prince;

ll Vienna knows it, and all Vienna mourns over it. The emperor is gone, and so

dly paleness suddenly covered his cheeks. "Oh, poor Austria! po

ead, and profound sighs

ife. "Is it not true that it is high time for us to thin

his faithful subjects, we should pray for him, and all our thoughts and wishes should only be devoted to his welfare. In the hour of danger we should not be faint-hearted, and bow our heads, but lift them up to

pressive. Haydn's face became radiant; instinctively opening his lips, he sang in an enthusiastic and ringing voice words which he had never known before-words which,

lte Franz

uten Kai

e Franz d

uckes hel

hen Lorbe

t, zum Eh

te Franz d

ten Kaise

rated Austrian hymn,

nci

e with emotion, with folded hands and eyes lifted up to heaven, had sunk down on her knees, and that old Catharine and Conrad were kneeling behind her, w

tiful. "Now, sing with me, all three of you," he said. "Sing loudly and firmly, that

Francis!" and carried away by the melody so simple and yet so beautiful, t

l have it copied as often as possible-we will circulate it in the streets, and sing it in all public places, and if the French really should come to Vienna, the whole people shall recei

nd from that time played the hymn every day. It was even the last piece of music he performed before his death. On the 26th of May, 1809, he played the hymn three times in succession. From the piano he had to be carried to his bed, which he never left again. When Iffland paid him a visit in 1807, Haydn played the hymn for him. He then remained a few moments before the

ired me with genuine enthusiasm; and now, with God and my emperor, I will commence my Creation! But you, you must not despair-and whenever you feel dejected, sing my imperial hymn, and pour conso