ntly grateful to a great poet,--the most precious jewel of
a nation!

Kings and princes can indeed create professors and
privy-councillors, and confer titles and decorations, but
they cannot make great men,--spirits that soar above the base
turmoil of this world. There their powers fail, and this it
is that forces them to respect us. When two persons like
Goethe and myself meet, these grandees cannot fail to
perceive what such as we consider great. Yesterday on our way
home we met the whole Imperial family; we saw them coming
some way off, when Goethe withdrew his arm from mine, in
order to stand aside; and say what I would, I could not
prevail on him to make another step in advance. I pressed
down my hat more firmly on my head, buttoned up my
great-coat, and crossing my arms behind me, I made my way
through the thickest portion of the crowd. Princes and
courtiers formed a lane for me; Archduke Rudolph took off his
hat, and the Empress bowed to me first. These great ones of
the earth _know me_. To my infinite amusement, I saw the
procession defile past Goethe, who stood aside with his hat
off, bowing profoundly. I afterwards took him sharply to task
for this; I gave him no quarter and upbraided him with all
his sins.

TO COUNTESS GIULIETTA GUICCIARDI

MONDAY EVENING, July 6th.

You grieve! dearest of all beings! I have just heard that the letters
must be sent off very early. Mondays and Thursdays are the only days
when the post goes to K---- from here. You grieve! Ah! where I am, there
you are ever with me: how earnestly shall I strive to pass my life with
you, and what a life will it be!!! Whereas now!! without you!! and
persecuted by the kindness of others, which I neither deserve nor try
to deserve! The servility of man towards his fellow-man pains me, and
when I regard myself as a component part of the universe, what am I,
what is he who is called the greatest?--and yet herein are displayed the
godlike feelings of humanity!--I weep in thinking that you will receive
no intelligence from me till probably Saturday. However dearly you may
love me, I love you more fondly still. Never conceal your feelings from
me. Good-night! As a patient at these baths, I must now go to rest. [A
few words are here effaced by Beethoven himself.] Oh, heavens! so near,
and yet so far! Is not our love a truly celestial mansion, b