gifts,
according to Pohl, its prosperity is mainly owing.

"L'Isola Disabitata"

If Haydn was thus less highly appreciated at home than he deserved to
be, there were others who knew his sterling worth. In 1779 he composed
one of his best operas, "L'Isola Disabitata," the libretto of which was
by his old benefactor Metastasio, and this work procured his nomination
as a member of the Philharmonic Society of Modena. The following extract
of a letter written to Artaria in May 1781 is interesting in this
connection. He says: "M. le Gros, director of the 'Concerts Spirituels'
[in Paris], wrote me a great many fine things about my Stabat Mater,
which had been given there four times with great applause; so this
gentleman asked permission to have it engraved. They made me an offer
to engrave all my future works on very advantageous terms, and are much
surprised that my compositions for the voice are so singularly pleasing.
I, however, am not in the least surprised, for, as yet, they have heard
nothing. If they could only hear my operetta, 'L'Isola Disabitata,' and
my last Shrove-tide opera, 'La Fedelta Premiata,' I do assure you that
no such work has hitherto been heard in Paris, nor, perhaps, in Vienna
either. My great misfortune is living in the country." It will be seen
from this what he thought of "L'Isola," which was not heard in Vienna
until its performance at a concert given at the Court Theatre by
Willmann the 'cellist in 1785. Haydn sent the score to the King
of Spain, who showed his sense of the honour by the gift of a gold
snuff-box, set in brilliants. Other marks of royal attention were
bestowed upon him about this time. Thus, in 1784, Prince Henry of
Prussia sent him a gold medal and his portrait in return for the
dedication of six new quartets, while in 1787 King Frederick William
II gave him the famous gold ring which he afterwards always wore when
composing.

A Love Episode

But we have passed somewhat out of our chronological order. The absence
of love at home, as we all know, often encourages love abroad. Haydn
liked to have an occasional flirtation, as ardent as might be within the
bounds of decorum. Sometimes, indeed, according to our insular ideas of
such things, he exceeded the bounds of decorum, as in the case of which
we are now compelled to speak. Among the musicians who had been engaged
for the Esterhazy service in 1779 were a couple named Polzelli--the
husband a violinist, the wife a second-rate