My sister and I watched Sex and the City last night. In a scene, Carrie read aloud to Big one of Ludwig van Beethoven’s love letters. The letter is actually the third of a series of love letters written by Beethoven to his unnamed “immortal beloved”. The identity of Beethoven’s muse has been the topic of much theory and speculation for almost two hundred years. The full text of the third letter, as resonant with tragedy and passion as his music, is reproduced below:
Good morning, on July 7
Though still in bed, my thoughts go out to you, my Immortal Beloved, 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 is now a wretched life -
Your love makes me at once the happiest and the unhappiest of men -
At my age I need a steady, quiet life – can that be so in our connection?
My angel, I have just been told that the mailcoach goes every day – therefore I must close at once so that you may receive the letter at once-
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 your beloved.
ever thine
ever mine
ever ours
L.
