Haydn and the Ship-Captain
One day a ship-captain came to Haydn’s room. “Are you Haydn?”
“Yes, sir; what can I do for you?”
“I’ll give you thirty guineas if you compose a march for my ship’s band; but it must be done to-day, for to-morrow morning we set sail for Calcutta.”
Haydn promised to have it ready early the following morning; went to the piano as soon as the captain had left him, and was soon done with it. It seemed to the composer that he had earned his money too easily, so during the evening he composed two more marches, to give the captain his choice or make him a present of the other two. It was barely daylight when the captain appeared.
“Captain, the march is finished.”
“Very good, play it for me!”
Haydn played.
The Englishman put the thirty guineas on the piano, and without saying another word took up his march and walked to the door. Haydn followed him saying: “I composed two more, which I think are better. Let me play them for you and take your choice.”
“The first march pleases me, so that ends it!”
“But listen to the others, perhaps——”
“No, that is impossible!”
The captain hurried down the stairs, Haydn ran after him saying: “Sir, I’ll make you a present of them. You paid me very generously. Do take them!”
The captain hurried still more saying: “It is impossible. I don’t want them!”
“Do let me play them for you!”
“Not for a thousand devils,” cried the captain, who had reached the street by this time, and disappeared quickly. Haydn went at once to learn both the captain’s and his ship’s name, and having succeeded, packed up both marches and, with a note, sent them to the musical salt. He, however, returned the package without opening the note, and Haydn was so furious about it that he tore it to shreds, marches and all.