The conditions proving acceptable, the business was concluded and Beethoven retained in Vienna by this
Agreement:
The daily proofs which Herr Ludwig van Beethoven is giving of his extraordinary talents and genius as musician and composer, awaken the desire that he surpass the great expectations which are justified by his past achievements.
But as it has been demonstrated that only one who is as free from care as possible can devote himself to a single department of activity and create works of magnitude which are exalted and which ennoble art, the undersigned have decided to place Herr Ludwig van Beethoven in a position where the necessaries of life shall not cause him embarrassment or clog his powerful genius.
To this end they bind themselves to pay him the fixed sum of 4000 (four thousand) florins a year, as follows:
| His Imperial Highness, Archduke Rudolph | Fl. 1500 |
| The Highborn Prince Lobkowitz | „ 700 |
| The Highborn Prince Ferdinand Kinsky | „ 1800 |
| Total | Fl. 4000 |
which Herr van Beethoven is to collect in semi-annual installments, pro rata, against voucher, from each of these contributors.
The undersigned are pledged to pay this annual salary until Herr van Beethoven receives an appointment which shall yield him the equivalent of the above sum.
Should such an appointment not be received and Herr Ludwig van Beethoven be prevented from practising his art by an unfortunate accident or old age, the participants herein grant him the salary for life.