“Nay,” replied Mozart to his zealous friend; “think not so ill of him; Joseph has more important affairs than mine to think about; and then, you know, he has counsellors, on whom he depends, and who know how to get the right side of him. As to the Viennese, I always maintain that they are brave fellows. When I came from Salzburg, where my lord the Prince Bishop had treated me like a dog, and the Viennese received me so cordially—I felt as if I had stepped into paradise! For that I shall remember them now and ever! In truth, they are often a little stupid, and always willing to be told that they are magnanimous, and connoisseurs, and the like; yet if one tells them the truth to their face—they will hear, and will applaud him, and grant him all he asks. But that I cannot do; I would rather bear a blow than thrust my praises into any body’s face. I have held a wheedler, all my lifelong, for a shabby fellow, and shall I myself become one? Salieri makes nothing of it—but it is not so bad with him, for he is an Italian, and they bepraise each other even to plastering. Bah! let the Viennese prefer him to me! let them stuff him with sweetmeats! Give me a glass of Burgundy!”
Before Duscheck could turn round to hand the glass to his friend, a tall corpulent man, having a red shining visage, with a friendly simper and low obeisance, offered the master a goblet full of the dark sparkling liquor.
Mozart took the cup, and drank a long draught, and repeated the following lines with a comic air of seriousness, looking the colossal Ganymede in the face:
“Johann von Nepomucken
Musst springen von der Prager Brucken,
Weils dem Wenzel nit wollt glucken,
Der Königin Beicht ihm zu entrucken.”
“The master recollects me, then?” asked the stout man with sparkling eyes; Mozart replied smiling—
“How could I have forgotten my excellent trumpeter, Nepomuck Stradetzky?”
“Herr von Nepomuck!” growled the trumpeter, correctingly; but immediately added in his blandest tone, and with an air of humility—“Pray, pray, Herr von Mozart—von!” The master nodded obligingly and reached out his hand to him.