I found at Milan a certain number of my Vienna connections. One or two of the persons whom you will not mention to me (and whose anonymity I respect) were also there. I know that a great many of the people who approach me with a smile on their lips, and protestations of friendship on their tongues, have nothing better to do than to pull me to pieces as best they can as soon as they are outside my door. It is, moreover, the fate of all the world. I resign myself to it willingly, as I do to all the absurd and odious necessities of this lower world. There is, besides, just this much good in these sad experiences of various relations with men—which is, that one learns to relish and appreciate better the devotion of the few friends whom chance has thrown in your path.
In a few days from now I shall start for Bologna, Florence, and Rome. In spite of all my desire to return to Vienna, where people have been so kind and indulgent to me, I do not yet see when I shall be able to get there. However this journey may be put off, I hope, nevertheless, my dear sir, that you will continue till then the affectionate feelings you so kindly entertain towards me. Receive in return my assurances of consideration and affectionate devotion.
F. Liszt
Milan, September 22nd, 1838
Will you be so good as to give the enclosed note to the charming woman who is good enough to remember me so kindly?
16. To M. Pacini, Music Publisher in Paris
[Autograph in the possession of M. Alfred Bovet at Valentigney.]
My Dear Monsieur Pacini,
In two or three days at latest from now you will receive the manuscript for which you asked me for the book of the Hundred and One. [A collective work with contributions by celebrities of the day.] Mr. Hugot has kindly undertaken to bring it to you.
As the title implies, it is an Etude (di Bravura) after Paganini. [Bravura Studies on Paganini's Capricci, arranged for the pianoforte, brought out by Haslinger, Vienna, in 1839. A second, newly arranged edition, dedicated to Clara Schumann, "Grandes Etudes de Paganini," was brought out by Breitkopf and Hartel in 1851.] You will oblige me by recommending the engraver to engrave it very spaciously. In addition, you had better, I think, reprint directly afterwards this Etude facilitee, which I have also sent you. This second arrangement is by M. Schumann, a young composer of very great merit. It is more within the reach of the general public, and also more exact than my paraphrase.