251. To Adolf von Henselt
Very dear friend,
Our meeting once more is a cordial pleasure to me. According to your last letter, you purposed arriving on the 19th inst. Why delay? Still, arrange it entirely according to your own convenience. Only allow me to make one observation: on Wednesday evening, 23rd July, I am invited by somebody where a refusal would be wrong and stupid. But if you were favorably inclined, our extra three-handed whist might be quite well arranged at the house of this somebody.
[Henselt was in Weimar the 19th and 20th July. "We played together, not on the piano, but certainly half a dozen games of whist, of which I fortunately lost five at least," wrote Liszt to Fraulein von Schorn.]
Your version with the grace note [passing note?] B flat pleases me best.
[Figure: musical example, two bars]
[The two bars of music refer to C. M, v. Weber's "Episodic Thought," which Henselt had transcribed for piano and amplified; he published it in March, 1879, dedicating it to "his friend Franz Liszt." Henselt at first meditated calling it "Hymn of Love." But Liszt found the term rather too highflown for this favorite melody. "Episodic thought is more suitable," he wrote, and so that title remained.]
In expectation of seeing you, and in faithful and admiring friendship,
Weimar, July 12th, 1879
F. Liszt