Weimar, June 4th, 1880

261. To Marie Lipsius

Dear Friend,

Hearty thanks for your persistent kindness; "Carmen" has just arrived, and I now beg you to find out for and send to me another tale of Merimee's, called "Les ames du Purgatoire" [Souls in Purgatory]. It narrates the adventures of Don Juan de Marana, immortalised by Mozart and Lord Byron. Grabbe has also turned his poetical attention towards this mauvais sujet, and gives him as a companion to Faust, which might perplex His Excellency von Goethe.

I hope soon to see you either in Leipzig or Weimar.

Ever yours gratefully,

F. Liszt

Weimar, June 10th, 1880

Tomorrow I shall write to Hartel's that the edition of my "Gesammelte Schriften" could not do better than begin with your excellent version of the "Chopin."

262. To Kornel von Abranyi