F. Liszt
Venezia, November 24th, 1882
Pray remember me most kindly to your family.
3l5. To Franz Servais
Dear Franz,
Your welcome lines reached me at Weimar and I thank you cordially for them…
I tell you again, dear Franz, that you were "born with a silver spoon in your mouth;" after the hearing of your Opera with the piano the success of a performance will follow.—Don't get impatient at a little delay; the most illustrious composers, including Meyerbeer, could not say, like Louis XIV., "J'ai failli attendre." ["I nearly had to wait.">[…But I hope that the saying "Tout vient a point, a qui sait attendre" ["All comes to him who can wait.">[ will be realised in your case without much delay. Good courage then and Mistress Patience.
Will you remember me very affectionately to Godebski; his graceful bust, so perfect in its likeness to the never-to-be- forgotten Madame Moukhanoff, is ever the precious ornament of my little salon at the "Hofgartnerei" in Weimar.
The large bust of Rossini which Godebski presented to the Grand Duke ornaments the lobby of the theater, where it blooms like a god from Olympus. Tell me what works Godebski has been doing lately.
When next you see Madame Judith Gautier, please express to her anew the admiring homage of your very faithful