To satisfy rational and righteous people is the better part of my life. I am very glad that you approve of the letter to the French edition of your Method, and that you find it appropriate. I have simply said what I think. I pledge myself always to be true in speech and action, however many annoyances and misinterpretations may be hurled at me in return. In confidence I will tell you what is the rule of my whole existence; it consists of the daily prayer: "O veritas Deus, fac me unum tecum in perpetua caritate!"—

Excuse the delay in the return of the 3rd part of the Method. I thought of making use of some favorable opportunity of sending it to Stuttgart to save you the expense of postage; but no such opportunity has presented itself, and so this concluding volume of the Method was despatched to you through the agency of Herr Kolb (Wurtemberg consul in Rome). The added notes are very unimportant, because, in fact, I had no other weightier remarks to make. While playing through the Etudes I found myself put into a thorough good humor, and this must be my excuse for the few bad jokes which my mischievous pencil scribbled down. Please do not let them go further; such jests must be kept quietly to ourselves.

In Grotta mare I wrote about 20 pages of the technical exercises. Unfortunately a host of correspondence prevents my making progress with the work I have already begun and which is finished in my head. The Italians say: Give time, time ("dar tempo al tempo"), which often provokes me utterly!—

First of all I shall set to work at the Weber and Schubert edition, which I hope to send you by the beginning of November.

Please present my best thanks to Baron Reischach for his kind letter. The business point of it (the Weber and Schubert edition) I herewith answer; that I shall redeem my promise by the beginning of November; and that with an easy conscience I shall then give proof of my gratitude by writing to Baron R. myself.

In sincere and friendly collaboratorship, I am

Yours most sincerely,

F. Liszt

Rome, September l0th, 1868

72. To E. Repos