Villa d'Este, December 2nd, 1868
P.S.—I have not received the French translation of your Method.
79. To Eduard von Liszt
Dearest Eduard,
Your promotion [Eduard von Liszt had been appointed Oberstaatsanwalt (Chief State attorney) in Vienna.] is a real and great joy to me. It does my heart good to see your continual services receive recognition, and to know you about to enter a more promising sphere. Your new position does not, indeed, free you from all effort and exertion, but you have long since become accustomed to bear the yoke on work-days like a man, and although the yoke may not appear altogether enviable, still it is always the most honorable and most secure.
I wish only that you may ever remain true to yourself, and by perfectly satisfying your own conscience you may deeply feel God's unfailing promise "Dominus non privabit bonis eos qui ambulant in innocentia."—
.—. From the President and the Vice-President of the Society of Musikfreunde, Drs. Egger and Dumba, I received a very friendly letter inviting me to fix upon one of the three day—2lst February, 7th or 23rd March—for the performance of the "Elizabeth" in Vienna, and to undertake to conduct the work. To do the latter is absolutely impossible to me, for reasons that you know; hence I shall decline to fix upon a date. My answer conveys to the above-named gentlemen my thanks for this distinguishing mark of their good-will, and, at the same time, I express my wish to attend the performance, and mention that the end of March would be the most convenient time for me.
I also wrote to Herbeck pretty fully, saying that he, and he alone, should conduct this performance; it is to be hoped that under his direction the whole thing will run a successful course.
Hearty greetings to all yours, and I look forward to seeing you again soon.