hould you, who have already
produced so many wonderful and charming compositions, still fatigue
yourself with such close application? I almost tremble for your health.
Let me prevail on you, my much-loved Haydn, not to keep to your studies
so long at one time. My dear love, if you could know how very precious
your welfare is to me, I flatter myself you would endeavour to preserve
it for my sake as well as your own.

Come Early

The next letter shows that Haydn had been deriving some profit from
Mistress Schroeter's affections by setting her to work as an amanuensis.
She has been copying out a march, and is sorry that she has not done it
better. "If my Haydn would employ me oftener to write music, I hope
I should improve; and I know I should delight in the occupation."
Invitations to dine at St James's Street are repeatedly being sent, for
Mistress Schroeter wishes "to have as much of your company as possible."
When others are expected, Haydn is to come early, so that they may
have some time together "before the rest of our friends come." Does the
adored Schroeter go to one of her "dearest love's" concerts, she
thanks him a thousand times for the entertainment. "Where your sweet
compositions and your excellent performance combine," she writes, "it
cannot fail of being the most charming concert; but, apart from that,
the pleasure of seeing you must ever give me infinite satisfaction." As
the time drew near for Haydn's departure, "every moment of your
company is more and more precious to me." She begs to assure him with
"heart-felt affection" that she will ever consider the acquaintance with
him as one of the chief blessings of her life. Nay, she entertains for
her "dearest Haydn" "the fondest and tenderest affection the human heart
is capable of." And so on.

An Innocent Amourette

One feels almost brutally rude in breaking in upon the privacy of
this little romance. No doubt the flirtation was inexcusable enough on
certain grounds. But taking the whole circumstances into account--above
all, the loveless, childless home of the composer--the biographer
is disposed to see in the episode merely that human yearning after
affection and sympathy which had been denied to Haydn where he had most
right to expect them. He admitted that he was apt to be fascinated by
pretty and amiable women, and the woman to whom he had given his name
was neither pretty nor amiable. An ancient philosopher has said that a
man should never marry