Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: 1802. 4.?Goethe To Zelter. Weimar, 6th December, 1802. When, during these gloomy days, I thought of cheerful subjects, I then often looked back to the time of your delightful presence amongst us last year. I have but slender hope of seeing you again soon; yet it is my wish that a thread should continue to be spun between us. Therefore give a kindly welcome to Der Graf und Die Zioerge (The Count and the Dwarfs), who appear herewith; they now, for the first time, as I think, show style and ingenuity. Cherish these merry imps in your true musical sense, and prepare for yourself and us some diversion for the winter evenings. But do not let the poem out of your hands; nay, if possible, keep it secret. My whole household thinks of you affectionately and lovingly. Goethe. A ballad of Goethe’s, now called Hochzeitlied. 1803. 5.?Goethe To Zelter. Weimar, 31st January, 1803. Only a line to tell you briefly, that good Dr. Chladni is here, and will remain in the neighbourhood till about the 9th or 10th of February. Perhaps this may partially influence your decision as to the journey. If you could meet him, while he is still here, we should have some lively discussions about music and acoustics. Only thus much, to testify again to my eager wish to see you under my roof. Goethr. 6.?Zeltee To Goethe. Berlin, 3rd February, 1803. …. Madame Mara f has arrived here, and I yearn for the divine singing of this artist, after so many years. In all that time I have heard no such singer, for with her glorious voice she can do everything, and anything she does is exactly right. Your dear kind letter of the 24th of January has almost damped my spirits. I was unwilling to come empty-handed to Weimar, and have therefore not been idle. I hoped that several quite new s…