place at Vienna； and Joseph Haydn himself was to be present at the
concert。 The committee of arrangements had invited him； and he had
accepted the invitation。 Although his seventy…seven years were
resting heavily on his head； and had paralyzed his strength； be
could not withstand the honorable request of his friends and
admirers； and he had replied with a touching smile to the committee
of arrangements； whose delegates had conveyed the invitation to him
〃I shall come to take leave of the world with my 'Creation；' and bid
a last farewell to my dear Viennese。 YOU will often yet sing my
'Creation；' but I shall hear it for the last time！〃
〃For the last time！〃 These were the words which had thrilled all the
friends and admirers of the maestro； and filled them with the ardent
desire to greet him once more； and render him homage for the last
time。 For all felt and knew that Haydn had spoken the truth； and
that his end was drawing near。 All； therefore； longed to take part
in this last triumph of the composer of 〃The Creation；〃 whom death
had already touched with its inexorable finger。
Hence； there was a perfect jam in front of the university building；
the equipages of the high nobility formed two immense lines down the
long street； like a black； surging stream； rising from moment to
moment； the part of the audience arriving on foot moved along the
houses and between the double line of carriages toward the entrance
of the building。 Thousands had vainly applied for admission at the
ticket…office； there was room only for fifteen hundred persons in
the aula and the adjoining rooms； and perhaps as many thousands had
come to hear the concert。 As they could not be admitted into the
hall； they remained in the street in front of the building； as they
could not hear Haydn's music； they wished at least to see his face
and cheer him on his arrival at the door。
But there was a surging crowd also in the festively…decorated
university hall。 All had come in their holiday attire； and joy and
profound emotion beamed from all faces。 Friends shook hands and
greeted each other with radiant eyes； and even those who did not
know each other exchanged kindly greetings and pleasant smiles on
seating themselves side by side； and looked at each other as though
they were friends and acquaintances； and not entire strangers。
For all felt the great importance of this hour； all felt themselves
Germans； owing to the homage which they were to render to the German
maestro and to German music； and all knew that this festival would
be looked upon beyond the Rhine as a hostile demonstration of the
Germans against French pride and arrogance。 They wished to show to
France that； although Germany was dismembered； the heart of the
Germans throbbed for Germany and German art； and that they did not
feel at all alarmed at the grandiloquent threats of the Emperor of
the French； but yielded with undisturbed equanimity to the enjoyment
of German art。 While the threatening words of the Emperor Napoleon
were resounding； like ringing war…fanfares； from Paris； the Viennese
desired to respond to him by the beautiful notes of sublime music；
and； regardless of the growls of the lion beyond the Rhine； they
wished to delight in the soul…stirring harmonies of 〃The Creation。〃
All preparations were now completed。 The hall was all ablaze with
the wax…lights which were beaming down from those gigantic lustres；
and whose rays were reflected in the large mirrors covering the
walls。 The imperial box was splendidly festooned with rare flowers；
and decorated with carpets and gilt candelabra； whose enormous wax…
lights filled the interior of the spacious box with broad daylight。
Opposite the imperial box； on the other side of the hall； rose the
large tribune destined for an orchestra of eighty performers and a
choir of one hundred singers。 All the latter； too； were in joyous
spirits； all were animated to…day； not by the envy and jealousy so
often to be found among artistes； but by the one great desire to
contribute their share to the homage to be rendered to German art。
They did not wish to…day to exhibit themselves and their artistic
skill； but desired only to render homage to the music of the great
maestro； and to German art。
And now the hour was at hand when the concert was to commence。 The
audience had taken their seats； the orchestra ceased tuning their
instruments； the singers were in readiness； and the committee of
arrangements had gone down to the street…door to await Haydn's
arrival。
The door of the imperial box opened at this moment； and the emperor
and empress entered； followed by the archdukes and their suites。 To…
day for the first time the audience took no notice of these august
persons； they did not rise to greet the imperial couple and the
archdukes。 No one had perceived their arrival； for all eyes were
steadfastly fixed on the large folding…doors by which Joseph Haydn
was to enter the hall。
He had been expected already for some time； and the audience began
to whisper anxiously： 〃Will he； perhaps； not come； after all？ Will
his physician not permit him to go to the concert because the
excitement might be injurious to him？〃
But all at once the silence was broken by a noise in the street；
which sounded like the roar of the stormy ocean； it rent the air；
and caused the windows of the hall to rattle。 And the audience was
joyfully moved； all faces became radiant； all turned their eyes
toward the door。
Now this door opened； and a beautiful though strange group appeared
in it。 In its midst； on the shoulders of eight strong young men；
arose an easy chair； festooned with flowers； and in this chair sat
the small； bent form of an old man。 His face was pale and wan； and
in his forehead the seventy…seven years of his life had drawn deep
furrows； but from his large blue eyes beamed the eternal fire of
youth； and there was something childlike and touching in the smile
of his mouth。 On the right side of his easy…chair was seen the
imposing form of a gentleman； plainly dressed； but with a head full
of majestic dignity； his face gloomy and wild； his high forehead；
surrounded by dense dishevelled hair； his eyes now gleaming with
sombre fires； now glancing mildly and amiably。 It was Louis von
Beethoven； whom Haydn liked to call his pupil； and whose fame had at
that time already penetrated far beyond the frontiers of Austria。 On
the left side of the easy…chair was seen the fine； expressive face
of Salieri； who liked to call himself Gluck's pupil； and side by
side with these two walked Kreutzer and Clementi； and the other
members of the committee of arrangements。
Thundering cheers greeted their appearance； the whole audience rose；
even the Empress Ludovica started up from her gilded chair and bowed
smilingly； and the Archduke John advanced close to the railing of
the box to greet again and again with pleasant nods of his head and
waves of his hand Joseph Haydn； thus borne along above the heads of
the audience。 But the Emperor Francis； who was standing by the side
of his consort； looked with a somewhat sneering expression on the
crowd below； and； turning to the empress； he said： 〃Perhaps my dear
Viennese may consider Haydn on his easy…chair yonder their emperor；
and I myself may abdicate and go home。 They did not even look at us
to…night； and are raising such a fuss now as though God Almighty had
entered the ball！〃
In effect； the exultation of the audience increased at every step
which the procession advanced； and endless cheers accompanied the
composer to the seat which had been prepared for him on an estrade
in front of the orchestra。
Here two beautiful ladies of high rank came to meet him； and
presented to him； on cushions of gold…embroidered velvet； poems
written by Collin and Carpani and printed on silken ribbons。 At the
same time many hundred copies of these poems flittered through the
hall； and all shouted joyously； 〃Long live Joseph Haydn； the German
maestro！〃 And the orchestra played a ringing flourish； and the
cheers of the audience rent the air again and again。
Joseph Haydn； quite overcome； his eyes filled with tears； leaned his
head against the back of his chair。 A mortal pallor overspread his
cheeks； and his hands trembled as though he had the fever。
〃Maestro； dear； dear maestro！〃 said the Princess Esterhazy； bending
over him tenderly； 〃are you unwell？ You tremble； and are so pale！
Are you unwell？〃
〃Oh； no； no；〃 said Haydn； with a gentle smile； 〃my soul is in
ecstasies at this hour； which is a precious reward for a long life
of arduous toils。 My soul is in ecstasies； but it lives in such a
weak and wretched shell； and because the soul is all ablaze with the
fires of rapturous delight； the whole warmth has entered it； and the
poor mortal shell is cold and trembling。〃
The Princess Esterhazy took impetuously from her shoulders the
costly Turkish shawl in which her form was enveloped； she spread it
out before Haydn and wrapped it carefully round his feet。 Her
example was followed immediately by the Princesses Lichtenstein and
Kinsky； and the Countesses Kaunitz and Spielmann。 They doffed their
beautiful ermine furs and their Turkish and Persian shawls； and
wrapped them around the old composer； and transformed them into
cushions which they placed under his head and his arms； and blankets
with which they covered him。 ＇Footnote： See 〃Zeitgenossen；〃 third
series； vol。 vi。； p。 32＇
Haydn allowed them smilingly to do so； and thanked； with glances of
joyful emotion； the beautiful ladies who manifested so much tender
solicitude for him。
〃Why can I not die now？〃 he said to himself in a low voice。 〃Why
does not Death kiss my lips at this glorious hour of my triumph？ Oh；
come； Death！ waft me blissfully into the other world； for in this
world I am useless henceforth； my strength is gone； and my head has
no more ideas。 I live only in and on the past！〃
〃And yet you live for all time to come；〃 said the Princess
Esterhazy； enthusiastically； 〃and while German art and German music
are loved and honored； Joseph Haydn will never die and never be
forgotten。〃
Hushed now was every sound。 Salieri had taken his seat as conductor
of the concer