135.5. Friedrich Schlegel to Wilhelm Schlegel in Amsterdam: Leipzig, 1 November 1793 [*]
[Leipzig] 1 November [1793], evening
Although your portrait arrived today, [1] I myself have not seen it yet because it will only be unpacked out there [in Lucka]. For the moment, however, my own joy has been dampened a bit because the shipping cost far exceeded my funds, and because no letter was enclosed. —
I recently asked you for money precisely because I could see beforehand I would very soon be out and that as a result I could quickly end up in the most embarrassing position. Let me instead enumerate for you exactly what expenses I have had for you and [Caroline] B[öhmer], since your intention seems to be to compensate me for that. And it is with enormous gratitude that I acknowledge, given my current oppressive and dangerous situation, that you are not intent on deducting that from my considerable earlier debt. —
For you I have paid out: shipping for the portrait, seven Thaler sixteen Groschen; recently for the manuscript [2] one Thaler three Groschen; for music and the book [3] three Thaler eighteen Groschen. Altogether twelve Thaler thirteen Groschen.
Although I can only approximate my expenses for B., I can with good conscience request from you an additional three Ducats. Please also be so good as to let her know that she is obliged to you for my expenses. —
You can deduct from this what Hemsterhuis will cost when I finally receive it. [4] Let me ask that you send me the remainder, however, with the next post, for I can already see the most embarrassing situations coming.
I have no news since my last letter but will be going out there [to Lucka] myself tomorrow. [5] . . .
Notes
[*] Sources: Walzel, 131–32; KFSA 23:148–49. Back.
[1] The portrait of Wilhelm presumably by Johann Friedrich August Tischbein mentioned in earlier letters. Back.
[2] The translation mentioned in Friedrich’s letter to Wilhelm on 29 September 1793 (letter 135.2), note 2. Back.
[3] Earlier requests (KFSA 23:417n18; 23:394n25): Goethe’s Erwin und Elmire. In Musik gesetzt von Reichardt (Berlin 1793) (here the first page of the overture):
And Karl Philipp Moritz, Anthusa oder Roms Alterthümer: Ein Buch für die Menschheit (Anthusa, or: roman antiquities: a book for humanity), 2 vols. (Berlin 1791–96) (the request was for vol. 1 [1791]; here: plates following pp. 84, 350, 264):
[4] Friedrich had earlier made several requests for a certain edition of Franz Hemsterhuis. Back.
[5] Friedrich is writing on Friday and intends to journey out to Lucka on Saturday; on Sunday, 3 November 1793, Caroline gave birth. Back.
Translation © 2011 Doug Stott