I thought it was a nice idea to quote some anecdotes from B. Here’s a funny one that reveals B’s humor as well as other things...
Beethoven and prostitutes:
I’m quoting from Solomon:
“It was at about this time (1813-4) that the first in a series of lightly disguised references to prostitutes surfaced in Beethoven’s correspondence with Zmeskall. Apparently, their code word for prostitutes was festungen (fortresses). On February 28, 1813, Beethoven wrote: “Be zealous in defending the fortresses of the empire, which, as you know, lost their virginity a long time ago and have already received several assaults” Similarly, he wrote on other occasions, ”Enjoy life, but not voluptuously-Proprietor, Governor, Pasha of various rotten fortresses!!!”; (…) Keep away from rotten fortresses, for an attack from them is more deadly than one from well-preserved ones”
On another letter: “I thank you most heartily, my dear Z, for the information you have given me concerning the fortresses, for I thought you had the idea from me that I did not wish to stop in swampy places”; “Yes! and include me too, even if it’s at night” ; and more transparently: “I have seen nothing -I have heard nothing- Meanwhile, I am always ready for it. The time I prefer most of all is at about half-past three or four o’clock in the afternoon.”
Hope you liked it and post others!
Beethoven and prostitutes:
I’m quoting from Solomon:
“It was at about this time (1813-4) that the first in a series of lightly disguised references to prostitutes surfaced in Beethoven’s correspondence with Zmeskall. Apparently, their code word for prostitutes was festungen (fortresses). On February 28, 1813, Beethoven wrote: “Be zealous in defending the fortresses of the empire, which, as you know, lost their virginity a long time ago and have already received several assaults” Similarly, he wrote on other occasions, ”Enjoy life, but not voluptuously-Proprietor, Governor, Pasha of various rotten fortresses!!!”; (…) Keep away from rotten fortresses, for an attack from them is more deadly than one from well-preserved ones”
On another letter: “I thank you most heartily, my dear Z, for the information you have given me concerning the fortresses, for I thought you had the idea from me that I did not wish to stop in swampy places”; “Yes! and include me too, even if it’s at night” ; and more transparently: “I have seen nothing -I have heard nothing- Meanwhile, I am always ready for it. The time I prefer most of all is at about half-past three or four o’clock in the afternoon.”
Hope you liked it and post others!
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