From Beethoven’s Letters

I only say to you that I am better; last night I often thought about my death, also such thoughts are not unusual to me even in the daytime.

Concerning the future housekeeper, I wish to know whether she has a bed and bedroom furniture? By bed I mean partly the bedstead, partly the bed, the mattresses, etc., etc. And do speak to her yourself about the washing, so that we may be certain about everything; she must also have earnest-money, which I will give to her. About all other matters, we must talk tomorrow and the day after. My musical and unmusical papers are now almost in order; it was one of the seven labors of Hercules!

In haste,
Your friend,
Beethoven

Ludwig von Beethoven to Frau Nanette Streicher / 1817

摘自《貝多芬書簡》 下冊 第319頁

我只告訴您我好多了。昨夜我屢次想到死亡，即使在白天，這種想法對於我來說也是平常的。

關於未來的女管家，我想知道是否她有一張床和臥室家具。在床方面，我意指部分是床架，部分是床、床墊，等等。關於洗滌，請一定親自向她交待，這樣我們就可以對樣樣事都確信無疑了。她一定還要定薪金，我會給她的。關於所有其他事情，我們必須明後天再談了。我的音樂和非音樂文件現在幾乎井然有序了。這可算是赫拉克勒斯的第七項工作任務之一啊！

匆此。

您的朋友貝多芬

貝多芬致南內特·施特賴歇爾夫人／1817年