From Story of a Friendship: The Letters of Dmitry Shostakovich to Isaak Glikman

Dear Isaak Davïdovich,

On 13 April I drank too much, fell asleep and almost missed the train. I expect that you telephoned me or called round and knocked on the door, but I did not hear anything. If this was indeed the case, for heaven’s sake please forgive me.

Besides that, I am annoyed with myself that, as a result of this disgraceful behavior, I did not give you the little present I had for you. It is my Six Romances on Verses by English Poets, one of which – ‘MacPherson Before His Execution’ – is dedicated to you. I wrote these songs a long time ago, but they have just been published.

Once again, I implore you not to be angry with me. I am going into hospital again tomorrow to get more treatment for my hand. If you have a moment, please write to me.

Give my warmest greetings to Vera Vasiliyevna.

Your
D. Shostakovich

Dmitry Shostakovich to Isaak Glikman / Moscow / April 14, 1963

摘自《肖斯塔科維奇書信集》第220頁

親愛的伊薩克·達維多維奇，

4月13日，我喝了很多酒，睡著以後差一點誤了火車。
你也許曾按我的門鈴或敲門，但是我什麼也沒有聽見。如果情況的確是這樣，請你原諒我。

另外，由於我如此不成體統的行為，我也沒有把我給你準備的小禮物送給你，這份小禮物就是我根據幾位英國詩人創作的六首浪漫曲，只是現在才得以出版而已。
再次請求你別生我的氣。明天我還要去住院治療我的手，如果你有空，請給我寫信。
請轉達我對薇拉·瓦西里耶芙娜誠摯的問候。

你的德·肖斯塔科維奇

肖斯塔科維奇致伊薩克·達維多維奇／莫斯科／1963年4月14日