w member added to their happy society？ We are spirits。 That bodies should be lent us，while they can afford us pleasure； assist us in acquiring knowledge； or in doing good to our fellow creatures； is a kind and benevolent act of God。 When they bee unfit for these purposes； and afford us pain instead of pleasure； instead of an aid bee an encumbrance； and answer none of the intentions for which they were given； it is equally kind and benevolent； that a way is provided by which we may get rid of them。 Death is that way。 We ourselves； in some cases； prudently choose a partial death。 A mangled painful limb； which cannot be restored； we willingly cut off。 He who plucks out a tooth； parts with it freely； since the pain goes with it； and he； who quits the whole body； parts at once with all pains and possibilities of pains and diseases which it was liable to； or capable of making him suffer。
Our friend and we were invited abroad on a party of pleasure； which is to last for ever。 His chair was ready first； and he is gone before us。 We could not all conveniently start together； and why should you and I be grieved at this； since we are soon to follow； and know where to find him？
Adieu；
B。 Franklin
贝多芬致兄弟（1）
路德维格·凡·贝多芬（1770—1827），德国作曲家。他是从古典音乐向浪漫主义音乐过渡时期的最杰出音乐家，也是人类艺术上最伟大的创造者之一。他有着卓越的音乐天赋、炽热的叛逆气质和巨人般的坚强性格；他那百折不挠的意志和对社会的责任感而产生的崇高理想，形成了他作为一个音乐家的特有品质。他通过自己的创作，特别是在他的九部交响曲中，反映了那个时代人民运动的伟大的、进步的思想风貌。他以时代和个人的命运为主题，通过深刻的哲理和感人的艺术形象的结合，写出了一系列交响乐作品，表现了从斗争到胜利、从黑暗到光明、从苦难到快乐的资产阶级上升时期的精神历程。早在贝多芬在世时他就被公认为具有世界意义的音乐家。作为伟大的古典作曲家兼浪漫派先驱，他被永远载入史册。
1797年后，贝多芬患了耳聋病，病情逐年恶化。对一个音乐家说来，再没有比这更沉重的打击了！在这封信中，他想把所遭受的痛苦向兄弟述说，但写好后并未寄出。
给我的兄弟卡尔和（约翰）贝多芬：
啊，兄弟们，你们说我心肠不好、固执而又厌世，你们多么冤枉我啊！你们只看到外表，却根本不知道其中的原因。我自幼性情温和善良，总想将来做一番事业。然而想想，六年前我得了这种不治之症，又被庸医耽误，病情日益恶化。我起初不知道受他们愚弄，总希望能慢慢治好，可最后却不得不面对终身残疾的命运（这种病需要很多年才能治好，也许根本就治不好）。我天生热情、活跃，喜欢社交，但现在年纪轻轻就被迫离群索居，与世隔绝。有时我试图忘记这一切，但由于耳聋，常遭到非常残酷的挫折。这种经历非常惨痛，我总不能每次都对人家说“大声点，使劲嚷，我耳聋”吧！
我怎么好意思公开承认我的耳朵有问题呢？我的听觉一直比别人
好——以前非常灵敏，同行中很少有人能和我比——这是毫无疑问的，所以，我实在说不出口。当你们看到我躲开你们时（其实我非常想和大家交往），请你们原谅我。我的遭遇真是非常痛苦，它必然会引起别人对我的误解。对我而言，再不能和朋友们一起娱乐、共同交谈、切磋思想了。除非万不得已，我总是避免和外界接触。
我不得不像个流亡者，因为当我和别人接近时，我会立刻感到恐惧，总担心自己的情况被别人发现，这半年来一直是这样。这半年来，我是完全按照医生的嘱咐在乡间度过的，这样做是为了尽量减少使用听觉，这也完全符合我目前的心愿。然而，我有时又违背医生的嘱咐，根本控制不住对社会的向往。可是，每当身边的人听见远处的笛声，而我却什么也听不见，或有人听见牧歌，而我又一无所闻时，我感到的是一种多大的羞耻啊！这些事情把我推到绝望的边缘，如果再遇到一两件这种事情，我就会马上自杀，可艺术制止了我。如果我不能把自己认为必须创造出来的作品全部创作出来，我绝不能离开人间！因此，我又不得不忍受这种痛苦的生活。真是痛苦极了，我的身体容易激动，只要突然有一点变化，就会从最好变成最坏。忍耐，人们说我应该选择它做我的向导，我已经这样做了，并且我希望能长久保持下去，直到公正的命运之神宣布我的生命终结。也许我的病会慢慢好起来，也许不会，对此我是有心理准备的。
……
卡尔弟弟，对你最近对我的深情，我感激不尽。愿你们此生的幸福比我多些，苦恼比我少些。你们要用道德教育儿女，因为能给人幸福的是道德，而非金钱——这是我的经验。在痛苦时能支持我的就是道德。我之所以没有走极端，除了为了我的艺术外，其次就应归功于道德。
贝多芬致兄弟（2）
再见，愿你们相亲相爱，感谢我所有的朋友，尤其是李赫诺斯基亲王和许密特教授。我希望你们两人中有一个人能替我保存李赫诺斯基亲王送给我的那些乐器，但不要为此引起争执。一旦这些东西对你们有更大的用途时，你们可以把它们卖掉。我在九泉之下，还能对你们有所帮助，我将感到多么高兴啊！我将坦然迎接死神，但如果在没有发挥我的全部艺术才能之前死去，我觉得还是太早了些。尽管命运坎坷，我恐怕还是希望那一天晚些到来。不过，即使早死，我也会心满意足的。这样不就能把我从无穷无尽的苦难中解脱出来吗？你们愿意什么时候来就来吧，我会鼓起勇气见你们的。再见，我死后不要很快就把我忘掉。你们不应该这样，因为我在世的时候是如此想念你们，并想着如何使你们快乐。但愿……
路德维格·凡·贝多芬
1802年10月6日
于海格伦斯塔特
Ludwig van Beethoven
To
For my brothers Carl and （Johann） Beethoven；
O ye men； who think or say that I am malevolent； stubborn；or misanthropic； how greatly do ye wrong me； you do not know the secret causes of my seeming； from childhood my heart and mind were disposed to the gentle feeling of good will； I was even ever eager to acplish great deeds； but reflect now that for 6 years I have been in a hopeless case； aggravated by senseless physicians； cheated year after year in the hope of improvement； finally pelled to face the prospect of a lasting malady （whose cure will take years； or； perhaps； be impossible）； born with an ardent and lively temperament； even susceptible to the diversions of society； I was pelled early to isolate myself； to live in loneliness； when I at times tried to forget all this； O'how harshly was I repulsed by the doubly sad experience of my bad hearing； and yet it was impossible for me to say to men speak louder； shout； for I am deaf。
Ah how could I possibly admit an infirmity in the one sense which should have been more perfect in me than in others； a sense which I once possessed in highest perfection； a perfection such as few surely in my profession enjoy or ever have enjoyed。 —O I cannot do it； therefore forgive me when you see me draw back when I would gladly mingle with you； my misfortune is doubly painful because it must lead to my being misunderstood； for me there can be no recreation in society of my fellows； refined intercourse； mutual exchange of thought； only just as little as the greatest needs mand may I mix with society。
I must live like an exile； if I approach near to people a hot terror seizes upon me； a fear that I may be subjected to the danger of letting my condition be observed—thus it has been during the last half year which I spent in the country； manded by my intelligent physician to spare my hearing as much as possible； in this almost meeting my present natural disposition； although I sometimes ran counter to it； yielding to my inclination for society； but what a humiliation when one stood beside me and heard a flute in the distance and I heard nothing； or someone heard the shepherd singing and again I heard nothing； such incidents brought me to the verge of despair； but little more and I would have put an end to my life—only art it was that withheld me； ah it seemed impossible to leave the world until I had produced all that I felt called upon to produce； and so I endured this wretched existence—truly wretched； and excitable body which a sudden change can throw from the best into the worst state—Patience—it is said I must now choose for my guide； I have done so； I hope my determination will remain firm to endure until it pleases the inexorable Parcae to break the thread； perhaps I shall get better； perhaps not； I am prepared。 txt小说上传分享
贝多芬致兄弟（3）
…
To you brother Carl I give special thanks for the attachment you have displayed toward me of late。 It is my wish that your lives may be better and freer from care than I have had； remend virtue to your children； it alone can give happiness； not money； I speak from experience； it was virtue that upheld me in misery； to it next to my art I owe the fact that I did not end my life by suicide。
Farewell and love each other—I thank all my friends； particularly Prince Lichnowsky and Professor Schmid—I desire that the instruments from Prince L。 be preserved by one of you but let no quarrel result from this； so s