to his father Leopold in Salzburg
October 7-8, 1791
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Young Mozart
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Vienna, 7 August 1782
Mon trés cher Pére!
You are very much mistaken in your son if you can suppose him capable of acting dishonestly. My dear Constanze—now thank God, at last my wife—knew my circumstances and heard from me long ago all that I had to expect from you. But her affection and her love for me were so great that she willingly and joyfully sacrificed her whole future to share my fate. I kiss your hands and thank you with all the tenderness which a son has ever felt for a father, for your kind consent and fatherly blessing. But indeed I could safely rely on it. For you know that I myself could not but see only too clearly all the objections that could be raised against such a step. At the same time you also know that I could not act otherwise without injury to my conscience and my honor. Consequently I could certainly rely on having your consent. So it was that having waited two post-days in vain for a reply and the ceremony having been fixed for a day by which I was certain to have received it, I was married by the blessing of God to my beloved Constanze. I was quite assured of your consent and was therefore comforted. The following day I received your two letters at once--Well, it is over! I only ask your forgiveness for my too hasty trust in your fatherly love. In this frank confession you have a fresh proof of my loe of truth and hatred of a lie. Next post-day my dear wife will ask her dearest, most beloved
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Leopold Mozart
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Pap-in-law for his fatherly blessing and her beloved sister-in-law for the continuance of her most valued friendship. No one was present at the wedding save her mother and her youngest sister, Herr von Thorwart as guardian and witness for both of us, Herr von Cetto, district councilor, who gave away the bride, and Gilowsky as my best man. When we had been joined together, both my wife and I began to weep. All present, even the priest, were deeply touched and all wept to see how much our hearts were moved. Our wedding feast consisted of a supper given for us by the baroness von Waldstädten, which indeed was more princely than baronial. My dear Constanze is now looking forward a hundred times more to a visit to Salzburg, and I wager--I wager--that you will rejoice in my happiness when you get to know her, that is, if you agree with me that a right-minded, honest, virtuous and amiable wife is a blessing to her husband.
I send you herewith a short march. I only hope that all will reach you in good time, and be to your taste. The first Allegro must be played with great fire, the last--as fast as possible. My opera was given again yesterday--and that too at Gluck’s request. He has been very complimentary to me about it. I am lunching with him tomorrow. You see by my writing how I must hurry. Adieu. My dear wife and I kiss your hands a thousand times and we both embrace our dear sister with all our hearts and I am ever your most obedient son.
W. A. Mozart
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