Henceforth there will be no letters to answer; I have bade farewell to first performances and the literary and other discussions which come from them.

I have departed from this planet and I have left behind my poor earthly ones with their occupations which are as many as they are useless; at last I am living in the scintillating splendor of the stars, each of which used to seem to me as large as millions of suns.

Ah! Pauvre ami, comme il m'aimait!

If I were to agree to write the music for your beautiful poem, it would tie your poem up for some years as I have agreements and obligations which I must respect.

Ah! if I could but counsel my friends to join me here, I would not hesitate to call them to me. But would they come?

I have departed from this planet and I have left behind my poor earthly ones with their occupations which are as many as they are useless; at last I am living in the scintillating splendor of the stars, each of which used to seem to me as large as millions of suns..