Faith No More - Ricochet

Haydn then asked the Elector to pay him this debt and to appoint Beethoven to continue the annual maintenance of a thousand guilders (or florins, which meant the same thing or amounted to about 500 thalers), assuring that this amount for decent life in Vienna would be enough only, that a young man needs to spend money on teachers and be in a good society. In the same letter, Haydn, in the most flattering terms, spoke about Beethoven’s character and talent: “I had a good hundred times to observe his complete readiness to sacrifice decisively everything for the sake of art, which, in the presence of so many temptations, is worth surprise and that the highest mercies shown by your Elector Lordship to Beethoven will pay off with interest ... ”