Brief von C. Kallman/W. H. Auden an H. W. Henze, 10. September 1964

[Typoskript]

Chester Kallman

Kirchstetten (Westbahn)
Hinterholz 6
N.-Ö. ‡, Austria

10 Sept 64 answered 15 September ‡ ‡ Cara Gregoria Peckersnapper,*

Oh it[’]s another grey day in Austria. I’m depressed. I had planned so long to be
back in the arms of my Adored on the fifteenth, and then him to be free at last
on the twentieth,* but he’s written and said that what with the King probably
not pardoning the Evzones their extra service (because of punishments) on his
wedding*, and him (the idiot) having gotten himself some more bad marks against
him, he might not be getting out before the middle of November. And he argues
that it’s simply a waste of money for me to hang around Athens when he’s s ‡o
burdened with duty that he’ll only be able to see me rarely. And further, that
he probably would start s ‡neaking out if I were there, and then might get caught
being absent (which earned him his last 15 days punishment); and then his
release would be even further delayed……Oh dear. And what with me being a
regular Senat for faithfulness these days, it’s diffy. I begin to lose contact
with myself. Wait, he writes, wait until the twnety-second[sic] ‡ before making any
plans, because a very close friend of mine * has planned a whole trip to Europe in
order, among other things, to spend two weeks with me in Greece. I’ve written
Kosta that, but only four days ago. I’m never sure what his reactions will be,
but Greeks can’t abide a disobedient wife; and strange notions sometimes have a
way of lodging in the Byzantine mind behind those Byzantine eyes I love.

Otherwise his letters are so sweet I could cry. And do. He’s been rather
pensive I gather now that Yannis, his closest buddy in the Evzones and an angel
from much above, confessed to him that he loved me and wanted to live with me
forever(and also reproached him for his miserable treatment of Miss Me this Winter
and "other such a woman," when it was he, Yannis, who stuck by me and helped me
get through the thing somehow), and Kosta wrote me about all this and said in his
letter: "But you know how Yannis feels, I think, and you’ve known it a long time.
But I told him, ' Yannis, I’m sorry, but it won’t go. Chester and I suit each
other and love each other, and we want to help you. And I love you as a friend,
and you can always have a home with us.'" * Hansssssss. Such responsibilities!

I wrote to Enrico at Korfu, but my letter was forwarded to the Royal Palace
in Athens and then returned to me, so heavens knows where she is now. Anyways I
won’t be in Athens for the wedding, and if I were to ask her to whisper a word
in the Kings[sic] ‡ ear, she’d be too shy too ‡. And, in any case, I’d be too shy to ask
her to ask. So.

And Renate’s been, till this week, a very faithful c o ‡rrespondent. She wanted some
special "Don Giovanni" recording with Leontyne that wasn’t available in Germany,
and I had it sent to her from here a week ago. Hope she got it.*

In any case, now you’ll understand why it’s impossible for me to date my visit
now ‡ with any sort of accuracy.* As for Andreas (Kosta’s fratellino ), I don’t
know exca ‡ ‡tly what his plans are or what plans Kostas has for him. So I can
hardly "include him in" any "joint" honeymoon.* Yet. And what about this vacation
you mention, maybe to Greece. When would it be?*

I’m enclosing my little cantata. Even if you can’t "do" it now, I’d like to know
how you feel about it as some future project.* And I will try to court the light
elegant Muse. It might even lift mex ‡ out of this sweet sadness. Wystan’s off to
Berlin for a week on the twenty-first, so you’ll probably see him there. And
I shall be here alone, alone, alone.

P.T.O. ‡

By the by, this friend of mine (the one who’s going to meet me in Athens) will be
in Rome, at some medical Congress, from the twentieth to the twenty-eig ht ‡h.
You’ll adore each other. Do be a dear and drop him a note*‡ * before you leave for Berlin, if
possible‡ (Dr. William Vinson c/o
American Express, Roma)
telling him when you’ll be back and giving him your
phone number. You might, if your plans co-incide, even come to Athens with him.
But that’s just what we call in English an idear.*

Glad you liked the car. Actually, its of Danilove in "Schwanz Like……"

Here are two other songs for you to set.*

Very|‡Exclusive Indeed

Let me not to the marriage of true minds * Admit the blow that breaks it: I sit upon the principle that finds Its pleasure where it takes it.

The Sentimental Slut

I’ve got my nerve. I really ought to stop. I’ve got nerves too, and you are why I’ve got ’em. The corpus of my loves has you on top, Though true at heart may not be true at bottom.

Best regards to K von C.

Αγάπη ` ‡ * τσέστερ

Many thanks for your letter. Hope something will bring
you to Berlin this winter *
love
Wystan.

Brief von C. Kallman/W. H. Auden an H. W. Henze, 10. September 1964

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