Giuseppe Tartini - Lettere e documenti / Pisma in dokumenti / Letters and Documents - Volume / Knjiga / Volume II

455 LETTERS soon as I can make use of my legs safely. It may be that in the next few years someone who works well will sets up a business, but he is hitherto unknown to me, as I have never made use of this sort of tobacco for myself. God willing, I shall find him, and in that case Your Reverence will have proof thereof with facts. In the meantime I renew my declarations of long-standing and most cordial servitude. I beg you to convey my most reverent regards to Signor Cavalier Farinelli, my most benevolent patron, and as ever I remain Your Reverence’s most humble, devoted and obliged servant Giuseppe Tartini Padua, 26 May 1768 172. Tartini to G.B. Martini I have received Your Reverence’s most kind letter, which as ever gives me proof of the goodwill you harbour for me. I know not what to say. If I am correct, let glory be given to God, who makes use of something that is worth less than nothing as a means of revealing that those principles that appear to belong to music alone actually belong to infinitely higher things. Monsieur Rousseau’s 105 approval will have enormous influence with regard to my main aim, and in my case the text salutem ex inimicis nostris is true. Meanwhile, we Italians, who have always held the first place in music, which was spread to other nations through us, must be glad that the further discoveries are made in our land. Nor, to this effect, does it matter that it is work of one of us rather than another: it is sufficient that they are useful and true. On my part, I confess my laziness to Your Reverence: O how much dearer it would have been to me to learn them from somebody else who had either taught them to me or had published them for the common benefit: I would not have aged before my time. Nonetheless, both Your Reverence and I do God’s will more gladly: you going your way, and I going mine. He has inspired us, so may He lead us to a successful conclusion and may everything be for His greater glory. I take the opportunity of informing you of two things. The first (which is fitting) is that in a few days a brief handwritten dissertation of mine will arrive either in the hands of Your Reverence or in those of Padre Riccati, to be there examined most rigorously. I intend to demonstrate, by means of it (it consists of one sheet) that the ratios are harmonic a priori, and not geometrical or arithmetical, and that they are so 105 Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778).