Letter 3567a
Date | 12/24 May 1888 |
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Addressed to | Vadim Peresleni |
Where written | Frolovskoye |
Language | Russian |
Autograph Location | unknown |
Publication | Tschaikowsky-Gesellschaft Mitteilungen, Heft 19 (2012), p. 105 (original), p. 106 (German translation). |
Notes | Photocopy in Klin (Russia): Tchaikovsky State Memorial Musical Museum-Reserve |
Text and Translation
Russian text (original) |
English translation By Brett Langston |
12 мая г[ород] Клин, с[ело] Фроловское Дима! Не только не 2 беленьких, а просто одну красненькую. Быть может в конце месяца ещё дам. Теперь я вследствие некоторых обстоятельств очень стеснён в деньгах. Сердись — не сердись, а больше не могу, да и то неохотно. Как скучно, что ты даже в виде исключения никогда не можешь отнестись ко мне иначе как с вымогательством. Надоел. Впрочем, повторяю, в конце месяца дам больше может быть и до беленькой дойдет. Посылаю в простом письме. П. Чайковский |
Dima! Not only do I not have two whites, but merely a single red [1]. Perhaps at the end of the month I'll give you more. Due to various circumstances my funds are currently very restricted. Whether you're angry or not, there's nothing more I can do, even if I wanted to. How tiresome it is that, without exception, you never behave towards me as anything other than a blackmailer. You are a pest. However, I repeat, at the end of the month I may be able to give you more, even up to a white. I'll send it by ordinary letter. P. Tchaikovsky |
Notes and References
- ↑ The terms "white" and "red" were colloquially used at this time in Russia to refer respectively to the 50 and 10 ruble banknotes then in circulation. Tchaikovsky was replying to a letter from Vadim Peresleni dated 7/19 May 1888, in which the latter asked for "no less than two whites" in order to settle his debts — note based on information from Ada Aynbinder in Vier unbekannte Briefe Čajkovskijs an Vadim Peresleni (2012).