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Haydn had no self-pity: why should we pity him? He had free
quarters at the palace, with liberty to enjoy the company of his
wife when she chose to favour him--an event of rare occurrence.
His salary was raised from time to time. The old prince, his
first employer, paid him 400 florins; his successor increased the
amount first to 600 and then to 782 florins (78 pounds); and
finally he had 1400 florins, which last sum was continued to him
as a pension when he left the Esterhazy service. Although money
had a much higher purchasing value in those days, the figures
here quoted do not seem princely when we consider the extent and
nature of Haydn's duties, but to a man of Haydn's simple tastes
they would appear ample enough. At least, they would save him
from lying on straw and drinking bad whisky, which Wagner
regarded as among the things that are inimical to the creative
genius.
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