The Life Is Filled with Tender Feelings
柴可夫斯基致馮·梅克夫人
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky to Mme von Meck
柴可夫斯基（1840—1893），世界上最偉大的音樂家之一。他於1976年底開始與馮·梅克夫人長達13年的神秘交往。他收到馮·梅克夫人的信後，很受感動，隨後誠懇地寫了回信。
It is impossible to say how glad I was to see your handwriting and to know we were again in communication. Jurgenson forgot to tell me that the piano arrangement of our symphony had at last been published， so your letter was the first news I had of it. I am tremendously elated that you are satisfied with the arrangement， which in truth is well and skillfully done.
As for the music itself， I knew beforehand that you would like it； how could it have been otherwise？ I wrote it with you constantly in mind. At that time， I was not nearly so intimate with you as now， but already I sensed vaguely that no one in the world could respond more keenly to the deepest and most secret gropings of my soul. No musical dedication has ever been more seriously meant. It was spoken not only on my part but on yours； the symphony was not， in truth， mine but ours. Forever it will remain my favorite work， as the monument of a time when upon a deep， insidiously growing mental disease， upon a whole series of unbearable sufferings， grief and despair， suddenly， hope dawned and the sun of happiness began to shine， and that sun was embodied in the person to whom the symphony was dedicated.
I tremble to think what might have happened if fate had not sent you to me. I owe you everything： life， the chance to pursue freedom that hitherto unattainable ambition， and such abundance of good fortune as had never occurred to me even in dreams. I read your letter with gratitude and love too strong for expression in any medium but music. May I be able some time to express it thus！
Dear friend， may you keep well. I wish it for you more than for myself. Reading how our symphony caused you sleepless nights， I felt my heart constricted. (I want my music henceforth to be a source of joy and consolation， and with all my strength I desire for you a spirit well and calm.)