Page:Rolland - Beethoven, tr. Hull, 1927.pdf/70

 whose death he hastened in no slight measure. Nor was he with him at the hour of his death. "God has never abandoned me," wrote Beethoven to his nephew, some years before. "He will find someone to close my eyes." This was not to be the one whom he called "his son."

It was from the depth of this abyss that Beethoven undertook to chant his immortal Ode to Joy It was the plan of his whole life. As early as 1793, he had thought of it at Bonn. All his life he wished to celebrate Joy; and to make it the climax of one of his great works. He was always striving to find the exact form of the Hymn, and the work where he could place it. He was far from being decided, even in his Ninth Symphony.