This composer, who lived the life of a vagabond, was assisted by the generosity of his friends, with whom he lodged when he was broke. although he disastrously contracted syphilis in 1822, his final years saw the creations of composed some of his greatest works. during a brief lifespan of only thirty-one years, he composed symphonies, piano sonatas, string quartets, masses, four operas, and more than six hundred lieder.?