history of friedrich ii of prussia v 16-第30章

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I　SUSPECT　THAT　I　AM　SUSPECTED　（No　date）。〃Sire；　if　I　am　not　brief；　forgive　me。　Yesterday　the　faithful　D'Arget　told　me　with　sorrow　that　in　Paris　people　were　talking　of　your　Poem。〃　Horrible；　but；　O　Sire；　me？〃I　showed　him　the　eighteen　Letters　that　I　received　yesterday。　They　are　from　Cadiz；〃　all　about　Finance；　no　blabbing　there！　〃Permit　me　to　send　you　now　the　last　six　from　my　Niece；　numbered　by　her　own　hand　＇no　forgery；　no　suppression＇；　deign　to　cast　your　eyes　on　the　places　I　have　underlined；　where　she　speaks　of　your　Majesty；　of　D'Argens；　of　Potsdam；　of　D'Ammon〃　（to　whom　she　can't　be　Phyllis；　innocent　being）！…MON　CHER　VOLTAIRE；　must　I　again　do　some　NICHE　upon　you；　then？　Tie　some　tin…canister　to　your　too…　sensitive　tail？　What　an　element　you　inhabit　within　that　poor　skin　of　yours！　＇Ib。　269。＇

MAJESTY　INVITES　US　TO　A　LITERARY　CHRISTENING；　POTSDAM　（No　date。　These　〃Six　Twins〃　are　the　〃ART　DE　LA　GUERRE；〃　in　Six　Chants；　part　of　that　revised　Edition　which　is　getting　printed　〃AU　DONJON　DU　CHATEAU；〃　time　must　be；　well　on　in　1751）。　Friedrich　writes　to　Voltaire：

〃I　have　just　been　brought　to　bed　of　Six　Twins；　which　require　to　be　baptized；　in　the　name　of　Apollo；　in　the　waters　of　Hippocrene。　LA　HENRIADE　is　requested　to　become　godmother：　you　will　have　the　goodness　to　bring　her；　this　evening　at　five；　to　the　Father's　Apartment。　D'Arget　LUCINA　will　be　there；　and　the　Imagination　of　MAN…A…MACHINE　will　hold　the　poor　infants　over　the　Font。〃　＇Ib。　266。＇

DEIGN　TO　SAY　IF　I　HAVE　OFFENDED。　。。。　〃As　they　write　to　me　from　Paris　that　I　am　in　disgrace　with　you；　I　dare　to　beg　very　earnestly　that　you　will　deign　to　say　if　I　have　displeased　in　anything！　May　go　wrong　by　ignorance　or　from　over…zeal；　but　with　my　heart　never！　I　live　in　the　profoundest　retreat；　giving　to　study　my　whole〃　〃Your　assurances　once　vouchsafed　＇famous　Document　of　August　23d＇。　I　write　only　to　my　Niece。　I〃　（a　page　more　of　this）have　my　sorrows　and　merits；　and　absolutely　no　silence　at　all！　＇　OEuvres　de　Frederic；　　xxii。　289。＇　〃In　the　gift　of　Speech　he　is　the　most　brilliant　of　mankind；〃　said　Smelfungus；　but　in　the　gift　of　Silence　what　a　deficiency！　Friedrich　will　have　to　do　that　for　Two；　it　would　seem。

BERLIN；　28th　DECEMBER；　1751：　LOUIS　QUATORZE；　AND　DEATH　OF　ROTHENBURG。〃Our　LOUIS　QUATORZE　is　out。　But；　Heavens；　see；　your　Majesty：　a　Pirate　Printer；　at　Frankfurt…on…Oder；　has　been　going　on　parallel　with　us；　all　the　while；　and　here　is　his　foul　blotch　of　an　Edition　on　sale；　too！　Bielfeld；〃　fantastic　fellow；　〃had　proof…　sheets；　Bielfeld　sent　them　to　a　Professor　there；　though　I　don't　blame　Bielfeld：　result　too　evident。　Protect　me；　your　Majesty；　Order　all　wagons；　especially　wagons　for　Leipzig；　to　be　stopped；　to　be　searched；　and　the　Books　thrown　out；it　costs　you　but　a　word！〃

Quite　a　simple　thing：　〃All　Prussia　to　the　rescue！〃　thinks　an　ardent　Proprietor　of　these　Proof…sheets。　But　then；　next　day；　hears　that　Rothenburg　is　dead。　That　the　silent　Rothenburg　lay　dying；　while　the　vocal　Voltaire　was　writing　these　fooleries；　to　a　King　sunk　in　grief。　〃Repent；　be　sorry；　be　ashamed！〃　he　says　to　himself；　and　does　instantly　try；but　with　little　success；　Frankfurt…on…Oder；　with　its　Bielfeld　proof…sheets；　still　jangling　along；　contemptibly　audible；　for　some　time。　＇Ib。　285…287。＇　And　afterwards；　from　Frankfurt…on…Mayn　new　sorrow　rises　on　LOUIS　QUATORZE；　as　will　be　seen。Friedrich's　grief　for　Rothenburg　was　deep　and　severe；　〃he　had　visited　him　that　last　night；〃　say　the　Books；　〃and　quitted　his　bedside；　silent；　and　all　in　tears。〃　It　is　mainly　what　of　Biography　the　silent　Rothenburg　now　has。

From　the　current　Narratives；　as　they　are　called；　readers　will　recollect；　out　of　this　Voltaire　Period；　two　small　particles　of　Event　amid　such　an　ocean　of　noisy　froth；two　and　hardly　more：　that　of　the　〃Orange…Skin；〃　and　that　of　the　〃Dirty　Linen。〃　Let　us　put　these　two　on　their　basis；　and　pass　on：

THE　ORANGE…SKIN　（Potsdam；　2d　September；　1751；　to　Niece　Denis）Good　Heavens；　MON　ENFANT；　what　is　this　I　hear　（through　the　great　Dionysius'…Ear　I　maintain；　at　such　expense　to　myself）！　。。。　〃La　Mettrie；　a　man　of　no　consequence；　who　talks　familiarly　with　the　King　after　their　reading；　and　with　me　too；　now　and　then：　La　Mettrie　swore　to　me；　that；　speaking　to　the　King；　one　of　those　days；　of　my　supposed　favor；　and　the　bit　of　jealousy　it　excites；　the　King　answered　him：　〃I　shall　want　him　still　about　a　year：you　squeeze　the　orange；　you　throw　away　the　skin　（ON　EN　JETTE　LECORCE）！'〃　Here　is　a　pretty　bit　of　babble　（lie；　most　likely；　and　bit　of　mischievous　fun）　from　Dr。　Joyous。　〃It　cannot　be　true；　No！　And　yet　and　yet？〃　Words　cannot　express　the　agonizing　doubts；　the　questionings；　occasionally　the　horror　of　Voltaire：　poor　sick　soul；　keeping　a　Dionysius'…Ear　to　boot！　This　blurt　of　La　Mettrie's　goes　through　him　like　a　shot　of　electricity　through　an　elderly　sick　Household…Cat；　and　he　speaks　of　it　again　and　ever　again；though　we　will　not　farther。

DIRTY　LINEN　（Potsdam；　24th　July；　1752；　To　Niece　Denis）。　。。。　〃Maupertuis　has　discreetly　set　the　rumor　going；　that　I　found　the　King's　Works　very　bad；　that　I　said　to　some　one；　on　Verses　from　the　King　coming　in；　'Will　he　never　tire；　then；　of　sending　me　his　dirty　linen　to　wash？'　You　obliging　Maupertuis！〃

Rumor　says；　it　was　General　Mannstein；　once　Aide…de…Camp　in　Russia；　who　had　come　to　have　his　WORK　ON　RUSSIA　revised　（excellent　Work；　often　quoted　by　us　＇Did　get　out　at　last；in　England；　through　Lord　Marischal　and　David　Hume：　see　PREFACE　to　it　（London；　1760）。＇）；　when　the　unfortunate　Royal　Verses　came。　Perhaps　M。　de　Voltaire　did　say　it：why　not；　had　it　only　been　prudent？　He　really　likes　those　Verses　much　more　than　I；　but　knows　well　enough；　SUB　ROSA；　what　kind　of　Verses　they　are。　This　also　is　a　horrible　suspicion；　that　the　King　should　hear　of　this；as　doubtless　the　King　did；　though　without　going　delirious　upon　it　at　all。　＇〃To　Niece　Denis；〃　dates　as　above　（　OEuvres　de　Voltaire；　　lxxiv。　408；　lxxv。　17）。＇　Thank　YOU；　my　Perpetual　President；　not　the　less！

OF　MAUPERTUIS；　IN　SUCCESSIVE　PHASES。　。。。　〃Maupertuis　is　not　of　very　engaging　ways；　he　takes　my　dimensions　harshly　with　his　quadrant：　it　is　said　there　enters　something　of　envy　into　his　DATA。　。。。　A　somewhat　surly　gentleman；　not　too　sociable；　and；　truth　to　say；　considerably　sunk　here　＇ASSEZ　BAISSE；　my　D'Argental＇。

。。。　〃I　endure　Maupertuis；　not　having　been　able　to　soften　him。　In　all　countries　there　are　insociable　fellows；　with　whom　you　are　obliged　to　live；　though　it　is　difficult。　He　has　never　forgiven　me　for〃omitting　to　cite　him；　&c。At　Paris　he　had　got　the　Academy　of　Sciences　into　trouble；　and　himself　into　general　dislike　（DETESTER）；　then　came　this　Berlin　offer。　〃Old　Fleuri；　when　Maupertuis　called　to　take　leave；　repeated　that　verse　of　Virgil；　NEC　TIBI　REGNANDI　VENIAT　TAM　DIRA　CUPIDO。　Fleuri　might　have　whispered　as　much　to　himself：　but　he　was　a　mild　sovereign　lord；　and　reigned　in　a　gentle　polite　manner。　I　swear　to　you；　Maupertuis　does　not；　in　his　shop　＇the　Academy　here＇where；　God　be　thanked；　I　never　go。

〃He　has　printed　a　little　Pamphlet　on　Happiness　（SUR　LE　BONHEUR）；　it　is　very　dry　and　miserable。　Reminds　you　of　Advertisements　for　things　lost；so　poor　a　chance　of　finding　them　again。　Happiness　is　not　what　he　gives　to　those　who　read　him；　to　those　who　live　with　him；　he　is　not　himself　happy；　and　would　be　sorry　that　others　were　＇to　Niece　Denis　this＇。

。。。　〃A　very　sweet　life　here；　Madame　＇Madame　d'Argental；　an　outside　party＇：　it　would　have　been　more　so；　if　Maupertuis　had　liked。　The　wish　to　please；　is　no　part　of　his　geometrical　studies；　the　problem　of　being　agreeable　to　live　with；　is　not　one　he　has　solved。〃　＇　OEuvres　de　Voltaire；　　lxxiv。　330；　504　（4th　May；　1751；　and　14th　March；　1752）；　to　the　D'Argentals；　to　Niece　Denis　（6th　November；　1750；　and　24th　August；　1751）；　lxxiv。　250；　385。＇Add　this　Anecdote；　which　is　probably　D'Arget's；　and　worth　credit：　　　〃Voltaire　had　dinner…party；　Maupertuis　one　of　them；　party　still　in　the　drawing…room；　dinner　just　coming　up。　'President；　your　Book；　SUR　LE　BONHEUR；　has　given　me　pleasure；'　said　Voltaire；　politely　＇very　politely；　considering　what　we　have　just　read＇；　given　me　pleasure；　a　few　obscurities　excepted；　of　which　we　will　talk　together　some　evening。'　'Obscurities？'　said　Maupertuis；　in　a　gloomy　arbitrary　tone：　'There　may　be　such　for　you；　Monsieur！'　Voltaire　laid　his　hand　on　the　President's　shoulder　＇yellow　wig　near　by＇；　looked　at　him　in　silence；　with　many…twinkling　glance；　gayety　the　topmost　expression；　but　by　no　means　the　sole　one：　'President；　I　esteem　you；　JE　VOUS　ESTIME；　MON　PRESIDENT：　you　are　brave；　you　want　war：　we　will　have　it。　But；　in　the　mean　while；　let　us　eat　the　King's　roast　meat。'〃　＇Duvernet　（2d　FORM　of　him；　always；　p。　176。＇

Friedrich's　Answers　to　these　Voltaire　Letters；　if　he　wrote　any；　are　all　gone。　Probably　he　answered　almost　nothing；　what　we　have　of　his　relates　always　to　specific　business；　receipt　of　LOUIS　QUATORZE；　and　the　like；　and　is　always　in　friendly　tone。　Handsomely　keeping　Silence　for　Two！　Here　is　a　snatch　from　him；　on　neutral　figures　and　movements　of　the　time：

FRIEDRICH　TO　WIILHELMINA　（November　17th；　1751）。〃I　think　the　Margraf　of　Anspach　will　not　have　stayed　long　with　you。　He　is　not　made　to　taste　the　sweets　of　society：　his　passion　for　hunting；　and　the　tippling　life　he　leads　this　long　time；　throw　him　out　when　he　comes　among　reasonable　persons。　。。。　〃I　expect　my　Sister　of　Brunswick；　with　the　Duke　and　their　eldest　Girl；　the　4th　of　next　month；〃to　Carnival　here。　〃It　is　seven　years　since　the　Queen　（our　Mamma）　has　seen　her。　She　holds　a　small　Board　of　Wit　at　Brunswick；　of　which　your　Doctor　＇Doctor　Superville；　Dutch…French；　whose　perennial　merit　now　is；　That　he　did　not　burn　Wilhelmina's　MEMOIRS；　but　left　them　safe　to　posterity；　for　long　centuries＇；of　which　your　Doctor　is　the　director　and　oracle。　You　would　burst　outright　into　laughing　when　she　speaks　of　those　matters。　Her　natural　vivacity　and　haste　has　not　left　her　time　to　get　to　the　bottom　of　anything；　she　skips　continually　from　one　subject　to　the　other；　and　gives　twenty　decisions　in　a　minute。〃　＇　OEuvres　de　Frederic；　　xxvii。　i。　202：On　Superville；　see　Preuss's　Note；　ib。　56。＇

About　a　month　before　Rothenburg's　death；　which　was　so　tragical　to　Friedrich；　there　had　fallen　out；　with　a　hideous　dash　of　farce　in　it；　the　death　of　La　Mettrie。　Here　are　Two　Accounts；　by　different　hands；which　represent　to　us　an　immensity　of　babble　in　the　then　Voltaire　circle。

LA　METTRIE　DIES。Two　Accounts：　1。　King　Friedrich's：　to　Wilhelmina。　〃21st　November；　1751。　。。。　We　have　lost　poor　La　Mettrie。　He　died　for　a　piece　of　fun：　ate；　out　of　banter；　a　whole　pheasant…pie；　had　a　horrible　indigestion；　took　it　into　his　head　to　have　blood　let；　and　convince　the　German　Doctors　that　bleeding　was　good　in　indigestion。　But　it　succeeded　ill　with　him：　he　took　a　violent　fever；　which　passed　into　putrid；　and　carried　him　off。　He　is　regretted　by　all　that　knew　him。　He　was　gay；　BON　DIABLE；　good　Doctor；　and　very　bad　Author：　by　avoiding　to　read　his　Books；　one　could　manage　to　be　well　content　with　himself。〃　＇Ib。　xxvii。　i。　203。＇

2。　Voltaire's：　to　Niece　Denis　（NOT　his　first　to　her）：　Potsdam；　24th　December；　1751。　。。。　〃No　end　to　my　astonishment。　Milord　Tyrconnel；〃　always　ailing　（died　here　himself）；　〃sends　to　ask　La　Mettrie　to　come　and　see　him；　to　cure　him　or　amuse　him。　The　King　grudges　to