history of friedrich ii of prussia v 16-第34章
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ppointed idle public to itself； something of reproach in its tone。 A public idle…minded； much depraved in every way。 Thus； too； you will observe of dogs： two dogs； at meeting； run； first of all； to the shameful parts of the constitution； institute a strict examination； more or less satisfactory； in that department。 That once settled； their interest in ulterior matters seems pretty much to die away； and they are ready to part again； as from a problem done。〃Enough； oh； enough！
Practically we are getting no good of our Demon；and will dismiss him； after a taste or two more。
This Demon Newswriter has； evidently； never been to Potsdam； which he figures as the abode of horrid cruelty； a kind of Tartarus on Earth；where there is a dreadful scarcity of women； for one item； lamentable to one's moral feelings。 Scarcity nothing like so great； even among the soldier…classes； as the Demon Newswriter imagines to himself； nor productive of the results lamented。 Prussian soldiers are not encouraged to marry； if it will hurt the service； nor do their wives march with the Regiment except in such proportions as there may be sewing； washing and the like women's work fairly wanted in their respective Companies： the Potsdam First Battalion； I understand； is hardly permitted to marry at all。 And in regard to lamentable results； that of 〃LIEBSTEN…SCHEINE； Sweetheart…TICKETS；〃or actual military legalizing of Temporary Marriages； with regular privileges attached； and fixed rules to be observed；might perhaps be the notablest point； and the SEMI… lamentablest； to a man or demon in the habit of lamenting。 ＇Preuss； i。 426。＇ For the rest； a considerably dreadful place this Potsdam； to the flaccid； esurient and disorderly of mankind；〃and strict as Fate ＇Demon correct for once＇ in inexorably punishing military sins。
〃This King；〃 he says； 〃has a great deal of ESPRIT； much less of real； knowledge （CONNAISSANCES） than is pretended。 He excels only in the military part； really excellent there。 Has a facile expeditious pen and head； understands what you say to him； at the first word。 Not taking nor wishing advice； never suffering replies or remonstrances； not even from his Mother。 Pretty well acquainted with Works of ESPRIT； whether in Prose or in Verse： burning ＇very hot indeed＇ to distinguish himself by performance of that kind； but unable to reach the Beautiful； unless held up by somebody （ETAYE）。 It is said that； in a splenetic moment； his Skeleton of an Apollo ＇SQUELETTE D'APOLLON； M。 de Voltaire； who is lean exceedingly＇ exclaimed once； some time ago； 'When is it； then； that he will have done sending me his dirty linen to wash？'
〃The King is of a sharp mocking tongue withal； pricking into whoever displeases him； often careless of policy in that。 Understands nothing of Finance； or still less of Trade； always looking direct towards more money； which he loves much； incapable of sowing ＇as some of US do！＇ for a distant harvest。 Treats； almost all the world as slaves。 All his subjects are held in hard shackles。 Rigorous for the least shortcoming； where his interest is hurt：never pardons any fault which tends to inexactitude in the Military Service。 Spandau very full；〃though I did not myself count。 〃Keeps in his pay nobody but those useful to him； and capable of doing employments well ＇TRUE； ALWAYS＇； and the instant he has no more need of them； dismissing them with nothing ＇FALSE； GENERALLY＇。 The Subsidies imposed on his subjects are heavy； in constant proportion to their Feudal Properties； and their Leases of Domains （CONTRATS ET BAUX）； and； what is dreadful； are exacted with the same rigor if your Property gets into debt；〃no remission by the iron grip of this King in the name of the State！ Sell； if you can find a Purchaser； or get confiscated altogether； that is your only remedy。 Surely a tyrant of a King。
〃People who get nearest him will tell you that his Politeness is not natural； but a remnant of old habit； when he had need of everybody； against the persecutions of his Father。 He respects his Mother； the only Female for whom he has a sort of attention。 He esteems his Wife； and cannot endure her； has been married nineteen years； and has not yet addressed one word to her ＇how true！＇。 It was but a few days ago she handed him a Letter； petitioning some things of which she had the most pressing want。 He took the Letter； with that smiling； polite and gracious air which he assumes at pleasure； and without breaking the seal； tore the Letter up before her face； made her a profound bow； and turned his back on her。〃 Was there ever such a Pluto varnished into Literary Rose…pink？ Very proper Majesty for the Tartarus that here is。
。。。 〃The Queen…Mother；〃 continues our Small Devil； 〃is a good fat woman； who lives and moves in her own way （RONDEMENT）。 She has l6；000 pounds a year for keeping up her House。 It is said she hoards。 Four days in the week she has Apartment ＇Royal Soiree＇； to which you cannot go without express invitation。 There is supper… table of twenty…four covers； only eight dishes； served in a shabby manner （INDECEMMENT） by six little scoundrels of Pages。 Men and women of the Country ＇shivering Natives； cheering their dull abode＇ go and eat there。 Steward Royal sends the invitations。 At eleven； everybody has withdrawn。 Other days； this Queen eats by herself。 Stewardess Royal and three Maids of Honor have their separate table； two dishes the whole。 She is shabbily lodged ＇in my opinion＇； when at the Palace。 Her Monbijou； which is close to Berlin ＇now well within it＇； would be pretty enough； for a private person。
〃The Queen Regnant is the best woman in the world。 All the year ＇NOT QUITE＇ she dines alone。 Has Apartment on Thursdays； everybody gone at nine o'clock。 Her morsels are cut for her； her steps are counted； and her words are dictated； she is miserable； and does what she can to hide it〃according to our Small Devil。 〃She has scarcely the necessaries of life allowed her；〃spends regularly two…thirds of her income in charitable objects； translates French…Calvinist Devotional Works； for benefit of the German mind； and complains to no Small Devil； of never so sympathizing nature。 〃At Court she is lodged on the second floor ＇scandalous＇。 Schonhausen her Country House； with the exception of the Garden which is pretty enough；our Shopkeepers of the Rue St。 Honore would sniff at such a lodging。
〃Princess Amelia is rather amiable ＇thank you for nothing； Small Devil＇； often out of temper becausethis is so shocking a place for Ladies； especially for maiden Ladies。 Lives with her Mother； special income very small；Coadjutress of Quedlinburg； will be actual Abbess〃 in a year or two。 ＇11th April； 1756： Preuss； xxvii。 p。 xxxiv （of PREFACE）。＇
〃Eldest Prince； Heir…Apparent；〃do not speak of him； Small Devil； for you are misinformed in every feature and particular：enough； 〃he is fac…simile of his Brother。 He has only 18；000 pounds a year； for self； Wife； Household and Children ＇two； both Boys＇；and is said ＇falsely＇ to hoard； and to follow Trade； extensive Trade with his Brother's Woods。
〃Prince Henri； who is just going to be married；〃thank you； Demon； for reminding us of that。 Bride is Wilhelmina； Princess of Hessen… Cassel。 Marriage； 25th June； 1752；did not prove； in the end； very happy。 A small contemporary event； which would concern Voltaire and others that concern us。 Three months ago； April 14th； 1752； the Berlin Powder…Magazine flew aloft with horrible crash； ＇In Helden…Geschichte （iii。 531） the details。＇and would be audible to Voltaire； in this his Second Act。 Events； audible or not； never cease。
〃Prince Henri；〃 in Demon's opinion； 〃is the amiablest of the House。 He is polite； generous； and loves good company。 Has 12；000 pounds a year left him by Papa。〃 Not enough； as it proved。 〃If； on this Marriage； his Brother； who detests him ＇witness Reinsberg and other evidences； now and onward＇； gives him nothing； he won't be well off。 They are furnishing a House for him； where he will lodge after wedding。 Is reported to bePOTZDAMISTE ＇says the scandalous Small Devil； whom we are weary of contradicting＇；Potsdamite； in certain respects。 Poor Princess； what a destiny for you！
〃Prince Ferdinand； little scraping of a creature （PETIT CHAFOUIN）； crapulous to excess； niggardly in the extreme； whom everybody avoids；〃much more whose Portrait； by a Magic…lantern of this kind： which let us hastily shut； and fling into the cellar！ 〃Little Ferdinand； besides his 15；000 pounds a year； Papa's bequest； gets considerable sums given him。 Has lodging in the King's House； goes shifting and visiting about； wherever he can live gratis； and strives all he can to amass money。 Has to be in boots and uniform every three days。 Three months of the year practically with his regiment： but the shifts he has for avoiding expense are astonishing。〃 。。。
What an illuminative 〃Idea〃 are the Walpole…Selwyn Circles picking up for their money！
Chapter XI。
THIRD ACT AND CATASTROPHE OF THE VOLTAIRE VISIT。
Meantime there has a fine Controversy risen； of mathematical； philosophical and at length of very miscellaneous nature； concerning that Konig…Maupertuis dissentience on the LAW OF THRIFT。 Wonderful Controversy； much occupying the so…called Philosophic or Scientific world； especially the idler population that inhabit there。 Upon this item of the Infinitely Little；which has in our time sunk into Nothing…at…all； and but for Voltaire； and the accident of his living near it； would be forgotten altogether；we must not enter into details； but a few words to render Voltaire's share in it intelligible will be； in the highest degree； necessary。 Here； in brief form； rough and ready； are the successive stages of the Business； the origin and first stage of which have been known to us for some time past：
〃SEPTEMBER； 1750； Konig； his well…meant visit to Berlin proving so futile； had left Maupertuis in the humor we saw；pirouetting round his Apartment； in tempests of rage at such contradiction of sinners on his sublime Law of Thrift； and fulminating permission to Konig： 'No time to read your Paper of Contradictions； publish it in Leipzig； in Jericho； anywhere in the Earth； in Heaven； in the Other Place； where you have the opportunity！' Konig； returning on these terms； had nothing for it but to publish his Paper； and did publish it； in the Leipzig Acta Eruditorum for March； 1751。 There it stands； legible to this day： and if any of the human species should again think of reading it； I believe it will be found a reasonable； solid and decisive Paper； of steadfast； openly articulate； by no means insolent； tone； considerably modifying Maupertuis's Law of Thrift； or Minimum of Action；fatal to the claim of its being a 'Sublime Discovery；' or indeed； so far as TRUE； any discovery at all。 ＇In Acta Eruditorum （Lipsiae； 1751）： 〃De universali Principio AEquilibrii et Motus。〃 By no means uncivil to Maupertuis； though obliged to controvert him。 For example： 〃Quoe itaque de Minima Actionis in modificationibus modum obtinente in genere proferuntur vehementer laudo；〃 〃continent nempe facundum longeque pulcherrimum Dynamices sublimioris principium； cujus vim in difficillimis quoestionibus soepe expertus
