history of friedrich ii of prussia v 16-第39章
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icences； a little working； too； at the ANNALES； in the big Library； between whiles。 Five decidedly melodious weeks。 Beautiful interlude； or half…hour of orchestral fiddling in this Voltaire Drama； half…hour which could not last！ On the heel of which there unhappily followed an Afterpiece or codicil to the Berlin Visit； which； so to speak； set the whole theatre on fire； and finished by explosion worse than AKAKIA itself。 A thing still famous to mankind；of which some intelligible notion must be left with readers。
The essence of the story is briefly this。 Voltaire； by his fine deportment in parting with Friedrich； had been allowed to retain his Decorations； his Letter of Agreement； his Royal BOOK OF POESIES （one of those 〃Twelve Copies；〃 printed AU DONJON DU CHATEAU； in happier times！）and in short； to go his ways as a friend； not as a runaway or one dismissed。 But now； by his late procedures at Leipzig； and 〃firings out of port…holes〃 in that manner； he had awakened Friedrich's indignation again；Friedrich's regret at allowing him to take those articles with him； and produced a resolution in Friedrich to have them back。 They are not generally articles of much moment； but as marks of friendship； they are now all falsities。 One of the articles might be of frightful importance： that Book of Poesies； thrice…private OEUVRE DE POESIES； in which are satirical spurts affecting more than one crowned head： one shudders to think what fires a spiteful Voltaire might cause by publishing these！ This was Friedrich's idea；and by no means a chimerical one； as the Fact proved； said OEUVRE being actually reprinted upon him； at Paris afterwards （not by Voltaire）； in the crisis of the Seven…Years War； to put him out with his Uncle of England； whom it quizzed in passages。 ＇Title of it is； OEuvres du Philosophe de Sans…Souci （Paris； pretending to be 〃Potsdam；〃 1760）； 1 vol。 12mo： at Paris； 〃in January〃 this； whereupon； at Berlin； with despatch； 〃April 9th；〃 〃the real edition〃 （properly castrated） was sent forth； under title； POESIES DIVERSES； 1 vol。 big 8vo （Preuss； in OEuvres de Frederic； x。 Preface； p。 x。 See Formey； ii。 255； under date misprinted 〃1763〃）。＇ 〃We will have those articles back；〃 thinks Friedrich； 〃that OEUVRE most especially！ No difficulty： wait for him at Frankfurt； as he passes home； demand them of him there。〃 And has （directly on those new 〃firings through port…holes〃 at Leipzig） bidden Fredersdorf take measures accordingly。 ＇〃Friedrich to Wilhelmina； 12th April； 1753〃 （ OEuvres； xxvii。 iii。 227）。＇
Fredersdorf did so； early in April and onward had his Official Person waiting at Frankfurt （one Freytag； our Prussian Resident there； very celebrated ever since）； vigilant in the extreme for Voltaire's arrival；and who did not miss that event。 Voltaire； arriving at last （May 31st）； did； with Freytag's hand laid gently on his sleeve； at once give up what of the articles he had about him；the OEUVRE； unluckily； not one of them； and agreed to be under mild arrest （〃PAROLE D'HONNEUR； in the LION…D'OR Hotel here！〃） till said OEUVRE should come up。 Under Fredersdorf's guidance； all this； and what follows； King Friedrich； after the general Order given； had nothing more to do with it； and was gone upon his Reviews。
In the course of two weeks or more the OEUVRE DE POESIE did come。 Voltaire was impatient to go。 And he might perhaps have at once gone； had Freytag been clearly instructed； so as to know the essential from the unessential here。 But he was not；poor subaltern Freytag had to say； on Voltaire's urgencies： 〃I will at once report to Berlin； if the answer be （as we hope）； 'All right；' you are that moment at liberty！〃 This was a thing unexpected； astonishing to Voltaire； a thing demanding patience； silence： in three days more； with silence； as turns out； it would have been all beautifully over；but he was not strong in those qualities！
Voltaire's arrest hitherto had been merely on his word of honor； 〃I promise； on my honor； not to go beyond the Garden of this Inn。〃 But he now； without warning anybody； privately revoked said word of honor； and Collini and he； next morning； whisked shiftily into a hackney…coach； and were on the edge of being clear off。 To Freytag's terror and horror； who； however； caught them in time： and was rigorous enough now； and loud enough；street…mob gathering round the transaction； Voltaire very loud； and Freytag too；the matter taking fire here； and scenes occurring； which Voltaire has painted in a highly flagrant manner！
On the third day； Answer from Berlin had come； as expected； answer （as to the old score）： 〃All right； let him go！〃 But to punctual Freytag's mind； here is now a new considerable item of sundries： insult to his Majesty； to wit； breaking his Majesty's arrest； in such insolent loud manner：and Freytag finds that he must write anew。 Post is very slow； and； though Fredersdorf answers constantly； from Berlin； 〃Let him go； let him go；〃 there have to be writings and re…writings； and it is not till July 7th （after a detention； not of nearly three weeks； as it might and would have been； but of five and a day） that Voltaire gets off； and then too at full gallop； and in a very unseemly way。
This is authentically the world…famous Frankfurt Affair；done by Fredersdorf； as we say； Friedrich； absent in Silesia； or in Preussen even； having no hand in it； except the original Order left with Fredersdorf。 Voltaire has used his flamingest colors on this occasion； being indeed dreadfully provoked and chagrined； painting the thing in a very flagrant manner；known to all readers。 Voltaire's flagrant Narrative had the round of the world to itself； for a hundred years； and did its share of execution against Friedrich。 Till at length； recently； a precise impartial hand； the Herr Varnhagen； thought of looking into the Archives； and has； in a distinct； minute and entertaining way； explained the truth of it to everybody；leaving the Voltaire Narrative in rather sad condition。 ＇Varnhagen von Ense； Voltaire in Frankfurt am Mayn； 1753 （separate； as here； 12mo； pp。 92； or in Berliner Kalender for 1846）。＇ We have little room； but must give； compressed； from Varnhagen and the other evidences； a few of the characteristic points。 The story falls into two Parts。
PART I。 FREDERSDORF SENDS INSTRUCTIONS； THE 〃OEUVRE DE POESIE〃 IS GOT； BUT
APRIL 11th； 1753 （few days after that of Maupertuis's Cartel； Voltaire having set to firing through port…holes again； and the King being swift in his resolution on it）； Factotum Fredersdorf； who has a free…flowing yet a steady and compact pen； directs Herr Freytag； our Resident at Frankfurt…on…Mayn； To procure from the Authorities there； on Majesty's request； the necessary powers； then vigilantly to look out for Voltaire's arrival； to detain the said Voltaire； and； if necessary； arrest him； till he deliver certain articles belonging to his Majesty： Cross of Merit； Gold Key； printed OEUVRE DE POESIES and Writings （SKRIPTUREN） of his Majesty's； in short； various articles；the specification of which is somewhat indistinct。 In Fredersdorf's writing； all this； not so mathematically luminous and indisputable as in Eichel's it would have been。 Freytag put questions； and there passed several Letters between Fredersdorf and him； but it was always uncomfortably hazy to Freytag； and he never understood or guessed that the OEUVRE DE POESIES was the vital item； and the rest formal in comparison。 Which is justly considered to have been an unlucky circumstance； as matters turned。 For help to himself； Freytag is to take counsel with one Hofrath Schmidt； a substantial experienced Burgher of Frankfurt； whose rathship is Prussian。
APRIL 21st； Freytag answers； That Schmidt and he received his Majesty's All…gracious Orders the day before yesterday （Post takes eight days； it would seem）； that they have procured the necessary powers； and are now； and will be； diligently watchful to execute the same。 Which； one must say； they in right earnest are； patrolling about； with lips strictly closed； eyes vividly open； and have a man or two privately on watch at the likely stations； on the possible highways；and so continue； Voltaire doing his ANNALS OF THE EMPIRE； and enjoying himself at Gotha； for weeks after； ＇〃Left Gotha 25th May 〃 （Clog。 in OEuvres de Voltaire； xxv。 192 n。）。＇much unconscious of their patrolling。
Freytag is in no respect a shining Diplomatist；probably some EMERITUS Lieutenant； doing his function for 30 pounds a year： but does it in a practical solid manner。 Writes with stiff brevity； stiff but distinct； with perfect observance of grammar both in French and German； with good practical sense； and faithful effort to do aright what his order is： no trace of 〃MonSIR；〃 of 〃OEuvre de PoesHie；〃 to be found in Freytag； and most； or all； of the ridiculous burs stuck on him by Voltaire； are to be pulled off again asas fibs； or fictions； solacing to the afflicted Wit。 Freytag is not of quick or bright intellect： and unluckily； just at the crisis of Voltaire's actual arrival； both Schmidt and Fredersdorf are off to Embden； where there is 〃Grand Meeting of the Embden Shipping Company〃 （with comfortable dividends； let us hope）；and have left Freytag to his own resources； in case of emergency。
THURSDAY； MAY 31st； 〃about eight in the evening；〃 Voltaire does arrive；most prosperous journey hitherto； by Cassel； Marburg； Warburg； and other places famous then or since； Landgraf of Hessen （wise Wilhelm； whom we knew） honorably lodging him； innkeepers calling him 〃Your Excellency；〃 or 〃M。 le Comte；〃and puts up at the Golden Lion at Frankfurt； where rooms have been ordered； Freytag well aware； though he says nothing。
FRIDAY MORNING； JUNE 1st） 〃his Excellency and Suite〃 （Voltaire and Collini） have their horses harnessed； carriage out； and are about taking the road again；when Freytag； escorted by a Dr。 Rucker； 〃Frankfurt Magistrate DE MAUVAISE MINE；〃 ＇Collini； p。 77。＇ and a Prussian recruiting Lieutenant； presents himself in Voltaire's apartment！ Readers know Voltaire's account and MonSIR Collini's； and may now hear Freytag's own； which is painted from fact：
〃Introductory civilities done （NACH GEMACHTEN POLITESSEN）； I made him acquainted with the will of your most All…gracious Majesty。 He was much astonished （BESTURZT；〃 no wonder）； 〃he shut his eyes； and flung himself back in his chair。〃 ＇Varnhagen； p。 16。＇ Calls in his friend Collini； whom； at first； I had requested to withdraw。 Two coffers are produced； and opened； by Collini； visitation； punctual； long and painful； lasted from nine A。M。 till five P。M。 Packets are made；a great many Papers； 〃and one Poem which he was unwilling to quit〃 （perilous LA PUCELLE）；inventories are drawn； duly signed。 Packets are signeted； mutually sealed； Rucker claps on the Town…seal first； Freytag and Voltaire following with theirs。 〃He made thousand protestations of his fidelity to your Majesty； became pretty weak ＇like fainting； think you； Herr Resident？＇； and indeed he looks like a skeleton。We then made demand of the Book； OEUVRE DE POESIES： That； he said； was in the Big Case； and he knew not whether at Leipzig or Hamburg〃 （knew very well where it
