history of friedrich ii of prussia v 16-第40章

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e　said；　was　in　the　Big　Case；　and　he　knew　not　whether　at　Leipzig　or　Hamburg〃　（knew　very　well　where　it　was）；　and　finding　nothing　else　would　do；　wrote　for　it；　showing　Freytag　the　Letter；　and　engaged；　on　his　word　of　honor；　not　to　stir　hence　till　it　arrived。

Upon　which；what　is　farther　to　be　noted；　though　all　seems　now　settled；Freytag；　at　Voltaire's　earnest　entreaty；　〃for　behoof　of　Madame　Denis；　a　beloved　Niece；　Monsieur；　who　is　waiting　for　me　hourly　at　Strasburg；　whom　such　fright　might　be　the　death　of！〃puts　on　paper　a　few　words　（the　few　which　Voltaire　has　twisted　into　〃MonSIR；〃　〃PoesHies〃　and　so　forth）；　to　the　effect；　〃That　whenever　the　OEUVRE　comes；　Voltaire　shall　actually　have　leave　to　go。〃　And　so；　after　eight　hours；　labor　（nine　A。M。　to　five　P。M。）；　everything　is　hushed　again。　Voltaire；　much　shocked　and　astonished；　poor　soul；　〃sits　quietly　down　to　his　ANNALES〃　（says　Collini）；to　working；　more　or　less；　a　resource　he　often　flies　to；　in　such　cases。　Madame　Denis；　on　receiving　his　bad　news　at　Strasburg；　sets　off　towards　him：　arrives　some　days　before　the　OEUVRE　and　its　Big　Case。　King　Friedrich　had　gone；　May　1st）　for　some　weeks；　to　his　Silesian　Reviews；　June　1st　（very　day　of　this　great　sorting　in　the　Lion　d'Or）；　he　is　off　again；　to　utmost　Prussia　this　time；and　knows；　hitherto　and　till　quite　the　end；　nothing；　except　that　Voltaire　has　not　turned　up　anywhere。

。。。　Voltaire　cannot　have　done　much　at　his　ANNALS；　in　this　interim　at　the　Golden　Lion；　〃where　he　has　liberty　to　walk　in　the　Garden。〃　He　has　been；　and　is；　secretly　corresponding；　complaining　and　applying；　all　round；　at　a　great　rate：　to　Count　Stadion　the　Imperial　Excellency　at　Mainz；　to　French　friends；　to　Princess　Wilhelmina；　ultimately　to　Friedrich　himself。　＇In　　OEuvres　de　Voltaire；　　lxxv。　207…214；　&c。；　Letters　to　Stadion　（of　strange　enough　tenor：　see　Varnhagen；　pp。　30；　&c。）。　In　　OEuvres　de　Frederic；　　xxii。　303；　and　in　　OEuvres　de　Voltaire；　　lxxv。　185；　is　the　Letter　to　Friedrich　（dateless；　totally　misplaced；　and　rendered　unintelligible；　in　both　Works）：　Letter　SENT　through　Wilhelmina　（see　her　fine　remarks　in　forwarding　it；　　OEuvres　de　Frederic；　　xxvii。　iii。　234）。＇　He　has　been　receiving　visits；　from　Serene　Highnesses；　〃Duke　of　Meiningen〃　and　the　like；　who　happen　to　be　in　Town。　Visit　from　iniquitous　Dutch　Bookseller；　Van　Duren　（Printer　of　the　ANTI…MACHIAVEL）；　with　whom　we　had　such　controversy　once。　Iniquitous；　now　opulent　and　prosperous；　Van　Duren；　happening　to　be　here；　will　have　the　pleasure　of　calling　on　an　old　distinguished　friend：　distinguished　friend；　at　sight　of　him　entering　the　Garden；　steps　hastily　up；　gives　him　a　box　on　the　ear；　without　words　but　an　interjection　or　two；　and　vanishes　within　doors。　That　is　something！　〃Monsieur；〃　said　Collini；　striving　to　weep；　but　unable；　〃you　have　had　a　blow　from　the　greatest　man　in　the　world。〃　＇Collini；　p。　182。＇　In　short；　Voltaire　has　been　exciting　great　sensation　in　Frankfurt；　and　keeping　Freytag　in　perpetual　fear　and　trouble。

MONDAY；　18th　JUNE；　the　Big　Case；　lumbering　along；　does　arrive。　It　is　carried　straight　to　Freytag's；　and　at　eleven　in　the　morning；　Collini　eagerly　attends　to　have　it　opened。　Freytag；to　whom　Schmidt　has　returned　from　Embden；　but　no　Answer　from　Potsdam；　or　the　least　light　about　those　SKRIPTUREN；is　in　the　depths　of　embarrassment；　cannot　open；　till　he　know　completely　what　items　and　SKRIPTUREN　he　is　to　make　sure　of　on　opening：　〃I　cannot；　till　the　King's　answer　come！〃〃But　your　written　promise　to　Voltaire？〃　〃Tush；　that　was　my　own　private　promise；　Monsieur；　my　own　private　prediction　of　what　would　happen；　a　thing　PRO　FORMA〃；　and　to　save　Madame　Denis's　life。　Patience；　perhaps　it　will　arrive　this　very　day。　Come　again　to　me　at　three　P。M。；there　is　Berlin　post　today；　then　again　in　three　days：I　surely　expect　the　Order　will　come　by　this　post　or　next；　God　grant　it　may　be　by　this！〃　Collini　attends　at　three；　there　is　Note　from　Fredersdorf：　King's　Majesty　absent　in　Preussen　all　this　while；　expected　now　in　two　days。　Freytag's　face　visibly　brightens：　〃Wait　till　next　post；　three　days　more；　only　wait！〃　＇Varnhagen；　pp。　39…41。＇　And　in　fact；　by　next　post；　as　we　find；　the　OPEN…SESAME　did　punctually　come。　Voltaire；　and　all　this　big　cawing　rookery　of　miseries　and　rages；　would　have　at　once　taken　wing　again；　into　the　serene　blue；　could　Voltaire　but　have　had　patience　three　days　more！　But　that　was　difficult　for　him；　too　Difficult。

　　　　　PART　II。　VOLTAIRE；　IN　SPITE　OF　HIS　EFFORTS；　DOES　GET　AWAY　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（June　20th…July　7th）。

WEDNESDAY；　JUNE　20th；　Voltaire　and　Collini　（〃word。　of　honor〃　fallen　dubious　to　them；　dubious　or　more）；havmg　laid　their　plan；　striving　to　think　it　fair　in　the　circumstances；walk　out　from　the　Lion　d'Or；　〃Voltaire　in　black…velvet　coat；〃　＇Ib。　p。　46。＇　with　their　valuablest　effects　（LA　PUCELLE　and　money…box　included）；　leaving　Madame　Denis　to　wait　the　disimprisonment　of　OEUVRE　DE　POESIE　and　wind　up　the　general　business。　Walk　out；　very　gingerly；duck　into　a　hackney…coach；　and　attempt　to　escape　by　the　Mainz　Gate！　Freytag's　spy　runs　breathless　with　the　news；　never　was　a　Freytag　in　such　taking。　Terrified　Freytag　has　to　〃throw　on　his　coat；〃　order　out　three　men　to　gallop　by　various　routes；　jump　into　some　Excellency's　coach　（kind　Excellency　lent　it）；　which　is　luckily　standing　yoked　near　by；　and　shoot　with　the　velocity　of　life　and　death　towards　Mainz　Gate。　Voltaire；　whom　the　well…affected　Porter；　suspecting　something；　has　rather　been　retarding；　is　still　there：　〃Arrested；　in　the　King's　name！〃and　there　is　such　a　scene！　For　Freytag；　too；　is　now　raging；　ignited　by　such　percussion　of　the　terrors；　and　speaks；　not　like　what　they　call　〃a　learned　sergeant〃；　but　like　a　drilled　sergeant　in　heat　of　battle：　Vol…　taire's　tongue；　also；　and　Collini's；〃Your　Excellenz　never　heard　such　brazen…faced　lies　thrown　on　a　man；　that　I　had　offered；　for　1；000　thalers；　to　let　them　go；　that　I　had〃　In　short；　the　thing　has　caught　fire；　broken　into　flaming　chaos　again。

〃Freytag　＇to　give　one　snatch　from　Collini's　side＇　got　into　the　carriage　along　with　us；　and　led　us；　in　this　way；　across　the　mob　of　people　to　Schmidt's　＇to　see　what　was　to　be　done　with　us＇。　Sentries　were　put　at　the　gate　to　keep　out　the　mob；　we　are　led　into　a　kind　of　counting…room；　clerk；　maid…　and　man…servants　are　about；　Madam　Schmidt　passes　before　Voltaire　with　a　disdainful　air；　to　listen　to　Freytag；　recounting；〃　in　the　tone　not　of　a　LEARNED　sergeant；　what　the　matter　is。　They　seize　our　effects；　under　violent　protest；　worse　than　vain。　〃Voltaire　demands　to　have　at　least　his　snuffbox；　cannot　do　without　snuff；　they　answer；　'It　is　usual　to　take　everything。'

〃His；〃　Voltaire's；　〃eyes　were　sparkling　with　fury；　from　time　to　time　he　lifted　them　on　mine；　as　if　to　interrogate　me。　All　on　a　sudden；　noticing　a　door　half　open；　he　dashes　through　it；　and　is　out。　Madam　Schmidt　forms　her　squad；　shopmen　and　three　maid…　servants；　and；　at　their　head；　rushes　after。　'What？'　cries　he；　（cannot　I　be　allowed　toto　vomit；　then？'〃　They　form　circle　round　him；　till　he　do　it；　call　out　Collini；　who　finds　him　〃bent　down；　with　his　fingers　in　his　throat；　attempting　to　vomit；　and　is　terrified；　'MON　DIEU；　are　you　ill；　then？'　He　answered　in　a　low　voice；　tears　in　his　eyes；　'FINGO；　FINGO　（I　pretend；'〃　and　Collini　leads　him　back；　RE　INFECTA。　〃The　Author　of　the　HENRIADE　and　MEROPE；　what　a　spectacle！　＇Collini；　pp。　81；　86。＇　。。。　Not　for　two　hours　had　they　done　with　their　writings　and　arrangings。　Our　portfolios　and　CASSETTE　（money…box）　were　thrown　into　an　empty　trunk　＇what　else　could　they　be　thrown　into？＇which　was　locked　with　a　padlock；　and　sealed　with　a　paper；　Voltaire's　arms　on　the　one　end；　and　Schmidt's　cipher　on　the　other。　Dorn；　Freytag's　Clerk；　was　bidden　lead　us　away。　Sign　of　the　BOUC〃　（or　BILLY…GOAT；　there　henceforth；　LION　D；OR　refusing　to　be　concerned　with　us　farther）；　twelve　soldiers；　Madame　Denis　with　curtains　of　bayonets；and　other　well…known　flagrancies。　。。。　The　7th　of　July；　Voltaire　did　actually　go；　and　then　in　an　extreme　hurry；by　his　own　blame；　again。　These　final　passages　we　touch　only　in　the　lump；　Voltaire's　own　Narrative　of　these　being　so　copious；　flamingly　impressive；　and　still　known　to　everybody。　How　much　better　for　Voltaire　and　us；　had　nobody　ever　known　it；　had　it　never　been　written；　had　the　poor　hubbub；　no　better　than　a　chance　street…riot　all　of　it；　after　amusing　old　Frankfurt　for　a　while；　been　left　to　drop　into　the　gutters　forever！　To　Voltaire　and　various　others　（me　and　my　poor　readers　included）；　that　was　the　desirable　thing。

Had　there　but　been；　among　one's　resources；　a　little　patience　and　practical　candor；　instead　of　all　that　vituperative　eloquence　and　power　of　tragi…comic　description！　Nay；　in　that　case；　this　wretched　street…riot　hubbub　need　not　have　been　at　all。　Truly　M。　de　Voltaire　had　a　talent　for　speech；　but　lamentably　wanted　that　of　silence！　We　have　now　only　the　sad　duty　of　pointing　out　the　principal　mendacities　contained　in　M。　de　Voltaire's　world…famous　Account　（for　the　other　side　has　been　heard　since　that）；　and　so　of　quitting　a　painful　business。　The　principal　mendacitiesdeducting　all　that　about　〃POE'ShIE〃　and　the　like；　which　we　will　define　as　poetic　fictionare：

　　1。　That　of　the　considerable　files　of　soldiers　（almost　a　Company　of　Musketeers；　one　would　think）　stuck　up　round　M。　de　Voltaire　and　Party；　in　THE　BILLY…GOAT；　Madame　Denis's　bed…curtains　being　a　screen　of　bayonets；　and　the　like。　The　exact　number　of　soldiers　I　cannot　learn：　〃a　SCHILDWACHE　of　the　Town…guard　＇means　one；　surely　does　not　mean　Four？＇　for　each　prisoner；〃　reports　the　arithmetical　Freytag；　which；　in　the　extreme　case；　would　have　been　twelve　in　whole　（as　Collini　gives　it）；　and　〃next　day　we　reduced　them　to　two〃；　says　Freytag。　　　2。　That　of　the　otherwise　frightful　night　Madame　Denis　had；　〃the　fellow　Dorn　＇Freytag's　Clerk；　a　poor；　hard…worked　frugal　creature；　with　frugal　wife　and　family　not　far　off＇　insisting　to　sit　in　the　Lady's　bedroom；　there　emptying　bottle　after　bottle；　nay　at　last　＇as　Voltaire　bethinks　him；　after　a　few　days＇　threatening　to〃　Plainly　to　EXCEL　all　belief！　A　thing　not　to　be　spoken　of　publicly：　indeed；　what　Lady　could　speak　of　it　at　all；　except　in　hints　to　an　Uncle　of　advanced　years？Proved　fact　being；　that　Madame　Denis；　all　in　a　flutter；　that　first　night　at　THE　BILLY…GOAT；　had　engaged　Dorn；　〃for　a　louis…d'or；〃　to　sit　in　her　bedroom；　and　did　actually　pay　him　a　louis…d'or　for　doing　so！　This　is　very　bad　mendacity；　clearly　conscious　on　M。　de　Voltaire's　part；　and　even　constructed　by　degrees。　　　3。　Very　bad　also　is　that　of　the　moneys　stolen　from　him　by　those　Official　people。　M。　de　Voltaire　knows　well　enough　how　he　failed　to　get　his　moneys；　and　quitted　Frankfurt　in　a　hurry！　Here；　inexorably　certain　from　the　Documents；　and　testimonies　on　both　parts；　is　that　final　Passage　of　the　long　Fire…work：　last　crackle　of　the　rocket　before　it　dropped　perpendicular：

JULY　6th；　complete　OPEN…SESAME　having　come；　Freytag　and　Schmidt　duly　invited　Voltaire　to　be　present　at　the　opening　of　seals　（his　and　theirs）；　and　to　have　his　moneys　and　effects　returned　from　that　〃old　trunk〃　he　speaks　of。　But　Voltaire　had　by　this　time　taken　a　higher　flight。　July　6th；　Voltaire　was　protesting　before　Notaries；　about　the　unheard…of　violence　done　him；　the　signal　reparations　due；　and　disdained；　for　the　moment；　to　concern　h