BookI。
BIRTHANDPARENTAGE。
1712。
ChapterI。
PROEM:FRIEDRICH’SHISTORYFROMTHEDISTANCEWEAREAT。
Aboutfourscoreyearsago,thereusedtobeseensaunteringontheterracesofSansSouci,forashorttimeintheafternoon,oryoumighthavemethimelsewhereatanearlierhour,ridingordrivinginarapidbusinessmannerontheopenroadsorthroughthescraggywoodsandavenuesofthatintricateamphibiousPotsdamregion,ahighlyinterestingleanlittleoldman,ofalertthoughslightlystoopingfigure;whosenameamongstrangerswasKingFRIEDRICHTHESECOND,orFredericktheGreatofPrussia,andathomeamongthecommonpeople,whomuchlovedandesteemedhim,wasVATERFRITZ,——FatherFred,——anameoffamiliaritywhichhadnotbredcontemptinthatinstance。HeisaKingeveryinchofhim,thoughwithoutthetrappingsofaKing。PresentshimselfinaSpartansimplicityofvesture:nocrownbutanoldmilitarycocked—hat,——generallyold,ortrampledandkneadedintoabsoluteSOFTNESS,ifnew;——nosceptrebutonelikeAgamemnon’s,awalking—
stickcutfromthewoods,whichservesalsoasariding—stick(withwhichhehitsthehorse"betweentheears,"sayauthors);——
andforroyalrobes,ameresoldier’sbluecoatwithredfacings,coatlikelytobeold,andsuretohaveagooddealofSpanishsnuffonthebreastofit;restoftheappareldim,unobtrusiveincolororout,endinginhighover—kneemilitaryboots,whichmaybebrushed(and,Ihope,keptsoftwithanunderhandsuspicionofoil),butarenotpermittedtobeblackenedorvarnished;DayandMartinwiththeirsoot—potsforbiddentoapproach。
Themanisnotofgodlikephysiognomy,anymorethanofimposingstatureorcostume:close—shutmouthwiththinlips,prominentjawsandnose,recedingbrow,bynomeansofOlympianheight;
head,however,isoflongform,andhassuperlativegrayeyesinit。Notwhatiscalledabeautifulman;noryet,byallappearance,whatiscalledahappy。Onthecontrary,thefacebearsevidenceofmanysorrows,astheyaretermed,ofmuchhardlabordoneinthisworld;andseemstoanticipatenothingbutmorestillcoming。Quietstoicism,capableenoughofwhatjoytherewere,butnotexpectinganyworthmention;greatunconsciousandsomeconsciouspride,welltemperedwithacheerymockeryofhumor,——arewrittenonthatoldface;whichcarriesitschinwellforward,inspiteoftheslightstoopabouttheneck;snuffynoseratherflungintotheair,underitsoldcocked—hat,——likeanoldsnuffyliononthewatch;andsuchapairofeyesasnomanorlionorlynxofthatCenturyboreelsewhere,accordingtoallthetestimonywehave。"Thoseeyes,"saysMirabeau,"which,atthebiddingofhisgreatsoul,fascinatedyouwithseductionorwithterror(portaient,augredesonameheroique,laseductionoulaterreur)。"[Mirabeau,
HistoireSecretedelaCourdeBerlin,Lettre28??
(24September,1786)p。128(ineditionofParis,1821)]。
Mostexcellentpotentbrillianteyes,swift—dartingasthestars,steadfastasthesun;gray,wesaid,oftheazure—graycolor;
largeenough,notofglaringsize;thehabitualexpressionofthemvigilanceandpenetratingsense,rapidityrestingondepth。
Whichisanexcellentoombination;andgivesusthenotionofalambentouterradiancespringingfromsomegreatinnerseaoflightandfireintheman。Thevoice,ifhespeaktoyou,isofsimilarphysiognomy:clear,melodiousandsonorous;alltonesareinit,fromthatofingenuousinquiry,gracefulsociality,light—
flowingbanter(ratherpricklyformostpart),uptodefinitewordofcommand,uptodesolatingwordofrebukeandreprobation;
avoice"theclearestandmostagreeableinconversationIeverheard,"sayswittyDr。Moore。[Moore,ViewofSocietyandMannersinFrance,SwitzerlandandGermany(London,1779),ii。246。]
"Hespeaksagreatdeal,"continuesthedoctor;"yetthosewhohearhim,regretthathedoesnotspeakagooddealmore。
Hisobservationsarealwayslively,veryoftenjust;andfewmenpossessthetalentofreparteeingreaterperfection。"
Justaboutthreescoreandtenyearsago,[A。D。1856,——17thAugust,1786]hisspeakingsandhisworkingscametofinisinthisWorldofTime;andhevanishedfromalleyesintootherworlds,leavingmuchinquiryabouthiminthemindsofmen;——which,asmyreadersandImayfeeltoowell,isyetbynomeanssatisfied。Astohisspeech,indeed,thoughithadtheworthjustascribedtoitandmore,andthoughmassesofitweredeliberatelyputonpaperbyhimself,inproseandverse,andcontinuetobeprintedandkeptlegible,whathespokehasprettymuchvanishedintotheinane;
andexceptasrecordordocumentofwhathedid,hardlynowconcernsmankind。Butthethingshedidwereextremelyremarkable;
andcannotbeforgottenbymankind。Indeed,theybearsuchfruittothepresenthourasalltheNewspapersareobligedtobetakingnoteof,sometimestoanunpleasantdegree。Editorsvaguelyaccountthismanthe"CreatorofthePrussianMonarchy;"whichhassincegrownsolargeintheworld,andtroublesometotheEditorialmindinthisandothercountries。Hewasindeedthefirstwho,inahighlypublicmanner,notifieditscreation;
announcedtoallmenthatitwas,inverydeed,created;standingonitsfeetthere,andwouldgoagreatway,ontheimpulseithadgotfromhimandothers。Asithasaccordinglydone;
andmaystillkeepdoingtolengthslittledreamtofbytheBritishEditorinourtime;whoseprophesyingsuponPrussia,andinsightsintoPrussia,initspast,orpresentorfuture,aretrulyasyetinconsiderable,inproportiontothenoisehemakeswiththem!Themoreisthepityforhim,——andformyselftoointheEnterprisenowonhand。
ItisofthisFigure,whomweseebythemind’seyeinthosePotsdamregions,visibleforthelasttimeseventyyearsago,thatwearenowtotreat,inthewayofsolacingingenuoushumancuriosity。WearetotryforsomeHistoricalConceptionofthisManandKing;someanswertothequestions,"Whatwashe,then?
Whence,how?Andwhatdidheachieveandsufferintheworld?"——
suchanswerasmayproveadmissibletoingenuousmankind,especiallysuchasmaycorrespondtotheFact(whichstandsthere,abstruseindeed,butactualandunalterable),andsobesureofadmissibilityoneday。
AnEnterprisewhichturnsouttobe,thelongeronelooksatit,themoreofaformidable,nottosayunmanageablenature!
Concerningwhich,ononeortwopoints,itweregood,ifconvenientlypossible,tocometosomepreliminaryunderstandingwiththereader。Here,flyingonlooseleaves,arecertainincidentalutterances,ofvariousdate:these,asthetopicisdifficult,Iwillmerelylabelandinsert,insteadofaformalDiscourse,whichweretooapttoslideintosomethingofaLamentation,orotherwisetakeanunpleasantturn。
1。FRIEDRICHTHEN,ANDFRIEDRICHNOW。
Thiswasamanofinfinitemarktohiscontemporaries;whohadwitnessedsurprisingfeatsfromhimintheworld;veryquestionablenotionsandways,whichhehadcontrivedtomaintainagainsttheworldanditscriticisms。Asanoriginalmanhasalwaystodo;muchmoreanoriginalrulerofmen。Theworld,infact,hadtriedhardtoputhimdown,asitdoes,unconsciouslyor,consciously,withallsuch;andafterthemostconsciousexertions,andatonetimeadead—liftspasmofallitsenergiesforSevenYears,hadnotbeenable。Principalitiesandpowers,Imperial,Royal,Czarish,Papal,enemiesinnumerableastheseasand,hadrisenagainsthim,onlyonehelperleftamongtheworld’sPotentates(andthatoneonlywhilethereshouldbehelprenderedinreturn);andheledthemallsuchadanceashadastonishedmankindandthem。
Nowondertheythoughthimworthyofnotice。Everyoriginalmanofanymagnitudeis;——nay,inthelong—run,whoorwhatelseis?
Buthowmuchmoreifyouroriginalmanwasakingovermen;
whosemovementswerepolar,andcarriedfromdaytodaythoseoftheworldalongwiththem。TheSamsonAgonistes,——werehislifepassedlikethatofSamuelJohnsonindirtygarrets,andtheproduceofitonlysomebitsofwrittenpaper,——theAgonistes,andhowhewillcomporthimselfinthePhilistinemill;thisisalwaysaspectacleoftrulyepicandtragicnature。Therather,ifyourSamson,royalorother,isnotyetblindedorsubduedtothewheel;muchmoreifhevanquishhisenemies,notbysuicidalmethods,butmarchoutatlastflourishinghismiraculousfightingimplement,andleavingtheirmillandtheminquiteruinouscircumstances。AsthisKingFriedrichfairlymanagedtodo。
Forhelefttheworldallbankrupt,wemaysay;fallenintobottomlessabyssesofdestruction;hestillinapayingcondition,andwithfootingcapabletocarryhisaffairsandhim。Whenhedied,in1786,theenormousPhenomenonsincecalledFRENCH
REVOLUTIONwasalreadygrowlingaudiblyinthedepthsoftheworld;meteoric—electriccoruscationsheraldingit,allroundthehorizon。Strangeenoughtonote,oneofFriedrich’slastvisitorswasGabrielHonoreRiquetti,ComtedeMirabeau。Thesetwosawoneanother;twice,forhalfanhoureachtime。ThelastoftheoldGodsandthefirstofthemodernTitans;——beforePelionleaptonOssa;andthefoulEarthtakingfireatlast,itsvilemephiticelementswentupinvolcanicthunder。ThisalsoisoneofthepeculiaritiesofFriedrich,thatheishithertothelastoftheKings;thatheushersintheFrenchRevolution,andclosesanEpochofWorld—History。FinishingoffforeverthetradeofKing,thinkmany;whohavegrownprofoundlydarkastoKingshipandhim。
TheFrenchRevolutionmaybesaidtohave,forabouthalfacentury,quitesubmergedFriedrich,abolishedhimfromthememoriesofmen;andnowoncomingtolightagain,heisfounddefacedunderstrangemud—incrustations,andtheeyesofmankindlookathimfromasingularlychanged,whatwemustcallobliqueandperversepointofvision。ThisisoneofthedifficultiesindealingwithhisHistory;——especiallyifyouhappentobelievebothintheFrenchRevolutionandinhim;thatistosay,boththatRealKingshipiseternallyindispensable,andalsothatthedestructionofShamKingship(afrightfulprocess)isoccasionallyso。Onthebreaking—outofthatformidableExplosion,andSuicideofhisCentury,Friedrichsankintocomparativeobscurity;
eclipsedamidtheruinsofthatuniversalearthquake,theverydustofwhichdarkenedalltheair,andmadeofdayadisastrousmidnight。Blackmidnight,brokenonlybytheblazeofconflagrations;——wherein,toourterrifiedimaginations,wereseen,notmen,Frenchandother,butghastlyportents,stalkingwrathful,andshapesofavenginggods。ItmustbeownedthefigureofNapoleonwastitanic;especiallytothegenerationthatlookedonhim,andthatwaitedshudderingtobedevouredbyhim。Ingeneral,inthatFrenchRevolution,allwasonahugescale;ifnotgreaterthananythinginhumanexperience,atleastmoregrandiose。Allwasrecordedinbulletins,too,addressedtotheshilling—gallery;andtherewerefellowsonthestagewithsuchabreadthofsabre,extentofwhiskerage,strengthofwindpipe,andcommandofmenandgunpowder,ashadneverbeenseenbefore。Howtheybellowed,stalkedandflourishedabout;
counterfeitingJove’sthundertoanamazingdegree!TerrificDrawcansirfigures,ofenormouswhiskerage,unlimitedcommandofgunpowder;notwithoutsufficientferocity,andevenacertainheroism,stage—heroism,inthem;comparedwithwhom,totheshilling—gallery,andfrightenedexcitedtheatreatlarge,itseemedasiftherehsdbeennogenerals。orsovereignsbefore;
asifFriedrich,Gustavus,Cromwell,WilliamConquerorandAlexandertheGreatwerenotworthspeakingofhenceforth。
Allthis,however,inhalfacenturyisconsiderablyaltered。
TheDrawcansirequipmentsgettinggraduallytornoff,thenaturalsizeisseenbetter;translatedfromthebulletinstyleintothatoffactandhistory,miracles,eventotheshilling—
gallery,arenotsomiraculous。ItbeginstobeapparentthattherelivedgreatmenbeforetheeraofbulletinsandAgamemnon。
AusterlitzandWagramshotawaymoregunpowder,——gunpowderprobablyintheproportionoftentoone,orahundredtoone;
butneitherofthemwastenth—partsuchabeatingtoyourenemyasthatofRossbach,broughtaboutbystrategicart,humaningenuityandintrepidity,andthelossof165men。Leuthen,too,thebattleofLeuthen(thoughsofewEnglishreaderseverheardofit)mayverywellholdupitsheadbesideanyvictorygainedbyNapoleonoranother。Fortheoddswerenotfarfromthreetoone;thesoldierswereofnotfarfromequalquality;andonlytheGeneralwasconsummatelysuperior,andthedefeatadestruction。
Napoleondidindeed,byimmenseexpenditureofmen,andgunpowder,overrunEuropeforatime:butNapoleonnever,byhusbandingandwiselyexpendinghismenandgunpowder,defendedalittlePrussiaagainstallEurope,yearafteryearforsevenyearslong,tillEuropehadenough,andgaveuptheenterpriseasoneitcouldnotmanage。SosoonastheDrawcansirequipmentsarewelltornoff,andtheshilling—gallerygottosilence,itwillbefoundthatthereweregreatkingsbeforeNapoleon,——andlikewiseanArtofWar,groundedonveracityandhumancourageandinsight,notuponDrawcansirrodomontade,grandioseDick—Turpinism,revolutionarymadness,andunlimitedexpenditureofmenandgunpowder。"Youmaypaintwithaverybigbrush,andyetnotbeagreatpainter,"
saysasatiricalfriendofmine!Thisisbecomingmoreandmoreapparent,asthedust—whirlwind,andhugeuproarofthelastgeneration,graduallydiesawayagain。
2。EIGHTEENTHCENTURY。
OneofthegranddifficultiesinaHistoryofFriedrichis,allalong,thissame,ThathelivedinaCenturywhichhasnoHistoryandcanhavelittleornone。ACenturysoopulentinaccumulatedfalsities,——sadopulencedescendingonitbyinheritance,alwaysatcompoundinterest,andalwayslargelyincreasedbyfreshacquirementonsuchimmensityofstandingcapital;——opulentinthatbadwayasneverCenturybeforewas!Whichhadnolongertheconsciousnessofbeingfalse,sofalsehaditgrown;andwassosteepedinfalsity,andimpregnatedwithittotheverybone,that——infactthemeasureofthethingwasfull,andaFrenchRevolutionhadtoendit。Tomaintainmuchveracityinsuohanelement,especiallyforaking,wasnodoubtdoublyremarkable。
Butnow,howextricatethemanfromhisCentury?Howshowtheman,whoisaRealityworthyofbeingseen,andyetkeephisCentury,asaHypocrisyworthyofbeinghiddenandforgotten,inthedueabeyance?
ToresuscitatetheEighteenthCentury,orcallintomen’sview,beyondwhatisnecessary,thepoorandsordidpersonagesandtransactionsofanepochsorelatedtous,canbenopurposeofmineonthisoccasion。TheEighteenthCentury,itiswellknown,doesnotfiguretomeasalovelyone;needingtobekeptinmind,orspokenofunnecessarily。TometheEighteenthCenturyhasnothinggrandinit,exceptthatgranduniversalSuicide,namedFrenchRevolution,bywhichitterminateditsotherwisemostworthlessexistencewithatleastoneworthyact;——settingfiretoitsoldhomeandself;andgoingupinflamesandvolcanicexplosions,inatrulymemorableandimportantmanner。Averyfittermination,asIthankfullyfeel,forsuchaCentury。
Centuryspendthrift,fraudulent—bankrupt;goneatlengthutterlyinsolvent,withoutrealMONEYofperformanceinitspocket,andtheshopsdecliningtotakehypocrisiesandspeciositiesanyfarther:——whatcouldthepoorCenturydo,butatlengthadmit,"Well,itisso。Iamaswindler—century,andhavelongbeen,——
havinglearnedthetrickofitfrommyfatherandgrandfather;
knowinghardlyanytradebutthatinfalsebills,whichI
thoughtfoolishlymightlastforever,andstillbringatleastbeefandpuddingtothefavoredofmankind。Andbeholditends;
andIamadetectedswindler,andhavenothingeventoeat。
WhatremainsbutthatIblowmybrainsout,anddoatlengthonetrueaction?"WhichthepoorCenturydid;manythankstoit,inthecircumstances。
FortherewasneedoncemoreofaDivineRevelationtothetorpidfrivolouschildrenofmen,iftheywerenottosinkaltogetherintotheapecondition。AndinthatwhirlwindoftheUniverse,——
lightsobliterated,andthetornwrecksofEarthandHellhurledaloftintotheEmpyrean;blackwhirlwind,whichmadeevenapesserious,anddrovemostofthemmad,——therewas,tomen,avoiceaudible;voicefromtheheartofthingsoncemore,asiftosay:
"LyingisnotpermittedinthisUniverse。Thewagesoflying,youbehold,aredeath。LyingmeansdamnationinthisUniverse;
andBeelzebub,neversoelaboratelydeckedincrownsandmitres,isNOTGod!"ThiswasarevelationtrulytobenamedoftheEternal,inourpoorEighteenthCentury;andhasgreatlyalteredthecomplexionofsaidCenturytotheHistorianeversince。
Whereby,inshort,thatCenturyisquiteconfiscate,fallenbankrupt,givenuptotheauctioneers;——Jew—brokerssortingoutofitatthismoment,inaconfuseddistressingmanner,whatisstillvaluableorsalable。And,infact,itliesmassedupinourmindsasadisastrouswreckedinanity,notusefultodwellupon;akindofduskychaoticbackground,onwhichthefiguresthathadsomeveracityinthem——asmallcompany,andevergrowingsmallerasourdemandsriseinstrictness——aredelineatedforus。——"AndyetitistheCenturyofourownGrandfathers?"criesthereader。
Yes,reader!truly。Itisthegroundoutofwhichweourselveshavesprung;whereonnowwehaveourimmediatefooting,andfirstofallstrikedownourrootsfornourishment;——and,alas,inlargesectionsofthepracticalworld,it(whatwespeciallymeanbyIT)
stillcontinuesflourishingallroundus!Toforgetitquiteisnotyetpossible,norwouldbeprofitable。Whattodowithit,anditsforgottenfooleriesand"Histories,"worthyonlyofforgetting?——Well;somuchofitasbynatureADHERES;whatofitcannotbedisengagedfromourHeroandhisoperations:
approximatelysomuch,andnomore!Letthatbeourbargaininregardtoit。
3。ENGLISHPREPOSSESSIONS。
Withsuchwagon—loadsofBooksandPrintedRecordsasexistonthesubjectofFriedrich,ithasalwaysseemedpossible,evenforastranger,toacquiresomerealunderstandingofhim;——
thoughpractically,hereandnow,Ihavetoown,itprovesdifficultbeyondconception。Alas,theBooksarenotcosmic,theyarechaotic;andturnoutunexpectedlyvoidofinstructiontous。Smalluseinatalentofwriting,iftherebenotfirstofallthetalentofdiscerning,ofloyallyrecognizing;
ofdiscriminatingwhatistobewritten!BooksbornmostlyofChaos——whichwantallthings,evenanINDEX——areapainfulobject。
Insorrowanddisgust,youwanderoverthosemultitudinousBooks:
youdwellinendlessregionsofthesuperficial,ofthenugatory:
toyourbewilderedsenseitisasifnoinsightintotherealheartofFriedrichandhisaffairswereanywheretobehad。
Truthis,thePrussianDryasdust,otherwiseanhonestfellow,andnotafraidoflabor,excelsallotherDryasdustsyetknown;
IhaveoftensorrowfullyfeltasiftherewerenotinNature,fordarkness,dreariness,immethodicplatitude,anythingcomparabletohim。HewritesbigBookswantinginalmosteveryquality;anddoesnotevengiveanINDEXtothem。HehasmadeofFriedrich’sHistoryawide—spread,inorganic,tracklessmatter;
dismaltoyourmind,andbarrenasacontinentofBrandenburgsand!——Enough,hecoulddonoother:Ihavestriventoforgivehim。Letthereadernowforgiveme;andthinksometimeswhatprobablymyraw—materialwas!——
Curiousenough,FriedrichlivedintheWritingEra,——morningofthatstrangeErawhichhasgrowntosuchanoonforus;——andhisfavoritesociety,allhisreign,waswiththeliteraryorwritingsort。Norhavetheyfailedtowriteabouthim,theyamongtheothers,abouthimandabouthim;anditisnotablehowlittlereallight,onanypointofhisexistenceorenvironment,theyhavemanagedtocommunicate。Dimindeed,formostpartamereepigrammaticsputterofdarknessvisible,isthe"picture"theyhavefashionedtothemselvesofFriedrichandhisCountryandhisCentury。Mennot"ofgenius,"apparently?Alas,no;menfatallydestituteoftrueeyesight,andofloyalheartfirstofall。
SofarasIhavenoticed,therewasnot,withthesingleexceptionofMirabeauforonehour,anymantobecalledofgenius,orwithanadequatepowerofhumandiscernment,thateverpersonallylookedonFriedrich。HadmanysuchmenlookedsuccessivelyonhisHistoryandhim,wehadnotfounditnowinsuchacondition。
StillaltogetherchaoticasaHistory;fatallydestituteevenoftheIndexesandmechanicalappliances:Friedrich’sself,andhisCountry,andhisCentury,stillundeciphered;verydarkphenomena,allthree,totheintelligentpartofmankind。
InPrussiatherehaslongbeenacertainstubbornthoughplanlessdiligenceindiggingfortheoutwarddetailsofFriedrich’sLife—
History;thoughastoorganizingthem,assortingthem,orevenputtinglabelsonthem;muchmoreastotheleastinterpretationorhumandelineationofthemanandhisaffairs,——youneednotinquireinPrussia。InFrance,inEngland,itisstillworse。
ThereanimmenseignoranceprevailsevenastotheoutwardfactsandphenomenaofFriedrich’slife;andinsteadofthePrussianno—interpretation,youfind,inthesevacantcircumstances,agreatpromptitudetointerpret。Wherebyjudgmentsandprepossessionsexistamongusonthatsubject,especiallyonFriedrich’scharacter,whichareveryignorantindeed。
ToEnglishmen,thesourcesofknowledgeorconvictionaboutFriedrich,Ihaveobserved,aremainlythesetwo。FIRST,forhisPublicCharacter:itwasanall—importantfact,nottoIT,buttothiscountryinregardtoit,ThatGeorgeII。,seeinggoodtoplungehead—foremostintoGermanPolitics,andtotakeMariaTheresa’ssideintheAustrian—SuccessionWarof1740—1748,neededtobeginbyassuringhisParliamentandNewspapers,profoundlydarkonthematter,thatFriedrichwasarobberandvillainfortakingtheotherside。Whichassurance,restingonwhatbasisweshallseebyandby,George’sParliamentandNewspaperscheerfullyaccepted;nothingdoubting。Andtheyhavere—echoedandreverberatedit,theyandtherestofus,eversince,toalllengths,downtothepresentday;asafactquiteagreedupon,andthepreliminaryiteminFriedrich’scharacter。
Robberandvillaintobeginwith;thatwasonesettledpoint。
AfterwardswhenGeorgeandFriedrichcametobeallies,andthegrandfightingsoftheSeven—YearsWartookplace,George’sParliamentandNewspaperssettledasecondpoint,inregardtoFriedrich:"Oneofthegreatestsoldierseverborn。"ThisseconditemtheBritishWriterfullyadmitseversince:buthestilladdstoitthequalityofrobber,inalooseway;——andimagestohimselfaroyalDickTurpin,ofthekindknowninReview—Articles,anddisquisitionsonProgressoftheSpecies,andlabelsitFREDERICK;veryanxioustocollectnewbabblementoflyingAnecdotes,falseCriticisms,hungryFrenchMemoirs,whichwillconfirmhiminthatimpossibleidea。Hadsuchproved,onsurvey,tobethecharacterofFriedrich,thereisoneBritishWriterwhosecuriosityconcerninghimwouldprettysoonhavediedaway;
norcouldanyamountofunwisedesiretosatisfythatfeelinginfellow—creatureslessseriouslydisposedhavesustainedhimalive,inthosebalefulHistoricAcheronsandStygianFens,wherehehashadtodigandtofishsolong,farawayfromtheupperlight!——
Letmerequestallreaderstoblowthatsorrychaffentirelyoutoftheirminds;andtobelievenothingonthesubjectexceptwhattheygetsomeevidencefor。
SECONDEnglishsourcerelatestothePrivateCharacter。
Friedrich’sBiographyorPrivateCharacter,theEnglish,liketheFrench,havegatheredchieflyfromascandalouslibelbyVoltaire,whichusedtobecalled