FRIEDRICH,STRANGETOSAY,PUBLISHES(March—June,1760)
ANEDITIONOFHISPOEMS。QUESTION,"WHOWROTEMatineesduRoidePrusse?"——FORTHESECOND,ANDPOSITIVELYTHELASTTIME。
Inthisavalancheofimpendingdestructions,whatcanbemoresurprisingthantohearoftheEditingofPoemsonhisMajesty’spart!ActualpublicationofthatOEuvredePoesie,forwhichVoltaire,poorgentleman,sufferedsuchtribulationsevenyearsago。Nowcomingoutfromchoice:Reprintofit,notnowtotheextentoftwelvecopiesforhighlyspecialfriends,butincopiousthousands,forbehoofofmankindatlarge!ThethingcostFriedrichverylittlemeditating,andhadbecomenecessary,——andtobedonewithspeed。
ReadersrecollecttheOEUVREDEPOESIE,andsatiricalhitssaidtobeinit。AtParis,aboutNew—year’stime1760,somehelpfulHandhadcontrivedtobringout,underthepretendeddate"Potsdam,"acheapeditionofthatinterestingWork。["OEuvresduPhilosophedeSans—Souci:"1vol。12mo,"Potsdam[PARIS,intruth],1760。"]Merelyinthewayoftheft,asappearedtocursoryreaders,toD’Argens,forexample:[HisLettertotheKing,OEuvresdeFrederic,xix。138。]but,indeeperfact,forthepurposeofapprisingcertainCrownedHeads,friendlyandhostile,——CzarishMajestyandGeorgeII。ofEnglandthemaintwo,——whatthispoetizingKingwaspleasedtothinkoftheminhisprivatemoments。D’Argensdeclareshimselfgladofthistheft,soexquisitelycleveristheBook。ButFriedrichknowsbetter:"March17th,whenaCopyofitcametohim,"Friedrichseeswellwhatismeant,——andwhathehimselfhastodoinit。
Heinstantlysetsaboutmakingafewsuppressions,changesofphrase;sendsthethingtoD’Argens:"Publishatonce,withalittleprefatoryword。"And,atthetopofhisspeed,D’Argenshas,inthreeweeks’time,thesuitableAVANT—PROPOS,orAVISAU
LIBRAIRE,"circulatingingreatquantities,especiallyinLondonandPetersburg"("ThiefEditorhasomitted;and,whatisfarmore,hasmalignantlyinterpolated:hereisthepooridleWorkitself,notaCounterfeitofit,ifanybodycaretoreadit"),andanOrthodoxEditionready。[CameoutApril9th[seeMITCHELL,ii。
153],andasecondfinerEditioninJune:"inOEuvresdeFrederic,x。p。x,xix。137n。,138;especiallyinPREUSS,i。467,468(ifyouwillcomparehimwithHIMSELFonthesedifferentoccasions,andpatientlywindouthisbitofmeaning),allmannerofminutestdetails。]ThediligentPirateBooksellers,atAmsterdam,atLondon,copiouslyreproducedthisauthorizedBerlinEditiontoo,——oraddedexcerptsfromittotheirreprintsoftheParisone,bywayofvarious—readings。Andeverybodyreadandcompared,whatnobodywillnowdo;theme,andtreatmentoftheme,beingbothnowsoheartilyindifferenttous。
WhothePerpetratorofthisParisianmaleficencewas,remaineddark;——andwouldnotbeworthinquiringintoatall,exceptfortworeasonsintrinsicallytrifling,butnotquitewithoutinteresttoreadersofourtime。First,thatVoltaire,whomsomesuspected(some,nevermuchFriedrich,thatIhearof),appearstohavebeenperfectlyinnocent;——andindeedhadbeenincapacitatedforguilt,bySchmidtandFreytag,andtheirdreadfulFrankfurtprocedures!
ThisisreasonFIRST;poorVoltairemutelyaskingus,Nottoloadhimwithmoresinsthanhisown。ReasonSECONDis,that,byasingularopportunity,therehas,intheseverymonths,[Spring,1863。]aglimmeringoflightrisenonittothisEditor;
illustratingtwootherpointsaswell,whichreadershereareacquaintedwith,sometimeago,asriddlesoftheinsignificantsort。TheDEMONNEWSWRITER,withhis"IDEA"ofFriedrich,andthe"MATINEESDUROIDEPRUSSE:"readersrecollectboththoseProductions;bothenigmaticastoauthorship;——butbothnowbecomeriddleswhichcanmoreorlessberead。
Forthesurprisingcircumstance(thoughincertainperiods,whentherealmofveryChaosre—emerges,fitfully,intouppersunshinenowandthen,nothingoughttosurpriseoneashappeningthere)is,That,onlyafewmonthsago,theincomparableMATINEES(knowntomyreadersfiveyearssince)hasfoundanewEditorandreviver。
Editorilluminated"bytheSecretaryoftheGreatNapoleon,""bydiscoveryofmanuscripts,""bytheDucdeRovigo,"andIknownotwhat;animatedalso,itissaid,byreligiousviews。And,inshort,theMATINEESisagainabroadupontheworld,——"yourLondonEditiontwicereprintedinGermany,bytheJesuitpartysince"(muchgoodmayitdotheJesuitparty!)——aMATINEESagainincomfortablecircumstances,aswouldseem。Probablythelongest—earedPlatitudenowwalkingtheEarth,thoughthereareagoodmanywithearslong。
Unconscious,seemingly,thatithasbeenkilledthriceandfourtimesalready;andthatindeed,exceptintherealmofNightmare,itneverwasalive,orneededanykilling;beliefinit,doubtuponit(ImustgrievetoinformtheDucdeRovigoandhonorablepersonsconcerned),beingevidenceconclusivethatyouhavenotyetthefaintestpreliminaryshadowofcorrectknowledgeaboutFriedrichorhishabitsoraffairs,andthatyououghtfirsttotryandacquiresome。
Tomeargumentonthissubjectwouldhavebeentoounendurable。
Butargumenttherewasonit,bypersonscapableandwilling,morethanone:andinresultthissurprisingbrand—newLondonmoon—calfofaMATINEESwassmittenthrough,andslitinpieces,forthefifthtime,——asifthatcouldhavehurtitmuch!"MITDER
DUMMHEIT,"singsSchiller;"HumanStupidityisstrongerthantheveryGods。"However,inthecourseofthesenewinspectionsintomatterslongsinceobsolete,theredid——whatmaytrulybeconsideredasakindofprofitbythisResuscitatingofthemoon—
calfMATINEESuponafflictedmankind,andisanetoutcomefromit,real,thoughverysmall——somelightriseastotheoriginandgenesisofMATINEES;sometwinklesoflight,and,intheutterlydarkelement,diddiscloseothermonstrousextinctshapesloomingtorightandleftofsaidmonster:and,inaword,theAuthorshipofMATINEES,andnotofMATINEESonly,becomesnowatlastfaintlyvisibleorguessable。TooneofthoseindustriousMatadors,aswemaycallthem,Slayersofthismoon—calfforthefourthorfifthtime,IowethefollowingNote;which,onverifying,Icandeclaretobetrustworthy:——
"TheAuthorofMATINEES,itisnearlycertain",saysmyCorrespondent,"isactuallya’M。deBonneville,’——contrarytowhatyouwrotefiveyearsago。[A。D。1858(SUPRA,v。165,166)。]
NotindeedtheBonnevillewhoisfoundinDictionaries,whoisvisiblyimpossible;butaBonnevilleoftheprecedinggeneration,whowasMarechaldeSaxe’sAdjutantorSecretary,oldenoughtohavebeentheUncleortheFatherofthatrevolutionaryBonneville。
MarechaldeSaxediedNovember30th,1750;thisseniorBonneville,stillayoungman,hadbeenwithhimtoPotsdamonvisitthere。
Bonneville,consciousofgenius,andnowoutofemployment,naturallywentthitheragain;livedagooddealthere,orwentbetweenFranceandthere:andauthenticHistoryknowsofhim,bydirectevidence,andbyreflex,thefollowingThreeFacts(theSECONDofthemitselfthreefold),ofwhichIwilldistinguishtheindubitablefromtheinferentiallycredibleorasgoodascertain:——
"1。Indubitable,ThatBonnevillesoldtoFriedrichcertainPapers,militaryPlans,orthelike,ofthelateMarechalandwaspaidforthem;butbynomeansmettherecognitionhisgeniussawitselftomerit。Thesethingsarecertain,thoughnotdated,ordatableexceptasoftheyear1750or1751。Afterwhich,forabovetwentyyears,Bonnevilleentereduponaseriesofadventures,caliginous,underground,formostpart;’soldieringinAmerica,’’writinganonymousPamphletsorBooks,’roamingwideovertheworld;andledabusybutobscureanduncertainlife,hangingbyBerlinasakindofcentre,orbyParisandBerlinashistwocentres;andhadamiscellaneousseriesofadventures,subterraneanmanyofthem,unluminousallofthem,notcourtingthelight;whichlienowinnaturallyaverydarkcondition。Dimlydiscernible,however,inthegeneralduskofBonneville,dimandvagueofoutline,butdefinitelysteadybeyondwhatcouldhavebeenexpected,itdoesappearfarther,——whataloneentitlesBonnevilletotheleastmemoryhere,oranywhereinNaturenoworhenceforth,——
"2。Inferentiallycredible,That,shortlyafterthatfirstrebuffinPotsdam,he,notanother,in1752,wasyour’DEMONNEWSWRITER,’
whomwegazedat,sometimesince,devoutlycrossingourselves,foralittlewhile!
"Likewisethat,in1759—1760,afterorbeforehisAmericanwanderings,he,thesameBonneville,aswassuspectedatthetime,["Nicolai,UeberZimmermannsFragmente,i。
181,182,ii。253,254。SketchofwhatisauthenticallyknownaboutBonneville:’suspectedbothofMATINEESandoftheStolenEDITION。’"]stoleandeditedthissurreptitiousmischief—makingOEuvresduPhilosophedeSans—Souci(ParisorLyon,pretendingtobe’Potsdam,’January,1760),"whichwearenowconsidering!"Encouraged,probablyenough,byChoiseulhimself,who,inanycase,isnowknowntohavebeenthepromoterofthisfinebitofmischief,[Choiseul’sownNote,"ToM。deMalesherbes,DIRECTEURDELALIBRAIRE,10thDecember,1759:’ByeverymethodscreentheKing’sGovernmentfrombeingsuspected;——andgettheEditionoutatonce。’"(PublishedintheConstitutionnel,2dDecember,1850,byM。Sainte—Beuve;copiedinPreuss,OEuvresdeFrederic,xix。168n。)]——
andwhomaythereupon[ormayasprobably,NOT"thereupon,"ifitwereoftheleastconsequencetogodsormen]haveopenedtoBonnevilleanewmilitarycareerinAmerica?Careerwhichledtoasgoodasnothing;FrenchsoldieringinAmericabeingdonefor,inthecourseof1760。UponwhichBonnevillewouldreturntohisoldhaunts,tohisoldsubterraneanindustriesinParisandBerlin。
"Andthat,finally,in1765,he,aswasagainsuspectedatthetime,["Nicolai,UeberZimmermannsFragmente,i。181,182,ii。253,254。SketchofwhatisauthenticallyknownaboutBonneville:
’suspectedbothofMATINEESandoftheStolenEDITION。’"]heandnoother,didwritethoseMATINEES,whichappearednextyearinprint(1766),andmanytimessince;andhavejustbeenreprinted,asasurprisingnewdiscovery,atLondon,inSpring,1863。
"3。Againindubitable,ThateitherafterorbeforethoseEditorialexploits,BonnevillehadsoldtheMarechaldeSaxe’sPlansandPapers,whichwerealreadytheKing’s,tosomesecondperson,andbeenasecondtimepaidforthem。Andwas,inregardtothisSwindlingexploit,foundout;andbyreasonofthatsale,orforwhatreasonisnotknown,wasputintoSpandau,and,onehopes,endedhislifethere。"["Nicolai,UBISUPRA;——andbesideshim,onlythetwofollowingreferences,outofhalfacart—load:
1。Bachaumont,MEMOIRESSECRETES,’7thFebruary,1765’(seeBarbier,DictionnairedesAnonymes,?
Matinees),whocallsMATINEES’adevelopmentoftheIDEEDELA
PERSONNE,’&c。(thatis,ofyour’DEMONNEWSWRITER;’alreadyknowntoBachaumont,this’IDEE,’itseems,aswellastheMATINEESinManuscript)。2。LETTERofGrimmtoDuchessofSachsen—Gotha[OUR
Duchess],dated’Paris,15thApril,1765:’notinprinted
CorrespondancedeGrimm,butstillintheArchivesofGotha,incompanywithaMS。ofMATINEES,probablytheoldestextant(see,——intheGRENZBOTENPeriodical,Leipzig,1863,pp。473—484,500—519,——K。SAMWER,whoisChiefMALLEUSofthisnewLondonmoon—calf,andwillinformthecuriousofeveryparticular)。"
MATINEESwasfirstprinted1766(noplace),andsevenoreighttimessince,indifferentCountries;twiceorthriceover,as"aninterestingnewdiscovery:"——verywearisometothisEditor;whoreadMATINEES(inpoorLONDONprint,thattoo)manyyearsago,——
withcompletesatisfactionastoMatinees,andsincerewishnottotouchitagainevenwithapairoftongs;——andhassincehadthree"pricelessMSS。ofit"offeredhim,atlowrates,asaguerdontomerit。]
FactNo。2,whichaloneconcernsushere,——andwhich,initsthreesuccessivestages,doescuriouslycoherewithitselfandwithotherthings,——comes,therefore,notbydirectlight,whichindeed,bythenatureofthecase,wouldbeimpossible。Notbydirectlight,butbyvariousreflexlights,andconvergenceofprobabilitiesoldandnew,whichbecomethestrongerthebettertheyareexamined;
andmaybeconsideredasamountingtowhatiscalledamoralcertainty,——"certain"enoughforaninquiryofthatsignificance。
Toakindofmoralcertainty:kindofmoralconsolationtoo;
onlyOneindividualofAdam’sPosterity,notThreeormore,havingbeenneededinthesemultifariousactsofscoundrelism;andthatOnereceivingpayment,orpartpayment,sopromptandappropriate,intheshapeofapermanentcannon—ballathisankle。
ThisistheoneprofitmyreadersorIhaveyetderivedfromthelatemiraculousResuscitationofMATINEESROYALES;theotheritemsofprofitinthatEnterpriseshallbelong,nottousintheleastmeasure,buttoBonneville,andtohiswellorilldisposedCoadjutorsandCopartnersintheAdventure。Adieutoit,audtohimandtothem,foreverandaday!
PEACE—NEGOTIATIONSHOPEFULTOFRIEDRICHALLTHROUGHWINTER;
BUTTHEFRENCHWON’T。VOLTAIRE,ANDHISSTYLEOFCORRESPONDING。
ThisWintertherewastalkofPeace,morespecificallythanever。
November15th,attheHague,asaneutralplace,therehadbeen,bythetwoMajesties,BritannicandPrussian,officialDECLARATION,"We,forourpart,deeplylamentthesehorrors,andarereadytotreatofPeace。"ThisDeclarationwaspresentedNovember15th,1759,byPrinceLudwigofBrunswick(HeadGeneraloftheDutch,andaBrotherofPrinceFerdinandourGeneral’s,suitableforsuchcase),totheAustrian—FrenchExcellenciesattheHague。Bywhomithadbeenreceivedwiththeduepoliteness,"Willgiveitourprofoundestconsideration;"[DECLARATION(bythetwoMajesties)
thattheyarereadytotreatofPeace,15thNovember,1759,presentedby,&c。(asabove);ANSWERfromFrance,instingyterms,andnottill3dApril,1760:areinLondonGazette;
inGentleman’sMagazine,xxix。
603,xxx。188;in&c。&c。]——whichindeedtheFrench,forsometime,privatelydid;thoughtheAustriansprivatelyhadnoneedtodoso,beingalreadyfixedforanegativeresponsetotheproposal。
Butherebyroseactualtalkofa"Congress;"andwaggingofDiplomaticwigsastowhereitshallbe。"InBreda,"saidsome;
"BredaaplaceusedtoCongresses。""WhynotinNancihere?"saidpooroldEx—PolishStanislaus,alivetothecallsofbenevolence,pooroldTitularsoul。Otherssaid"Leipzig;"others"Augsburg;"——
andindeedinAugsburg,accordingtotheGazetteers,atonetime,therewere"upholsterersbusygettingreadytheapartments。"
Sothat,withsuchrumorintheDiplomaticcircles,theGazetteerandouterworldwasfullofspeculationuponPeace;andFriedrichhadlivelyhopesofit,andhadbeenhopingthreemonthsbefore,aswetransientlysaw,thoughagainitcametonothing。Alltonothing;andisnot,initself,worththeleastattentionfromushere,——apoorextinctfact,loudinthosemonthsandfillingthewholeworld,nowsilentandextincttoeverybody,——except,indeed,thatitoffersphysiognomictraitshereandthereofacertainKing,andofthoseabouthim。Forwhichreasonwewilldwellonitafewminuteslonger。
Nobody,inthatWinter1759—1760,couldguesswhere,orfromwhom,thisbigworld—interestingPeace—Negotiationhaditsbirth;
aseverybodynowcan,whennobodynowiscuriousonthequestion!
AtSagan,inSeptemberlast,weallsawthesmallprivatesourceofit,itsfirstoutspurtintodaylight;andreadFriedrich’sANSWERS
toVoltaireandthenobleDuchessonit:——forthesakeofwhichTwoprivateCorrespondents,andofFriedrich’srelationtothem,possiblyafewmoreExcerptsmaystillhaveakindofinterest,nowwhenthethingcorrespondedonhasceasedtohaveany。TotheDuchess,anoble—mindedLady,beautifullyzealoustohelpifshecould,bywhosehandthesemultifariousPeace—Papershavetopass,thisisalwaysFriedrich’sfinestyleintransmittingthem。Outofmanyspecimens,followingthatofSaganwhichwegave,herearetheNextThree:——
FRIEDRICHTOTHEDUCHESSOFSACHSEN—GOTHA
(ThreeotherLettersonthe"Peace")。
1。
"WILSDRUF,21stNovember,1759[dayafterMaxen,SURRENDERwasTHISmorning——ofwhichhehasnotheard]。
"MADAM,——Nothingbutyourgenerositiesandyourindulgencecouldjustifymyincongruity[INCONGRUITE,introublingyouwiththeEnclosed]。Youwillhaveit,Madam,thatIshallstillfartherabusethosebounties,whicharesoprecioustome:atleastrememberthatitisbyyourorder,ifIforwardthroughyourhandthisLetter,whichdoesnotmeritsuchhonor。
"Chance,whichsoinsolentlymockstheprojectsofmen,anddelightstobuildupandthenpulldown,hasledusabout,thusfar,——totheendoftheCampaign[notquiteendedyet,ifweknew]。
TheAustriansaregirtinbytheElbeonthisside;IhavehadtwoimportantMagazinesoftheirsinBohemiadestroyed[Kleist’sdoing]。Therehavebeensomebitsoffighting(AFFAIRES),thathaveturnedentirelytoouradvantage:——sothatIaminhopesofforcingM。DauntorepasstheElbe,toabandonDresden,andtotaketheroadforZittauandBohemia。
"Italktoyou,Madam,ofwhatIamsurroundedwith;ofwhat,beinginyourneighborhood,mayperhapshavegainedyourattention。
Icouldgotomuchgreaterlength,ifmyheartdaredtoexplainitselfonthesentimentsofadmiration,gratitudeandesteem,withwhichIam,——MadammyCousin,——YourmostfaithfulCousin,FriendandServant,——F。"
2。
"FREYBERG,18thDecember,1759。
"MADAM,——Youspoilmesobyyourindulgence,yousoaccustommetohaveobligationstoyou,thatIreproachmyselfahundredtimeswiththispresumption。CertainlyIshouldnotcontinuetoenclosetheseLetterstoyourcare,hadnotIthehopethatperhapstheCorrespondencemaybeofsomeusetoEngland,andeventoEurope,——
forwithoutdoubtPeaceisthedesirable,thenaturalandhappystateforallNations。ItistoacceleratePeace,Madam,thatI
abuseyourgenerosities。Thismotiveexcusesmetomyselffortheincongruityofmyprocedures。
"Thegoodnessyouhavetotakeinterestinmysituationobligesmetogiveyousomeaccountofit。Wehaveundergoneallsortsofmisfortunehere[Maxen,whatnot],atthemomentwewereleastexpectingthem。Nevertheless,thereremainstouscourageandhope;
hereareAuxiliaries[HereditaryPrinceand12,000]onthepointofarriving;thereisreasontothinkthattheendofourCampaignwillbelessfrightfulthanseemedlikelythreeweeksago。Mayyou,Madam,enjoyallthehappinessthatIwishyou。Mayalltheworldbecomeacquaintedwithyourvirtues,imitatethem,andadmireyouasIdo。Mayyoubepersuadedthat……——F。"
3。
"FREYBERG,16thFebruary,1760。
"MADAM,——ItistomygreatregretthatIimportuneYourHighnesssooftenwithmyLetters。Yourbounties,Madam,havespoiledme;——itwillteachyoutobemorecharyofthemtoothers。IregardyouasanestimableFriend,towhosefriendshipIhaverecourseinstraits。ThequestionisstillPeace,Madam;andwerenottheobjectofmyimportunitiessobeautiful,Madam,Ishouldbeinexcusable。"——Goesthenintopracticalconsiderations,about"Cocceji"(King’sAide—de—Camp,onceKeith’s,whocarriesthisLetter),abouta"HerrvonEdelsheim,"a"BaillideFroulay",andthepossible"ConditionsofPeace,"——notofconsequencetousjustnow。[OEuvresdeFrederic,xviii。174,173,172。Correspondenceonthissubjectlastsfrom22dSeptember,1759,to8thMay,1760:IB。pp。170—186。InthatfinalLetterof8thMayisthephrase,hardlyworthrestoringtoitsrealownership,thoughthecontextconsiderablyredeemsitthere,——"theprejudiceIcan’tgetridof,that,inwar,DIEUESTPOURLESGROSESCADRONS。"]
AstoVoltaireagain,andthenewFriedrich—VoltaireStyleofCorrespondence,somethingmoreofdetailwillberequisite。
Eversincetheblackdaysof1757,whenpoorWilhelmina,withRossbachandLeuthenstillhiddenfromherinafuturegloomyasdeath,desperatelybroughtVoltairetobearuponCardinalTencininthismatter,withoutsuccess,therehasbeenakindofregularcorrespondingbetweenVoltaireandFriedrich;characteristiconbothsides。ApairofLovershopelesslyestrangedanddivorced;
andyet,inasense,uniqueandpricelesstooneanother。ThePast,fullofheavenlyradiances,whichissued,alas,inflamesandsootyconflagrationsasofErebus,——letusforgetit,andbetaughtbyit!ThePastispainful,andhasbeentoodidactictosomeofus:
butherestillisthePresentwithitsFuture;betterthanblanknothing。Pleasanttohearthesoundofthatdivinevoiceofmylovedone,wereitonlyincommonplaceremarksontheweather,——
perhapsintermixedwithsecretgibingsonmyself:——letushearitwhilewecan,amidthoseworld—widecrashingdiscordsandpipingwhirlwindsofwar。
FriedrichsendshisnewVersesorlightProses,whichheiseverandanonthrowingoff;Voltairesendshis,mostlyinprint,andofmoreelaborateturn:theytalkonmattersthatarepassingroundthem,roundthisKing,thecentreofthem,——Friedrichusuallyinaratherswaggeringway(lesthisCorrespondentthinkofblabbing),andalwayswithsomethingofbanteraudibleinhim;——ashasVoltairetoo,butinafinerTREBLEtone,beingalwaysfemaleinthisprettyduetofpartedlovers。Itrarelycomestoanyscoldingbetweenthem;butthereisorcanbenothingofcordiality。
Nothing,exceptinthemutualadmiration,whichoneperceivestobesincereonbothsides;andalso,inthemutualpracticalestrangement:"Nothingmoreofyou,——especiallyofYOU,Madam,——asapracticaldomesticarticle!"
Afterlongreading,withHistoricalviews,inthisfinalsectionoftheFriedrich—VoltaireCorrespondence,atfirstsobarrenotherwiseandoflittleentertainment,onefindsthatthistoo,whenonceyouCAN"read"it(thatistosay,whenthesceneanditsdetailsarevisibletoyou),becomeshighlydramatic,Shakspearean—comicormore,forthisisNature’sself,whofarexcelsevenShakspeare;——
andthattheinextricablydarkconditionoftheseLettersisareallosstotheingenuousreader,andespeciallytothestudentofFriedrich。Amongthefrequentlyrecurringtopics,onethatoftenestturnsuponVoltaire’ssideisthatofPeace:Oh,ifyourMajestywouldbutmakePeace!Doesitdependonme?thinksFriedrichalways;andis,atlast,onceprovokedtosayso:——
FRIEDRICHTOVOLTAIRE。
"REICH—HENNERSDORF,2dJuly,1759,[shortlybeforeSchmottseifen,whilewaitingDaun’sslowmovements]。
"AskingMEforPeace:thereisabitterjoke!——[Inverse,this;
flingsoffahandfulofcrackersontheBIEN—AIME,whoseChamberlainyouare,ontheHONGROISEQUI’ILADORE,ontheRussianQUEJ’ABHORRE;——thencontinuesinprose]:
"Itistohim,"theWell—belovedLouis,"thatyoumustaddressyourself,ortohisAmboiseinPetticoats[hisPompadour,actingtheCardinal—Premieronthisoccasion]。Butthesepeoplehavetheirheadsfilledwithambitiousprojects:thesepeoplearethedifficulty;theywishtobethesovereignarbitersofsovereigns;——
andthatiswhatpersonsofmywayofthinkingwillbynomeansputupwith。IlovePeacequiteasmuchasyoucouldwish;butIwantitgood,solidandhonorable。SocratesorPlatowouldhavethoughtasIdoonthissubject,hadtheyfoundthemselvesplacedintheaccursedpositionwhichisnowmineintheworld。
"Thinkyouthereisanypleasureinleadingthisdogofalife[CHIENNE,she—dog]?Inseeingandcausingthebutcheryofpeopleyouknownothingof;inlosingdailythoseyoudoknowandlove;
inseeingperpetuallyyourreputationexposedtothecapricesofchance;inpassingyearafteryearindisquietudesandapprehensions;inrisking,withoutend,yourlifeandyourfortune?
"Iknowrightwellthevalueoftranquillity,thesweetsofsociety,thecharmsoflife;andIlovetobehappy,asmuchasanybodywhatever。ButmuchasIdesiretheseblessings,Iwillnotpurchasethembybasenessesandinfamies。Philosophyenjoinsustodoourduty;faithfullytoserveourCountry,atthepriceofourblood,ofourrepose,andofeverysacrificethatcanberequiredofus。TheillustriousZADIGwentthroughagoodmanyadventureswhichwerenottohistaste,CANDIDEthelike;andneverthelesstooktheirmisfortuneinpatience。Whatfinerexampletofollowthanthatofthoseheroes?
"Takemyword,our’curtjackets,’asyoucallthem[HABITS
ECOURTES,peculiartothePrussiansoldieratthattime],areasgoodasyourredheels,astheHungarianpelisses,andthegreenfrocksoftheRoxelans[Russians]。Weareactuallyontheheelsofthelatter[atleastpoorDohnais,andpoorDictatorWedellwillbe,notwiththeeffectanticipated!]——whobytheirstupiditiesgiveusfinechance。YouwillseeIshallgetoutofthescrapethisYeartoo,anddelivermyselfbothfromtheGreensandtheDirty—Whites[Austriancolorofcoat]。MyneighboroftheSacredHat,——Ithink,inspiteofHolyFather’sbenediction,theHolyGhostmusthaveinspiredhimthereverseway;heseemstohaveagreatdealofleadinhisbottom……F。"[OEuvresdeFrederic,xxiii。53。]
VOLTAIREINANSWER。
"THEDELICES,"guessedtobesometimein"August,1759。"
"Inwhateverstateyouare,itisverycertainthatyouareagreatman。ItisnottowearyyourMajestythatInowwrite;itistoconfessmyself,——onconditionyouwillgivemeabsolution!
Ihavebetrayedyou;thatisthefact"——(reallyguiltythistime,andHAVEshownsomethingofyourwriting;asyourMajesty,ohhowunjustly,isoftensuspectingthatIdo,andwithmischievousintention,insteadofgood,ah,Sire!)——Infact,Ihavereceivedthatfine"MARCUS—AURELIUS"Letter(Letterwehavejustread);
exquisitePiece,thoughwithbiting"JUVENAL"qualitiesinittoo;
andhaveshownit,keepingbackthebitingparts,toabeautifulgillflirtoftheCourt,MINAUDIERE(whoseemstobeaMistressofChoiseul’s),whoishereattendingTissotforherhealth:
MINAUDIEREcharmedwithit;insistsonmysendingtoChoiseul,"HeadmirestheKingofPrussia,ashedoesallnoblenessandgenius;
sendit!"AndIdidso;——andlookhere,whatanAnswerfromChoiseul(Answerlost):andmayitnothaveafineeffect,andperhapsbringPeace——Oh,forgiveme,Sire。ButreadthatNoteofthegreatman。"Tryifyoucandecipherhiswriting。Onemayhaveveryhonestsentiments,andagreatdealofESPRIT,andyetwritelikeacat……
"Sire,therewasoncealionandamouse(RAT);themousefellinlovewiththelion,andwenttopayhimcourt。Thelion,tiredofit,gavehimalittlescrapewithhispaw。Themousewithdrewintohismouse—hole(SOURICIERE);buthestilllovedthelion;
andseeingonedayanettheywerespreadingouttocatchthelionandkillhim,hegnawedasunderonemeshofit。Sire,themousekissesveryhumblyyourbeautifulclaws,inallsubmissiveness:——hewillneverdiebetweentwoCapuchins,as,atBale,themastiff(DOGUE)ofSt。Malohasdone[27thJulylast]。Hewouldhavewishedtodiebesidehislion。Believethatthemousewasmoreattachedthanthemastiff。"——V。[OEuvresdeFrederic,
xxiii。59,60。]
TowhichwesawtheAnswer,pairofAnswers,atSagan,inSeptemberlast。ThisNotefromChoiseul,conveyedbyVoltaire,appearstohavebeenthetriflingwell—springfromwhichallthosewide—spreadwatersofNegotiationflowed。Pitt,whenappliedto,onthestrengthofFriedrich’shopesfromthissmallDocumentofChoiseul’s,wasofcourseready,"HowwelcomeeverychanceofajustPeace!"andagreedtotheJointDeclarationattheHague;
andtookwhatfarthertroubleIknownot,——probablylesssanguineofsuccessthanFriedrich。Friedrichwasardentlyindustriousintheaffair;hadagreatdealofdevisinganddirectingonit,agreatdealofcorrespondingwithVoltaireandtheDuchess,onlysmallfractionsofwhicharenowleft。Hesearchedout,ortheDuchessofSachsen—Gothadiditforhim,aproperSecretMessengerforParis:SecretMessenger,oneBaronvonEdelsheim,properlyveiled,wastoconsultacertainBaillideFroulay,afriendofFriedrich’sinParis;——whichloyal—heartedBaillididaccordinglyendeavorthere;butmadeoutnothing。Onlymuchvaguetalking;
partofit,ormostofit,subdolousonChoiseul’sside。PittwouldhearofnoPeacewhichdidnotincludePrussiaaswellasEngland:
somesaidthiswasthecauseoffailure;——therealcausewasthatChoiseulneverhadanyseriousintentionofsucceeding。
LightChoiseul,acleverman,butanunwise,ofthesortcalled"dashing,"hadentertainedthemattermerelyintheoptativeform,——andwhenitcamenearer,wishedtouseitformakingmischiefbetweenPittandFriedrich,andforwormingoutEdelsheim’ssecrets,ifhehadany,——forwhichreasonhefinallythrewEdelsheimintotheBastilleforafewdays。[OEuvresdeFrederic,v。38—41,detailedaccountoftheAffair。]
AbouttheendofMarchIguessittohavebeenthatChoiseul,bywayofwormingoutpoorEdelsheim’ssecrets,flunghimintotheBastilleforadayortwo。AlreadyinDecemberforegoing,wehaveseenChoiseul’sBlack—ArtistbusyupontheStolenEDITIONofFriedrich’sVerses。AChoiseulfullofintrigues;adroitenough,ambitiousenough;restlesslyindustriousinmakingmischief,iftherewerenothingelsetobemade;whogreatlydisgustedFriedrich,nowandafterwards。
AndthiswaswhatthegrandVoltairePacificationcameto,thoughitfilledtheworldwithtemporarynoise,andwassointerestingtoVoltaireandanother。Whataheart—affectinggenerosity,humilityanddulcetpathosinthatofthepoorMousegnawingasunderameshoftheLion’snet!Thereisagooddealofthatthroughout,ontheVoltaireside,——thatistosay,whilewritingtoFriedrich。
Butwhilewritingofhim,tothirdparties,sometimesalmostsimultaneously,thecontrastofstylesisnotalittlestartling;
andthebeautifulaffectionatelychirpingMouseisseensuddenlytobeaninjuredWild—catwithitsfurup。AllreadersofVoltaireareawareofthis;andhowVoltairehandleshis"LUC"(mysteriousnicknameforKINGFRIEDRICH),whenLuc’sbackisturned。Foralas,thereisnomanorthingbuthasitswrongsidetoo;leastofall,aVoltaire,——doingTREBLEvoicewithal,ifyouconsiderit,insuchaDuetofestrangedLovers!SupposewegivethesefewSpecimens,——
treblemostly,andafewofbassaswell,——toillustratethenatureofthisDuet,andofthenoisesthatwentonroundit,inawar—
convulsedworld?Andfirstofall,concerningtheenigma"WhatisLuc?"
WhattheLUCinVoltaireis?Shockingexplanationshavebeenhitupon:butWagniere(WAGNER,anintelligentSwissman),Voltaire’soldSecretary,givesthisplainreadingoftheriddle:"M。deVoltairehad,atTheDelices[nearbyFerney,tilltheChateaugotbuilt],abigApe,ofexcessivelymischievousturn;whousedtothrowstonesatthepassers—by,andsometimeswouldattackwithitsteethfriendorfoealike。OnedayitthriceoverbitM。deVoltaire’sownleg。HehadcalleditLUC(Luke);andinconversationwithselectfriends,asalsoinLetterstosuch,hesometimesdesignatedtheKingofPrussiabythatnickname:’HEislikemyLuchere;biteswhoevercaresseshim!’——In1756M。deVoltaire,havingstillonhishearttheFrankfurtOutrage,wrotecuriousMEMOIRES[ah,yes,VIEPRIVEE];andafterwardswishedtoburnthem;butaCopyhadbeenstolenfromhimin1768,"——andtheystillafflictthepoorworld。
TothesameeffectspeaksJohannesvonMuller:"VoltairehadanApecalledLuc;andthespitefulman,inthusnamingtheKing,meanttostigmatizehimasthemereAPEofgreatermen;asonewithoutanygreatnessofhisown。"——No;LUCwasmischievous,flungstonesafterpassengers;had,accordingtoClogenson,"bittenVoltairehimself,whilebeingcaressedbyhim;"thatwastheanalogyinVoltaire’smind。Preusssays,thisNicknamefirstoccurs"12thDecember,1757。"Suppose11thDecembertohavebeenthedayofgettingone’slegbittenthriceover;andthat,inbednextmorning,——stiff,smarting,fretfulagainstthesadape—tricksandoffencesofthislife,——beforegettinguptoone’sWorksandCorrespondences,theangrysimilitudehadshot,slightlyfulgurousandconsolatory,athwartthegloomofone’smood?[LongchampetWagniere
Memoires,i。34;JohannesvonMuller,Works(12mo,Stuttgard,1821),xxxi。140(LETTERSTOHIS
BROTHER,No,218,"July,1796");Clogenson’sNote,in
OEuvresdeVoltaire,lxxvii。103;Preuss,ii。71。]
ThatwillaccountforLuc。
ManyoftheVoltaire—FriedrichLETTERSarelost;andtheremainderlieinsaddisorderinalltheEditions,theirsequenceunintelligiblewithoutlengthyexplanation。SothatthefollowingSnatchescannotwellbearrangedhereinthewayofChoralStropheandAntistrophe,aswouldhavebeendesirable。Weshallhavetogroupthemlooselyunderheads;withlessrespecttodatethantosubject—matter,andtothereader’sconvenienceforunderstandingthem。
VOLTAIREONFRIEDRICH,TODIFFERENTTHIRD—PARTIES,DURINGTHISWAR。
TOD’ARGENTAL(HasnotyetheardofLEUTHEN,whichhappenedfivedaysbefore)……"IhavetastedthevengeanceofconsolingtheKingofPrussia,andthatisenoughforme。Hegoesbeatingontheoneside,andgettingbeatenontheother:exceptforanothermiracle[likeRossbach],hewillberuined。Betterhavereallybeenaphilosopher,ashepretendedtobe。"[OEuvresdeVoltaire,lxvii。139("TheDelices,10thDecember,1757")。]
TOTHEREVERENDCOMTEDEBERNIS(outwardlystillourflourishingPrime—Minister,bygraceofPompadour,butsoontobeextinguishedunderaRedHat。DateissixdaysbeforeZORNDORF)……"IcannotimaginehowsomepeoplehavegoneintosuspectingthatmyheartmighthavetheweaknesstoleanalittletowardsWHOMyouknow,towardsmyIngratethatwas!Oneisboundtohavepoliteness;
butonehasmemoryaswell;——andoneisattached,aswarmlyassuperfluously,totheGoodCause,whichitbelongsonlytoyoutodefend。Certainitis,poorIamnotlikethethree—fourthsoftheGermansinthesedays[sinceROSSBACH,aboveall]!IhaveeverywhereseenLadies’—fanswiththePrussianEaglepaintedonthem,eatingtheFLEUR—DE—LIS;theHanoverHorsegivingakicktoM。deRichelieu’sbottom;aCouriercarryingabottleofQueen—of—
HungaryWatertoMadamedePompadour。MyNiecesshallcertainlynothavethatfashionofFans,atmypoorlittleDELICES,whitherIamjustreturning。"[Ib。lxxvii。35("Soleure,19thAugust,1758")。]
TOMADAMED’ARGENTAL(onoccasionofMINDEN:Kunersdorfthreedaysago,butnotyetheardof)……"Truly,Madame,whenM。deContadesleadstothebutcheryallthedescendantsofourancientchevaliers,andsetsthemtoattackeightypiecesofcannon[notintheleast,ifyouknewit;thereverse,ifyouknewit],——asDonQuixotedidthewindmills!Thishorribledaypiercesmysoul。IamFrenchtoexcess,especiallysincethosenewfavors[notworthmentioninghere],whichIowetomydivineAngelsandtoM。leDucdeChoiseul。
"Luc——youknowwhoLucis[asdowe]——isprobablygivingBattletotheAustriansandRussians[KUNERSDORF,12th;threedaysago,didit,andwasbeatentoyourmind],atthemomentwhileIhavethehonorofwritingtoyou;atleast,hetoldmesuchwashisRoyalintention。Iftheybeathim,asmayhappen,whatashameforustohavebeenbeatenbytheDukeofBrunswick!IwishyouknewthisDuke[asIhavedone;aDukeofnoESPRIT,nogiftoftongue,infactnotalentatallthatIcoulddiscern],youwouldbemuchastonished;andwouldsay,’Thepeoplewhomhebeatsmustbegreatblockheads。’Thetruthofthefactis,thatallthesetroopsarebetterdisciplinedthanours:"[OEuvresdeVoltaire,lxxviii,186,187("Delices,15thAugust,1759")。]——Yesindeed,myesteemedVoltaire;andalso,perhaps,thatESPRIT,orgiftoftongue,isnotthesolegiftforBattlesandCampaigns?——
TOD’ARGENTAL(seventhdayafterKUNERSDORF:"mouseuponlion’snet"nearlycontemporaneous)。"Atlast,then,IthinkmyRussiansmustbenearGreatGlogau[mighthavebeen,onethinks,aftersuchaKunersdorf;didnotstartforamonthyet;nevercouldgetverynearatall]。WhowouldhavethoughtthatBarberina[Mackenzie’sDanceronce;senttoGlogau,Coccejiandshe,whentheirmarriagebecamepublic}wasgoingtobebesiegedbytheRussians,andinGlogau:ODestiny!——
"Idon’tloveLuc,farfromit:IneverwillpardonhimhisinfamousprocedurewithmyNiece[atFrankfurtthattime];northefacehehastowritemeflatteringthingstwiceamonth;
withouthavingeverrepairedhiswrongs。Idesiremuchhisentirehumiliation,thechastisementofthesinner;whetherhiseternaldamnation。Idon’tquiteknow。"[Ib。lxxviii。195("19thAugust,1759")。](Hear,hear!)
TOTHESAME(amonthafterMAXEN:"Peace"Negotiationverylively)……"Meanwhile,ifLuccouldbepunishedbeforethishappyPeace!
If,bythislaststrokeofGeneralBeck[tusslewithDiereckeatMeissen,4thDecember,captureofDiereckeand1,500;strokenotofanoverwhelmingnature,butletusbethankfulforourmercies],whichhasopenedtheroadfromtheLausitztoBerlin[alas,notintheleast],someHaddickcouldpayBerlinavisitagain!Yousee,inTragedyIwishalwaystohavecrimepunished。
"ThereistalkofagreatBattlefoughtthe6th[notawordoftruthinit]betweenLucandhimoftheConsecratedHat:saidtohavebeenverymurderous。IinterestmyselfverymuchinthisPiece"nowplayingundertheSun。"WhenevertheAustrianshaveanyadvantage,KaunitzsaystoMadamedeBentinck[litigantwanderingLady,knowntomeatBerlinandelsewhere],’WritethattoourFriendVoltaire。’WheneverLuchastheleastsuccess,hetellsme,’Ihavebatteredtheoppressorsofmankind。DearAngel,inthesehorrorsIamtheonlyonethathasroomtolaugh:——andyetIdon’tlaugheither;owingtotheCULS—NOIRS[basecrockery;one’sDinnerPlateallvanished[Supra,p。374。]],totheAnnuities,Lotteries,andtoPondicherry,——forIamalwaysafraidaboutthatlatter!"
(Going,that,forcertain;going,gone,andyourEastIndiesalongwithit!)[OEuvresdeVoltaire,lxxviii。346
("22dDecember,1759")。]
TOPERPETUALSECRETARYFORMEY(inforwardinga"Letterleftwithme")。"Healthandpeace,Monsieur;andbeSECRETAIREETERNEL。
YourKingisalwaysamanunique,astonishing,inimitable。Hemakescharmingverses,intimeswhenanothercouldnotwritealineofprose;hedeservestobehappy:butwillhebeso?Andifnot,whatbecomesofyou?Formyownpart,IwillnotdiebetweentwoCapuchins。Hardlyworthwhile,exaltingone’ssoulforsuchafutureasthat。Whatastupidanddetestablefarcethisworldis!"
[Ib。lxxviii。348(fromSOUVENIRSD’UNCITOYEN,i。302),"11thJanuary1760。"]
TOD’ARGENTAL("Peace"Negotiationsstillattheirbriskest),……
"But,mydearAngel,youwillseeonTuesdaythegreatmanwhohasturnedmyhead(DONTJESUISFOU),M。leDucdeChoiseul。
TheLettershehonorsmewithenchantme。Godwillblesshim,don’tdoubtit,"——afterall!"WehaveatPondicherryaLally,adevilofanIrishspirit,——whowillcostme,soonerorlater,above20,000
livresannually[haverentsinourINDIACOMPANY,say1,000poundsayear,asmyAngelsknow],whichusedtobethereadiestitemofmyPittance。ButM。leDucdeChoiseulwilltriumphoverLucinonewayorother;thenwhatjoy!Isupposeheshowsyoumyimpertinentreveries。Doyouknow,Lucissomad,thatIdon’tdespairofbringinghimtoreason[persuadinghimtogiveupCleve,andknuckleasheshould,inthisPeaceAffair]。ThatwerewhatI
shouldcallthetrueComedy!IshouldliketohaveyouradvicesontheconductofthatDramaticPiece。"[OEuvresdeVoltaire,lxxviii。375("Delices,15thFebruary,1760")。]
Thelate"mouse"gnawingitsmeshofnet,whatasubtleandmightyhunterhasitgrown!ThisofCleve,however,andofknuckling,wouldnotdo。HearthestiffAnswerthatcomes:"’ConditionsofPeace,’doyoucallthem?ThepeoplethatproposesuchcanhavenowishtoseePeace。Whatalogictheirs!’ImightyieldtheCountryofCleve,becausetheinhabitantsarestupid’!WhatwouldyourMinisterssayifonerequiredtheProvinceofChampagnefromthem,becausetheProverbsays,Ninety—ninesheepandoneChampagnermakeaHundredheadofcattle?"[FriedrichtoVoltaire,"Freyberg,3dApril,1760:"OEuvresdeFrederic,xxiii。
73,74。]
FAULTONCDISC——REFERENCE/FOOTNOTEILLEGIBLE——P。394—BOOKXIX————
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
AGAINTOD’ARGENTAL(threeorfourmonthsafter;Luchavingprovedobstinate,andstillunsuccessful)……"Iconjureyoumakeuseofallyoureloquencetotellhim[thesupremeDucdeChoiseul],thatifLucmisgo,itwillbenomisfortunetoFrance。ThatBrandenburgwillalwaysremainanElectorate;thatitisgoodtherebenoElectorinitstrongenoughtodowithouttheprotectionofourKing;andthatallthePrincesoftheEmpirewillalwayshaverecoursetothataugustprotection(MostChristianMajesty’s]
CONTRAL’AQUILAGRIFAGNA,——werethePrussianKingshipbutabolished。Notabene,ifLucwerediscomfitedthisYear,weshouldhavePeacenextWinter。"[OEuvresdeVoltaire,lxxix。110("July,1760")。]
TOSUPREMECHOISEUL(ayearlater)……"Hehasbeenabadman,thisLuc;andnow,ifoneweretobet,——bythelawofprobabilityitwouldbe3to1thatLncwillgotopot(SERAPERDU),withhisrhymingsandhisbanterings,andhisinjusticesandpolitics,allasbadashimself。"[Ib。lxxx。313("ChateaudeFerney,13thJuly,1761")。]
VOLTAIREONSURROUNDINGOBJECTS,CHIEFLYONMAUPERTUIS,ANDTHEBATTLES。
TOD’ALEMBERT(intheRossbach—Leutheninterval:ontheBattleofBRESLAU,22dNovember,1757;calledbytheAustrians"aMalplaquet,"andbelievedbyVoltairetobeaMalplaquetandmore)……"TheAustriansdoavengeus,andhumbleus[us,andourmiserableRossbachs],inaterriblemanner。ThirteenattacksonthePrussianintrenchments,lastedsixhours;neverwasVictorybloodier,ormorehorriblybeautiful[inthebrainofcertainmen]。
WeprettyFrenchfellows,wearemoreexpeditious,ourjobisdoneinfiveminutes。TheKingofPrussiaisalwayswritingmeVerses,nowlikeadesperado,nowlikeahero;andasforme,Itrytolivelikeaphilosopherinmyhermitage。Hehasobtainedwhathealwayswished:tobeattheFrench,tobeadmiredbythem,tomockthem;
buttheAustriansaremockinghiminaveryseriousway。OurshameofNovember5thhasgivenhimglory;andwithsuchglory,whichisbuttransientanddearlybought,hemustcontenthimself。HewilllosehisownCountries,withthosehehasseized,unlesstheFrenchagaindiscover[whichtheywill]thesecretoflosingalltheirArmies,astheydidin1741。"[Ib。Lxxvii。133,134("Delices,6thDecember,1757,"dayafterLeuthen)。]
——FAULTONCDISCASABOVE——P。395BOOKXIX———————
TOCLAIRAUT,THEMATHEMATICIAN(Maupertuislatelydead)。AnexcellentTreatise,thisyouhavesentme,Monsieur!"YourwarwiththeGeometersonthesubjectofthisCometappearstomelikeawarofthegodsinOlympus,whileonEarththereisgoingonafightofdogsandcats……WouldtoHeavenourfriendMoreau—Maupertuishadcultivatedhisartlikeyou!Thathehadpredictedcomets,insteadofexaltinghissoultopredictthefuture;ofdissectingthebrainsofgiantstoknowthenatureofthesoul;ofjapanningpeoplewithpitchtocurethemofeverymalady;ofpersecutingKonig;andofdyingbetweenTwoCapuchins"(deadthreeweeksago,onthoseterms,poorsoul)![OEuvresdeVoltaire,lxxviii。191("Delices,19thAugust,1759")。]
TOD’ALEMBERT(aweeklater)……"WhatsayyouofMaupertuisdyingbetweenTwoCapuchins!Hewasill,thislongwhile,ofarepletionofpride;butIhadnotreckonedhimeitherahypocriteoranimbecile。Idon’tadviseyouevertogoandfillhisplaceatBerlin;youwouldrepentthat。IamAstolphowarningRoger(Ruggiero)nottotrusthimselftotheEnchantressAlcina;butRogerwasunadvisable。"[Ib。lxxviii。197("Delices,25thAugust,1759")。]
TOTHESAME(twoyearslater:Luc,oncertaingrounds,mayaswellbesaved)。"WithregardtoLuc,thoughIhavemyjustcausesofangeragainsthim,Iowntoyou,inmyqualityofFrenchmanandthinkingbeing,IamgladthatacertainmostOrthodoxHousehasnotswallowedGermany,andthattheJesuitsarenotconfessinginBerlin。OvertowardstheDanubesuperstitionisverypowerful……
TheINFAME——YouarewellawarethatIspeakofsuperstitiononly;
forastotheChristianreligion,Irespectandloveit,likeyou。
Courage,Brethren!Preachwithforce,andwritewithaddress:
Godwillblessyou。——Protect,youmyBrother,theWidowCalasallyoucan!Sheisapoorweak—mindedHuguenot,butherHusbandwasthevictimoftheWHITEPENITENTS。ItistheconcernofHumanNaturethattheFanaticsofToulousebeconfounded。"(ThecaseofCalas,SECONDactofit,gettingonthescene:acasestillmemorabletoeverybody。StupendousbitofFrenchjudicature;andVoltaire’snoblestoutburst,intomeretranscendentblazeofpity,virtuouswrath,anddeterminationtobringrescueandhelpagainstthewholeworld。)[OEuvresdeVoltaire,
lxxviii。52,53("Ferney,28thNovember,1762")。]
FRIEDRICHTOVOLTAIRE,BEFOREANDDURINGTHESEPEACENEGOTIATIONS。
ATSCHMOTTSEIFEN,FIVEDAYSBEFOREZULLICHAU,TENDAYSBEFORETHAT
HUNTOFLOUDONANDHADDICK(Voltaire,underrebukeforindiscretion,hasbeenwhimperingalittle。MydiscreetNieceburntthoseLASTverses,Sire;nodangerthere,atleast!TruculentBishopSomething—ACtriedtoattackyourMajesty;butwasdoneforbyacertainperson)。Friedrichanswers:"Intruth,youareasingularcreature。WhenIthinkofscoldingyou,yousaytwowords,andthereproachexpires。Impossibletoscoldyou,evenwhenyoudeserveit……
"AstoyourNiece,letherburnmeorroastme,Icarelittle。
NorareyoutothinkmesosensitivetowhatyourBishopsinICorinACmaysayofme。Ihavethelotofallactorswhoplayinpublic;applaudedbysome,despisedbyothers。Onemustprepareoneselfforsatires,forcalumnies,foramultitudeoflies,whichwillbesentabroadintocurrencyagainstone:butneedthattroublemytranquillity?Igomyroad;Idonothingagainsttheinteriorvoiceofmyconscience;andIconcernmyselfverylittleinwhatwaymyactionspaintthemselvesinthebrainofbeings,notalwaysverythinking,withtwolegsandwithoutfeathers。"
["Schmottseifen,18thJuly,1759;"OEuvresdeFrederic,xxiii。55,56。]
ATWILSDRUF,JUSTBEFOREMAXEN(anexultantexuberantcuriousLetter;toolongforinsertion,——partofitgivenabove)……
"ForyourTragedyofSOCRATE,thanks。AtParistheyaregoingtoburnit,thewretchedfools,——notawarethatabsurdfanaticismistheirdominantvice。Betterburnthedoseofmedicine,however,thantheusefulDoctor。I,canIjoinmyselftothatset?IfIbiteyou,asyoucomplain,itiswithoutmyknowledge。ButIamsurroundedwithenemies,onehittingme,anotherprickingme,anotherdaubingmewithmud;——patienceatlastyields,andonefliesabroadintoageneralrage,tooindiscriminateperhaps。"
YoutalkofmyVersesonRossbach(myADIEUTOTHEHOOPERSonfindingtheirBridgeburnt[Supra,p。21。])。"ThisCampaignIhavehadnobeatificvision,inthestyleofMoses。ThebarbarousCossacksandTartars,infamoustolookatonanyside,haveburntandravagedcountries,andcommittedatrociousinhumanities。
ThisisallIsawofTHEM。Suchmelancholyspectaclesdon’ttendtoraiseone’sspirits。[Breaksoffintometre:]LAFORTUNE
INCONSTANTEETFIERE,Fortuneinconstantandproud。DoesnottreathersuitorsAlwaysinanequalmanner。Thosefoolscalledheroes,whorunthecountry,Cesfousnommesheros,etquicourentleschamps,Couvertsdesangetdepoussiere,Voltaire,n’ontpastouslesansLafaceurdevoirlederriereDeleursennemisinsolents。
Can’texpectthatpleasureeveryyear"!……
Maupertuis,sayyou?"Don’ttroubletheashesofthedead;letthegraveatleastputanendtoyourunjusthatreds。ReflectthatevenKingsmakepeaceafterlongbattling;cannotyouevermakeit?
Ithinkyouwouldbecapable,likeOrpheus,ofdescendingtoHell,nottosoftenPlutoandbringbackyourbeautifulEmilie,buttopursueintothatAbodeofWoeanenemywhomyourwrathhasonlytoomuchpersecutedintheworld:forshame!"[OEuvresdeFrederic,xxiii。61—65("Wilsdruf,17thNovember,1759")。]——andrebukeshim,morethanonceelsewhere,inveryseriousterms。
INWINTER—QUARTERS,ONPEACEANDTHESTOLENEDITION。(Startsinverse,whichweabridge:)WithhowmanylaurelsyouhavecoveredyourselfinallthefieldsofLiterature!OnelaurelyetiswantingtothebrowofVoltaire。If,asthecrownofsomanyperfectworks,hecouldbyaskilfulmanoeuvrebringbackPeace,I,andEuropewithme,wouldthinkthathismasterpiece![Takestoprose:]
"ThisismythoughtandallEurope’s。VirgilmadeasfineVersesasyou;buthenevermadeaPeace。ItwillbeadistinctionyouwillhaveoverallyourbrethrenofParnassus,ifyousucceed。
"Iknownotwhohasbetrayedme,andthoughtofprinting[theEDITION;——notyou,surely!]apackofrhapsodieswhichweregoodenoughtoamusemyself,butwerenevermeantforpublication。
Afterall,Iamsousedtotreacheriesandbadmanoeuvres,"——whatmattersthisinsignificantone?
"IknownotwhotheBredowis[whomyouspeakofhavingmet];
buthehastoldyoutrue。Theswordanddeathhavemadefrightfulravagesamongus。Andtheworstis,wearenotyetattheendofthetragedy。Youmayjudgewhateffectthesecruelshocksmadeonme。Iwrapmyselfinmystoicism,thebestIcan。Fleshandbloodrevoltagainstsuchtyrannouscommand;butitmustbefollowed。
Ifyousawme,youwouldscarcelyknowmeagain:Iamold,broken,gray—headed,wrinkled;Iamlosingmyteethandmygayety:ifthisgoon,therewillbenothingofmeleft,butthemaniaofmakingverses,andaninviolableattachmenttomydutiesandtothefewvirtuousmenwhomIknow。"[OEuvresdeFrederic,xxiii。69("Freyberg,24thFeb。1760")。]
INWINTER—QUARTERS,AMONTHLATER(comesstillon"Peace"again)……"Iwillhaveyoupaidthatbitofdebt[perhapsofpostageorthelike],thatLouisoftheMill(LouisduMoulin,"atFontenoy,whogotuponaWindmillwithhisDauphin,andcaughtthatnicknamefromthecommonmen)"mayhavewherewithaltomakewaronme。
Addtenth—pennytaxtoyourtaxoftwentieth—penny;imposenewcapitations,maketitularofficestogetmoney;do,inaword,whateveryoulike。Inspiteofallyourefforts,youwillnotgetaPeacesignedbymyhands,exceptonconditionshonorabletomyNation。Yourpeople,blownupwithself—conceitandfolly,maydependonthesewords。Adieu,livehappy;andwhileyoumakeallyoureffortstodestroyPrussia,thinkthatnobodyhaslessdeserveditthanI,eitherofyouorofyourFrench。"[Ib。xxiii。
72("Freyberg,20thMarch,1760")。]
STILLINWINTER—QUARTERS(on"Peace"still;butbeginswith"Maupertuis,"whichisallwewillgive)。"WhatrageanimatesyouagainstMaupertuis?YouaccuseHIMofhavingpublishedthatFurtiveEDITION。KnowthathisCopy,wellsealedbyhim,arrivedhereafterhisdeath,andthathewasincapableofsuchanindiscretion。
[Breaksintoverse:]
LeaveinpeacethecoldashesofMaupertuis:
Truthcandefendhim,andwill。
Hissoulwasfaithfulandnoble:
HepardonedyouthatscandalousAkakia(CEVILLIBELLE
QUEVOTREFUREURCRIMINELLE
PRITSOINCHEZMOIDEGRIFFONER);hedid:——
Andyou?ShameonsuchdeliriumasVoltaire’s!
What,thisbeautiful,what,thisgrandgenius,WhomIadmiredwithtransport,Soilshimselfwithcalumny,andisferociousonthedead?
Flockingtogether,intheairutteringcriesofjoy,Vileravenspouncedownuponsepulchres,Andmaketheirpreyofcorpses:"——
Blush,repent,alas!
TheseSpecimenswillsuffice。"TheKingofPrussia?"Voltairewouldsometimessay:"HeisaspotentandasmalignantastheDevil;
butheisalsoasunhappy,notknowingfriendship,"——havingsuchachance,too,withsomeofus!
FRIEDRICHHASSENTLORDMARISCHALTOSPAIN:OTHERFONDHOPESOFFRIEDRICH’S。
InthebeginningofthisYear,1759,EarlMarischalhadbeencalledoutofhisNeufchatelstagnancy,andlaunchedintotheDiplomaticfieldagain;sentonmissionintoSpain,namely。Thecasewasthis:
FerdinandVI。ofSpain(hewhowouldnotpayFriedrichtheoldSpanishdebt,butsenthimmerinorams,andajarofQueen—Dowagersnuff)hadfallenintooneofhisgloomyfits,andwasthoughttobedying;——did,infact,die,inastatenearlymad,onthe10thAugustfollowing。ByTreatyofAix—la—Chapelle,andbyallmannerofTreaties,CarlosofNaples,hisHalf—Brother(Termagant’sBabyCarlos,whomweallknew),wastosucceedhiminSpain;DonPhilip,thenextBrother,nowofParmaandPiacenza,wastofollowasKinginNaples,——cedingthosetwolitigiousDuchiestoAustria,afterall。Friedrich,vividlyawaketoeverychance,foresaw,incaseofsuchdisjuncturesinItaly,goodlikelihoodofquarrelthere。
AndhasdespatchedtheexperiencedoldMarischaltobeontheground,andhavehiseyesopen。MarischalknowsSpainverywell;
andhasoftensaid,"Heleftadearoldfriendthere,theSun。"
Marischalwasunderway,aboutNew—year’stime;butlingeredbytheroad,waitinghowFerdinandwouldturn,——andhavingwithalanimportantbusinessofhisown,ashesaunteredon。Didnotarrive,Ithink,tillSummerwasathand,andhisdearOldFriendcomingoutinvigor。
August10th,1759,Ferdinanddied;andthesamedayCarlosbecameKingofSpain。But,insteadofgivingNaplestoDonPhilip,CarlosgaveittoajuniorSonofhisown;andleftpoorPhiliptocontenthimselfwithParmaandPiacenza,asheretofore。ClearagainsttherightsofAustria;TreatyofAix—la—Chapelleisperfectlyexplicitonthatpoint!WillnotAustriavindicateitsclaim?Politicianssay,AustriamighthaverecoverednotonlyParmaandPiacenza,butthekingdomofNaplesitself,——noFranceatpresentabletohinderit,noSpaineverable。ButAustria,contrarytoexpectation,wouldnot:aCountrytenaciousenoughofitsrights,realandimaginary;
greedyenoughofItaly,butofSilesiamuchmore!ThematterwasdeliberatedinCouncilatVienna;buttheresultwasmagnanimously,No。"FinishthisFriedrichfirst;finishthisSilesia。Nothingelsetillthat!"
TheMarischal’slegationaryfunction,therefore,provedasinecure;
noCarlosneedingAnti—AustrianassistancefromFriedrichoranother;Austriamagnanimouslyhavinglethimalone。DoubtlessaconsiderabledisappointmenttoFriedrich。IndustriousFriedrichhadtried,ontheothersideofthisaffair,WhethertheKingofSardinia,onceanadventurousfightingkindofman,couldnotbestirredup,havinginterestsinvolved?Butno;hetoo,grownold,devotional,apprehensive,heldbyhisrosaries,andanswered,No。
Hereisagainahopereasonabletolookat,butwhichprovesfallacious。
MarischalcontinuedinSpain,corresponding,sendingnews(thePrussianArchivesaloneknowwhat),fornearlyacoupleofyears。
[Returned"April,1762"(Friedrich’sLettertohim,"10thApril,1762:"inOEuvresdeFrederic,xx。285)。]
HisEmbassyhadoneeffect,whichisofinteresttoushere。Onhiswayout,hehadgonebyLondon,withaviewofgettinglegalabsolutionforhisJacobitism,——sofar,atleast,astobeabletoinherittheEarldomofKintore,whichislikelytofallvacantsoon。Byblooditishis,weretheJacobiteincapacitieswithdrawn。
KintoreisacadetbranchoftheKeiths;"John,youngerSonofWilliamSixthLordMarischal,"wasthefirstKintore。
WilliamSixth’syoungerSon,yes;——andWilliam’sFather,amanalwaysvenerabletome,had(A。D。1593)foundedMarischalCollege,Aberdeen,——where,forafew,inthosesterngraniteCountries,theDivinerPursuitsarestillpossible(thankGodandthisKeith)onfrugaloatmeal。MARISCHAL—COLLEGEKeith,orFIFTHLordMarischal,wasgrandfather’sgrandfatherofourPotsdamFriend,whoistenthandlast。[Douglas’sScotchPeerage,pp。448
etseq。,387etseq。]Honortothebraveandnoble,nowfallensilentunderfootNOTofthenobler!Inaword,thefourthKintorewasaboutdyingchildless;andMarischalhadcomebyLondononthatheritagebusiness。
Hecarried,naturally,thebestrecommendations。BritannicMajesty,Pittandeverybodymethimwithwelcomeandfurtherance;whathewishedwasdone,andinsuchastyleofpromptnessandcordiality,Pittpushingitthrough,asquitegainedtheheartofoldMarischal。Anditisnotdoubted,thoughparticularshavenotbeenpublished,ThathesentimportantSpanishnoticestoPitt,intheseyears;—andespeciallyinformedhimthatKingCarlosandtheFrenchBourbonhadsignedaFAMILYCOMPACT(15thAugust,1761),orsolemncovenant,tostandbyoneanotherasbrothers。Whichwasthenceforth,toPittprivately,animportantfact,asperhapsweshallsee;thoughtoothermenitwasstillonlyapainfulrumoranddubiety。WhethertheoldMarischalinformedhim,ThatKingCarloshatedtheEnglish;thatheneverhad,inhisroyalmind,forgiventhatinsultofCommodoreMartin’s(watchlaidonthetable,intheBayofNaples,longago),Idonotknow;butthatalsowasafact。Adiligent,indignantkindofman,thisCarlos,Iamtold;bynomeansanundeservingKingofSpain,thoughhisPortraitsdeclarehimanugly:wewillleavehiminthediscreetMarischal’shands,withthedearOldFriendshiningequallyonboth。
Singulartoseehow,insoveraciousanintellectasFriedrich’s,somanyfallaciesofhopeareconstantlyentertained。WarinItaly,onquarrelwithKingCarlos;PeacewithFranceandthePompadour,byhelpofEdelsheimandtheBaillideFroulay;PeacewithRussiaandtheINFAMECATIN,byhelpofEnglishbriberies(FriedrichsentanagentthiswinterwithplentyofEnglishguineas,buthegotnofartherthantheFrontier,notallowedeventotry):sometimes,asagainthiswinter,itishopeofDenmarkjoininghim(inalarmagainsttheRussianviewsonHolstein;butthat,too,comestonothing);aboveall,thereisperennially,buddingoutyearly,thebrighteraftereverydisappointment,ahopeintheGrandTurkandhisadherencies。GrandTurk,orfailinghim,theChamofTartary,——
forcertain,someofthesewillbegottofastenontheheelsofAustria,ofRussia;andcreateafavorablediversion?
Friedrichtookanimmensedealoftroubleaboutthislatterhope。
Itisalmostpathetictoseewithwhatafondtenacityheclingstoit;andhopesitoveragain,everynewSpringandSummer。
[Preuss,ii。121etseq。,292&c。;Schoning,ii。iii。PASSIM。]
ThehopethatanINFAMECATINmightdiesomeday(forsheisnowdeepinchaoticailments,deepisheveninbrandy)seemsnevertohavestruckhim;atleastthereisnowhereanyarticulatehintofit,——theeagle—flightofone’simaginationsoaringfarabovesuchapettiness!Hopeisverybeautiful;andevenfallacioushope,insuchaFriedrich。Theonehopethatdidnotdeceivehim,washopeinhisownbestexertiontotheverydeath;andnofallacyeverforamomentslackenedhiminthat。Standtothyself:inthewidedomainofImagination,thereisnoothercertaintyofhelp。
Noothercertainty;——andyetwhoknowsthroughwhatpettinessesHeavenmaysendhelp!
ChapterIX。
PRELIMINARIESTOAFIFTHCAMPAIGN。
ItwasApril25thbeforeFriedrichquittedFreyberg,andtookCamp;
nottillthemiddleofJunethatanythingofseriousMovementcame。
MuchdiscouragementprevailsinhisArmy,wehear:andindeed,itmustbeowned,thehoroscopeoftheseCampaignsgrowsyearlydarker。OnlyFriedrichhimselfmustnotbediscouraged!Noris;——
thoughthereseldomlayaheadofanymanamoredangerous—lookingYearthanthisthatisnowdimlyshapingitselftoFriedrich。
Hisfortuneseemstohavequittedhim;hisenemiesaremoreconfidentthanever。
ThisYear,itseems,theyhavebethoughtthemofanewdeviceagainsthim。"Wehave90millionPopulation,"countthey;"hehashardly5;intheend,hemustrunoutofmen!Letusceaseexchangingprisonerswithhim。"AtJagerndorf,inApril,1758(justbeforeourmarchtoOlmutz),therehadbeenexchange;notwithouthaggles;butthiswasthelastonAustria’spart。Carteloftheusualkind,valuespunctuallysettled:aField—marshalisworth3,000commonmen,or1,500pounds;Colonelworth130men,or65
pounds;commonmanisworth10s。sterling,notahighfigure。
[Archenholtz,ii。53。]TheRussianshaggledstillmore,nokeepingofthemtotheirword;buttheytrieditasecondtime,lastyear(October,1759);andbycarefulurgingandguiding,weregotdraggedthroughit,andtheprisonersonbothsidessenttotheircolorsagain。Afterwhich,itwasasettledlineofpolicy,"Nomoreexchangingorcartelling;wewillstarvehimoutinthatarticle!"AndhadFriedrichhadnothingbuthisown5millionstogoupon,thoughthesecontributedliberally,hehadintruthbeenstarvedout。NorcouldSaxony,withMecklenburg,Anhalt,Erfurt,andtheir10,000menayear,havesuppliedhim,——"hadnotthere,"