第70章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"History of Friedrich II of Prussia",免费读到尾

  \"Togetoutofpeople’ssightatleast,\"continueshe,\"Idecidedtoleavemynativeplace,andgotoBerlin,\"250milesawayormore。\"Andsoitwasthat,onJunethe20th,1750,IlandedatBerlinforthefirsttime:andherestraightwayatthePACKHOF(orCustom—house),insearchingofmythings,400THALERS(some60

  pounds),allinNurnbergBATZEN,wereseizedfromme;\"——BATZEN,quarter—groatswemaysay;7andahalfbatzengotoashilling;

  whatasacktheremusthavebeenofthem,9,000inall,aboutthesizeofherring—scales,inbadsilver;fruitofLinsenbarth’ssternthriftfrombirthupwards:——allsnatchedfromhimatoneswoop。

  \"Andwhy?\"sayshe,quitehistorically:Yes,Why?Thereader,tounderstanditwholly,wouldneedtoreadinMylius’s

  Edicten—Sammlung,inSEYFARTHandelsewhere;[Mylius,Edictxli。,January,1744,&c。&c。]andtoknowthescandalousconditionofGermancoinageatthistimeandlongafter;everyneedylittlePotentatemixinghiscoinwithcopperatdiscretion,andswindlingmankindwithitforaseason;

  needingtobeperemptorilyforbidden,confiscatedororderedhome,bythelikeofFriedrich。Linsenbarthanswershisown\"Andwhy?\"

  withhistoricalcalmness:——

  \"Thekinghad,some(six)yearsago,hadthebatzenutterlycrieddown(GANZUNDGAR);theywerenottocirculateatallinhisCountries;andIwassobold,IhadbroughtbatzenhitherintotheKing’sCapital,KONIGLICHERESIDENZitself!AtthePackhof,therewasbutoneanswer,’Contraband,Contraband!’\"——Herewasawelcomeforaman。\"Imademyexcuses:Didnottheleastknow;

  camestraightfromThuringen,manymilesofroad;couldnotguessthereWhatHisMajestytheKinghadbeenpleasedtoforbidinHis(THEIRO)Countries。’Youshouldhaveinformedyourself,’saidthePackhofpeople;andweredeaftosuchconsiderations。’AmancomingintosuchaResidenzTownasBerlin,withintenttoabidethere,shouldhaveinquiredalittlewhatwaswhat,especiallywhatcoinswerecrieddown,andwhatallowed,’saidtheyofthePackhof。\"

  PoorLinsenbarth!\"’ButwhatamItodonow?HowamItolive,ifyoutakemyverymoneyfromme?’’Thatisyouroutlook,’saidthey;

  ——andadded,Hemustevenfindstowageforhisstackofherring—

  scalesorbatzen,assoonasitwassealedup;’wehavenoroomforitinthePackhof!’\"foraman:Hereisaroughishwelcome\"Imustleaveallmymoneyhere;andfindstowageforit,inadayortwo。

  \"Therewas,accordingly,atruck—portercalledin;heloadedmyeffectsonhisbarrow,androlledaway。HebroughtmetotheWHITE

  SWANintheJUDENSTRASSE[noneofthegrandestofstreets,thatBerlinJEWRY],threwmythingsout,anddemandedfourgroschen。

  Twoofmybatzen\"2andahalfexact,\"wouldhavedone;butIhadnomoneyatall。Thelandlordcameout:seeingthatIhadastuffedfeather—bed[notetheluggageofLinsenbarth:\"FEDER—BETT,\"ofextremetenuity],atrunkfulloflinens,abagofBooksandothertrifles,hepaidtheman;andsentmetoasmallroominthecourt—

  yard[InnformsaCourt,perhapsfourstorieshigh]:’Icouldstaythere,’hesaid;’hewouldgivemefoodanddrinkinthemeanwhile。’AndsoIlivedinthisInneightweekslong,withoutoneredfarthing,inmerefearandanxiety。\"June20thPLUSeightweeksbringsustoAugust15th;VoltaireinHEIGHToffeather;

  andverygreatthingsjustahead![\"GrandCarrousel,25thAugust;\"

  &c。]——ofwhichsoon。

  TheWhiteSwanwasaplacewhereCarrierslodged:somelimboftheLaw,ofSubalternsort,whomLinsenbarthcalls\"DERADVOCATB。\"

  (oneoftheOustedofCocceji,shallwefancy!),hadtodowithCarriersandtheirpie—powderlawsuits。AdvocatB。hadnoticedthegraydrearyCANDIDATUS,sittingsparrow—likeinremotecorners;

  hadspokentohim;——undertookforaLOUISD’OR,nopurchasenopay,togetbackhisbatzenforhim。Theywentaccordingly,onemorning,to\"agrandHouse;\"itwasaMinister’s(namenotgiven),verygrandOfficialMan:heheardtheAdvocatB。’sshortstatement;

  andmadeanswer:\"Monsieur,andisityouthatwillpickholesintheKing’sLaw?IhaveunderstoodyouwereratheraimingattheHAUSVOGTEI[CommonJailofBerlin]:Gooninthatway,andyouaresureofyourpromotion!\"——AdvocatB。rushedoutwithLinsenbarthintothestreet;andtherewasneitherpaynorpurchaseinthatquarter。

  PoorLinsenbarthwasnextadvised,bysimpleneighbors,togodirecttotheKing;aseverypoormancan,atcertainhoursoftheday。\"WriteoutyourCase(Memorial)withextremebrevity,\"saidthey;\"nothingbuttheessentialpoints,andthoseclear。\"

  Linsenbarth,steamatthehigh—pressure,composed(CONZIPIRTE)aMemorialofthatrightlaconicsort;wroteitfair(MUNDIRTEES);——

  andwentofftherewith\"atopeningoftheGates[middletimeofAugust,1750,nodatefarther),[August21st?(SeeRodenbeck,DIARY,whichweoftenquote,i。205。)]——withoutonefarthinginmypocket,inGod’sname,toPotsdam。\"Hecontinues:——

  \"AndatPotsdamIwasluckyenoughtoseetheKing;myfirstsightofhim。HewasonthePalaceEsplanadethere,drillinghistroops[finetrimsandedExpanse,withthePalacetorear,andGarden—

  walksandRivertofront;whereFriedrichWilhelmsat,thelastdayhewasout,andorderedJockeyPhilips’shousetobeactuallysetabout;wherethetroopsdoevolutionseverymorning;——thereisFriedrichwithcocked—hatandbluecoat;sayabout11A。M。]。

  \"Whenthedrillwasover,hisMajestywentintotheGarden,andthesoldiersdispersed;onlyfourOfficersremainedloungingupontheEsplanade,andwalkedupanddown。ForfrightIknewnotwhattodo;IpulledthePapersoutofmypocket,——theseweremyMemorial,twoCertificatesofcharacter,andaThuringenPass[poorsoul]。

  TheOfficersnoticedthis;camestraighttome,andsaid,’WhatlettershasHethere,then?’Ithankfullyandgladlyimpartedthewhole;andwhentheOfficershadreadthem,theysaid,’Wewillgiveyou[Him,notevenTHEE]agoodadvice,TheKingisextra—

  graciousto—day,andisgonealoneintotheGarden。Followhimstraight。Thouwilthaveluck。’

  \"ThisIwouldnotdo;myawewastoogreat。Theythereuponlaidhandsonme[themischievousdogs,notill—humoredeither]:

  onetookmebytherightarm,anotherbytheleft,’Off,off;

  totheGarden!’Havinggotmethither,theylookedoutfortheKing。Hewasamongthegardeners,examiningsomerareplant;

  stoopingoverit,andhadhisbacktous。HereIhadtohalt;

  andtheOfficersbegan,inunderhandtone[thedogs!],toputmethroughmydrill:’Hatunderleftarm!——Rightfootforemost!——

  Breastwellforward!——Headup!——Papersfrompouch!——Papersaloftinrighthand!——Steady!Steady!’——Andwenttheirways,lookingalwaysround,toseeifIkeptmyposture。Iperceivedwellenoughtheywerepleasedtomakegameofme;butIstood,allthesame,likeawall,beingfulloffear。TheOfficerswerehardlyoutoftheGarden,whentheKingturnedround,andsawthisextraordinarymachine,\"——telegraphfigureorwhateverwemaycallit,withpaperspointingtothesky。\"Hegavesuchalookatme,likeaflashofsunbeamsglancingthroughyou;andsentoneofthegardenerstobringmypapers。Whichhavinggot,hestruckintoanotherwalkwiththem,andwasoutofsight。Infewminutesheappearedagainattheplacewheretherareplantwas,withmyPapersopeninhislefthand;andgavemeawavewiththemTocomenearer。Ipluckedupaheart,andwentstraighttowardshim。Oh,howthriceandfour—timesgraciouslythisgreatMonarchdeignedtospeaktome!——

  KING。\"’MygoodThuringian(LIEBERTHURINGER),youcametoBerlin,seekingtoearnyourbreadbyindustriousteachingofchildren;

  andhere,atthePackhof,insearchingyourthings,theyhavetakenyourThuringenhoardfromyou。True,thebatzenarenotlegalhere;

  butthepeopleshouldhavesaidtoyou:Youareastranger,anddidn’tknowtheprohibition;——wellthen,wewillsealuptheBagofBatzen;yousenditbacktoThuringen,getitchangedforothersorts;wewillnottakeitfromyou!——

  \"’Beofheart,however;youshallhaveyourmoneyagain,andinteresttoo。——But,mypoorman,Berlinpavementisbare,theydon’tgiveanythinggratis:youareastranger;beforeyouareknownandgetteaching,yourbitofmoneyisdone;whatthen?’

  \"Iunderstoodthespeechrightwell;butmyawewastoogreattosay:’YourMajestywillhavetheall—highestgracetoallowmesomething!’ButasIwassosimpleandaskedfornothing,hedidnotofferanything。Andsoheturnedaway;buthadscarcelygonesixoreightsteps,whenhelookedround,andgavemeasignIwastowalkbyhim;andthenbegancatechising:——

  KING。\"’Wheredidyou(ER)study?’

  LINSENBARTH。\"’YourMajesty,inJena。’

  KING。\"’Whatyears?’

  LINSENBARTH。\"’From1716to1720。’[\"Born1689\"(Rodenbeck,p。

  474);twenty—fivewhenhewent。]

  KING。\"’UnderwhatPro—rectorwereyouinscribed?’

  LINSENBARTH。\"’UnderthePROFESSORTHEOLOGIAEDr。Fortsch。’

  KING。\"’WhowereyourotherProfessorsintheTheologicalFaculty?’\"

  LINSENBARTH——namesfamedmen;sunknow,mostly,inthebottomlesswaste—basket:\"Buddaus\"(whodidaDICTIONARYoftheBAYLEsort,weighingfourstonetroy,outofwhichIhavelearnedmanyathing),\"Buddaeus,\"\"Danz,\"\"Weissenborn,\"\"Wolf\"(nowbackatHalleafterhistribulations,——poorman,hisimmortalSystemofPhilosophy,whereisit!)。

  KING。\"’DidyoustudyBIBLICAdiligently?’

  LINSENBARTH。\"’WithBuddaeus(BEYMBUDDAO)。’

  KING。\"’ThatishewhohadsuchquarrellingwithWolf?’

  LINSENBARTH。\"’Yea,yourMajesty!Hewas——’

  KING(doesnotwanttoknowwhathewas)。\"’WhatotherusefulCoursesofLectures(COLLEGIA)didyouattend?’

  LINSENBARTH。\"’TheticsandExegeticswithFortsch[HowthedeucedidFortschteachthesethings?];HermeneuticsandPolemicswithWalch[editorofLuther’sWorks,Isuppose];

  HebraicswithDr。Danz;HomileticswithDr。Weissenborn;PASTORALE

  [notPastoralPoetry,buttheArtofPastorship]andMORALEwithDr。Buddaeus。’[There,yourMajesty!——whataglimpse,asintoinfiniteextinctContinents,filledwithponderousthornyinanities,invinciblenasaldrawlingofdidacticTitans,andtheawfulattempttospin,onallmannerofwheels,road—harnessoutofsplitcobwebs:Hoom!Hoom—m—m!Harnessnottobehadonthoseterms。LetthedrearyLimbuscloseagain,tillthegeneralDayofJudgmentforallthis。]

  KING(gladtogetoutoftheLimbus)。\"’WerethingsaswildthenatJena,inyourtime,asofold,whentheStudentswereforeverscufflingandruffling,andtheCoupletwent:——

  \"WerkommtvonJenaungeschlagen,DerhatvongrossenGluckzusagen。

  \"HethatcomesfromJenaSINEBELLO,Hemaythinkhimselfaluckyfellow\"?’

  LINSENBARTH。\"’Thatsortoffollyisgonequiteoutoffashion;

  andamancanleadasilentandquietlifethere,justasatotherUniversities,ifhewillattendtotheDIC,CURHIC?[orknowwhathisrealerrandis]。InmytimetheirSereneHighnesses,theNursing—fathersoftheUniversity(NUTRITORESACADEMIAE),——oftheErnestineLine[Weimar—GothaHighnesses,thatis],wereinthehabitofhavingtheRufflers(RENOMISTEN),Renownersastheyarecalled,whomadesomuchdisturbance,senttoEisenachtolieintheWartburgawhile;theretheylearnedtobequiet。’

  [ClockstrikesTwelve,——dinner—timeofMajesty。]

  KING。\"’NowImustgo:theyarewaitingfortheirsoup’\"(andsoendsDialogueforthepresent)。’DidtheKingbidmewait?

  \"WhenwegotoutoftheGarden,\"saysLinsenbarth,silentonthispoint,\"thefourOfficerswerestillthereupontheEsplanade[CaptainsofGuardbelike];theywentintothePalacewiththeKing,\"——clearlymeaningtodinewithhisMajesty。

  \"IremainedstandingontheEsplanade。Fortwenty—sevenhoursIhadnottastedfood:notafarthingINBONIS[ofprincipalorinterest]

  togetbreadwith;Ihadwadedtwentymileshither,inasultrymorning,throughthesand。Notadifficultthingtokeepdownlaughterinsuchcircumstances!\"——Poorsoul;buttheRoyalmindishumantoo。——\"Inthistremorofmyheart,therecameaKAMMER—HUSSAR

  [Soldier—Valet,Valetreducedtohissimplestexpression]outofthePalace,andasked,’WhereisthemanthatwaswithmyKing(MEINEMKONIG,——THYKingparticularly?)intheGarden?’Ianswered,’Here!’AndheledmeintotheSchloss,toalargeRoom,wherepages,lackeys,andKammer—hussarswereabout。MyKammer—hussartookmetoalittletable,excellentlyfurnished;withsoup,beef;

  likewisecarpdressedwithgarden—salad,likewisegamewithcucumber—salad:bread,knife,fork,spoonandsaltwereallthere[andIwithanappetiteoftwenty—sevenhours;Itoowasthere]。

  Myhussarsetmeachair,said:’Thisthatisonthetable,theKinghasorderedtobeservedforyou(IHM):youaretoeatyourfill,andmindnobody;andIamtoserve。Sharp,then,fallto!’——

  Iwasgreatlyastonished,andknewnotwhattodo;leastofallcoulditcomeintomyheadthattheKing’sKammer—hussar,whowaitedonhisMajesty,shouldwaitonme。Ipressedhimtositbyme;butasherefused,Ididasbidden;satdown,tookmyspoon,andwentatitwithawill(FRISCH)!

  \"Thehussartookthebeeffromthetable,setitonthecharcoaldish(tokeepithottillwanted);hedidthelikewiththefishandroastgame;andpouredmeoutwineandbeer——[waseversuchaluckyBarmecide!]IateanddranktillIhadabundantlyenough。

  Dessert,confectionery,whatIcould,——aplatefulofbigblackcherries,andaplatefulofpears,mywaiting—manwrappedinpaperandstuffedthemintomypockets,tobearefreshmentonthewayhome。AndsoIrosefromtheRoyaltable;andthankedGodandtheKinginmyheart,thatIhadsogloriouslydined,\"——HERRLICH,\"gloriously\"atlast。Poorexcellentdown—troddenLinsenbarth,one’sheartopenstohim,notone’slarderonly。

  \"Thehussartookaway。AtthatmomentaSecretarycame;broughtmeasealedOrder(Rescript)tothePackhofatBerlin,withmyCertificates(TESTIMONIA),andthePass;tolddownonthetablefiveTail—ducats(SCHWANZ—DUKATEN),andaGoldFriedrichunderthem[about3pounds10s。,Ithink;betterthan10poundsofourdaytoacommonman,andbetterthan100poundstoaLinsenbarth],——

  saying,TheKingsentmethistotakemehometoBerlinagain。

  \"AndifthehussartookmeintothePalace,itwasnowtheSecretarythattookmeoutagain。Andthere,yokedwithsixhorses,stoodaroyalProviant—wagon;whichhavingledmeto,theSecretarysaid:’Youpeople,theKinghasgivenorderyouaretotakethisstrangertoBerlin,andalsotoacceptnodrink—moneyfromhim。’

  Iagain,throughtheHERRNSECRETARIUM,testifiedmymostsubmissivethankfulnessforallRoyalgraciousnesses;tookmyplace,androlledaway。

  \"OnreachingBerlin,IwentatoncetothePackhof,straighttotheoffice—room,\"——standingmoreerectthistime,——\"andhandedthemmyRoyalRescript。TheHeadmanopenedtheseal;inreading,hechangedcolor,wentfrompaletored;saidnothing,andgaveittothesecondmantoread。Thesecondputonhisspectacles;read,andgaveittothethird。However,he[theHeadman]ralliedhimselfatlast:Iwastocomeforward,andbesogoodaswriteaquittance(receipt),’ThatIhadreceived,formy400thalersallinBatzen,thesamesuminBrandenburgcoin,readydown,withouttheleastdeduction。’Mycashwasatonceaccuratelypaid。AndthereupontheStewardwasordered,TogowithmetotheWhiteSwanintheJudenstrasse,andpaywhatIowedthere,whatevermyscorewas。

  Forwhichendtheygavehimtwenty—fourthalers;andifthatwerenotenough,hewastocomeandgetmore。\"OnthesehightermsLinsenbarthmarchedoutofthePackhofforthesecondtime;

  thesublimeheadofhim(notturnedeither)sweepingtheverystars。

  \"ThatwaswhattheKinghadmeantwhenhesaid,\"Youshallhaveyourmoneybackandinteresttoo:’VIDELICET,thatthePackhofwastopaymyexpensesattheWhiteSwan。Thescore,however,wasonly10thaler,’4groschen,6pfennigs[30shillings,5pence,and2orperhaps3quarter—farthings],forwhatIhadrunupineightweeks,\"——anuncommonlyfrugalrateofboard,foramanskilledinHermeneutics,Hebraics,Polemics,Thetica,Exegetics,Pastorale,Morale(andPracticalChristianityandthePhilosophyofZeno,carriedtoperfection,ornearlyso)!\"AndherewiththistroubledHistoryhaditsdesiredfinish。\"Andourgray—whiskered,raw—boned,great—heartedCandidatuslaydowntosleep,attheWhiteSwan;

  probablythehappiestmaninallBerlin,forthetimebeing。

  LinsenbarthdivednowintoPrivate—teaching,\"INFORMATION,\"ashecallsit;forming,andkneadingintohisownlikeness,suchoftheyoungBerlinersashecouldgetholdof:——surelynotwithoutsomegoodeffectonthem,themodelhaving,besidesHermeneuticsinabundance,somuchnaturalworthaboutit。HehimselffoundthemineofInformingaverybarrenone,astomoney:continuedpoorinahighdegree,withouthonor,withoutemolumenttospeakof;

  andhadastraitened,laborious,andwhatwemightthinkverydarkLife—pilgrimage。Butthedarknesswasnothingtohim,hecarriedsuchaninextinguishablefrugalrushlightwithin。Meat,clothesandfirehedidnotagainlack,inBerlin,forthetimeheneededthem,——sometwenty—sevenyearsstill。AndifhegotnoprintedpraiseintheReviews,frombaddishjudgeswritingbythesheet,——

  hereandtherebrothermortals,whoknewhimbytheirowneyesandexperiences,looked,ortransientlyspoke,andevendid,amostrealpraiseuponhimnowandthen。And,onthewhole,hecandowithoutpraise;andwillstandstrokesevenwithoutwincingorkicking,wherethereisnochance。

  AcertainBerlinDruggist(\"HerrMedicinal—AssessorRose,\"whomwemaycallDruggistFirst,fortherewereTwothathadtodowithLinsenbarth)wasgoodandhumantohim。InRose’sHouse,wherehehadcometoteachthechildren,andwhichcontinued,alwaysthenceforth,ahometohimwhenneedful,hewrotethisNARRATIVE

  (Anno1774);anddiedthere,threeyearsafterwards,——\"24thAugust,1777,ofapoplexy,age88,\"saytheBurialRegisters。

  [InRodenbeck,Beitrage,i。472—475,theselatterDetails(withothers,inconfusedform);IB。462—471,theNARRATIVEitself。]DruggistSecond,onsucceedingthehumanePredecessor,foundLinsenbarth’spapersinthedrug—storesoftheplace:DruggistSecondchancedtobeoneKlaproth,famedamongtheScientificoftheworld;andbyhimtheLinsenbarthNarrativewasforwardedtopublication,andsuchfameasisrequisite。

  SIRJONASHANWAYSTALKSACROSSTHESCENE,TOO;INA

  PONDERINGANDOBSERVINGMANNER。

  Ofthethenveryfamous\"BerlinCarrouselof1750\"weproposetosaylittle;thenowchiefinterestingpointinitbeingthatM。deVoltaireiscuriouslyvisibletousthere。Butthetruthis,theywereverygreatdaysatBerlin,thoseofAutumn,1750;

  distinguishedstrangerscomeorcoming;theKinggivinghimselfuptoentertainmentofthem,toenjoymentofthem;withsuchaheartyoutburstofmagnificence,thisCarrouseltheapexofit,aswasrareinhisreign。TherewerehisSistersofSchwedtandBaireuth,withsuite,hisdearWilhelminaqueenofthescene;[\"Came8thAugust\"(Rodenbeck,205)。]therewere——ItwouldbetedioustocountwhatotherhighHerrschaftenandDurchlauchtigPersons。

  Andtocrownthewhole,andentertainWilhelminaasaQueenshouldbe,therehadcomeM。deVoltaire;conqueredatlengthtous,aswehope,andtheDreamofourYouthrealized。Voltaire’sreception,July10thandeversince,hasbeenmeresplendorandkindness;

  reallyextraordinary,asweshallfindfartheron。

  Receptionperfectinallpoints,exceptthatofthePompadour’sComplimentsalone。\"Thatsublimecreature’scomplimentstoyourMajesty;suchherexpresscommand!\"saidVoltaire。\"JENELA

  CONNAISPAS,\"answeredFriedrich,withhisclear—ringingvoice,\"Idon’tknowher;\"[VoltairetoMadameDenis,\"Potsdam,11thAugust,1750\"(OEuvres,lxxiv。184)。]——

  sufficientintimationtoVoltaire,butpainfulandsurprising。

  ForwhichsomediplomaticpersonsblameFriedrichtothisday;

  butnotI,oranyreaderofmine。AveryproudyoungKing;inhissilentway,alwaystheprouder;andstandsinnoaweoftheDivineButterfliesandCrownedInfatuationsneversopotent,asmoreprudentpeopledo。

  InaBerlinofsuchstirandsplendor,thearrivalsofSirJonasHanway,ofthe\"youngLordMalton\"(famedEarlorMarquisofRockinghamthatwillbe),orofthewittyExcellencyHanbury,areasnothing;——SirJonas’saslessthannothing。ASirJonasnoticedbynobody;buthimselftakingnote,dullworthyman;

  andmentionablenowonthataccount。HereisaScrapregardinghim,notquitetobethrownaway:

  \"SirJonasHanwaywasnotalwayssoextinctashehasnowbecome。

  ReadersmightdoworsethanturntohisnowoldBookofTRAVELS

  again,andthestrangeoldLondonitawakensforus:A’RussianTradingCompany,’fullofhopetothethenmercantilemind;

  aMr。Hanwaydespatched,yearsago,asChiefClerk,inexpressiblyinterestedtomanagewell;——andmanaging,asyoumayreadatlarge。

  Hasdonehisbestandutmost,allthiswhile;andhadsuchtravellingsthroughtheNaphthaCountries,sailingsontheCaspian;

  suchdifficulties,successes,——ultimately,failure。OwingtoMr。

  EltonandThamasKouliKhanmainly。ThamasKouliKhan——otherwisecalledNadirShah(andaveryhard—headedfellow,byallappearance)——wiledandseducedMr。Elton,anEx—Navalgentleman,awayfromhisLedgers,tobuildhimShips;havingsethisheartongettingaNavy。AndMr。Eltondidbuildhim(spiteofallIcouldsay)aBarkortwoontheCaspian;——mosthopefultothesaidNadirShah;butdiditcometoanything?Itdisgusted,italarmedtheRussians;andruinedSirJonas,——whoisreturningatthisperiod,preparedtorenderaccountofhimselfatLondon,inaloftilyresignedframeofmind。[JonasHanway,AnAccountof&c。

  (orinbrief,TRAVELS:London,3vols。4to,1753),ii。183。\"ArrivedinBerlin,\"fromtheCaspianandPetersburgside,\"August15th,1750。\"]

  \"TheremarksofSirJonasuponBerlin——forheexerciseseverywhereasapientobservationonmenandthings——areofdimtumidlyinsignificantcharacter,remindingusofanextinctMinerva’sOwl;

  andreducethemselvesmainlytothisbitofoculartestimony,ThathisPrussianMajestyridesmuchabout,oftenatarapidrate;

  withapleasantbusinessaspect,humanethoughimperative;

  handsometolookupon,thoughwithfaceperceptiblyreddish[andperhapssnuffonit,wereyounear]。Hisagenowthirty—eightgone;

  asetappearance,asifalreadygotintohisforties。Complexionflorid,figuremuscular,almosttendingtobeplump。

  \"ListenwellthroughHanway,youwillfindKingFriedrichisanobjectofgreatinterest,personalaswellasofficial,andmuchthethemeinBerlinsociety;admirationofhim,prideinhim,notnowtheaudiblesttone,thoughitliesatthebottomtoo:

  ’OurFriedrichtheGreat,’afterall[soHanwayintimates,thoughnotexpressastoepithetsorwordsused]。TheKingdidabeautifulthingtoLieutenant—ColonelKeiththeotherday[assomereadersmayremember]:toLieutenant—ColonelKeith;thatpoorKeithwhowasnailedtothegallowsforhim(ineffigy),atWesellongago;

  andgotfarlessthanhehadexpected。Theotherday,therehadbeenagrandReview,partofitextendingintoMadamKnyphausen’sgrounds,whoisKeith’sMother—in—law。’MonsieurKeith,’saidtheKingtohim,’IamsorrywehadtospoilMadam’sfineshrubberybyourmanoeuvres:havethegoodnesstogiveherthat,withmyapologies,’——andhandedhimaprettyCasketwithkeytoit,andintheinterior10,000crowns。NotashrubofMadam’shadbeencutorinjured;buttheKing,yousee,wouldcountit1,500poundsofdamagedone,andhereisacknowledgmentforit,whichpleaseaccept。Isnotthatagraciouslittletouch?

  \"ThisKingisdoingsomethingatEmbden,SirJonasfears,ortryingtodo,intheTrade—and—Navigationway;scandalousthatEnglishcapitalistswilllendmoneyinfurtheranceofsuchdestructiveschemesbytheForeigner!Fortherest,SirJonaswenttocallonLordMalton(MarquisofRockinghamthatwillbe):anamiableandsoberyoungNobleman,comethusfaronhisGrandTour,\"andintimefortheCarrousel。\"HisLordship’sreceptionatCourthere,oneregrettedtohear,wasnothingdistinguished;quiteindifferent,indeed,hadnottheQueen—Mothersteptinwithamendments。TheCourtsarenotwelltogether;pityforit。MyLordandhisTutordidmethehonortoreturnmyvisit;theratherasweallquarteredinthesameInn。AmiableyoungNobleman,\"——sodistinguishedsince,forhavinghadunconsciouslyanEdmundBurke,andsuchtorrentsofParliamentaryEloquence,inhisbreeches—pocket(BREECHES—POCKET

  literally;howunknowntoHanway!)——\"AmiableyoungNobleman,isnotitone’sdutytosalute,inpassingsuchaone?ThoughIwouldbynomeanshaveitover—done,andamacalmlyindependentman。

  \"SirJonasalsosawtheCarrousel[ofwhichpresently];andadmiredthegreatmenofBerlin。Greatmen,allobsoletenow,thoughthenadmiredtoinfinitude,someofthem:’Youmayabuseme,’saidtheKingtosomestrangerarrivedinBerlin;’youmayabuseme,andperhapshereandtheregetpraisebydoingit:butIadviseyounottodoubtofLieberkuhn[thefashionableDoctor]inanycompanyinBerlin,’\"[Hanway,ii。190,202,&c。]——Howfashionablearemen!

  OneCollini,ayoungItalian,quitenewinBerlin,chancedalsotobeattheCarrousel,oratthelatterhalfofit,——thoughbynomeansinquestofsuchobjectsjustatpresent,pooryoungfellow!

  AshecameafterwardstobeSecretaryorAmanuensisofVoltaire,andwillturnupinthatcapacity,letusreadthisNoteuponhim:——

  \"SignorComoAlessandroCollini,ayoungVenetiangentlemanofsomefamilyandeducation,butofnoemploymentorresource,hadinlateyearsbeenaskingzealouslyallroundamonghishomecircle,WhatamItodowithmyself?mereechoanswering,What,——tillaSignoraSisterofBarberinatheDancer’sanswered:’TryBerlin,andKingFRIDERICOILGRANDEthere?IcouldgiveyoualettertomySister!’

  AtwhichCollinigrasps;getsunderwayforBerlin,——throughwildAlpinesceneries,foreigngutturalpopulations;andwithwhatthoughts,pooryoungfellow。Itisacommoncoursetotake,andsometimesanswers,sometimesnot。Thecynosureofvaguecreatures,withasenseoffacultywithoutdirection。WhatcloudsofwingedmigratorypeoplegatheringintoBerlin,allthroughthisReign。

  NotsinceNoah’sArkastrangermenagerieofcreatures,mostlywild。OfwhomVoltairealoneis,inourtime,worthmention。

  \"CollinigazedupontheAlpinechasms,andshaggyice—palaces,withtendermemoryoftheAdriatic;courageouslysteeredhiswaythroughtheinoffensivegutturalpopulations;hadgottoBerlin,justinthistime;beenhadtodinnerdailybythehospitableBarberinas,youngCoccejialwayshisfellow—guest,——’Privately,mypoorSignorina’sHusband!’whisperedoldMamma。BoththeBarberinaswereverykindtoCollini;cheeringhimwithgoodauguries,andoffersofhelp。Collinidoesnotdatewithanypunctuality;buttheGermanBookswilldoitforhim。August25th—27thwasCarrousel;

  andCollinihadarrivedfewdaysbefore。\"[Collini,MonSejouraupresdeVoltaire(Paris,1807),pp。1—21。]

  AndnowitistimewewereattheCarrouselourselves,——inabrieftransientway。

  ChapterVI。

  BERLINCARROUSEL,ANDVOLTAIREVISIBLETHERE。

  ReadershaveheardofthePLACEDUCARROUSELatParis;andknowprobablythatLouisXIV。heldworld—famousCarrouselthere(A。D。

  1662);and,ingeneral,thatCarrouselhassomethingtodowithTourneying,ortheShadowofTourneying。Itis,infact,akindofsuperbbe—tailoredrunningatthering,insteadofbe—blacksmithedrunningatoneanother。ASecondmilderEditionofthoseTournamentsports,anddangeroustrialsofstrengthanddexterity,whichweresograndabusinessintheOldironAges。Ofwhich,intheformofCarrouselorotherwise,downalmosttothepresentday,therehavebeenexamples,amongpuissantLords;——thoughnowitisfelttohavebecomeextremelyhollow;perhapsincapableoffullyentertaininganybody,exceptchildrenandtheirnursesonahighoccasion。

  Acenturyago,beforethevolcanicexplosionofsomanythingswhichithassincebecomewearisometothinkofinthisearnestworld,theTournament,emblemofanAgeofChivalry,whichwasgone:buthadnotyetdeclareditselftobequitegone,andeventobeturnedtopsy—turvy,hadstillsubstanceasamummery,——notenough,Ishouldsay,tospendmuchmoneyupon。Notmuchrealmoney:except,indeed,themoneywereofferedyougratis,fromotherpartiesinterested?SirJonaskindlyinformsus,byinsinuation,thatthiswas,toagooddegree,Friedrich’scaseinthenowCarrousel:\"athinggotupbytheprivateeffortsofdifferentgreatLordsandPrincesoftheblood;\"eachpartytailoring,harnessingandfurbishinghimselfandfollowers;

  Friedrichcontributinglittlebutthearenaandgeneraloutfit。

  Iknownotwhethereventhe40,000lamps(forittookplacebynight)wereofhispurchase,thoughthatislikely;andknowonlythattheSuppersandinteriorPalaceEntertainmentswouldbehis。

  \"DidnotcosttheKingmuchmoney,\"saysSirJonas;whichissatisfactorytoknow。ForoftheCarrouselkind,oroftheRoyal—

  Mummerykindingeneral,therehasbeen,forgracefularrangement,formagnificenceregardlessofexpense,——invitingyouramiableLordMalton,andtheidlersofallCountries,andawakeningtheraptureofGazetteers,——nothinglikeitsinceLouistheGrand’stime。

  Nothing,——exceptperhapsthatCampofMuhlbergorRadowitz,whereweoncewere。Done,thisone,notattheKing’sexpensealone,butatotherpeople’schiefly:thatisanunexpectedfeature,welcomeiftrue;and,exceptforSirJonas,wouldnothavehelpedtoexplainthepuzzleforus,asitdidinthethenBerlincircles。

  Muhlberg,inmyhumblejudgment,wasworthtwoofthisasaMummery;——butthemeritoriousfeatureofFriedrich’sis,thatitcosthimverylittle。

  Itwas,sayallGazetteersandidleeye—witnesses,ahighlysplendidspectacle。BymuchthemosteffulgentexhibitionFriedrichevermadeofhimselfintheExpensive—Mummerydepartment:andI

  couldgiveinextremedetailthephenomenaofit;but,inmercytopoorreaders,willnot。FancytheassiduoushammeringandsawingontheSchloss—Platz,amidcrowdsofgayloungers,givingcheerfulnoteofpreparation,inthoselatterdaysofAugust,1750。And,onWEDNESDAYNIGHT,25thAUGUST,lookandsee,——fortheduemomentsonly,andvaguelyenough(asinthefollowingExcerpt):——

  PALACE—ESPLANADEOFBERLIN,25thAUGUST,1750(dusksinkingintodark):\"Underawindynocturnalsky,aspaciousParallelogram,enclosedforjoustingasatAspramontorTrebisond。Wideenougharenainthecentre;vastamphitheatreofwoodenseatsandpassages,firmcarpentryandfittedforitsbusiness,risingallround;Audience,selectthoughmultitudinous,sittingdecorousandgarrulous,saysincehalf—pasteight。Thereisroyalboxontheground—tier;andtheKinginit,King,withPrincessAmeliafortheprizes:oppositetothisisentrancefortheChevaliers,——fourseparateentrances,Ithink。Whocome,——lo,atlast!——withbreathingsandbigswellsofmusic,asResuscitationsfromtheburiedAges。

  \"Theyareinfour’Quadrilles,’sotermed:Romans,Persians,Carthaginians,Greeks。FourJoustingParties,headedeachbyaPrinceoftheBlood:——withsuchasplendorofequipmentforjewels,silverhelmets,sashings,housings,aseyeneversaw。Prancingontheirgloriousbattle—steeds(sham—battle,steedsnotsham,butchampingtheirbitsasrealquadrupedswithfireintheirinterior):——howmanyinall,Iforgottocount。Perhaps,ontheaverage,sixtyineachQuadrille,fifteenofthempracticalRitters;therestmythologicwingedstandard—bearers,blackamoors,lictors,trumpetersandshiningmelodiousphantasmsasescort,——ofthislatterkindsayinroundnumbersTwoHundredaltogether;

  andofactualRittersthreescore。[Blumenthal,LifeofDeZiethen(Ziethenwasinit,andgainedaprize),i。257—263etseq。;Voltaire’sLETTERStoNieceDenis(OEuvres,lxxiv。174,179,198);——andtwocontemporary4tosonthesubject,withDrawings&c。,whichmaywellcontinueunknowntoeveryreader。]Whorunatrings,atTurks’

  heads,andatotherobjectswithdeath—doinglance;andpranceandflashandcareeralong:glorioustoseeandhear。Underproudflourishingsofdrumsandtrumpets,underburstsandbreathingsofwind—music;undertheshineofFortyThousandLamps,foroneitem。

  AllBerlinandthenocturnalfirmamentlookingon,——nightrathergusty,’whichblewoutmanyofthelamps,’insinuatesHanway。

  \"Aboutmidnight,BeautyintheformofPrincessAmeliadistributestheprizes;Musicfillingtheair;andhuman’EUGE’S,’andthesurvivinglamps,doingtheirbest。AfterwhichthePrincipalitiesandRitterswithdrawtotheirPalace,totheirBallsandtheirSupperofthegods;andalltheworldandhiswifegoeshomeagain,amidvariouscommentaryfromhighandlow。’JAMAIS,Never,’

  murmuredonehighGentleman,oftheImpromptukind,atthePalaceSupper—table:——

  ’JamaisdansAtheneetdansRomeOnn’eutdeplusbeauxjours,nideplusdigneprix。

  J’aivulefilsdeMarssouslestraitsdeParis,EtVenusquidonnaitlapomme。’\"

  [NeverinAthensorRomeweretherebraversightsoraworthierprize:IhaveseenthesonofMars[KingFriedrich]withParis’sfeatures,andVenus[Amelia]crowningthevictorious。\"

  (OEuvresdeVoltaire,xviii。320。]

  AndAmphitheatreandLampslapsewhollyintodarkness,andthethinghasfinished,forthetimebeing。August27th,itwasrepeatedbydaylight:ifpossible,morecharmingthanever;butnottobespokenoffarther,underpenalties。Tobemildlyforgottenagain,everyjotandtittleofit,——exceptonesmallinsignificantiota,which,byaccident,stillmakesitremarkable。Namely,thatColliniandtheBarberinaswerethere;andthatnotonlywasVoltaireagainthere,amongthePrincesandPrincesses;butthatCollinisawVoltaire,andgivesustransientsightofhim,——thankstoCollini。Thursday,27thAugust,1750,wastheDaylightversionoftheCarrouse1;whichCollini,ifitwereofanymoment,takestohavePRECEDEDthatofthe40,000Lamps。SureenoughColliniwasthere,witheyesopen:——

  \"MadamedeCocceji[soonemaycallher,thoughtheknownaliasisBarberina]hadengagedplaces;sheinvitedmetocomeandseethisFestivity。Wewent;\"andverygranditwas。\"ThePalace—Esplanadewaschanged\"bycarpentriesanddraperies\"intoavastAmphitheatre;theslopesofitfurnishedwithbenchesforthespectators,andatthefourcornersofitandatthebottom,magnificentlydecoratedboxesfortheCourt。\"VastovalAmphitheatre,theinteriorarenarectangular,withitsFourEntrances,oneforeachoftheFourQuadrilles。\"Theassemblagewasnumerousandbrilliant:alltheCourthadcomefromPotsdamtoBerlin。

  \"AlittlewhilebeforetheKinghimselfmadeappearance,thererosesuddenlyamurmurofadmiration,andIheardallroundme,fromeverybody,thename’Voltaire!Voltaire!’Lookingdown,IsawVoltaireaccordingly;amongagroupofgreatlords,whowerewalkingovertheArena,towardsoneoftheCourtBoxes。Heworeamodestcountenance,butjoypainteditselfinhiseyes:youcannotloveglory,andnotfeelgratefullytheprizeattachedtoit,\"——

  attainedashere。\"Ilostsightofhiminfewinstants,\"asheapproachedhisBox\"theplacewhereIwasnotpermittingfartherview。\"[Collini,MonSejour,p。21。]

  ThiswasCollini’sfirstsightofthatgreatman(DECEGRAND

  HOMME)。Withwhom,thankstoBarberina,hehad,inadayortwo,thehonorofanInterview(judgmentfavorable,hecouldhope);

  andbeforemanymonths,Accidentalsofavoring,theinexpressiblehonorofseeinghimselfthegreatman’sSecretary,——howfarbeyondhopeoraspiration,intheseCarrouseldays!

  VoltairehadnowbeenheresomeSevenWeeks,——arrived10thJuly,asweoftennote;——after(onhisownpart)agreatdealofhaggling,hesitatingandnegotiating;whichwespareourreaders。ThepoormanhavingnowbecomeaQuasi—Widower;painfullyrallying,withhiswholestrength,towardsnewarrangements,——nowwasthetimeforFriedrichtourgehim:\"Cometome!Awayfromallthatdismalimbroglio;hither,Isay!\"TowhichVoltaireisnotinattentive;

  thoughhehesitates;cannot,inanycase,comewithoutdelay;——

  lingersinParis,readjustingmanythings,thepoorshipwreckedbeing,amongkindD’Argentalsandfriends。PoorIshmael,gettinggray;andhistentinthedesertsuddenlycarriedoffbyablastofwind!

  TothelegalWidower,M。leMarquis,hebehavesinmoneymatterslikeaPrince;takesthatParisDomicile,intheRueTraversiere,alltohimself;institutesanewhouseholdthere,——NieceDenistobefemalepresident。NieceDenis,widowwithoutencumbrances;

  whominhermarriedstate,wifetosomekindofCommissariat—

  OfficeratLille,wehaveseentransientlyinthatCity,herUnclelodgingwithherashepassed。Agadding,flaunting,unreasonable,would—befashionablefemale——(aDuChateletwithoutthegraceorgenius,andwhoneverwasinlovewithyou!)——withwhompoorUnclehadabaddishlifeintimecoming。Allwhichsettled,hestilllingers。Widowed,grownoldandlessadventurous!’ThatHouseintheRueTraversiere,oncehisandAnother’s,nowhisalone,——forthetimebeing,itisprobablymorelikeaMausoleumthanaHousetohim。AndVersailles,withitssulkyTrajans,itsCrebilloncabals,whatcharmisinVersailles?HethinksofgoingtoItalyforawhile;hasneverseenthatfineCountry:ofgoingtoBerlinforawhile:ofgoingto——Infact,Berlinisclearlytheplacewherehewillland;buthehesitatesgreatlyaboutliftinganchor。

  Friedrichinsists,inabright,bantering,kindlyway;\"Youwereduetomeayearago;yousaidalways,’Sosoonasthelying—inisover,Iamyours:’——andnow,whydon’tyoucome?\"

  Friedrich,sincetheymetlast,hashadsomeexperiencesofVoltaire,whichhedoesnotlike。Theirroads,truly——oneadulatingTrajaninVersailles,andgrowinggreatby\"FarcesoftheFair;\"

  theotherbattlingforhisexistenceagainstmenanddevils,TrajanandCompanyincluded——havelainfarapart。TheirCorrespondenceperceptiblylanguishing,inconsequence,andevenrumorsrisingonthesubject,Voltairewroteonce:\"Givemeayardofribbon,Sire[yourORDEROFMERIT,Sire],tosilencethosevilerumors!\"

  WhichFriedrich,onsuchfree—and—easyterms,hadsilentlydeclined。\"Ameddlesome,forwardkindoffellow;alwaysgettingintoscrapesandbrabbles!\"thinksFriedrich。Butisreallyanxious,nowthatthechanceoffersagain,tohavesuchaLeviteforhisPriest,theevidentpinkofHumanIntellect;andtriesvariousincitementsuponhim;——hitsatlast(Iknownotwhetherbydeviceorbyaccident)ononewhich,saytheFrenchBiographers,didraiseVoltaireandsethimunderway。

  AcertainM。Baculardd’Arnaud,aconceited,foolishyoungfellow,muchpatronizedbyVoltaire,andgiventowriteverses,whichareunknowntome,hasbeen,onVoltaire’srecommending,\"LiteraryCorrespondent\"toFriedrich(ParisBook—Agentandthelike)forsometimepast;correspondingmuchwithPotsdam,inawayfoundentertaining;andisnow(April,1750)actuallygoingthither,toFriedrich’sCourt,orperhapshasgone。Atanyrate,Friedrich——byaccidentorbydevice——hadansweredsomerhymesofthisD’Arnaud,\"Yes;welcome,youngsunrise,sinceVoltaireisabouttoset!\"

  [OEuvresdeFrederic,xiv。95(Verses\"AD’ARNAUD,\"ofdateDecember,1749。)]Ihopeitwasbydevice;

  D’Arnaudissuchasillyfellow;tooabsurd,toreckonasmorningtoanybody’ssunset。Exceptforhisinvoluntaryservice,forandagainst,inthisVoltaireJourney,hisnamewouldnotnowbementionableatall。\"Sunset?\"exclaimedVoltaire,springingoutofbed(saytheBiographers),andskippingaboutindignantlyinhisshirt:\"IwillshowthemIamnotsetyet!\"[Duvernet(Second),p。159。]AndinstantlyresolvedontheBerlinExpedition。WenttoCompiegne,wheretheCourtthenwas;tobidhisadieus;naytoaskformallytheRoyalleave,——forweareHistoriographerandtitularGentlemanoftheChamber,andKing’sservantinasense。Leavewasatoncegrantedhim,almosthuffingly;wehopenotwithtoomuchreadiness?Forthisisaticklishpoint:oneisgoingtoPrussia\"onaVisit\"merely(thoughitmaybelongish);onewouldnothavethedoorofFranceslammedtobehindone!ThetoneatCourtdidseemalittlesuccinct,somethingalmostofsneerinit。ButfromthePompadourherselfallwasfriendly;merewitty,cheerygraciosities,and\"MyComplimentstohisMajestyofPrussia,\"——

  Complimentshowansweredwhentheycametohand:\"JENELA

  CONNAISPAS!\"

  Inshort,M。deVoltairemadeallhisarrangements;gotunderway;

  piouslyvisitedFontenoyandtheBattle—fieldsinpassing:andishere,sinceJuly10th,——inverygreatsplendor,aswesee:——onhisFifthVisittoFriedrich。Fifth;whichprovedhisLast,——andisstillextremelycelebratedintheworld。VisitmuchmisunderstoodinFranceandEngland,downtothisday。Bynomeanssortedoutintoaccuracyandintelligibility;butleftas(whatissayingagreatdeal!)probablythewastestchaosofalltheSectionsofFriedrich’sHistory。Andhas,aloneofthem,goneoverthewholeworld;beingwithalamusingtoread,andthereforewellandwidelyremembered,inthatmendaciousandsemi—intelligiblestate。Tolaythesegoblins,fullofnoise,ignoranceandmendacity,andgivesometrueoutlineofthematter,withwhatbrevityisconsistentwithdecipheringitatall,isnowoursadtask,——laborious,perhapsdisgusting;notimpossible,ifreaderswillloyallyassist。

  VoltairehadtakeneveryprecautionthatthisVisitshouldsucceed,oratleastbenolosstooneoftheparties。InapreliminaryLetterfromParis,——proseandverse,oneofthecleverestdiplomaticpieceseverpenned;Letterreallyworthlookingat,cunningasthesongofApollo,Voltairesymbolicallyintimates:

  \"Well,Sire,youroldDanae,poormalingeringoldwretch,iscomingtoherJove。ItisJoveshewants,nottheShowerofJove;

  nevertheless\"——AndFriedrich(thankHanbury,inpart,forthatbitofknowledge)hadremittedhiminhardmoney600pounds\"topaythetollsonhisroad。\"[Walpole,i。451(\"HaditfromPrincessAmeliaherself\");seeVoltairetoFriedrich,\"Paris,9thJune,1750;\"

  FriedrichtoVoltaire,\"Potsdam,24thMay\"(OEuvresdeVoltaire,lxxiv。158,155)。]Asahighgentlemanwould;tohavedonewiththosebaseelementsofthebusiness。

  Nayfurthermore,preciselytwodaysbeforethosesplendorsoftheCarrousel,Friedrich,——inanswertonewcunningcroakeriesandcontrivances(\"Sire,thisLetterfrommyNiece,whoisinconsolablethatIshouldthinkofstayinghere;\"where,findingoneselfsodivinized,oneisdisposedtostay),——hasansweredhimlikeaKing:

  ByGoldKeyofChamberlain,CrossoftheOrderofMerit,andPensionof20,000francs(850pounds)ayear,——conveyedinasroyalaLetterofBusinessasIhaveoftenread;melodiousasApollo,thistoo,thoughallinbusinessprose,and,likeApollo,practicalGodoftheSUNinthiscase。[\"Berlin,23dAugust,1750\"

  (OEuvresdeFrederic,xxii。255);——VoltairetoNieceDenis,\"24thAugust\"(misprinted\"14th\");toD’Argental,\"28thAugust\"(OEuvresdeVoltaire,lxxiv。

  185,196)。]Dated23dAugust,1750。ThisLetterofFriedrich’sI

  fancytobewhatVoltairecalls,\"YourMajesty’sgraciousAgreementwithme,\"andoftenappealsto,insubsequenttroubles。NotquiteaNotarialPiece,onFriedrich’spart;butstrictlyobservedbyhimassuch。

  Fourdaysafterwhich,ColliniseesVoltaireserenelyshiningamongthePrincesandPrincessesoftheworld;Amphitheatreallwhisperingwithbatedbreath,\"Voltaire!Voltaire!\"ButletushearVoltairehimself,fromtheinteriorofthePhenomenon,atthisitsculminatingpoint:——

  VoltairetohisD’Argentals,——toNieceDeniseven,withwhom,ifwithnoother,heisquitewithoutreserve,inshowingthebadandthegood,——continuesradiantlyeloquentinthesefirstmonths:……\"Carrousel,twiceover;thelikeneverseenforsplendor,for[rathercopiousonthissublimity]——AfterwhichweplayedROME

  SAUVEE[myAnti—Crebillonmasterpiece],inaprettylittleTheatre,whichIhavegotconstructedinthePrincessAmelia’sAntechamber。

  I,whospeaktoyou,IplayedCICERO。\"Yes;andwasmanagerandgeneralstage—kingandcontriver;beingexpertatthis,ifatanything。AndthesebeautifulTheatricalshadbegunweeksago,andstilllastedmanyweeks;[Rodenbeck,\"August—October,\"1750。]——withsuchdivineconsultings,directings,evenorderingsofthebrilliantRoyaltiesconcerned。——Duvernet(probablyonD’Arget’sauthority)informsusthat\"once,inoneoftheinter—acts,findingthesoldiersallowedhimforPretorianGuardsnottounderstandtheirbusinesshere,\"nothere,astheydidatHohenfriedbergandelsewhere,\"Voltaireshrilledvolcanicallyouttothem[happilyunintelligible):’F————,Deviltakeit,Iaskedformen;andtheyhavesentmeGermans(J’AIDEMANDEDESHOMMES,ETL’ONM’ENVOIEDES

  ALLEMANDS)!’AtwhichthePrincessesweregood—naturedenoughtoburstintolaughter。\"[Duvernet(Second),p。162,——timeprobably15thOctober。]Voltairecontinues:\"ThereisanEnglishAmbassadorherewhoknowsCicero’sOrationsINCATILINAMbyheart;\"anexcellentEtonian,surely。\"ItisnotMilordTyrconnell\"

  (blusterousIrishJacobite,OURAmbassador,notehim,fatValorihavingbeenrecalled);no,\"itistheEnvoyfromEngland,\"

  ExcellencyHanburyhimself,whoknowshisCicerobyheart。\"HehassentmesomefineversesonROMESAUVEE;hesaysitismybestwork。ItisaPieceappropriateforMinisterialpeople;MadamelaChanceliere,\"Cocceji’sbetterhalf,\"iswellpleasedwithit。

  [OEuvres,lxxiv。(LETTERS,totheD’ArgentalsandDenis,\"20thAugust—23dSeptember,1750\"),pp。187,219,231,&c。&c。]Andthen,\"——Butenough。

  InPrincessAmelia’sAntechamber,thereorinothercelestialplaces,inPalaceafterPalace,itgoeson。Gayetysucceedinggayety;merePrincessesandPrincesdoingparts;inROMESAUVEE,andinmasterpiecesofVoltaire’s,VoltairehimselfactingCICERO

  andelderlycharacters,LUSIGNANandthelike。Excellentinacting,saythewitnesses;superlative,forcertain,asPreceptoroftheart,——thoughimpatientnowandthen。AndwearssuchJewel—ornaments(borrowedpartlyfromaHebrew,ofwhomanon),suchmagnificenceoftastefuldress;——andwalkshisminuetamongtheMorningStars。NottomentiontheSuppersoftheKing:chosencircle,withtheKingforcentre;aradiantFriedrichflashingouttorightandleft,tillallkindlesintocoruscationroundhim;anditissuchablazeofspiritualsheet—lightnings,——wonderfultothinkof;Voltaireespeciallyelectric。Never,orseldom,wereseensuchsuppers;

  suchalifeforaSupremeManofLetterssofittedwiththeplaceduetohim。Smelfungussays:——

  \"AndsoyourSupremeofLiteraturehasgotintohisdueplaceatlast,——atthetopoftheworld,namely;though,alas,butformomentsorformonths。TheKing’sownFriend;hewhomtheKingdelightstohonor。ThemostshiningthinginBerlin,atthismoment。VirtuallyakindofPAPA,orIntellectualFatherofMankind,\"sneersSmelfungus;\"Popeimprovisedforthenonce。

  ThenewFridericusMagnusdoesastheoldPipinus,oldCarolusMagnusdid:recognizeshisPope,indespiteofthebasevulgar;

  elevateshimaloftintoworship,forthevulgarandforeverybody!

  CarolusMagnusdidthatthrice—salutaryfeat[sublimelyhuman,ifyouthinkofit,andforlongcenturiessuccessfulmoreorless];

  FridericusMagnus,underotheromens,unconsciouslydoesthelike,——thebesthecan!LettheOperaFiddlers,theFrerons,TravenolsandDesfontaines—of—Sodom’sGhostlookandconsider!\"——

  MadameDenis,anexpensivegayLady,stillonlyinherthirties,improvablebyrouge,carriesongreatworkintheRueTraversiere;

  privatetheatricals,suppers,flirtationswithItaliantravellingMarquises;——findsIntendantLongchampmuchinherway,withhisrigorousaccount—books,andrestrictionto100louispermonth;

  wishesevenherUnclewereback,andcautionshim,NottobelieveinFriedrich’sflatteringunctions,orputhistrustinPrincesatall。Voltaire,withtheduepreliminaries,showsFriedrichherLetter,oneofherLetters,[Nowlost,asmostofthemare;

  Voltaire’sAnswertoit,alreadycited,is\"24thAugust,1750\"

  (misprinted\"14thAugust,\"OEuvres,lxxiv。

  185;seeIB。lxxv。135);KingFriedrich’sPRACTICALAnswer(somunificenttoDenisandVoltaire),\"YourMajesty’sgraciousAgreement,\"boredate\"August23d。\"]——withresultaswesawabove。

  Formeysays:\"IntheCarnivaltime,whichVoltaireusuallypassedatBerlin,inthePalace,peoplepaidtheircourttohimastoadeclaredFavorite。Princes,Marshals,MinistersofState,ForeignAmbassadors,Lordsofthehighestrank,attendedhisaudience;

  andwerereceived,\"saysFormey,nowherefreefromspiteonthissubject,\"inasufficientlyloftystyle(HAUTEURASSEZ

  DEDAIGNEUSE)。[Formey,Souvenirs,i。235,236。]AgreatPrincehadthecomplaisancetoplaychesswithhim;

  andtolethimwinthepistolesthatwerestaked。Sometimeseventhepistoledisappearedbeforetheendofthegame,\"continuesFormey,greenwithspite;——andreportsthatsadstoryofthecandle—ends;bitsofwax—candle,whichshouldhaveremainedasperquisitetothevalets,butwhichwereconfiscatedbyVoltaireandsentacrosstothewax—chandler’s。So,doubtless,thespitefulrumorran;probablylittlebutspiteandfable,Berlinbeingbitterinitsgossip。StupidThiebaultrepeatsthatofthecandle—ends,likeathinghehadseen(twelveyearsBEFOREhisarrivalinthoseparts);andaddsthatVoltaire\"puttheminhispocket,\"——likeonebothstupidandsordid。Alas,thebrighteryourshine,theblackeristheshadowyoucast。

  Friedrich,withtheknowledgehealreadyhadofhisyoke—fellow,——

  oneofthemostskittish,explosive,unrulycreaturesinharness,——

  cannotbecountedwisetohaveplungedsoheartilyintosuchanadventurewithhim。\"AnundoubtedCourseroftheSun!\"thoughtFriedrich;——andforgottoomuchthesignsofbadgoinghehadsometimesnoticedinhimonthecommonhighways。ThereisnodoubthewasperfectlysincereandsimpleinallthishightreatmentofVoltaire。\"Theforemost,literaryspiritoftheworld,amantobehonoredbyme,andbyallmen;theTrismegistusofHumanIntellects,whataconquesttohavemade;howcheapisalittlemoney,alittlepatienceandguidance,forsuchsolacementandornamenttoone’sbarrenLife!\"Hehadrashlyhopedthatthedreamsofhisyouthcouldherebystillbealittlerealized;andsomethingoftheoldReinsbergProgrambecomeafruitfulandblessedfact。

  FriedrichisloyallygladoverhisVoltaire;eagerinallwaystocontenthim,makehimhappy;andkeephimhere,astheTalkingBird,theSingingTreeandtheGoldenWaterofintelligentmankind;

  thegloryofone’sownCourt,andtheenvyoftheworld。

  \"WillteachusthesecretoftheMuses,too;FrenchMuses,andhelpusinourbitsofLiterature!\"Thislatter,too,isaconsiderationwithFriedrich,aswhyshoulditnot,——thoughbynomeansthesoleorchiefone,astheFrenchgiveitouttobe。

  Onhisside,Voltaireisnotdisloyaleither;butisnothinglikesocompletelyloyal。Hehas,andcontinuedalwaystohave,notunmixedwithfear,arealadmirationforFriedrich,thatterriblepracticalDoer,withthecuttingbrilliancesofmindandcharacter,andtheirrefragablecommonsense;nayhehasevenakindoflovetohim,orsomethinglikeit,——lovemadeupofgratitudeforpastfavors,andlivelyanticipationoffuture。Voltaireis,bynature,anattachedorattachablecreature;flingingoutfondboughstoeverykindofexcellence,andespeciallyholdingfirmbyoldtieshehadmade。Onefanciesinhimamixedsetofemotions,directandreflex,——theconsciousnessofsafeshelter,weretherenothingmore;ofglorytooneself,derivedandstillderivablefromthishighman:——infine,asum—totalofactualdesiretolivewithKingFriedrich,whichmight,surely,havealmostsufficedevenforVoltaire,inaquieterelement。Buttheelementwasnotquiet,——farfromit;norwasVoltaireeasilysufficeable!

  PERPETUALPRESIDENTMAUPERTUISHASAVISITFROMONEKONIG,OUTOFHOLLAND,CONCERNINGTHEINFINITELYLITTLE。

  WhetherMaupertuis,inredwigwithyellowbottom,sawthesehighgauderiesoftheCarrousel,thePlaysinPrincessAmelia’sAntechamber,andtherestofit,Idonotknow:butifso,hewasnotinthetopplace;nordidanybodytakenoticeofhim,aseverybodydidofVoltaire。Meanwhile,Ihavesomethingtoquote,asabridgedanddistilledfromvarioussources,chieflyfromFormey;

  whichwillbeofmuchconcernmentfartheron。

  SomefourweeksafterthoseCarrouseleffulgencies,PerpetualPresidentMaupertuishadavisit(September21st,justwhiletheSunwascrossingtheLine;thankstoFormeyforthedate,whokeepsaNote—book,usefulintheseintricacies):visitfromProfessorKonig,aneffectivemathematicalmanfromtheDutchparts。

  Whomreadershaveforgottenagain;thoughtheysawhimonce:

  inviolentquarrel,abouttheInfinitelyLittle,withMadameduChatelet,Voltairewitnessingwithpain;——itwasjustastheyquittedCireytogether,tenyearsago,forthesenewcoursesofadventure。Doreadersrecallthecircumstance?Maupertuis,refereeinthatquarrel,had,withabluntnessoffensivetothefemalemind,declaredKonigindisputablyintheright;andtherehadfollowedadrynessbetweenthedivineEmilieandtheFlatteneroftheEarth,scarcelytobehealedbyVoltaire’sbestefforts。

  Konighasgonehisroadsincethen;becomeafinesolidfellow;

  ProfessorinaDutchUniversity;morelatterlyLibrariantotheDutchStadtholder:stillfrankofspeech,andwitharuggedfree—

  and—easyturn,butofmanfulmanners;reallyapersonofvariousculture,andasisstillnoticeable,ofasolidgeometricturnofmind。Havingnow,asLibrarianattheHague,moreleisureandmoremoney,hehasmadearuntoBerlin,——chieflyorentirelytoseehisMaupertuisagain,whomhestillremembersgratefullyashisfirstPatroninoldertimes,andamanofsoundparts,thoughratherblusterousnowandthen,Alittlebitofscientificbusinessalsohehaswithhim。KonigisMemberoftheBerlinAcademy,forsomeyearsback;andthereisathinghewouldspeakwiththePerpetualPresidentupon。\"WantsnothingelseinBerlin,\"saysFormey:

  ahearingbytheroadthatMaupertuiswasnotthere,hehadactuallyturnedhomewardsagain:butgottruertidings,andcameon。\"Themorewasthepity,asperhapswillappear!\"HearrivedSeptember20th[ifyouwillbeparticularoncheese—parings];

  calledonmethatday,beinglodgedinmyneighborhood;andnextday,foundMaupertuisathome;\"[Formey,i。176—179。]——andflewintohisarmsagain,likeagoodboylongabsent。

  Maupertuis,notmanymonthsago,had,inTwosuccessivePapers,I

  thinkTwo,communicatedtotheAcademyaDiscoveryofMetaphysico—

  MathematicaloraltogetherMetaphysicalnature,ontheLawsofMotion;——Discoverywhichhehas,sincethat,broughttocompleteperfection,andsentforthtotheUniverseatlarge,inhissublimelittleBookofCOSMOLOGY;[InLaBeaumelle,ViedeMaupertuis(Paris,1856),pp。105—130,confusedaccountofthis\"Discovery,\"andofthegradualPublicationofittomankind,——verygradual;firstofallintheoldParistimes;

  intheBerlinACADEMYlatterly;andinfine,toalltheworld,inthisESSAIDECOSMOLOGIE(Berlin,Summerof1750)。]——gratefulAcademystrivingtoadmire,andbelieve,withitsPerpetualPresident,thattheDiscoverywassublimetoadegree;secondonlytotheflatteningoftheEarth;andwouldprobablystandthenceforthasamilestoneintheProgressofHumanThought。

  \"WhichDiscovery,then?\"Benottoocurious,reader;takeonlyofitwhatshallconcernyou!

  Itiswellknowntherehavebeen,tothemetaphysicalhead,difficultiesalmostinsuperableastoHow,intheSystemofNature,Motionis?How,inthenameofwonder,itcanbe;andeven,Whetheritisatall?Difficultiestothemetaphysicalhead,stickingitsnoseintothegutterthere;——notdifficulttomyreadersandme,whocanatalltimeswalkacrosstheroom,andtriumphantlygetoverthem。Butstickyournoseintoanygutter,entity,orobject,thisofMotionoranother,withobstinacy,——youwilleasilydrown,ifthatbeyourdetermination!——Sufficeitforustoknowinthismatter,thatMaupertuis,intenselywatchingNature,hasdiscovered,Thatthekeyofherenigma(oratleasttheultimatecentralDOOR,whichhidesallherMotionalenigmas,thekeytoWHICHcannotevenbeimaginedasdiscoverable!)is,that\"NatureissuperlativelyTHRIFTYinthisaffairofmotion;\"thatsheemploys,foreveryMotiondoneordo—able,\"aMINIMUMOFACTION;\"andthat,ifyouwellunderstandthis,youwill,atleast,announceallherproceduresinoneproposition,andhavefoundtheDOORwhichleadstoeverything。Whichwillbeacomforttoyou;stilllookingvainlyforthekey,ifthereisstillnokeyconceivable。

  PerpetualPresidentMaupertuis,havingsurprisedNatureinthismanner,readPapersuponittoanAcademylisteningwithupturnedeyes;newPapers,perfectedoutofold,——forhehaslongbeenhatchingthesePhoenix—eggs;andhassentthemoutcomplete,quitelately,inalittleBookcalledCOSMOLOGIE,wherealoneIhavehadthequestionablebenefitofreadingthem。Grandlybrief,asifcomingfromDelphi,theutteranceis;loftilysolemn,elaboratelymodest,abstrusetothenowhumanmind;butintelligible,haditonlybeenworthunderstanding:——apainfullittleBook,thatCOSMOLOGIE,asthePerpetualPresident’sgenerallyare。\"MinimumofAction,LOID’EPARGNE,LawofThrift,\"hecallsthissublimeDiscovery;——thinksitwillbeSovereigninNaturalTheologyaswell:\"ForhowcouldNaturebeaSave—all,withoutDesignerpresent?\"——andspeaks,ofcourse,amongothertechnicalpoints,about\"VISVIVA,orVelocitymultipliedbytheSquareoftheTime:\"

  whichtwopoints,\"LOID’EPARGNE,\"andthat\"theVISVIVAisalwaysaMinimum,\"thereadercantakealongwithhim;IwillpermithimtoshaketheothersintoLimboagain,asforgettablebyhumannatureatthisepochandhenceforth。

  InLaBeaumelle’sViedeMaupertuis(printedatlast,Paris,1856,afterlyingnearlyacenturyinmanuscript,anobtuseworthlessleadenlittleBook),thereismuchlouddroninganddetailing,aboutthisCOSMOLOGIE,thissublime\"Discovery,\"andtheothersublimeDiscoveries,InsightsandApocalypticUtterancesofMaupertuis;thoughinsoconfusedafashion,itisseldomyoucanhavethepoorpleasureoflearningexactlywhen,orexceptbyyourownseverescrutiny,exactlywhat。Forreasonsthatwillappear,certainofthoseApocalypticUtterancesbyPerpetualPresidentMaupertuishavesincegotanewinterest,andonehasactuallyakindofwishtoreadtheIPSISSIMAVERBAofthem,atthisdate!ButinLaBeaumelle(hismodernEditorlyingfastasleepthroughout)thereisnovestigeofhelp。NayMaupertuis’sownBook,[OEuvresdeMaupertuis,Lyon,1756,4vols。

  4to。]luxuriouscream—paperQuartos,orOctavesmadefour—squarebymargin,——whichyoubuyfortheseandthecognateobjects,——provesaltogetherworthlesstoyou。TheMaupertuisQuartosarenotreadablefortheirownsake(solemnlyemphaticstatementofwhatyoualreadyknow;concentratedstruggletogetonwing,andfailurebysonarrowamiss;strugglewhichgetsonlyontiptoe,andwon’tceasewrigglingandflapping);andthen(toyourhorror)theyprovetobecarefullycleanedofalltheMaupertuis—VOLTAIREmatter;——

  editionbeingSUBSEQUENTtothatworld—famousexplosion。

  CAVEATEMPTOR。——OurExcerptproceeds:——

  \"IndustriousKonig,likeothermathematicalpeople,hasbeenlisteningtotheseOraclesonthe’LawofMinimum,’bythePerpetualPresident;andgrievestofind,afterstudy,ThatsaidLawdoesnotquitehold;thatinfactitis,likeDescartes’soldkeyorgeneraldoor,worthlittleornothing;asLeibnitzlongagoseemstohavetransientlyrecognized。Konighasputhisstricturesonpaper:butwillnotdreamofpublishing,tillthePerpetualPresidenthaveexaminedthemandsatisfiedhimself;andthatisKonig’sbusinessatpresent,asheknocksonMaupertuis,whileSoliscrossingtheLine。MaupertuishasaHouseoftheduestyle:

  WifeadaughterofMinisterBorck’s(highBorcks,’oldastheDIUVEL’);nochildren;——hisbackcourtsalwaysagooddealdirtywithpelicans,bustards,perhapssnakesandotherzoologicalwretches,whichsometimesintrudeintothedrawing—rooms,otherwiseveryfine。Amanofsomewhims,somehabits;arbitrarybynature,butreallyhonest,thoughrathersublimishinhisinterior,withredWigandyellowbottom。

  \"Konig,allfilialgladness,isreceivedgladly;——though,bydegrees,withsomesurprise,onthepaternalpart,tofindKonigripenedoutofson,clientandpupil,intoindependentpostureofagrownman。Franklycertainenoughabouthimself,andabouttheaxiomsofmathematics。Standing,evidently,onhisownlegs;

  kindlyasever,butonthesenewterms,——infactratheranoutspokenfree—and—easyfellow(Ishouldguess),notthinkingthatoffencecanbetakenamongfriends。Formeyconfesses,thiswasuncomfortabletoMaupertuis;infact,ashockwhichhecouldnotrecoverfrom。Theyhadvariousmeetings,overdinneraudotherwise,atthePerpetualPresident’s,forperhapstwoweeksatthistime(datesalltobehadinFormey’sNote—book,ifanybodywouldconsult);inthewholecourseofwhichtheshocktothePerpetualPresidentincreased,insteadofdiminishing。RepublicanfreedomandequalityisevidentlyKonig’smethod;KonigheedsnotawhittheoraculartalentormajesticpositionofMaupertuis;argueswiththefrankestlogic,whenhefeelsdissent;——drivesamajesticPerpetualPresident,especiallyinthepresenceofthirdparties,muchoutofpatience。Thus,oneevening,replyingtosomeargumentofthePerpetualPresident’s,hebegins:’Mypoorfriend,MONPAUVREAMI,don’tyouperceive,then’——UponwhichMaupertuissprangfromhischair,violentlystamping,andpirouettedroundtheroom,’Poorfriend,poorfriend?areyousorich:then!’frankKonigmerelygrinningtilltheparoxysmpassed。[Formey,i。177。]Konigwenthomeagain,REINFECTAabouttheendofthemonth。\"

  SuchaKonig——hadbetternothavecome!AstohisstricturesontheLAWOFTHRIFT,thearguingsonthem,alonetogether,orwithfriendsby,merelysetMaupertuispirouetting:andastotheKonigManuscriptsonthem\"tobepublishedintheLeipzigACTA,afteryourremarksandpermission,\"MaupertuisabsolutelyrefusedtolookatsaidManuscripts:\"Publishthemthere,here,everywhere,intheDevilandhisGrandmother’sname;andthenthereisanend,Monsieur!\"Konigwenthiswaystherefore,findingnothingelseforit;publishedhisstrictures,intheLeipzigACTAinMarchnext,——

  andneversawMaupertuisagain,foroneresult,outofseveralthatfollowed!IhavenodoubthewasouttoVoltaire,morethanonce,inthisfortnight;andeat\"theKing’sroast\"pleasantlywiththateminentoldfriend。VoltairealwaysthoughthimaBONGARCON

  (justly,byalltheevidenceIhave);andfindshistalkagreeable,andhisBerlinnews——especiallythatofMaupertuisandhisexplosivepirouettings。Adieu,HerrProfessor;youknownot,withyourLeipzigACTAandFragmentofLeibnitz,whatanexplosionyouarepreparing!

点击下载App,搜索"History of Friedrich II of Prussia",免费读到尾