history of friedrich ii of prussia v 16-第24章
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In Princess Amelia's Antechamber； there or in other celestial places； in Palace after Palace； it goes on。 Gayety succeeding gayety； mere Princesses and Princes doing parts； in ROME SAUVEE； and in masterpieces of Voltaire's； Voltaire himself acting CICERO and elderly characters； LUSIGNAN and the like。 Excellent in acting； say the witnesses； superlative； for certain； as Preceptor of the art；though impatient now and then。 And wears such Jewel…ornaments （borrowed partly from a Hebrew； of whom anon）； such magnificence of tasteful dress；and walks his minuet among the Morning Stars。 Not to mention the Suppers of the King： chosen circle； with the King for centre； a radiant Friedrich flashing out to right and left； till all kindles into coruscation round him； and it is such a blaze of spiritual sheet…lightnings；wonderful to think of； Voltaire especially electric。 Never； or seldom； were seen such suppers； such a life for a Supreme Man of Letters so fitted with the place due to him。 Smelfungus says：
〃And so your Supreme of Literature has got into his due place at last；at the top of the world； namely； though； alas； but for moments or for months。 The King's own Friend； he whom the King delights to honor。 The most shining thing in Berlin； at this moment。 Virtually a kind of PAPA； or Intellectual Father of Mankind；〃 sneers Smelfungus； 〃Pope improvised for the nonce。 The new Fridericus Magnus does as the old Pipinus； old Carolus Magnus did： recognizes his Pope； in despite of the base vulgar； elevates him aloft into worship； for the vulgar and for everybody！ Carolus Magnus did that thrice…salutary feat ＇sublimely human； if you think of it； and for long centuries successful more or less＇； Fridericus Magnus； under other omens； unconsciously does the like； the best he can！ Let the Opera Fiddlers； the Frerons； Travenols and Desfontaines…of…Sodom's Ghost look and consider！〃
Madame Denis； an expensive gay Lady； still only in her thirties； improvable by rouge； carries on great work in the Rue Traversiere； private theatricals； suppers； flirtations with Italian travelling Marquises；finds Intendant Longchamp much in her way； with his rigorous account…books； and restriction to 100 louis per month； wishes even her Uncle were back； and cautions him； Not to believe in Friedrich's flattering unctions； or put his trust in Princes at all。 Voltaire； with the due preliminaries； shows Friedrich her Letter； one of her Letters； ＇Now lost； as most of them are； Voltaire's Answer to it； already cited； is 〃24th August； 1750〃 （misprinted 〃14th August；〃 OEuvres； lxxiv。 185； see IB。 lxxv。 135）； King Friedrich's PRACTICAL Answer （so munificent to Denis and Voltaire）； 〃Your Majesty's gracious Agreement；〃 bore date 〃August 23d。〃＇with result as we saw above。
Formey says： 〃In the Carnival time； which Voltaire usually passed at Berlin； in the Palace； people paid their court to him as to a declared Favorite。 Princes； Marshals； Ministers of State； Foreign Ambassadors； Lords of the highest rank； attended his audience； and were received；〃 says Formey； nowhere free from spite on this subject； 〃in a sufficiently lofty style （HAUTEUR ASSEZ DEDAIGNEUSE）。 ＇Formey； Souvenirs； i。 235； 236。＇ A great Prince had the complaisance to play chess with him； and to let him win the pistoles that were staked。 Sometimes even the pistole disappeared before the end of the game；〃 continues Formey； green with spite；and reports that sad story of the candle…ends； bits of wax…candle； which should have remained as perquisite to the valets； but which were confiscated by Voltaire and sent across to the wax…chandler's。 So； doubtless； the spiteful rumor ran； probably little but spite and fable； Berlin being bitter in its gossip。 Stupid Thiebault repeats that of the candle…ends； like a thing he had seen （twelve years BEFORE his arrival in those parts）； and adds that Voltaire 〃put them in his pocket；〃like one both stupid and sordid。 Alas； the brighter your shine； the blacker is the shadow you cast。
Friedrich； with the knowledge he already had of his yoke…fellow； one of the most skittish； explosive； unruly creatures in harness； cannot be counted wise to have plunged so heartily into such an adventure with him。 〃An undoubted Courser of the Sun！〃 thought Friedrich；and forgot too much the signs of bad going he had sometimes noticed in him on the common highways。 There is no doubt he was perfectly sincere and simple in all this high treatment of Voltaire。 〃The foremost； literary spirit of the world； a man to be honored by me； and by all men； the Trismegistus of Human Intellects； what a conquest to have made； how cheap is a little money； a little patience and guidance； for such solacement and ornament to one's barren Life！〃 He had rashly hoped that the dreams of his youth could hereby still be a little realized； and something of the old Reinsberg Program become a fruitful and blessed fact。 Friedrich is loyally glad over his Voltaire； eager in all ways to content him； make him happy； and keep him here； as the Talking Bird； the Singing Tree and the Golden Water of intelligent mankind； the glory of one's own Court； and the envy of the world。 〃Will teach us the secret of the Muses； too； French Muses； and help us in our bits of Literature！〃 This latter； too； is a consideration with Friedrich； as why should it not；though by no means the sole or chief one； as the French give it out to be。
On his side； Voltaire is not disloyal either； but is nothing like so completely loyal。 He has； and continued always to have； not unmixed with fear； a real admiration for Friedrich； that terrible practical Doer； with the cutting brilliances of mind and character； and the irrefragable common sense； nay he has even a kind of love to him； or something like it；love made up of gratitude for past favors； and lively anticipation of future。 Voltaire is； by nature； an attached or attachable creature； flinging out fond boughs to every kind of excellence； and especially holding firm by old ties he had made。 One fancies in him a mixed set of emotions； direct and reflex；the consciousness of safe shelter； were there nothing more； of glory to oneself； derived and still derivable from this high man：in fine； a sum…total of actual desire to live with King Friedrich； which might； surely； have almost sufficed even for Voltaire； in a quieter element。 But the element was not quiet；far from it； nor was Voltaire easily sufficeable！
PERPETUAL PRESIDENT MAUPERTUIS HAS A VISIT FROM ONE KONIG； OUT OF HOLLAND； CONCERNING THE INFINITELY LITTLE。
Whether Maupertuis； in red wig with yellow bottom； saw these high gauderies of the Carrousel； the Plays in Princess Amelia's Antechamber； and the rest of it； I do not know： but if so； he was not in the top place； nor did anybody take notice of him； as everybody did of Voltaire。 Meanwhile； I have something to quote； as abridged and distilled from various sources； chiefly from Formey； which will be of much concernment farther on。
Some four weeks after those Carrousel effulgencies； Perpetual President Maupertuis had a visit （September 21st； just while the Sun was crossing the Line； thanks to Formey for the date； who keeps a Note…book； useful in these intricacies）： visit from Professor Konig； an effective mathematical man from the Dutch parts。 Whom readers have forgotten again； though they saw him once： in violent quarrel； about the Infinitely Little； with Madame du Chatelet； Voltaire witnessing with pain；it was just as they quitted Cirey together； ten years ago； for these new courses of adventure。 Do readers recall the circumstance？ Maupertuis； referee in that quarrel； had； with a bluntness offensive to the female mind； declared Konig indisputably in the right； and there had followed a dryness between the divine Emilie and the Flattener of the Earth； scarcely to be healed by Voltaire's best efforts。
Konig has gone his road since then； become a fine solid fellow； Professor in a Dutch University； more latterly Librarian to the Dutch Stadtholder： still frank of speech； and with a rugged free… and…easy turn； but of manful manners； really a person of various culture； and as is still noticeable； of a solid geometric turn of mind。 Having now； as Librarian at th
